With Specified Propping Feature Patents (Class 507/924)
  • Patent number: 11598192
    Abstract: Systems and methods are directed to proppant flowback control. A method includes coating resin onto proppant at a well site and pumping the coated proppant into a wellbore during a fracking operation. The method further includes pumping an activator for the resin into the wellbore to displace the coated proppant into at least one fracture during the fracking operation. The pumping of the coated proppant and the pumping of the activator are performed separately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Philippe Quero
  • Patent number: 11530581
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for managing fluid flow in pipes. An exemplary method includes initializing models of at least two fluid pads and one or more pipe elements, the models of the fluid pads comprising material points; for each of the material points, determining: an integration weight; and a material state; (a) for each of the fluid pads, discretizing governing fluid flow equations on a numerical grid, wherein the numerical grid is constrained within the pipe elements; (b) solving the discretized equations to generate nodal solutions; (c) constructing material point solutions from the nodal solutions; and until end criteria are met: updating the models of the fluid pads with the material point solutions; and repeating (a)-(c). An exemplary fluid flow data analysis system includes a processor and a display configured to display graphical representations of a fluid flow model, wherein the system is configured to manage fluid flow in pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Holger A. Meier, Shekhar V. Gosavi, Sandeep Kumar
  • Patent number: 11525078
    Abstract: A modified high density brine for use in subterranean drilling and completion operations. The modified high density brine includes the addition of high density particle addition that can optionally be surface-modified. The resultant modified high density brine eliminates the need for toxic, corrosive, and costly ZrBr2 additions or other ionic additives to boost the density of the modified high density brine to 15-17 lbs./gallon or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: TERVES, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Sherman, Haixong Tang
  • Patent number: 11391145
    Abstract: The invention relates to a dynamic fracture width calculation method for drilling fluid loss in a fractured formation, which belongs to the field of loss control of drilling and well completion engineering, and includes the following steps: selecting a model according to seismic data and fracture development characteristics and calculating a static hydraulic width of a formation fracture; substituting the static hydraulic width of the formation fracture into a deformation formula of a fracture hydraulic width, to obtain a dynamic hydraulic width of a wellbore fracture; converting the dynamic hydraulic width of the wellbore fracture into an average mechanical width of the wellbore fracture, according to a conversion relational formula of a mechanical width; and solving a mechanical width distribution range of the fracture according to a standard deviation of a mechanical width distribution of a natural fracture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Southwest Petroleum University
    Inventors: Chengyuan Xu, Xinglin Yang, Yili Kang, Lijun You, Yingrui Bai, Ling Lin, Chuan Liu, Jingyi Zhang
  • Patent number: 9040467
    Abstract: Solid proppants are coated with a coating that exhibits the handling characteristics of a precured coating while also exhibiting the ability to form particle-to-particle bonds at the elevated temperatures and pressures within a wellbore. The coating includes a substantially homogeneous mixture of (i) at least one isocyanate component having at least 2 isocyanate groups, and (ii) a curing agent. The coating process can be performed with short cycle times, e.g., less than about 4 minutes, and still produce a dry, free-flowing, coated proppant that exhibits low dust characteristics during pneumatic handling but also proppant consolidation downhole for reduced washout and good conductivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Preferred Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Ray McDaniel, Avis Lloyd McCrary
  • Patent number: 9023770
    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%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley L. Todd, Thomas D. Welton
  • Patent number: 8993489
    Abstract: Solid proppants are coated with a phenol-urethane coating in one or more layers by a method comprising coating a proppant solid and then curing the coated proppant under conditions sufficient to substantially cure said proppant, wherein said coating comprises a substantially homogeneous mixture of (i) an isocyanate component having at least 2 isocyanate groups, (ii) an amine reactant, and optionally (iii) an amine that is a latent curing agent for said isocyanate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Preferred Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Ray McDaniel, Avis Lloyd McCrary
