Expandable Diverting Agents for Wellbore Stimulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional chemical diverters used in wellbore stimulation treatments are ineffective due to their fixed size and shape, which fail to maintain contact with increasing dominant flow channels, leading to inefficient fluid diversion and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
The use of expandable chemical diverters, such as flexible porous polyurethane materials or crosslinked hydrogels, that can expand in response to the size and volume of the flow channel, maintaining contact and sealing the channel effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional chemical diverters with fixed size and shape are used, then the treatment can be implemented with simple equipment, but the diverters fail to maintain contact with increasing dominant flow channels, leading to ineffective sealing
Solution Approach 1:
The diverting agent is designed to dynamically change its volume in response to the flow channel's size increase. The agent expands as the fracture or wormhole grows, maintaining continuous contact with the channel walls and preserving sealing effectiveness throughout the stimulation process.
Solution Approach 2:
The physical parameter of the diverting agent (volume) is changed in response to changing conditions in the flow channel. As the channel size increases, the diverting agent's volume increases accordingly, allowing it to adapt to and seal larger channels effectively.
2Device complexity
If the diverting agent size remains fixed, then the agent structure is simple, but the contact area with the flow channel decreases as the channel grows, reducing diversion efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The diverting agent transitions from a static structure to a dynamic one that can change its dimensions. This dynamic capability allows the agent to maintain optimal contact area with the flow channel throughout the stimulation process, preserving diversion efficiency without requiring complex external control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The diverting agent self-adjusts its volume in response to the flow channel's growth. The agent autonomously expands to match the channel size, eliminating the need for external control mechanisms or complex structural designs while maintaining effective contact and diversion performance.
3Ease of operation
If conventional chemical diverters are used in long or heterogeneous formation segments, then the treatment can proceed without additional equipment, but even distribution of flow channels is difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic volume adjustment capability of the diverting agent enables it to adapt to varying channel sizes across different locations in long or heterogeneous formation segments. This allows for more uniform distribution of multiple flow channels along the wellbore, achieving better stimulation coverage without requiring complex delivery systems.
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
The expandable diverters ensure continuous contact with the flow channel, preventing fluid diversion into dominant channels and promoting the growth of new fractures and wormholes, thereby enhancing wellbore productivity and reducing treatment costs.
Implementation Method 1
a diverting agent that is adapted to expand in response to an increase in size or volume of the flow channel
Implementation Method 2
the flexible porous polyurethane material includes a polyurethane foam
Implementation Method 3
the crosslinked hydrogel includes a plurality of polymer fibers selected from natural polymers, synthetic polymers, and a hybrid of natural and synthetic polymers
Data Source
AI summary
The present application provides expandable chemical diverting agents, such as flexible polyurethanes and swellable hydrogels, or chemical precursors thereof. Methods of using these expandable diverting agents for treating a subterranean formation are also provided. An example of subterranean formation treatment process described in the present application is wellbore stimulation, such as hydraulic fracturing or matrix acid treatment.