Abstract: This invention relates to the use of degradable fibers, and more particularly, to self-degrading fibers and their associated methods of use and manufacture. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a self degrading fiber comprising: an outer shell, and a core liquid.

Abstract: Methods of forming gravel packs while reducing fluid loss to the surrounding subterranean formation. The methods involve suspending gravel that has been coated with a tackifying agent and degradable fines into a low viscosity carrier fluid and then placing that suspension into a subterranean formation so as to form a gravel pack wherein, as the gravel pack is placed, the degradable fines to de-adhere from the gravel and to fill at least a portion of the pore spaces within the gravel pack so as to reducing fluid loss through the gravel pack.

Abstract: Methods of reducing the permeability of a subterranean formation to aqueous-based fluids using a water-soluble relative permeability modifier that comprises a reaction product of a hydrophilic compound and a hydrophilic polymer. In some methods the hydrophilic polymer may be selected from the group consisting of: a polyacrylamide, a polyvinylamine, a poly(vinylamine/vinyl alcohol), an alkyl acrylate polymer, and a combination thereof. In other methods the hydrophilic polymer may be selected from the group consisting of: a polyvinylamine; a poly(vinylamine/vinyl alcohol); a cellulose; a chitosan; a polyamide; a polyetheramine; a polyethyleneimine; a polyhydroxyetheramine; a polylysine; a polysulfone; a gum; a starch, and a combination thereof.

Abstract: A method for diverting fluids across a perforation tunnel in high-rate water pack operations may include providing a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation, wherein a perforation tunnel provides a fluid connection between the wellbore and the subterranean formation; providing a diverting particulate that comprises a degradable plasticized polymer coating on a particulate; placing the diverting particulate into the perforation tunnel, wherein the step of placing the diverting particulate forms a particulate pack within the subterranean formation and the perforation tunnel; allowing the degradable plasticized polymer coating to deform and fill the interstitial spaces within the particulate pack in the perforation tunnel such that the fluid conductivity between the wellbore and the subterranean formation is substantially blocked; and allowing the plasticized polymer coating to degrade over time thereby substantially restoring the fluid conductivity between the wellbore and the subterranean formation.

Abstract: A method of increasing the fracture complexity in a treatment zone of a subterranean formation is provided. The subterranean formation is characterized by having a matrix permeability less than 1.0 microDarcy. The method includes the step of pumping one or more fracturing fluids into a far-field region of a treatment zone of the subterranean formation at a rate and pressure above the fracture pressure of the treatment zone. A first fracturing fluid of the one or more fracturing fluids includes a first solid particulate, wherein: (a) the first solid particulate includes a particle size distribution for bridging the pore throats of a proppant pack previously formed or to be formed in the treatment zone; and (b) the first solid particulate comprises a degradable material. In an embodiment, the first solid particulate is in an insufficient amount in the first fracturing fluid to increase the packed volume fraction of any region of the proppant pack to greater than 73%.

Abstract: Methods of controlling fluid loss in a subterranean formation comprising: providing a treatment fluid comprising an aqueous fluid and a fluid loss control additive comprising a water-soluble polymer having hydrophobic or hydrophilic modification; introducing the treatment fluid into an interval of a well bore, the well bore penetrating the subterranean formation; creating one or more perforations in the interval of the well bore, wherein the perforations extend from the well bore and into the subterranean formation; and allowing the treatment fluid to contact a portion of the subterranean formation through the one or more perforations. Methods of a reducing fluid loss from a perforated and/or gravel packed interval of a well bore using a fluid loss control additive comprising a water-soluble polymer having hydrophobic or hydrophilic modification.

Abstract: Methods including the steps of selecting a target fracture geometry for a portion of a subterranean formation; selecting a target tip pressure and a target back flow pressure based at least in part on a calculation for the target fracture geometry; selecting a target surface pressure and a target bottom-hole pressure based at least in part on a calculation for the target tip pressure and the target back flow pressure; and introducing a slurry fluid comprising proppant particulates into one or more fractures in the portion of the subterranean formation. The surface pressure corresponds to the target surface pressure, and bottom-hole pressure corresponds to the target bottom-hole pressure.

Abstract: This invention relates to a swellable and degradable sand plug system used in horizontal wellbores and the use of the system in treating horizontal wellbores. The slurry composition comprises a carrier fluid and a granular borate source material, where the borate source material is at least partially dehydrated or anhydrous. The carrier fluid may be a non-aqueous fluid, or when the average size of the granular borate source material is sufficient large, the carrier fluid may also be an aqueous fluid. The slurry composition is allowed to settle in the horizontal wellbore and at least partially fill at least a portion of the horizontal wellbore in a direction vertical to the substantially horizontal wellbore, and is exposed to a sufficient amount of aqueous fluid to expand to the point to substantially fill at least a portion of the horizontal wellbore in a direction vertical to the horizontal wellbore, thereby plugging the substantially horizontal wellbore.

Abstract: This invention relates to an aqueous-swellable and degradable diverting system and the use of the system in treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore. The diverting system comprises a carrier fluid and a partially dehydrated or anhydrous borate source material that does not swell or does not swell substantially when placed in contact with the carrier fluid. The carrier fluid is capable of carrying and placing the borate source material into a stimulation network substantially distanced from a wellbore. The carrier fluid may be a non-aqueous fluid, or when the average size of the borate source material is sufficient large, the carrier fluid may also be an aqueous fluid. Exposure of the diverting composition to sufficient amount of aqueous fluid swells the borate source material, bridges a desired portion of the stimulation network and then dissolves at least a portion of the diverting composition.

