Methods for hindering the settling of particulates in a subterranean formation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9321956-B2
Application number	US-201314040879-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 30, 2013
Priority date	Nov 28, 2012
Publication date	Apr 26, 2016
Grant date	Apr 26, 2016

Abstract

Embodiments herein include a method comprising proving a treatment fluid comprising an activator and providing gas-forming particulates comprising coating particulates with a binding agent, wherein the binding agent holds a gas-generating chemical onto the particulates. The gas-forming particulates are suspended in the treatment fluid and the treatment fluid comprising the gas-forming particulates is introduced into a subterranean formation. The gas-generating chemical and the activator then react to generate gas-formed particulates.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
providing gas-forming particulates comprising:
coating particulates with a first binding agent
wherein the first binding agent holds a gas-generating chemical onto the particulates;

coating the gas-forming particulates with a first encapsulating material;
coating the first encapsulating material with a second binding agent,
wherein the second binding agent holds an activator onto the first encapsulating material;

suspending in a treatment fluid the gas-forming particulates coated first with the first encapsulating material and coated second with the second binding agent; and
reacting the gas-generating chemical and the activator so as to generate gas-formed particulates.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of: reacting the gas-generating chemical and the activator so as to generate gas-formed particulates is achieved by: exposing the gas-generating chemical to the activator through the second binding agent and through the first encapsulating material, or
exposing the gas-generating chemical to the activator through the second binding agent, through the first encapsulating material, and through the first binding agent.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the density of the gas-forming particulates is greater than the density of the gas-formed particulates.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the gas-generating chemical is contained within the first binding agent prior to the step of: coating particulates with a first binding agent.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the activator is contained within the second binding agent prior to the step of: coating the first encapsulating material with a second binding agent.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the gas-forming particulates coated first with the first encapsulating material and coated second with the second binding agent are further coated third with a second encapsulating material.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the second encapsulating material is at least partially cured and the gas-forming particulates coated first in the first encapsulating material, coated second with the second binding agent, and coated third with the second encapsulating material are stored in a slurry prior to the step of: suspending the gas-forming particulates coated first with the first encapsulating material and coated second with the second binding agent in the treatment fluid, or
wherein the second encapsulating material is substantially cured and the gas-forming particulates coated first in the first encapsulating material, coated second with the second binding agent, and coated third with the second encapsulating material are stored in a dry state prior to the step of: suspending the gas-forming particulates coated first with the first encapsulating material and coated second with the second binding agent in the treatment fluid.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the gas-generating chemical is coated in a third encapsulating material.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the particulates are degradable particulates.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the activator is present in an amount of about 0.01% to about 25% by weight of the gas-generating chemical.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first binding agent and/or the second binding agent further comprises a catalyst.

12. A method comprising:
providing gas-forming particulates comprising:
coating particulates with a first binding agent
wherein the first binding agent holds an encapsulated gas-generating chemical onto the particulates;

coating the gas-forming particulates with a first encapsulating material;
coating the first encapsulating material with a second binding agent,
wherein the second binding agent holds an activator onto the first encapsulating material, and
wherein the activator is present in an amount of about 0.01% to about 25% by weight of the gas-generating chemical;

suspending in a treatment fluid the gas-forming particulates coated first with the first encapsulating material and coated second with the second binding agent; and
reacting the gas-generating chemical and the activator so as to generate gas-formed particulates.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the step of: reacting the gas-generating chemical and the activator so as to generate gas-formed particulates is achieved by: exposing the gas-generating chemical to the activator through the encapsulation of the encapsulated gas-generating chemical, through second binding agent, and through the first encapsulating material, or
exposing the gas-generating chemical to the activator through the encapsulation of the encapsulated gas-generating chemical, through the second binding agent, through the first encapsulating material, and through the first binding agent.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the density of the gas-forming particulates is greater than the density of the gas-formed particulates.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the encapsulated gas-generating chemical is contained within the first binding agent prior to the step of: coating particulates with a first binding agent.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the activator is contained within the second binding agent prior to the step of: coating the first encapsulating material with a second binding agent.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the gas-forming particulates coated first with the first encapsulating material and coated second with the second binding agent are further coated third with a second encapsulating material.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the second encapsulating material is substantially cured and the gas-forming particulates coated first in the first encapsulating material, coated second with the second binding agent, and coated third with the second encapsulating material are stored in a dry state prior to the step of: suspending the gas-forming particulates coated first with the first encapsulating material and coated second with the second binding agent in the treatment fluid.

19. The method of claim 12 , wherein a portion of the particulates are degradable particulates.

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Nguyen Philip D
• Vo Loan K
• Tang Tingji
• Reddy B Raghava

Classifications

• E21B43/267

  reinforcing fractures by propping · CPC title

• E21B43/25

  Methods for stimulating production {(by vibrating earth formations E21B43/003)} · CPC title

• C09K8/80

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

• C09K8/92 Primary

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

• C09K8/805

  Coated proppants · CPC title