  • Patent number: 8881813
    Abstract: Methods of fracturing a subterranean formation penetrated by a well bore, that include the steps of placing a fracturing fluid comprising a first stabilizing substance into the subterranean formation at or above a pressure sufficient to create or enhance at least one fracture in the subterranean formation and placing a treatment fluid comprising a gel carrier fluid, degradable solids-free gel bodies, and solids-laden gel bodies into the fracture such that the solids-free gel bodies and the solids-laden gel bodies form multiple packs within the fracture. Breaking the gel carrier fluid and allowing the solids-free gel bodies to degrade to create a high porosity propped fracture formed of the solids-laden gel bodies wherein the propped fracture has a porosity of at least about 40%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Philip D. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 8853137
    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%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley L. Todd, Thomas D. Welton
  • Patent number: 8763700
    Abstract: Proppants for use in fractured or gravel packed/frac packed oil and gas wells are provided with a contaminant removal component to remove one or more of the contaminants found in subterranean water/hydrocarbon from a production well. The water/hydrocarbon cleaning proppant solids may be used as discrete particles in a proppant formulation, as a coating on proppant solids in pores of a porous proppant solid or as part of the proppant's internal structure. The contaminant removal component removes contaminants, especially dissolved contaminants, in the subterranean water or hydrocarbon before the water/hydrocarbon leaves the well. For those contaminant removal components that can be regenerated, such as ion exchange resins, a measured quantity of an acidic regeneration solution can be injected into the fractured stratum for regeneration and recovered when the well resumes production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Inventors: Robert Ray McDaniel, Avis Lloyd McCrary
  • Patent number: 8752627
    Abstract: A method of fracturing a subterranean formation comprising at least in part shale formation, comprises providing a carrier fluid; providing a particulate blend including a first amount of particulates having a first average particle size between about 100 and 2000 microns and a second amount of particulates having a second average particle size between about three and twenty times smaller than the first average particle size, such that a packed volume fraction of the particulate blend exceeds 0.75; combining the carrier fluid and the particulate blend into a fracturing slurry; fracturing the formation with the fracturing slurry to create at least a fracture; and removing the second amount of particulates from the fracture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan Hartman, Mohan K. R. Panga, Bruno Drochon, John W. Still
  • Patent number: 8720555
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Feng Liang, Bradley L. Todd, Rajesh K. Saini, Stanley J. Heath
  • Patent number: 8613314
    Abstract: The invention discloses a method of treating a subterranean formation of a well bore, including the steps of providing a first treatment fluid substantially free of macroscopic particulates; pumping the first treatment fluid into the well bore at different pressure rates to determine the maximum matrix rate and the minimum frac rate; subsequently, pumping the first treatment fluid above the minimum frac rate to initiate at least one fracture in the subterranean formation; providing a second treatment fluid comprising a second carrier fluid, a particulate blend including a first amount of particulates having a first average particle size between about 100 and 2000 ?m and a second amount of particulates having a second average particle size between about three and twenty times smaller than the first average particle size, such that a packed volume fraction of the particulate blend exceeds 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Marieliz Garcia-Lopez De Victoria, Carlos Abad
  • Patent number: 8540024
    Abstract: Hydraulic fracturing an individual reservoir fracturing layer of a subterranean formation to produce heterogeneous proppant placement is given in which pillars of proppant are placed such that the pillars do not extend the entire height of the fracture (for a vertical fracture) but are themselves interrupted by channels so that the channels between the pillars form pathways that lead to the wellbore. The method combines methods of introducing slugs of proppant-carrying and proppant-free fluids through multiple clusters of perforations within a single fracturing layer of rock, with methods of ensuring that the slugs exiting the individual clusters do not merge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Ivan Vitalievich Kosarev, Oleg Olegovich Medvedev, Anatoly Vladimirovich Medvedev, Ian Walton
  • Patent number: 8511381
