Methods and compositions for thermally shocking subsurface formations
A crosslinked endothermic fluid composition may comprise an aqueous solution; ammonium chloride; a polymer; and a crosslinker. A method of thermally shocking a subsurface formation may comprise introducing the crosslinked endothermic fluid composition into a wellbore fluidly connected to the subsurface formation; exposing the crosslinked endothermic fluid composition to the subsurface formation, such that a temperature of the subsurface formation at least partially breaks a crosslink of the crosslinked endothermic fluid composition and exposes at least a portion of the ammonium chloride; reacting the ammonium chloride in the crosslinked endothermic fluid composition with fluids of the subsurface formation, thereby decreasing a temperature of the subsurface formation and producing ammonia; and thermally shocking the subsurface formation via the decreased temperature and produced ammonia, thereby inducing one or more fractures in the subsurface formation.
1 . A method of thermally shocking a subsurface formation, the method comprising:
crosslinking an endothermic fluid composition over-saturated with ammonium chloride with a crosslinker to form a crosslinked endothermic fluid composition, the endothermic fluid composition comprising an aqueous solution, a polymer, ammonium chloride dissolved in the aqueous solution, and ammonium chloride suspended in the aqueous solution;
introducing the crosslinked endothermic fluid composition into a wellbore fluidly connected to the subsurface formation;
exposing the crosslinked endothermic fluid composition to the subsurface formation, wherein a temperature of the subsurface formation breaks the crosslink of the crosslinked endothermic fluid composition and exposes the ammonium chloride dissolved in the aqueous solution and the ammonium chloride suspended in the aqueous solution;
reacting the ammonium chloride dissolved in the aqueous solution and the ammonium chloride suspended in the aqueous solution that has been exposed with fluids of the subsurface formation, thereby decreasing a temperature of the subsurface formation and producing ammonia; and
thermally shocking the subsurface formation via the decreased temperature and produced ammonia, thereby inducing one or more fractures in the subsurface formation.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
introducing an endothermic booster fluid into the wellbore before or after introducing the crosslinked endothermic fluid composition, the endothermic booster fluid comprising a second aqueous solution and a hydroxide-containing compound;
reacting the ammonium chloride dissolved in the aqueous solution and the ammonium chloride suspended in the aqueous solution that has been exposed with the hydroxide-containing compound of the endothermic booster fluid, thereby further decreasing a temperature of the subsurface formation and producing additional ammonia;
thermally shocking the subsurface formation via the decreased temperature and ammonia, thereby inducing one or more additional fractures in the subsurface formation.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the hydroxide-containing compound is sodium hydroxide.
4 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising introducing a spacer fluid into the wellbore between introducing the endothermic booster fluid and the crosslinked endothermic fluid composition.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the polymer is guar; and
the crosslinker is borate.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the guar is carboxy methyl hydroxyl propyl guar (CMHPG).
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein reacting the ammonium chloride with the subsurface formation reduces:
a compressive strength of the subsurface formation by at least 10 percent;
a Poisson's ratio of the subsurface formation by at least 10 percent; or
both.
8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising introducing a hydraulic fracturing composition into the subsurface formation after reacting the ammonium chloride dissolved in the aqueous solution and the ammonium chloride suspended in the aqueous solution that has been exposed with the subsurface formation, thereby increasing a size of the one or more fractures in the subsurface formation.
9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising introducing a proppant into the subsurface formation with the hydraulic fracturing composition, the crosslinked endothermic fluid composition, or both, thereby propping open the one or more fractures in the subsurface formation.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the subsurface formation is an unconventional reservoir.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the subsurface formation is a shale.
12 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
adding the polymer to the aqueous solution;
adding the ammonium chloride to the aqueous solution, thereby decreasing a temperature of the aqueous solution;
continuing to add the ammonium chloride to the aqueous solution after the temperature of the aqueous solution stabilizes, thereby forming the endothermic fluid composition; and
adding the crosslinker to the endothermic fluid composition, thereby forming the crosslinked endothermic fluid composition.
13 . A method of thermally shocking a subsurface formation, the method comprising:
crosslinking an endothermic fluid composition with a crosslinker to form a crosslinked endothermic fluid composition, the endothermic fluid composition comprising an aqueous solution, a polymer, and ammonium chloride;
introducing the crosslinked endothermic fluid composition into a wellbore fluidly connected to the subsurface formation;
introducing an endothermic booster fluid into the wellbore before or after introducing the crosslinked endothermic fluid composition, the endothermic booster fluid comprising a second aqueous solution and a hydroxide-containing compound;
exposing the crosslinked endothermic fluid composition to the subsurface formation, wherein a temperature of the subsurface formation breaks the crosslink of the crosslinked endothermic fluid composition and exposes the ammonium chloride;
reacting the ammonium chloride that has been exposed with fluids of the subsurface formation, thereby decreasing a temperature of the subsurface formation and producing ammonia;
reacting the ammonium chloride with the hydroxide-containing compound of the endothermic booster fluid, thereby further decreasing a temperature of the endothermic fluid composition and producing additional ammonia; and
thermally shocking the subsurface formation via the decreased temperature and produced ammonia, thereby inducing a plurality of fractures in the subsurface formation.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the hydroxide-containing compound is sodium hydroxide.
15 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising introducing a spacer fluid into the wellbore between introducing the endothermic booster fluid and the crosslinked endothermic fluid composition.
16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein:
a molar ratio between the sodium hydroxide and the ammonium chloride is from 1:1 to 15:1 sodium hydroxide to ammonium chloride;
a concentration of the ammonium chloride in the crosslinked endothermic fluid composition is from 0.1 Molar to 5 Molar;
a concentration of the sodium hydroxide in the endothermic booster fluid is from 0.1 Molar to 32 Molar; or
combinations thereof.
17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein:
the polymer is guar; and
the crosslinker is borate.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the guar is carboxy methyl hydroxyl propyl guar (CMHPG).
19 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising introducing a hydraulic fracturing composition into the subsurface formation after reacting the ammonium chloride with the subsurface formation, thereby increasing a size of the plurality of fractures in the subsurface formation.
20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising introducing a proppant into the subsurface formation with the hydraulic fracturing composition, the crosslinked endothermic fluid composition, or both, thereby propping open the plurality of fractures in the subsurface formation.