Methods using stimulation-capable drill-in and completion fluids

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9528044-B2
Application number	US-201313733927-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 4, 2013
Priority date	Jan 4, 2013
Publication date	Dec 27, 2016
Grant date	Dec 27, 2016

Abstract

Methods comprising providing a drill-in fluid including an aqueous carrier fluid, a surfactant; and a self-degradable filter cake-forming agent which includes a plurality of degradable particulates which are operable to form an acid upon degradation, and a plurality of acid-degradable particulates. Drilling a wellbore through a reservoir section of a subterranean formation with the drill-in fluid, forming a thin internal filter cake within the wellbore from the self-degradable filter cake-forming agent. Releasing an acid derivative from at least a portion of the plurality of degradable particulates, interacting the acid with the filter cake so as to at least partially degrade the acid-degradable particulates therein. Thereby at least partially removing the filter cake allowing quick lift off of the remaining particulates, and producing a hydrocarbon fluid or gas from the subterranean formation.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
providing a drill-in fluid consisting of:
an aqueous fluid;
a microemulsion-forming surfactant consisting of an alkyl propoxy-ethoxysulfate; and
a self-degradable filter cake-forming agent, the self-degradable filter cake-forming agent consisting of:
a plurality of degradable particulates, the plurality of degradable particulates being operable to form an acid upon degradation; and
a plurality of acid-degradable particulates;

drilling a wellbore through a reservoir section of a subterranean formation with the drill-in fluid wherein the microemulsion-forming surfactant alters the wettability of a surrounding reservoir and forms a microemulsion in situ with hydrocarbons present in the subterranean formation;
forming an internal filter cake within the wellbore from the self-degradable filter cake-forming agent;
providing an in situ generated acid from at least a portion of the plurality of degradable particulates;
allowing the in situ generated acid to interact with the filter cake so as to at least partially degrade the filter cake such that any non-degraded portion of the filter cake is removed by lift off; and
producing a hydrocarbon gas from the subterranean formation.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein drilling a wellbore comprises drilling a multi-lateral horizontal wellbore system.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of degradable particulates comprises an acid-generating substance selected from the group consisting of a polyester, a polylactide, a polyglycolide, a poly(e-caprolactone), a polyanhydride, a poly(orthoester), a poly(amino acid), and any combination thereof.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of degradable particulates comprises poly(lactic acid).

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of acid-degradable particulates comprises calcium carbonate particulates.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the drill-in fluid comprises between about 0.01 wt. % and about 20 wt. % of the surfactant.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the drill-in fluid comprises between about 1 wt. % and about 10 wt. % of the plurality of degradable particulates being operable to form an acid upon degradation.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the drill-in fluid comprises between about 1 wt. % and about 25 wt. % of the plurality of degradable particulates being operable to form an acid upon degradation.

9. A method comprising:
providing a completion fluid consisting of:
an aqueous carrier fluid;
a microemulsion-forming surfactant consisting of an alkyl propoxy-ethoxysulfate; and
a self-degradable fluid sealing agent, the self-degradable fluid sealing agent consisting of:
a plurality of degradable particulates, the plurality of degradable particulates being operable to release an acid upon degradation; and
a plurality of sized acid-degradable particulates;

introducing the completion fluid into an uncompleted wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation wherein the microemulsion-forming surfactant alters the wettability of a surrounding reservoir and forms a microemulsion in situ with hydrocarbons present in the subterranean formation;
forming a fluid seal within the uncompleted wellbore from the self-degradable fluid sealing agent;
performing a completion operation in the uncompleted wellbore;
providing an in situ generated acid from at least a portion of the plurality of degradable particulates;
allowing the in situ generated acid to interact with the fluid seal so as to at least partially degrade the fluid seal, thereby at least partially removing the fluid seal; and
producing a hydrocarbon gas from the subterranean formation.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of the completion fluid penetrates into the subterranean formation from the uncompleted wellbore.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of degradable particulates comprises an acid-generating substance selected from the group consisting of a polyester, a polylactide, a polyglycolide, a poly(e-caprolactone), a polyanhydride, a poly(orthoester), a poly(amino acid), and any combination thereof.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of degradable particulates comprises poly(lactic acid).

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of acid-degradable particulates comprises calcium carbonate particulates.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the completion fluid comprises between about 0.01 wt. % and about 20 wt. % of the surfactant.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the completion fluid comprises between about 1 wt. % and about 10 wt. % of the plurality of degradable particulates being operable to form an acid upon degradation.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein the completion fluid comprises between about 1 wt. % and about 25 wt. % of the plurality of degradable particulates being operable to release an acid upon degradation.

Assignees

• Van Zanten Ryan
• Ezzat Abdalla Moustafa
• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Van Zanten Ryan
• Ezzat Abdalla Moustafa

Classifications

• C09K8/12

  containing synthetic organic macromolecular compounds or their precursors · CPC title

• E21B43/00

  Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells (applicable only to water E03B) · CPC title

• C09K8/508

  macromolecular compounds {(C09K8/512 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• C09K8/88 Primary

  macromolecular compounds · CPC title