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for low damage gravel packing. The system comprises a well bore; a gravel packing slurry comprising a carrier fluid and a solids mixture, wherein the solids mixture comprises a plurality of volume-averaged particle size distribution (PSD) modes such that a packed volume fraction (PVF) exceeds 0.75, wherein the solids mixture comprises at least a proppant PSD mode and a fines PSD mode; a pump to circulate the slurry in the wellbore and form a proppant pack; and a dispersant source effective to facilitate fines flowback from the pack. The method comprises circulating the slurry through a wellbore to form a proppant pack; contacting fines in the pack with a dispersant; and passing fluid through the pack to remove fines from the pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Mohan K. R. Panga, Balkrishna Gadiyar, Bruno Drochon, John W. Still
  • Patent number: 8496056
    Abstract: A method of fracturing a subterranean formation comprising at least in part shale formation, comprises providing a carrier fluid; providing a particulate blend including a first amount of particulates having a first average particle size between about 100 and 2000 microns and a second amount of particulates having a second average particle size between about three and twenty times smaller than the first average particle size, such that a packed volume fraction of the particulate blend exceeds 0.75; combining the carrier fluid and the particulate blend into a fracturing slurry; fracturing the formation with the fracturing slurry to create at least a fracture; and removing the second amount of particulates from the fracture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan Hartman, Mohan K. R. Panga, Bruno Drochon, John W. Still
  • Patent number: 8496057
    Abstract: This invention refers to the oil and gas production industry and can be employed to enhance the productivity of wells by preventing the closure of fractures through application of proppant granular material during the formation fracturing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Jose Rafael Silva Ferrero, Elena Mikhaylovna Pershikova
  • Patent number: 8418759
    Abstract: Fluorinated polymers having first divalent units represented by formula, and a plurality of groups of formula —CH2—CH2—O—. Compositions containing the fluorinated polymer and solvent, and methods of treating hydrocarbon-bearing formations using these compositions are disclosed. A method of making a composition containing the fluorinated polymer is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: George G. I. Moore, Rudolf J. Dams, Jimmie R. Baran, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8293687
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel additives packages, to fluid compositions including the additives, to methods of using the fluid compositions and the additives package, to methods of recovering hydrocarbons, and to petroleum products made from hydrocarbons derived from these methods. The novel additives packages may be used in a fluid composition for fracturing a subterranean. The additives package of the present invention include one or more gelling agents; one or more cross-linking agent; and one or more high temperature stabilizers; wherein the additives package further comprises one or more ingredients selected from the group consisting of a clay stabilizer, a metallic base, a cross-link retarder, and a gel breaker, and any combination thereof; and wherein the additives package optionally includes a diluent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Titan Global Oil Services Inc.
    Inventor: Wade J. Giffin
  • Patent number: 8240383
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of making free flowing coated particles and low temperature including a step of curing the coating with UV light or electron beam. Each particle has a precured coating disposed upon a substrate. Methods of using the particles are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Momentive Specialty Chemicals Inc.
    Inventors: Liang Xu, Avis Lloyd McCrary, John W. Green
  • Patent number: 8236737
    Abstract: Particles, including proppants, comprising a fluorinated siloxane. The particles are useful as proppants in fractured a subterranean geological formation comprising hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Wayne W. Fan, John D. Skildum
  • Patent number: 8211834
    Abstract: The invention describes improved fracturing compositions, methods of preparing fracturing compositions and methods of use. Importantly, the subject invention overcomes problems in the use of mists as an effective fracturing composition particularly having regard to the ability of a mist to transport an effective volume of proppant into a formation. As a result, the subject technologies provide an effective economic solution to using high ratio gas fracturing compositions that can be produced in a continuous (i.e. non-batch) process without the attendant capital and operating costs of current pure gas fracturing equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Calfrac Well Services Ltd.
