Frac Fluids for Far Field Diversion
Aqueous well treatment fluids are provided especially for use in far field diversion in low viscosity carrier fluids. The fluids comprise water, a friction reducer, and a diverter. The diverter comprises dissolvable particulates and proppants. The dissolvable particulates have a specific gravity of from about 0.9 to about 1.6 and a particle size of about 50 mesh or less. The proppants have a specific gravity of from about 0.9 to about 1.4 and a particle size of from about 20 to about 100 mesh. The dissolvable particulates have a higher specific gravity and a smaller particle size than the proppant.
1 . An aqueous well treatment fluid, said well treatment fluid comprising:
(a) water;
(b) a friction reducer;
(c) a diverter, said diverter comprising:
i) dissolvable particulates having:
(1) a specific gravity of from about 0.9 to about 1.6; and
(2) a particle size of about 50 mesh or less; and
ii) proppants having:
(1) a specific gravity of from about 0.9 to about 1.4; and
(2) a particle size of from about 20 to about 100 mesh; and
iii) wherein said dissolvable particulates have a higher specific gravity and a smaller particle size than said proppant.
2 . The fluid of claim 1 , where the ratio of said specific gravity of said dissolvable particulates to said specific gravity of said proppant is from about 1 to about 1.6.
3 . The fluid of claim 1 , where the ratio of said specific gravity of said dissolvable particulates to said specific gravity of said proppant is from about 1 to about 1.3.
4 . The fluid of claim 1 , wherein said fluid has a viscosity of about 12 cps or less.
5 . The fluid of claim 1 , wherein said fluid has a viscosity of about 8 cps or less.
6 . The fluid of claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the maximum particle size of said proppant to that of said dissolvable particulates is from about 1.5 to about 8.
7 . The fluid of claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the maximum particle size of said proppant to that of said dissolvable particulates is from about 2 to about 6.
8 . The fluid of claim 1 , wherein said dissolvable particulates have a specific gravity of from about 1 to about 1.4 and a particle size of about 100 mesh or less.
9 . The fluid of claim 1 , wherein said dissolvable particulates have a specific gravity of from about 1.2 to about 1.3 and a particle size of about 100 mesh or less.
10 . The fluid of claim 1 , wherein said dissolvable particulates are composed of polylactic acid.
11 . The fluid of claim 1 , wherein said proppant particulates have a specific gravity of from about 1 to about 1.1 and a particle size of from about 30 mesh to about 80 mesh.
12 . The fluid of claim 1 , wherein said proppants are thermoset polymer beads having nanofillers.
13 . The fluid of claim 1 , wherein the loading of said diverter is from about 0.1 to about 10 ppa.
14 . The fluid of claim 1 , wherein the loading of said diverter is from about 0.2 to about 5 ppa.
15 . The fluid of claim 1 , wherein the loading of said diverter is from about 0.5 to about 2 ppa.
16 . The fluid of claim 1 , wherein the ratio of said dissolvable particulates to said proppants by weight is from about 80:20 to about 20:80.
17 . The fluid of claim 1 , wherein the ratio of said dissolvable particulates to said proppants by weight is from about 60:40 to about 40:60.
18 . The fluid of claim 1 , wherein said friction reducer is selected from the group consisting of polyacrylamides and derivatives, copolymers, and mixtures thereof.
19 . The fluid of claim 1 , wherein said fluid comprises a surfactant.
20 . A method of fracturing a subterranean formation in a well, said method comprising:
(a) providing an aqueous carrier fluid;
(b) adding a diverter to said carrier fluid, said diverter comprising:
i) dissolvable particulates having:
(1) a specific gravity of from about 0.9 to about 1.6; and
(2) a particle size of about 50 mesh or less; and
ii) proppants having:
(1) a specific gravity of from about 0.9 to about 1.4; and
(2) a particle size of from about 20 mesh to about 100 mesh; and
iii) wherein said dissolvable particulates have a higher specific gravity and a smaller particle size than said proppant; and
(c) pumping said carrier fluid with said diverter into said formation.