Abstract: Methods for setting particulate plugs in at least partially horizontal sections of well bores are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method comprises the step of selecting a deposition location for a particulate plug within the at least partially horizontal section of the well bore. The method further comprises the step of providing a pumping conduit capable of delivering slurries to the deposition location. The method further comprises the step of pumping a first slurry through the pumping conduit to the deposition location such that a velocity of the first slurry in the well bore at the deposition location is less than or equal to the critical velocity of the first slurry in the well bore at the deposition location.

Abstract: A well tool can include a flow path, and a flow blocking device which selectively prevents flow through the flow path. The device can include an anhydrous boron compound. A method of constructing a downhole well tool can include forming a structure of a solid mass comprising an anhydrous boron compound, and incorporating the structure into the well tool.

Abstract: Methods relating to the hydrolysis of water-hydrolysable materials are provided. In one embodiment, a method of treating at least a portion of a subterranean formation is provided, the method comprising: providing a water-hydrolysable material; introducing the water-hydrolysable material into a well bore penetrating the subterranean formation; providing a treatment fluid comprising an aqueous liquid and a water-miscible solvent; introducing the treatment fluid into the well bore so as to contact the water-hydrolysable material; and allowing the water-hydrolysable material to hydrolyze. Methods of completing a well also are provided.

Abstract: Treatments fluids relating to the hydrolysis of water-hydrolysable materials are provided. In one embodiment, provided is a treatment fluid that comprises an aqueous liquid, a water-miscible solvent, and a water-hydrolysable material. Also provided is a hydrolysis retarder composition that comprises an aqueous liquid and a water-miscible solvent.

Abstract: Provided are methods that include a method comprising: placing a clean fluid comprising proppant particulates into a portion of a fracture in a subterranean formation, and depositing one or more of the proppant particulates into the fracture to form a partial monolayer. In another aspect, the invention provides methods that include placing a degradable fluid loss additive comprising collagen into a subterranean formation.

Abstract: Treatment fluids for and methods of treating subterranean formations are provided. In certain embodiments, a method is provided comprising providing a treatment fluid comprising a relative permeability modifier, a delayed filter cake breaker, and a carrier fluid, contacting at least a portion of a filter cake in a subterranean formation with the treatment fluid, and removing at least a portion of the filter cake.

Abstract: Improved methods of placing and/or diverting treatment fluids in subterranean formations are described. The methods include introducing a treatment fluid into a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore, wherein the treatment fluid comprises: a base fluid, and a plurality of solid particulates comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of: a scale inhibitor, a chelating agent, and a combination thereof, wherein the solid particulates are substantially insoluble in the base fluid; and allowing at least a portion of the solid particulates to form a barrier or at partially divert a subsequent fluid.

Abstract: A method of increasing the fracture complexity in a treatment zone of a subterranean formation is provided. The subterranean formation is characterized by having a matrix permeability less than 1.0 microDarcy. The method includes the step of pumping one or more fracturing fluids into a far-field region of a treatment zone of the subterranean formation at a rate and pressure above the fracture pressure of the treatment zone. A first fracturing fluid of the one or more fracturing fluids includes a first solid particulate, wherein: (a) the first solid particulate includes a particle size distribution for bridging the pore throats of a proppant pack previously formed or to be formed in the treatment zone; and (b) the first solid particulate comprises a degradable material. In an embodiment, the first solid particulate is in an insufficient amount in the first fracturing fluid to increase the packed volume fraction of any region of the proppant pack to greater than 73%.

Abstract: A method of increasing the fracture complexity in a treatment zone of a subterranean formation is provided. The subterranean formation is characterized by having a matrix permeability less than 1.0 microDarcy. The method includes the step of pumping one or more fracturing fluids into a far-field region of a treatment zone of the subterranean formation at a rate and pressure above the fracture pressure of the treatment zone. A first fracturing fluid of the one or more fracturing fluids includes a first solid particulate, wherein: (a) the first solid particulate includes a particle size distribution for bridging the pore throats of a proppant pack previously formed or to be formed in the treatment zone; and (b) the first solid particulate comprises a degradable material. In an embodiment, the first solid particulate is in an insufficient amount in the first fracturing fluid to increase the packed volume fraction of any region of the proppant pack to greater than 73%.

Abstract: Methods of forming gravel packs while reducing fluid loss to the surrounding subterranean formation. The methods involve suspending gravel that has been coated with a tackifying agent and degradable fines into a low viscosity carrier fluid and then placing that suspension into a subterranean formation so as to form a gravel pack wherein, as the gravel pack is placed, the degradable fines to de-adhere from the gravel and to fill at least a portion of the pore spaces within the gravel pack so as to reducing fluid loss through the gravel pack.

Abstract: Methods of acidizing subterranean formations or well bores, and more specifically, to acidizing systems involving acid-generating fluids that comprise acid-generating compounds and associated methods are provided. An example of a method of the present invention comprises: providing an acid-generating fluid that comprises an acid-generating compound; placing the acid-generating fluid into a well bore penetrating a subterranean formation; and allowing the acid-generating compound to produce an acid that then acidizes at least a portion of the subterranean formation or damage contained in the formation or well bore.