    Inventors: Timothy Tyler Leshchyshyn, Peter William Beaton, Thomas Michael Coolen
  • Patent number: 8178477
    Abstract: Proppants which can be used to prop open subterranean formation fractions are described. Proppant formulations which use one or more proppants of the present invention are described, as well as methods to prop open subterranean formation fractions, and other uses for the proppants and methods of making the proppants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Oxane Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Skala, John R. Loscutova, Christopher E. Coker
  • Patent number: 8168570
    Abstract: Proppants having added functional properties are provided, as are methods that use the proppants to track and trace the characteristics of a fracture in a geologic formation. Information obtained by the methods can be used to design a fracturing job, to increase conductivity in the fracture, and to enhance oil and gas recovery from the geologic formation. The functionalized proppants can be detected by a variety of methods utilizing, for example, an airborne magnetometer survey, ground penetrating radar, a high resolution accelerometer, a geophone, nuclear magnetic resonance, ultra-sound, impedance measurements, piezoelectric activity, radioactivity, and the like. Methods of mapping a subterranean formation are also provided and use the functionalized proppants to detect characteristics of the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Oxane Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew R. Barron, Robert D. Skala, Christopher E. Coker, Dilip K. Chatterjee, Yuming Xie
  • Patent number: 8167042
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Bradley L. Todd
  • Patent number: 8141637
    Abstract: Solid material required at a subterranean location is supplied from the surface suspended in a carrier liquid and agglomerated below ground by means of a binding liquid. To achieve agglomeration, the binding liquid and the particulate solid are similar to each other but opposite to the carrier liquid in hydrophilic/hydrophobic character. The solid and the binding liquid may both be hydrophobic while the carrier liquid is hydrophilic, or vice versa. The solid may be hydrophobically surface modified to render it hydrophobic. The binding liquid may be provided as a precursor which converts to the binding liquid below ground to trigger agglomeration after arrival at the subterranean location. The agglomerates may function as proppant heterogeneously placed in a fracture of a reservoir, or may serve to block an unwanted path of flow. The binding liquid may polymerise after agglomeration so as to stabilise and strengthen the agglomerates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Evgeny Barmatov, Jill Geddes, Trevor Hughes, Dean Willberg, Bruce Mackay
  • Patent number: 8061424
    Abstract: The invention provides economically effective methods for hydraulic fracturing a subterranean formation that ensure improvement of the hydraulic fracturcconductivity because of forming strong proppant clusters uniformly placed in the fracture throughout its length. One of these methods comprises: a first stage that involves injection into a borehole of fracturing fluid containing thickeners to create a fracture in the formation; and a second stage that involves periodic introduction of proppant into the injected fracturing fluid to supply the proppant into a created fracture, to form proppant clusters within the fracture to prevent fracture closure and channels for flowing formation fluids between the clusters, wherein the second stage or its sub-stages involve additional introduction of either a reinforcing or consolidation material or both, thus increasing the strength of the proppant clusters formed into the fracture fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Dean M. Willberg, Matthew J. Miller, Marc Jean Thiercelin, Ivan Vitalievich Kosarev
  • Patent number: 8058213
    Abstract: A composite proppant having an increased buoyancy comprising a proppant substrate such as a porous ceramic or a silica sand coated with a material of a lesser actual density than the apparent density of the proppant substrate to increase the buoyancy of the composite proppant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Chemicals LLC
    Inventors: Richard Rediger, Jesse Petrella, Michael Joseph Aron, Bedford W. Fennell
  • Patent number: 8047289
    Abstract: Among the methods described herein are methods using low-specific gravity particulates wherein the particulates comprise silica and an aluminum oxide in an amount of about 0.1% to about 25% by weight and having at least one void, a specific gravity of less than about 2.2, a particle sized of 8 U.S. Mesh or smaller, and a substantially spherical shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: M. Vikram Rao
  • Patent number: 7954548
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a proppant for the hydraulic fracturing of oil or gas wells, which consists of a mixture of from 10 to 95% by weight of a spherical proppant and from 5 to 90% by weight of an angular material, the percentages being based on the total weight of the mixture. The proppant obtained according to the present invention is useful for eliminating or decreasing the “flow-back” phenomenon in operations in oil or gas wells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Mineracao Curimbaba Ltda.
