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 comprising:
(a) providing an aqueous carrier fluid, the aqueous carrier fluid comprising water and a friction reducer, the friction reducer selected from the group consisting of polyacrylamides and derivatives, copolymers, and mixtures thereof;
(b) adding a diverter to the aqueous carrier fluid, the diverter comprising:
(1) dissolvable particulates having a specific gravity within a range from about 0.9 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 within a range from about 0.9 to about 1.4, the proppants consisting essentially of proppants having a particle size of about 20 mesh to about 100 mesh; and
(c) pumping the aqueous carrier fluid with the diverter into a subterranean formation.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein pumping of the aqueous carrier fluid with the diverter into the subterranean formation includes pumping the fluid during a hydraulic fracturing operation.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the aqueous carrier fluid comprises a surfactant.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the specific gravity of the dissolvable particulates to the specific gravity of the proppant comprises being within a range from about 1 to about 1.6.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the specific gravity of the dissolvable particulates to the specific gravity of the proppant comprises being within a range from about 1 to about 1.3.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the aqueous carrier fluid has a viscosity comprising about 12 cps or less.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the aqueous carrier fluid has a viscosity comprising about 8 cps or less.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the maximum particle size of the proppant to that of the dissolvable particulates comprises being within a range from about 1.5 to about 8.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the maximum particle size of the proppant to that of the dissolvable particulates comprises being within a range from about 2 to about 6.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the dissolvable particulates have a specific gravity within a range of about 1 to about 1.4.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the dissolvable particulates comprise one or more polylactic acids.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the proppants comprise a plurality of thermoset polymer beads having nanofillers.
13 . 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.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the loading of the diverter comprises being in a range from about 0.2 to about 5 ppa.
15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the loading of the diverter comprises being in a range from about 0.5 to about 2 ppa.
16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the dissolvable particulates to the proppants by weight comprises being in a range from about 80:20 to about 20:80.
17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the dissolvable particulates to the proppants by weight comprises being in a range from about 60:40 to about 40:60.
18 . 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, the friction reducer is selected from the group consisting of polyacrylamides and derivatives, copolymers, and mixtures thereof;
(b) adding a diverter to the aqueous carrier fluid, the diverter comprising:
(1) dissolvable particulates having a specific gravity within a range of about 1 to about 1.6, the dissolvable particulates consisting essentially of dissolvable particulates having a particle size within a range of about 100 mesh or less; and
(2) proppants having a specific gravity within a range of about 1 to about 1.1, the proppants consisting essentially of proppants having a particle size within a range of about 30 mesh to about 80 mesh; and
(c) pumping the aqueous carrier fluid with the diverter into the subterranean formation.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the aqueous carrier fluid comprises a surfactant, and wherein the adding the diverter includes loading of the diverter within a range of about 0.1 to about 10 ppa, and wherein the ratio of the dissolvable particulates to the proppants by weight comprises being within a range of about 80:20 to about 20:80.
20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the ratio of the specific gravity of the dissolvable particulates to the specific gravity of the proppant comprises being in a range from about 1 to about 1.6, and wherein the aqueous carrier fluid has a viscosity comprising being within a range of about 12 cps or less.
21 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the ratio of the maximum particle size of the proppant to that of the dissolvable particulates comprises being within a range from about 1.5 to about 8.
22 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the dissolvable particulates have a specific gravity comprising being within a range from about 1 to about 1.4.
23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the dissolvable particulates comprise polylactic acid.
24 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the proppants comprise thermoset polymer beads having nanofillers.
25 . 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, the friction reducer selected from the group consisting of polyacrylamides and derivatives, copolymers, and mixtures thereof;
(b) adding a diverter to the aqueous carrier fluid within a range of about 0.1 to about 10 ppa, the diverter comprising:
(1) dissolvable particulates having a specific gravity within range of 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 within a range of 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
(c) pumping the aqueous carrier fluid with the diverter into the formation.
26 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the ratio of the specific gravity of the dissolvable particulates to the specific gravity of the proppant comprises being within a range of about 1 to about 1.6, and wherein the aqueous carrier fluid has a viscosity comprising being within a range of about 12 cps or less.
27 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the ratio of the maximum particle size of the proppant to that of the dissolvable particulates comprises being within a range of about 1.5 to about 8.
28 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the dissolvable particulates have a specific gravity comprising being in a range of about 1 to about 1.4, and wherein the dissolvable particulates comprise polylactic acid.