Abstract: Water soluble uncrosslinked polysaccharides may be fluid loss control agents for viscoelastic surfactant (VES) fluids used for stimulation (e.g. fracturing) or well completion in hydrocarbon recovery operations. The VES fluid may further include proppant or gravel, if it is intended for use as a fracturing fluid or a gravel packing fluid, although such uses do not require that the fluid contain proppant or gravel. The water soluble uncrosslinked polysaccharide fluid loss control agents may include, but not be limited to guar gum and derivatives thereof; cellulose and derivatives thereof; propylene glycol alginate; salts (e.g. sodium, potassium, and calcium salts) of iota, kappa, and lambda carrageenan; agar-agar; xanthan gum; and the like; and/or mixtures thereof. The fluid loss control agent may be added to the aqueous viscoelastic treating fluid prior to VES addition, and/or at the same time and/or after the VES is added.

Abstract: Water soluble uncrosslinked polysaccharides may be fluid loss control agents for viscoelastic surfactant (VES) fluids used for stimulation (e.g. fracturing) or well completion in hydrocarbon recovery operations. The VES fluid may further include proppant or gravel, if it is intended for use as a fracturing fluid or a gravel packing fluid, although such uses do not require that the fluid contain proppant or gravel. The water soluble uncrosslinked polysaccharide fluid loss control agents may include, but not be limited to guar gum and derivatives thereof; cellulose and derivatives thereof; propylene glycol alginate; salts (e.g. sodium, potassium, and calcium salts) of iota, kappa, and lambda carrageenan; agar-agar; xanthan gum; and the like; and/or mixtures thereof. The fluid loss control agent may be added to the aqueous viscoelastic treating fluid prior to VES addition, and/or at the same time and/or after the VES is added.

Abstract: Adding relatively low molecular weight water-soluble friction loss reduction polymers to an aqueous fluid gelled with a viscoelastic surfactant (VES) increases the critical generalized Reynold's number at which the Fanning friction factor increases and friction pressure starts to increase rapidly. The water-soluble polymeric friction loss reduction additives lower surface pumping pressure in VES-gelled fracturing fluids for a given pump rate, thus lowering hydraulic horsepower (HHP) requirements for pumping fluids downhole, e.g. for hydraulic fracturing or frac packing treatments of subterranean formations.

Abstract: Adding relatively low molecular weight water-soluble friction loss reduction polymers to an aqueous fluid gelled with a viscoelastic surfactant (VES) increases the critical generalized Reynold's number at which the Fanning friction factor increases and friction pressure starts to increase rapidly. The water-soluble polymeric friction loss reduction additives lower surface pumping pressure in VES-gelled fracturing fluids for a given pump rate, thus lowering hydraulic horsepower (HHP) requirements for pumping fluids downhole, e.g. for hydraulic fracturing or frac packing treatments of subterranean formations.

Abstract: Adding relatively low molecular weight water-soluble friction loss reduction polymers to an aqueous fluid gelled with a viscoelastic surfactant (VES) increases the critical generalized Reynold's number at which the Fanning friction factor increases and friction pressure starts to increase rapidly. The water-soluble polymeric friction loss reduction additives lower surface pumping pressure in VES-gelled fracturing fluids for a given pump rate, thus lowering hydraulic horsepower (HHP) requirements for pumping fluids downhole, e.g. for hydraulic fracturing or frac packing treatments of subterranean formations.

Abstract: Water soluble uncrosslinked polysaccharides may be fluid loss control agents for viscoelastic surfactant (VES) fluids used for stimulation (e.g. fracturing) or well completion in hydrocarbon recovery operations. The VES fluid may further include proppant or gravel, if it is intended for use as a fracturing fluid or a gravel packing fluid, although such uses do not require that the fluid contain proppant or gravel. The water soluble uncrosslinked polysaccharide fluid loss control agents may include, but not be limited to guar gum and derivatives thereof; cellulose and derivatives thereof; propylene glycol alginate; salts (e.g. sodium, potassium, and calcium salts) of iota, kappa, and lambda carrageenan; agar-agar; xanthan gum; and the like; and/or mixtures thereof. The fluid loss control agent may be added to the aqueous viscoelastic treating fluid prior to VES addition, and/or at the same time and/or after the VES is added.

Abstract: It has been discovered that sticking caused by proppants used in a frac pack or gravel pack operation during hydrocarbon recovery efforts can be mitigated by placing a proppant anti-sticking fluid in a downhole space, such as an annulus adjacent a tool system or service tool. An operation is conducted that involves passing a carrier fluid including a proppant through the tool system. The carrier fluid is gelled and optionally crosslinked. The proppant anti-sticking fluid is flushed through the tool system to break the gel, contact the proppant and substantially clear the proppant from the tool system. Finally, the tool system is removed from downhole. The proppant anti-sticking fluid includes a diluent, such as an aqueous fluid, a brine, or a non-aqueous fluid, and an effective amount of a gel-breaking component to break the gel, and may, but does not necessarily include a surface tension-reducing compound, such as a surfactant.

Abstract: A method of preparing a solids-pack for use in oilfield completion operations involves staged pumping using two distinct types of carrier fluid with distinct solids loadings during the solids deposition process. The method can be employed in packing of non-vertical oilfield wellbores for formation stabilization, fracture stabilization and/or sand control, particularly around sand exclusion devices. In preferred embodiments the method results in greater uniformity of packing, and also offers the advantage of much more rapid deposition and therefore of completion of the pack phase, reducing overall rig time.

Abstract: It has been discovered that sticking caused by proppants used in a frac pack or gravel pack operation during hydrocarbon recovery efforts can be mitigated by placing a proppant anti-sticking fluid in a downhole space, such as an annulus adjacent a tool system or service tool. An operation is conducted that involves passing a carrier fluid including a proppant through the tool system. The carrier fluid is gelled and optionally crosslinked. The proppant anti-sticking fluid is flushed through the tool system to break the gel, contact the proppant and substantially clear the proppant from the tool system. Finally, the tool system is removed from downhole. The proppant anti-sticking fluid includes a diluent, such as an aqueous fluid, a brine, or a non-aqueous fluid, and an effective amount of a gel-breaking component to break the gel, and may, but does not necessarily include a surface tension-reducing compound, such as a surfactant.