    Inventors: Sebastião Curimbaba, Gabriel Warwick Kerr De Paiva Cortes, Guilherme De Paiva Cortes
  • Patent number: 7931966
    Abstract: A proppant material is provided that is in the form of generally rigid, elastic plate-like particles having a maximum to minimum dimension ratio of more than about 5. The proppant may be formed from a corrosion resistant material or having a corrosion resistant material formed thereon. The plate-like particles may be substantially non-deformable and may be formed from stainless steel or carbon steel provided with a corrosion resistant coating. The particles may have a thickness of from about 100 to about 300 ?m and may be in the form of a grating. A method of hydraulic fracturing in a formation penetrated by a wellbore is also provided wherein proppant material in the form of generally rigid, elastic plate-like particles having a maximum to minimum dimension ratio of more than about 5 are introduced into the wellbore. The particles may be formed from a corrosion resistant material or having a corrosion resistant material formed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Burukhin, Anatoly Matveev
  • Patent number: 7896075
    Abstract: Subterranean treatment fluids that exhibit enhanced particulate transport or suspension capabilities, and associated methods of use in certain subterranean treatments are provided. In one embodiment, the methods comprise: providing a linear gelled fluid that comprises an aqueous base fluid, a plurality of particulates, and a linear particulate transport enhancing additive, the linear gelled fluid having a certain yield stress, crossover frequency, and/or particulate settling time; introducing the linear gelled fluid into the subterranean formation; and using the linear gelled fluid to create or enhance at least one fracture in at least a portion of the subterranean formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold G. Walters, Jason E. Bryant, Phillip C. Harris
  • Patent number: 7893010
    Abstract: A well treatment microemulsion for use in a subterranean formation is disclosed, the microemulsion comprises a solvent blend comprising a solvent and a co-solvent; a surfactant blend comprising a surfactant, wherein the surfactant blend is able to give formation intermediate wettability properties; an alcohol; and a carrier fluid; wherein the alcohol, the solvent and surfactant blends are combined with the carrier fluid to produce the well treatment microemulsion. By intermediate wettability it is meant that the water has an advancing contact angle on the surface between 62 and 133 degrees. The associate method of treating a subterranean formation of a well with the microemulsion and the associate method of modifying the wettability of the formation with the microemulsion are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Syed Ali, Leiming Li, Paul R. Howard, Sumitra Mukhopadhyay
  • Patent number: 7883740
    Abstract: A method of treating a subterranean formation, comprising: at least partially coating particulates with a first layer of a first curable resin and allowing the first curable resin to substantially cure; and then, at least partially coating the particulates with a second layer of a second curable resin; and allowing the second layer of the second curable resin to substantially cure; and then, slurrying the coated particulates into a treatment fluid and placing the slurry into a subterranean formation. Improved particulates suitable for use in subterranean formations, comprising low-quality particulates that have been at least partially coated with a first layer of a first curable resin and then at least partially coated with a second layer of a second curable resin and wherein the first layer of the first curable resin is allowed to substantially cure before the application of the second layer of the second curable resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip D. Nguyen, Johnny A. Barton
  • Patent number: 7849923
    Abstract: Elimination of sand entrainment and a significant increase in hydrodynamic permeability of the sand pack in an area near the wellbore are achieved through the use of a sand and/or proppant, and proppant material mixture at the final stage of the fracture filling process, where individual particles of the proppant material have at least one shape of plates, lattices, hollow bars, inside-hollow tubes with a closed impermeable cavity or cavities, toroidal particles, elongated particles in the form of ovals, pellets or plates, cylinders with a closed impermeable cavity or cavities, or blocks with a comb multi-channel structure with throughout channels of the ellipse or polygon cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Alexandrovich Burukhin, Anatoly Vladimirovich Matveev, Elena Mikhailovna Pershikova
  • Patent number: 7784541
    Abstract: A system includes a wellbore in fluid communication with a formation of interest and a fracturing slurry include a carrier fluid with a low amount of a viscosifier, an amount of proppant including a first average particle size between about 200 and 2000 ?m, an amount particulates including a second average particle size between about three and ten times smaller than the first average particle size, and a third amount of particulates having a third average particle size smaller than the second average particle size. A sum of all of the particulates in the fracturing slurry exceed about 16 pounds per gallon of the carrier fluid. They system further includes a pumping device that creates a propped fracture in the formation of interest with the fracturing slurry, and a removal agent that removes the second amount of particulates and/or the third amount of particulates from the propped fracture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan Hartman, Mohan K. R. Panga, Bruno Drochon, John W. Still
