Acidizing Fluid Stabilizes Fracture Faces with Curable Resin
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Solution Overview
Problem
Subterranean formations treated with acidizing fluids often experience reduced production capacity due to premature plugging of acid-formed channels with unconsolidated particulates, as there is no cohesion to anchor these particulates and prevent them from migrating and blocking production channels.
Innovation Solution
The method involves in situ generation of acid using acid generating agents and the subsequent curing of an acid-catalyzed, curable resin to create microfractures and stabilize the formation, preventing particulate migration by consolidating and strengthening the formation around the created fissures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If acidizing treatment fluid is introduced to etch channels and increase permeability, then production capacity is improved, but unconsolidated particulates migrate and plug the channels, causing premature production decline
Solution Approach 1:
The resin is introduced into the formation before or during the acidizing treatment, positioned in advance to catch and consolidate particulates before they can migrate and plug the channels. This preliminary placement of the resin ensures that when particulates are released during acidizing, they are immediately captured and bound, preventing channel plugging and maintaining production capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The treatment combines acidizing treatment fluid with resin components to create a composite effect. The acid etches channels to increase permeability while the resin simultaneously binds particulates, creating a synergistic treatment that achieves both channel creation and particulate control. This composite approach allows the beneficial effects of acidizing while mitigating the harmful particulate migration.
2Stability of the object's composition
If unconsolidated particulates are present in the formation, then natural reservoir characteristics are maintained, but the particulates lack cohesion and anchor points, allowing them to migrate and block production channels
Solution Approach 1:
The resin acts as an intermediary substance between the unconsolidated particulates and the formation matrix. It provides binding sites and anchor points that allow particulates to be captured and held in place, transforming their state from mobile and unconsolidated to fixed and stabilized. This intermediary role of the resin resolves the contradiction by maintaining formation integrity while preventing harmful particulate migration.
3Reliability
If acid generating agents and curable resin are used to create microfractures and stabilize formation, then channel conductivity is enhanced and particulate migration is prevented, but the treatment process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The treatment merges multiple functions into a single integrated process: the acid generating agents create microfractures to enhance conductivity while the curable resin simultaneously stabilizes the formation and prevents particulate migration. By combining these functions in one treatment sequence, the process achieves multiple benefits without requiring separate operations, thereby reducing overall treatment complexity while maintaining high reliability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances the contact surface area for hydrocarbon desorption, increases conductivity, and stabilizes the formation, thereby maintaining production capacity by locking formation materials in place and preventing channel plugging.
Implementation Method 1
The acid generating agent generates acid in situ... the acid creating or enhancing one or more microfractures within a subterranean formation
Implementation Method 2
The acid generating agent generates a second portion of acid in the subterranean formation, the second portion of acid catalyzing a reaction whereby the acid-catalyzed curable resin is transformed into a cured resin
Data Source
AI summary
An acidizing and formation stabilizing treatment fluid for stabilizing a fracture in a subterranean formation. An acid generating agent generates an acid in situ to acidize the formation thereby enhancing the fractures within and to cure an acid-catalyzed, curable resin to stabilize the formation.