Surface modification agent to prolong scale inhibitor lifetime

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016333669-A1
Application number	US-201514711709-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 13, 2015
Priority date	May 13, 2015
Publication date	Nov 17, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method of treating a subterranean formation comprising: introducing a first treatment fluid into a well, wherein the first treatment fluid comprises a base fluid and a scale inhibitor; and introducing a second treatment fluid into the well, wherein the second treatment fluid comprises a base fluid and a surface modification agent, wherein the surface modification agent is a hydrophobically modified polyamide. A method of fracturing a subterranean formation comprising: introducing a fracturing fluid into a well, wherein the introduction of the fracturing fluid creates or enhances a fracture in the subterranean formation, wherein the fracturing fluid comprises: a base fluid; proppant; a scale inhibitor; and the surface modification agent.

First claim

1 . A method of treating a subterranean formation comprising:
introducing a first treatment fluid into a well, wherein the first treatment fluid comprises a base fluid and a scale inhibitor; and introducing a second treatment fluid into the well, wherein the second treatment fluid comprises a base fluid and a surface modification agent, wherein the surface modification agent is a hydrophobically modified polyamide or polyester.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the base fluid comprises water, and wherein the water is selected from the group consisting of fresh water, brackish water, sea water, brine, produced water, and any combination thereof in any proportion.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the scale inhibitor is a liquid.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the scale inhibitor is an aqueous-based anionic compound, an oil-soluble compound, or an oil-miscible compound.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the scale inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of inorganic phosphates; organophosphorous compounds, including phosphate esters and phosphonates; organic polymers; and combinations thereof.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the surface modification agent alters a property of the subterranean formation, and wherein the property is hydrophobicity; positive, negative and/or neutral charges; oil and water-wettability or wettability strengths; and polar, intermediate polar and/or non-polar or polarity strengths.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobically modified polyamide or polyester is formed by modifying a polyamine, a polyimine, or a polyalcohol with a fatty acid, dimer acid, or trimer acid.

8 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein the hydrophobically modified polyamide is selected from the group consisting of hydrophobically modified polyethylene imine.

9 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein the hydrophobically modified polyamide or polyester comprises one or more hydrocarbon side chains, and wherein the side chains have a number of carbon atoms ranging from C 8 to C 28 .

10 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the number of side chains range from about 10 to 2,000.

11 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the hydrophobically modified polyamide or polyester has a molecular weight in the range of about 800 to 125,000.

12 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the absorption rate of the scale inhibitor is altered by the surface modification agent such that the concentration of the scale inhibitor is maintained at or above the minimum inhibitory concentration for a desired period of time within the subterranean formation.

13 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the number of side chains and the molecular weight of the hydrophobically modified polyamide are selected such that the concentration of the scale inhibitor is maintained at or above a minimum inhibitory concentration for the desired period of time within the subterranean formation.

14 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the desired period of time is in the range from about 2 months to 2 years.

15 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first treatment fluid is introduced before or after the second treatment fluid.

16 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second treatment fluids are introduced into the well using one or more pumps.

17 . A method of fracturing a subterranean formation comprising:
introducing a fracturing fluid into a well, wherein the introduction of the fracturing fluid creates or enhances a fracture in the subterranean formation, wherein the fracturing fluid comprises: (A) a base fluid, wherein the base fluid comprises water, and wherein the water is selected from the group consisting of fresh water, brackish water, sea water, brine, produced water, and any combination thereof in any proportion, wherein the base fluid does not comprise a surface modification agent; (B) proppant which is not coated with a surface modification agent; and (C) a scale inhibitor coated with a surface modification agent comprising a hydrophobically modified polyamide or polyester.

18 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein the scale inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of inorganic phosphates; organophosphorous compounds, including phosphate esters and phosphonates; organic polymers; and combinations thereof.

19 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein the surface modification agent alters a property of the subterranean formation, and wherein the property is hydrophobicity;
positive, negative and/or neutral charges; oil and water-wettability or wettability strengths; and polar, intermediate polar and/or non-polar or polarity strengths.

20 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein the hydrophobically modified polyamide is selected from the group consisting of hydrophobically modified polyethylene imine.

21 . The method according to claim 20 , wherein the hydrophobically modified polyamide or polyester comprises one or more hydrocarbon side chains, and wherein the side chains have a number of carbon atoms ranging from C 8 to C 28 .

22 . The method according to claim 21 , wherein the number of side chains range from about 10 to 2,000.

23 . The method according to claim 22 , wherein the hydrophobically modified polyamide or polyester has a molecular weight in the range of about 800 to 125,000.

24 . (canceled)

25 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein the absorption rate of the scale inhibitor is altered by the surface modification agent such that the concentration of the scale inhibitor is maintained at or above the minimum inhibitory concentration for a desired period of time within the fracture, and wherein the desired period of time is in the range from about 2 months to 2 years.

26 . (canceled)

27 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein the rate of release of the scale inhibitor is decreased by the surface modification agent such that the concentration of the scale inhibitor is maintained at or above the minimum inhibitory concentration for a desired period of time within the fracture, and wherein the desired period of time is in the range from about 2 months to 2 years.

28 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein fracturing fluid is introduced into the well using one or more pumps.

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Mello Jesse V
• Stanciu Corneliu
• Vo Loan K

Classifications

• E21B43/267

  reinforcing fractures by propping · CPC title

• E21B37/06 Primary

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

• C09K8/80

  Compositions for reinforcing fractures, e.g. compositions of proppants used to keep the fractures open · CPC title

• C09K8/528 Primary

  inorganic depositions, e.g. sulfates or carbonates · CPC title

• C09K8/92

  characterised by their form or by the form of their components, e.g. encapsulated material (C09K8/70 takes precedence) · CPC title