  • Patent number: 7767630
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of chalcogen heterocyclic electron donating compounds as thermal decomposition reduction additives for gels used in well treatment fluids such as drilling fluids, fracturing fluids, and well completion and workover fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: BJ Services Company LLC
    Inventors: D. V. Satyanarayana Gupta, Paul S. Carman
  • Patent number: 7730948
    Abstract: Methods for reducing wear in pumping components during fracturing operations. A coated proppant is used that causes less wear on the pumping components as the proppant is pumped into the wellbore. The proppant coating consists of a substrate having a coating thereupon which eliminates sharp edges on the substrate and functions as a lubricant to materially reduce mechanical erosion of the pumping components. The proppant substrate may consist of any of a number of materials, including sand, ceramic, resin coated sand, or resin coated ceramic particle. The coating preferably comprises one or more layers of one or more of the following materials (or the coating having low friction coefficients is part of a mixture of the coating): antimony trioxide, bismuth, boric acid, calcium barium fluoride, copper, graphite, indium, fluoropolymers (FTFE), lead oxide, lead sulfide, molybdenum disulfide, niobium dielenide, polytetrafluoroethylene, silver, tin, or tungsten disulfideor zinc oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Rudolphus Johannes Cornelis de Grood, Perry D. Baycroft
  • Patent number: 7708069
    Abstract: A method of mitigating proppant settling in a hydraulic fracture in order to better suspend the proppant as well as ensure a more uniform pack, by mixing a pre-determined volume percent of low density additive, such as glass beads or other suitable material, such as polylactic acid particles, into the fracturing slurry along with the standard high-density proppant, it is anticipated that density gradients can be induced inside the fracture. Upward movement of low density additive due to them having density lower than the carrier fluid will interfere with downward movement of high-density proppant and vice versa. This mutual interference between the two proppants confined in the narrow fracture will significantly hinder the settling/segregation of the high-density proppant. The low density material has a specific gravity of about 0.3, particle size distribution similar to that of standard proppant, and sufficient mechanical strength to survive fracture closure stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Superior Energy Services, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Thomas Watters, Mahadev Ammachathram, Larry Thomas Watters
  • Patent number: 7644762
    Abstract: The present invention is a material and method that enables creation of an in situ pumping action within a matrix or otherwise porous media. This pumping action may be used to move materials, namely fluids, through the matrix or porous media to a gathering point. This pumping action may also be used as a vibrational source, using the movement of the matrix itself as the radiator of vibrational, typically acoustic, energy. This vibrational energy may be used for a variety of purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Inventor: Charles S. Knobloch
  • Patent number: 7591313
    Abstract: Provided are methods of modifying the surface stress-activated reactivity of proppant particulates used in subterranean operations. In one embodiment, the methods comprise: providing a plurality of particulates, at least one of which comprises a mineral surface; providing a surface-treating reagent capable of modifying the stress-activated reactivity of a mineral surface of a particulate; and allowing the surface-treating reagent modify the stress-activated reactivity of at least a portion of the mineral surface of at least one particulate. In other embodiments, the methods comprise the use of particulates comprising a modified mineral surface in fluids introduced into subterranean formations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim D. Weaver, Billy F. Slabaugh, Robert E. Hanes, Jr., Diederik van Batenburg, Mark A. Parker, Matthew E. Blauch, Neil A. Stegent, Philip D. Nguyen, Thomas D. Welton
  • Patent number: 7572757
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of chalcogen heterocyclic electron donating compounds as thermal decomposition reduction additives for gels used in well treatment fluids such as drilling fluids, fracturing fluids, and well completion and workover fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: BJ Services Company
    Inventors: D. V. Satyanarayana Gupta, Paul S. Carman
  • Patent number: 7559369
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments relate to well treatment fluids and methods that utilize nano-particles. Exemplary nano-particles are selected from the group consisting of particulate nano-silica, nano-alumina, nano-zinc oxide, nano-boron, nano-iron oxide, and combinations thereof. Embodiments also relate to methods of cementing that include the use of nano-particles. An exemplary method of cementing comprises introducing a cement composition into a subterranean formation, wherein the cement composition comprises cement, water and a particulate nano-silica. Embodiments also relate to use of nano-particles in drilling fluids, completion fluids, stimulation fluids, and well clean-up fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Halliubrton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig W. Roddy, Jiten Chatterji, Roger Cromwell
