Distributing an amorphic degradable polymer in wellbore operations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10633580-B2
Application number	US-201616335147-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 10, 2016
Priority date	Oct 10, 2016
Publication date	Apr 28, 2020
Grant date	Apr 28, 2020

Abstract

Methods and systems for treating a fracture. An example method comprises providing a treatment fluid comprising a solubilized polyester and a water-miscible solvent; dispersing the treatment fluid into an aqueous fluid; wherein the dispersing the treatment fluid into an aqueous fluid precipitates the solubilized polyester and forms an amorphous polymeric structure comprising the solid polyester; introducing the amorphous polymeric structure into a fracture within a subterranean formation; and allowing the amorphous polymeric structure to degrade.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of treating a fracture:
providing a treatment fluid comprising a solubilized polyester and a water-miscible solvent;
dispersing the treatment fluid into an aqueous fluid; wherein the dispersing the treatment fluid into an aqueous fluid precipitates the solubilized polyester and forms an amorphous polymeric structure comprising a solid polyester;
introducing the amorphous polymeric structure into a fracture within a subterranean formation; and
allowing the amorphous polymeric structure to degrade.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the treatment fluid further comprises a solid particulate selected from the group consisting of diverting agents, proppant, solid acids, breakers, scale inhibitors, chelants, and any combinations thereof; and wherein precipitation of the solubilized polyester captures the solid particulate in the amorphous polymeric structure.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein a dispersal tool is used to disperse the treatment fluid into the aqueous fluid, wherein the dispersal tool is selected from the group consisting of a downhole mixer, a dynamic jetting tool, a static jetting tool, a dynamic mixer, and a static mixer.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the dispersal tool pulses the treatment fluid as the treatment fluid is dispersed into the aqueous fluid.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the solubilized polyester is selected from the group consisting of poly(lactide), poly(glycolide), poly(e-caprolactone), poly(hydroxybutyrate), poly(orthoester), poly(terphalates) a copolymer thereof, a derivative thereof, and any combinations thereof.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the water-miscible solvent is selected from the group consisting of acetonitrile, dimethylformamide, methyl ethyl ketone, tetrahydrofuran, pyridine, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, dimethyl sulfoxide, butyrolactone, acetic acid, formic acid, ethyl acetate, acetone, glycol, glycerol, dioxane, dichloromethane, methanol, diethyl ether, benzene, toluene, trifluoroacetic acid, hexafluoro-2-propanol, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, pentane, hexane, heptane, octane, halogenated derivatives thereof, alkylated derivatives thereof, isomers thereof, and any combinations thereof.

7. A system for treating a fracture:
a treatment fluid comprising a solubilized polyester and a water-miscible solvent;
a mixing tank capable of mixing the solubilized polyester and the water-miscible solvent;
a tubular;
an injection line capable of containing the treatment fluid;
an aqueous fluid positioned proximate to the tubular;
a pump capable of pumping the treatment fluid into and through the injection line; and
an amorphous polymeric structure formed from the contact of the mixed solubilized polyester and the water-miscible solvent with the aqueous fluid.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the treatment fluid further comprises a solid particulate selected from the group consisting of diverting agents, proppant, solid acids, breakers, scale inhibitors, chelants, and combinations thereof; and wherein the mixing tank is capable of mixing the solubilized polyester, water-miscible solvent, and the solid particulate.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the injection line is coupled to the exterior of the tubular.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the injection line is positioned in the interior of the tubular.

11. The system of claim 7 , wherein the injection line comprises a dispersal tool.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the dispersal tool is selected from the group consisting of a downhole mixer, a dynamic jetting tool, a static jetting tool, a dynamic mixer, and a static mixer.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the dispersal tool pulses the treatment fluid as the treatment fluid is dispersed into the aqueous fluid.

14. The system of claim 7 , wherein the solubilized polyester is selected from the group consisting of poly(lactide), poly(glycolide), poly(e-caprolactone), poly(hydroxybutyrate), poly(orthoester), poly(terphalates) a copolymer thereof, a derivative thereof, and any combination thereof.

15. The system of claim 7 , wherein the water-miscible solvent is selected from the group consisting of acetonitrile, dimethylformamide, methyl ethyl ketone, tetrahydrofuran, pyridine, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, dimethyl sulfoxide, butyrolactone, acetic acid, formic acid, ethyl acetate, acetone, glycol, glycerol, dioxane, dichloromethane, methanol, diethyl ether, benzene, toluene, trifluoroacetic acid, hexafluoro-2-propanol, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, pentane, hexane, heptane, octane, halogenated derivatives thereof, alkylated derivatives thereof, isomers thereof, and any combinations thereof.

16. A system for treating a fracture:
a treatment fluid comprising a solubilized polyester and a water-miscible solvent;
a mixing tank capable of mixing the solubilized polyester and the water-miscible solvent;
a wellhead;
a pump;
a first line coupled to the pump and the wellhead; and
a second line coupled to the first line and configured to intermittently inject the water-miscible solvent into the first line; and
an amorphous polymeric structure formed from the contact of the mixed solubilized polyester and the water-miscible solvent with an aqueous fluid.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the treatment fluid further comprises a solid particulate selected from the group consisting of diverting agents, proppant, solid acids, breakers, scale inhibitors, chelants, and combinations thereof; and wherein the mixing tank is capable of mixing the solubilized polyester, water-miscible solvent, and the solid particulate.

18. The system of claim 16 , further comprising an aqueous fluid; and wherein the mixing tank is capable of mixing the treatment fluid and the aqueous fluid.

19. The system of claim 16 , wherein an aqueous fluid is disposed within the wellhead; wherein the first line is configured to inject the treatment fluid into the wellhead to contact the aqueous fluid.

20. The system of claim 16 , wherein the solubilized polyester is selected from the group consisting of poly(lactide), poly(glycolide), poly(e-caprolactone), poly(hydroxybutyrate), poly(orthoester), poly(terphalates) a copolymer thereof, a derivative thereof, and any combinations thereof.

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Beuterbaugh Aaron M
• Sanders Michael W
• Inyang Ubong
• Anderson Tyler Austen
• Reyes Enrique Antonio

Classifications

• E21B37/06

  using chemical means for preventing or limiting {, e.g. eliminating,} the deposition of paraffins or like substances · CPC title

• C09K2208/26

  Gel breakers other than bacteria or enzymes · CPC title

• C09K8/885 Primary

  obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds · CPC title

• C09K8/74

  combined with additives added for specific purposes · CPC title

• C09K8/706

  Encapsulated breakers · CPC title