IP Library › Granted Patent US 6,844,296
Granted Patent B2
US 6,844,296 · App. 10/177,983 · Granted Jan 18, 2005

Fracturing fluids and methods of making and using same

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,844,296
App. No.
10/177,983
Filed
Jun 21, 2002
Granted
Jan 18, 2005
Kind
B2
Art Unit
1712
USPC
507/211
Abstract

Fracturing fluid compositions and methods for their preparation and use are disclosed. The compositions are useful in the oil and gas drilling operations, as well as in gravel packing operations, water blocking, temporary plugging for purposes of wellbore isolation and/or fluid loss control, and other uses. The compositions comprise a liquid, a polymer soluble in the liquid, having a degree of substitution of ionic groups of about 0.01 to about 0.1; and a crosslinking agent capable of increasing the viscosity of the fracturing fluid by crosslinking the polymer in liquid.

Claims (56)

1. A fracturing fluid comprising:

a liquid;

a polymer soluble in the liquid, having a degree of substitution of ionic groups of about 0.01 to about 0.1, wherein the polymer is carboxymethyl guar, carboxyethyl guar, carboxypropyl guar, carboxymethyl hydroxypropyl guar, carboxymethyl hydroxyethyl guar, carboxymethyl methyl guar, salts thereof, or mixtures thereof; and

a boron crosslinking agent or an antimony crosslinking agent, capable of increasing the viscosity of the fracturing fluid by crosslinking the polymer in liquid.

2. The fracturing fluid of claim 1 , wherein the liquid is water.

3. The fracturing fluid of claim 1 , wherein the antimony crosslinking agent is an alkali pyroantimonate.

4. The fracturing fluid of claim 1 , wherein the boron crosslinking agent is boric acid, boric oxide, alkali metal borate, alkaline earth metal borate, or a mixture thereof.

5. The fracturing fluid of claim 1 , further comprising a proppant.

6. The fracturing fluid of claim 1 , further comprising a breaking agent.

7. The fracturing fluid of claim 1 , further comprising a clay stabilizer.

8. The fracturing fluid of claim 1 , having a ratio of polymer to liquid of up to about 20 pounds per 1,000 gallons (up to about 2.4 kg per 1,000 liters).

9. The fracturing fluid of claim 1 , having a ratio of polymer to liquid of up to about 15 pounds per 1,000 gallons (up to about 1.8 kg per 1,000 liters).

10. The fracturing fluid of claim 1 , having a ratio of polymer to liquid of about 40 pounds per 1,000 gallons (about 4.8 kg per 1,000 liters) to about 60 pounds per 1,000 gallons (about 7.2 kg per 1,000 liters).

11. The fracturing fluid of claim 1 , having a ratio of polymer to liquid of at least about 20 pounds per 1,000 gallons (at least about 2.4 kg per 1,000 liters).

12. The fracturing fluid of claim 1 , wherein the degree of substitution is about 0.02 to about 0.08.

13. The fracturing fluid of claim 1 , wherein the degree of substitution is about 0.02 to about 0.04.

14. The fracturing fluid of claim 1 , wherein the degree of substitution is about 0.04.

15. The fracturing fluid of claim 1 , wherein the polymer has a C* value of about 0.08 weight percent to about 0.12 weight percent.

16. The fracturing fluid of claim 1 , wherein the pH of the fracturing fluid is about 3 to about 6.

17. The fracturing fluid of claim 1 , wherein the pH of the fracturing fluid is at least about 7.

18. The fracturing fluid of claim 1 , wherein the pH of the fracturing fluid is about 8 to about 12.

19. The fracturing fluid of claim 1 , wherein the viscosity of the fracturing fluid is at least about 200 cP at 40 sec −1 .

