The present invention provides a method of treating a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation with a treatment fluid whereby fine particulate flowback is reduced or prevented. The method includes the steps of providing a fluid suspension including a mixture of a particulate coated with a tackifying compound, pumping the suspension into a subterranean formation and depositing the mixture within the formation whereby the tackifying compound retards movement of at least a portion of any fine particulate within the formation upon flow of fluids from the subterranean formation through the wellbore. Alternatively, the tackifying compound may be introduced into a subterranean formation in a diluent containing solution to deposit upon previously introduced particulates to retard movement of such particulates and any fines subject to flow with production of fluids from the subterranean formation.

Control of particulate flowback in subterranean wells

A subterranean formation is treated by injecting a blend of fracture proppant material and deformable particulate material into the formation. The deformable particulate material may combine with the fracture proppant material to increase fracture conductivity, reduce fines generation, and/or reduce proppant flowback. The fracture proppant material may be a material such as sand, and the deformable particulate material may be a material such as polystyrene divinylbenzene beads.

Formation treatment method using deformable particles

A subterranean formation is treated by introducing a fracturing treatment composition comprising a polymer treatment fluid containing a dispersion of hydrophilic water swellable particles into the formation. The water swellable particles comprise synthetic polymers that are crosslinked so that they are water insoluble, but capable of swelling in the presence of relatively small amounts of water. When used with treatment fluids containing at least a small amount of water, the particles swell and reduce fluid loss to the formation during the treatment. When used during a hydraulic fracturing treatment of a hydrocarbon bearing formation, the particles may also reduce or eliminate water production following the fracturing treatment by restricting the extension of a fracture into water-bearing formations, and/or by restricting the flow of fluids from water-bearing areas.

Compositions and methods for hydraulic fracturing

Cement compositions including mixtures of substantially elastic material and cement that may be formulated exhibit reduced bulk volume shrinkage during curing as compared to conventional cement compositions. In one application, such cement compositions may be used for cementing in substantially closed system, such as the interior of a mold used for producing preformed concrete items.

Compositions and methods for cementing using elastic particles

The improved recovery of hydrocarbons from subterranean formations by hydraulically fracturing a subterranean formation is accomplished. Fracturing fluids using a viscosifying surfactant fluid containing viscosifying micelles, for example, wormlike micelles, are useful to improve recovery of hydrocarbons and limit the loss of fracturing fluid into the formation fracture face. The invention further relates to novel fracturing and acidizing methods useful for increasing hydrocarbon production, limiting water production, resisting fracturing fluid loss into the subterranean formation, and reducing the equipment requirements in mixing and pumping fracturing fluid. The action of viscosifying micelles of surfactant in aqueous zones of the subterranean formation diverts fracturing fluid or acid from the aqueous zones to the hydrocarbon-bearing zones and also facilitates the flowback of increased amounts of hydrocarbons once a fractured well is placed back on production. These methods selectively block the pore structure in a water-bearing zone and do not blocking the pore structure of a hydrocarbon zone at the formation face. The step for selectively blocking forms a plug of a viscous fluid containing viscosifying micelles in the pore structure of the water-bearing zone at the formation face.

Compositions containing aqueous viscosifying surfactants and methods for applying such compositions in subterranean formations

A water-insoluble particulate composition having controlled slow oil-solubility is disclosed. The composition is comprised of solid particles of a homogeneous mixture of (1) about 4 to 8 weight percent of a high molecular weight ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer containing about 15 to 20 weight percent vinyl acetate and exhibiting a melt index of about 1 to 5 grams per 10 minutes, (2) about 3 to 10 weight percent of a low molecular weight ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer containing about 15 to 20 weight percent vinyl acetate and exhibiting a melt index of about 100 to 600 grams per 10 minutes, and (3) about 86 to 92 weight percent of a paraffin wax having a melting point between about 135* and 170* F. Also disclosed is a process employing this particulate composition in drilling wells into subterranean formations having a temperature between about 125* and 155* F., and in fracturing and treating such formations.

Method and composition for treating subterranean formations

A water-insoluble particulate composition having controlled slow oil-solubility at temperatures in excess of 350° F. is disclosed. The composition is comprised of solid particles of a homogeneous mixture of (1) polyethylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer containing about 15 to 30 weight percent vinyl acetate, or admixtures of these polymers; (2) a polyamide having a melting point of between about 400° and 460° F.; and (3) a softening agent such as a long chain aliphatic diamide having a melting point between about 280° and 300° F., or a polyterpene resin having a melting point of between 230° and 275° F. Also disclosed is a method of using this particulate composition in well drilling and treating operations where formation temperatures of 350° F. or above are encountered.

Polymeric diverting agent

A method for inhibiting the deposition of wax onto a solid surface from wax-containing petroleum and other wax-containing oils in contact with such solid surface comprising adding to such oils a synergistic mixture of a copolymer of ethylene and a monoethylenically unsaturated ester and one or more fatty derivatives, such as a high molecular weight alcohol, a natural wax, or a fatty acid.

Inhibiting wax deposition from a wax-containing oil

A water-insoluble particulate composition having controlled slow oil-solubility at temperatures in excess of 350° F. is disclosed. The composition is comprised of solid particles of a homogeneous mixture of (1) polyethylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer containing about 15 to 30 weight percent vinyl acetate, or admixtures of these polymers; (2) a polyamide having a melting point of between about 400° F. and 460° F.; and (3) a softening agent such as a long chain aliphatic diamide having a melting point between about 280° F. and 300° F., or a polyterpene resin having a melting point of between 230° F. and 275° F. Also disclosed is a method of using this particulate composition in well drilling and treating operations where formation temperatures of 350° F. or above are encountered.

Method of treating a subterranean formation with a polymeric diverting agent

A water-insoluble particulate composition having controlled oil solubility is disclosed. This composition is comprised of solid particles of a homogenous mixture of (1) about 10 to 13 weight percent of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer that contains about 23 to 30 weight percent vinyl acetate and exhibits a melt index of about 300 to 500 grams per 10 minutes and (2) a paraffin wax that contains at least 70 weight percent hydrocarbons having 25 to 32 carbon atoms per molecule. Also, a process employing this particulate composition in drilling wells into lowtemperature subterranean formations, and in fracturing and treating such formations, is disclosed.

Paul W. Fischer

Papers

Method and composition for treating subterranean formations

Polymeric diverting agent

Inhibiting wax deposition from a wax-containing oil

Method of treating a subterranean formation with a polymeric diverting agent

Method and composition for treating low-temperature subterranean formations