  • Patent number: 7541318
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for making proppants on-the-fly during subterranean treatment operations. Some embodiments of the present invention provide methods of preparing proppant on-the-fly comprising providing discrete amounts of a resin mixture that comprises a resinous material and a filler material; placing the discrete amounts of resin mixture into a well bore comprising a treatment fluid; and, allowing the discrete amounts of the resin mixture to substantially cure and form proppant particles while inside the treatment fluid. Other embodiments of the present invention provide methods of fracturing a portion of a subterranean formation using proppant prepared on-the-fly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jimmie D. Weaver, Philip D. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 7484564
    Abstract: Methods and compositions relating to delayed tackifying compositions that comprise an aqueous tackifying agent and a delayed acid-releasing activator that may be used to stabilize particulates and reduce particulate migration within a subterranean formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas D. Welton, David McMechan, Bradley L. Todd
  • Patent number: 7461697
    Abstract: Methods comprising: providing a treatment fluid that comprises a base fluid and a least a plurality of coated particulates, the coated particulates having been treated with a surface modification agent and coated with a hydrolysable coating; placing the treatment fluid into a subterranean formation via a well bore. Also provided are methods comprising: treating a particulate with a surface modification agent; coating the particulate with a hydrolysable coating that has an initial degradation rate to produce a coated particulate; placing the particulate in a subterranean formation; and allowing the hydrolysable coating to degrade at a second degradation rate that is slower than its initial degradation rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley L. Todd, Keith A. Frost, Jimmie D. Weaver, Bessie Q. Citrowske
  • Patent number: 7380601
    Abstract: A method for minimizing the amount of metal crosslinked viscosifier necessary for treating a wellbore with proppant or gravel is given. The method includes using fibers to aid in transporting, suspending and placing proppant or gravel in viscous carrier fluids otherwise having insufficient viscosity to prevent particulate settling. Fibers are given that have properties optimized for proppant transport but degrade after the treatment into degradation products that do not precipitate in the presence of ions in the water such as calcium and magnesium. Crosslinked polymer carrier fluids are identified that are not damaged by contaminants present in the fibers or by degradation products released by premature degradation of the fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Dean M. Willberg, Christopher N. Fredd, Marina Bulova
  • Publication number: 20080078547
    Abstract: A new proppant comprises a proppant particle substrate, a water-soluble external coating on the proppant particle substrate and a microparticulate reinforcing and spacing agent at least partially embedded in the water-soluble external coating in a manner such that the microparticulate reinforcing agent is substantially released from the proppant particle substrate when the water-soluble coating dissolves or degrades.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Inventors: A. Richard Sinclair, Patrick R. Okell, Syed Akbar
  • Publication number: 20080066910
    Abstract: A sintered rod-shaped proppant and anti-flowback agent possesses high strength and high conductivity. The sintered rods comprise between about 0.2% by weight and about 4% by weight aluminum titanate. In some embodiments, the sintered rods are made by mixing bauxitic and non-bauxitic sources of alumina that may also contain several so-called impurities (such as TiO2), extruding the mixture, and sintering it. A fracturing fluid may comprise the sintered rods alone or in combination with a proppant, preferably a proppant of a different shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventors: Jean Andre Alary, Thomas Parias
  • Patent number: 7343973
    Abstract: A method of treating a subterranean formation or of stabilizing a surface within a subterranean fracture comprising: providing a treatment fluid comprising lightweight proppant at least partially coated with an adhesive substance; introducing the treatment fluid into a portion of a subterranean formation; depositing at least a portion of the lightweight proppant in the portion of the subterranean formation; allowing at least a portion of the lightweight proppant in the subterranean formation to form a particulate pack; and, allowing at least a portion of the adhesive substance to migrate from the lightweight particulates to a surface within the portion of the subterranean formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald G. Dusterhoft, Harvey J. Fitzpatrick, David Adams, Walter F. Glover, Philip D. Nguyen