20. A method of treating a subterranean formation, the method comprising:

obtaining a fracturing fluid comprising a liquid, a polymer soluble in the liquid, having a degree of substitution of ionic groups of about 0.01 to about 0.1, and a boron crosslinking agent or antimony crosslinking agent, capable of increasing the viscosity of the fracturing fluid by crosslinking the polymer in liquid; and

injecting the fracturing fluid into a bore hole to contact at least a portion of the subterranean formation;

wherein the polymer is carboxymethyl guar, carboxyethyl guar, carboxypropyl guar, carboxymethyl hydroxypropyl guar, carboxymethyl hydroxyethyl guar, carboxymethyl methyl guar, salts thereof, or mixtures thereof.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the liquid is waters.

22. The method of claim 20 , wherein the antimony crosslinking agent is an alkali pyroantimonate.

23. The method of claim 20 , wherein the boron crosslinking agent is boric acid, boric oxide, alkali metal borate, alkaline earth metal borate, or a mixture thereof.

24. The method of claim 20 , wherein the fracturing fluid further comprises a proppant.

25. The method of claim 20 , wherein the pH of the fracturing fluid is about 8 to about 12.

26. The method of claim 20 , wherein the viscosity of the fracturing fluid is at least about 200 cP at 40 sec −1 .

27. A fracturing fluid comprising:

a liquid;

a polymer soluble in the liquid, having a degree of substitution of ionic groups of about 0.01 to about 0.1; and

a boron crosslinking agent capable of increasing the viscosity of the fracturing fluid by crosslinking the polymer in liquid; wherein the boron crosslinking agent is probertite, ulexite, nobleite, growerite, frolovite, colemanite, meyerhofferite, inyoite, priceite, tertschite, ginorite, pinnoite, paternoite, kurnakovite, inderite, preobrazhenskite, hydroboracite, inderborite, kaliborite, or veatchite.

28. The fracturing fluid of claim 27 , wherein the liquid is water.

29. The fracturing fluid of claim 27 , wherein the polymer is a polysaccharide.

30. The fracturing fluid of claim 27 , wherein the polymer is carboxymethyl guar, carboxyethyl guar, carboxypropyl guar, carboxymethyl hydroxypropyl guar, carboxymethyl hydroxyethyl guar, carboxymethyl methyl guar, salts thereof, or mixtures thereof.

31. The fracturing fluid of claim 27 , further comprising a proppant.

32. The fracturing fluid of claim 27 , further comprising a breaking agent.

33. The fracturing fluid of claim 27 , further comprising a clay stabilizer.

34. The fracturing fluid of claim 27 , having a ratio of polymer to liquid of up to about 20 pounds per 1,000 gallons (up to about 2.4 kg per 1,000 liters).

35. The fracturing fluid of claim 27 , having a ratio of polymer to liquid of up to about 15 pounds per 1,000 gallons (up to about 1.8 kg per 1,000 liters).

36. The fracturing fluid of claim 27 , having a ratio of polymer to liquid of about 40 pounds per 1,000 gallons (about 4.8 kg per 1,000 liters) to about 60 pounds per 1,000 gallons (about 7.2 kg per 1,000 liters).

37. The fracturing fluid of claim 27 , having a ratio of polymer to liquid of at least about 20 pounds per 1,000 gallons (at least about 2.4 kg per 1,000 liters).

38. The fracturing fluid of claim 27 , wherein the degree of substitution is about 0.02 to about 0.08.

39. The fracturing fluid of claim 27 , wherein the degree of substitution is about 0.02 to about 0.04.

40. The fracturing fluid of claim 27 , wherein the degree of substitution is about 0.04.

41. The fracturing fluid of claim 27 , wherein the polymer has a C* value of about 0.08 weight percent to about 0.12 weight percent.

42. The fracturing fluid of claim 27 , wherein the pH of the fracturing fluid is about 3 to about 6.

43. The fracturing fluid of claim 27 , wherein the pH of the fracturing fluid is at least about 7.

44. The fracturing fluid of claim 27 , wherein the pH of the fracturing fluid is about 8 to about 12.

45. The fracturing fluid of claim 27 , wherein the viscosity of the fracturing fluid is at least about 200 cP at 40 sec−1.

46. The fracturing fluid of claim 3 , wherein the alkali pyroantimonate is a potassium pyroantimonate.

47. The method of claim 22 , wherein the alkali pyroantimonate is a potassium pyroantimonate.