Abstract: A method of reducing friction resulting from turbulent flow in an aqueous fracturing fluid in an oil field fracturing process comprising adding to the aqueous fracturing fluid an effective friction-reducing amount of one or more dispersion polymers, wherein the dispersion polymer is composed of from about 5 to about 95 mole percent of one or more nonionic monomers and from about 95 to about 5 mole percent of one or more cationic or anionic monomers and has a molecular weight of at least 100,000.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 3, 2002
Date of Patent:
September 7, 2004
Assignee:
Nalco Energy Services, L.P.
Inventors:
Cecil C. Blair, Kin-Tai Chang, Duane S. Treybig, Kurt S. Gerken
Abstract: The present invention provides seawater-based cross-linked fracturing fluids and methods of preparing and using the fluids in fracturing subterranean formations penetrated by well bores and having temperatures above about 200° F. The improved cross-linked fracturing fluids are basically comprised of a gelling agent, seawater present in an amount sufficient to hydrate the gelling agent and to form a gelled aqueous fluid, and a delayed cross-linking agent, capable of causing delayed cross-linking of the gelling agent in the gelled aqueous fluid at a pH below the threshold for precipitate formation in seawater.
Type:
Application
Filed:
August 19, 2003
Publication date:
February 19, 2004
Inventors:
Paul D. Lord, John Terracina, Billy Slabaugh