Frac fluids for far field diversion
Aqueous well treatment fluids especially suited for use in far field diversion in low viscosity carrier 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. A method of enhancing production from a subterranean formation in a well, the method comprising:(a) providing an aqueous carrier fluid; (b) adding a diverter to the aqueous carrier fluid, the diverter comprising: (1) dissolvable particulates having a specific gravity of from about 1 to about 1.6, the dissolvable particulates consisting essentially of dissolvable particulates having a particle size of about 100 mesh or less; and (2) proppants having a specific gravity of from about 1 to about 1.1, the proppants consisting essentially of proppants having a particle size of from about 30 mesh to about 80 mesh; and (3) the dissolvable particulates also having a specific gravity greater than or equal to the specific gravity of the proppants and a smaller particle size than the proppants; and (c) pumping the aqueous carrier fluid with the diverter into the formation.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of pumping the aqueous carrier fluid with the diverter into the formation includes pumping the fluid during a hydraulic fracturing operation.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the aqueous carrier fluid comprises water and a friction reducer, the friction reducer selected from the group consisting of polyacrylamides and derivatives, copolymers, and mixtures thereof.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the aqueous carrier fluid comprises a surfactant.
5. The method of claim 1 , where the ratio of the specific gravity of the dissolvable particulates to the specific gravity of the proppant is from about 1 to about 1.6.
6. The method of claim 1 , where the ratio of the specific gravity of the dissolvable particulates to the specific gravity of the proppant is from about 1 to about 1.3.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the aqueous carrier fluid has a viscosity of about 12 cps or less.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the aqueous carrier fluid has a viscosity of about 8 cps or less.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the maximum particle size of the proppant to that of the dissolvable particulates is from about 1.5 to about 8.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the maximum particle size of the proppant to that of the dissolvable particulates is from about 2 to about 6.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dissolvable particulates have a specific gravity of from about 1 to about 1.4.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dissolvable particulates have a specific gravity of from about 1.2 to about 1.3.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dissolvable particulates are composed of polylactic acid.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the proppants are thermoset polymer beads having nanofillers.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adding the diverter includes loading of the diverter in a range from about 0.1 to about 10 ppa.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the loading of the diverter is in a range from about 0.2 to about 5 ppa.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the loading of the diverter is in a range from about 0.5 to about 2 ppa.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the dissolvable particulates to the proppants by weight is from about 80:20 to about 20:80.
19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the dissolvable particulates to the proppants by weight is from about 60:40 to about 40:60.
20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adding the diverter includes loading of the diverter in a range from about 0.1 to about 10 ppa, and wherein the ratio of the dissolvable particulates to the proppants by weight is from about 80:20 to about 20:80.
21. A method of enhancing production from a subterranean formation in a well, the method comprising: (a) providing an aqueous carrier fluid, the aqueous carrier fluid comprising water and a friction reducer; (b) adding a diverter to the aqueous carrier fluid, the diverter comprising: (1) dissolvable particulates having a specific gravity of from about 1 to about 1.6, the dissolvable particulates consisting essentially of dissolvable particulates having a particle size of about 100 mesh or less; and (2) proppants having a specific gravity of from about 1 to about 1.1, the proppants consisting essentially of proppants having a particle size of from about 30 mesh to about 80 mesh; and (3) the dissolvable particulates also having a specific gravity greater than or equal to the specific gravity of the proppants and a smaller particle size than the proppants; and (c) pumping the aqueous carrier fluid with the diverter into the formation.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the friction reducer is selected from the group consisting of polyacrylamides and derivatives, copolymers, and mixtures thereof.
23. The method of claim 21 , wherein the aqueous carrier fluid comprises a surfactant.
24. The method of claim 21 , where the ratio of the specific gravity of the dissolvable particulates to the specific gravity of the proppant is from about 1 to about 1.6, and wherein the aqueous carrier fluid has a viscosity of about 12 cps or less.
25. The method of claim 21 , wherein the ratio of the maximum particle size of the proppant to that of the dissolvable particulates is from about 1.5 to about 8.
26. The method of claim 21 , wherein the dissolvable particulates have a specific gravity of from about 1 to about 1.4.
27. The method of claim 26 , wherein the dissolvable particulates comprise polylactic acid.
28. The method of claim 21 , wherein the proppants are thermoset polymer beads having nanofillers.