US3593794A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and composition for treating low-temperature subterranean formations
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-02-24
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Granted: 1971-07-20
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Expires: 1990-02-24
Abstract
Abstract A water-insoluble particulate composition having controlled oil solubility is disclosed. This composition is comprised of solid particles of a homogenous mixture of (1) about 10 to 13 weight percent of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer that contains about 23 to 30 weight percent vinyl acetate and exhibits a melt index of about 300 to 500 grams per 10 minutes and (2) a paraffin wax that contains at least 70 weight percent hydrocarbons having 25 to 32 carbon atoms per molecule. Also, a process employing this particulate composition in drilling wells into lowtemperature subterranean formations, and in fracturing and treating such formations, is disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul W Fischer
- 👤 John W Scheffel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 22:48
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/60; C09K8/62; C09K8/70; C09K8/66; C09K8/68; C09K8/72; C09K8/74; C09K8/76; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S507/00; Y10S507/922
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
54 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer contains about 24 to 26 weight percent vinyl acetate and exhibits a melt index of about 335 to 465 grams per 10 minutes, and wherein said paraffin wax contains at least 90 weight percent hydrocarbons having 25 to 32 carbon atoms per molecule.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer contains about 27 to 29 weight percent vinyl acetate and exhibits a melt index of about 335 to 465 grams per 10 minutes, and wherein said paraffin wax contains at least 90 weight percent hydrocarbons having 25 to 32 carbon atoms per molecule.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein the temperature of said formation is less than about 125* F.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
122 words
The method of completing a well drilled into a permeable, low-temperature, subterranean formation which comprises circulating a completion fluid from the surface to a drilling zone in said formation during the drilling operation and returning to the surface at least a portion of said fluid, said completion fluid comprising a liquid having suspended therein discrete slowly oil-soluble, water-insoluble, solid particles comprised of a homogeneous mixture of (1) about 10 to 13 weight percent of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer that contains about 23 to 30 weight percent vinyl acetate and exhibits a melt index of about 300 to 500 grams per 10 minutes and (2) parafin wax that contains at least 70 weight percent hydrocarbons having 25 to 32 carbon atoms per molecule.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method defined in claim 5 wherein said ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer contains about 24 to 26 weight percent vinyl acetate and exhibits a melt index of about 335 to 465 grams per 10 minutes, and wherein said paraffin wax contains at least 90 weight percent hydrocarbons having 25 to 32 carbon atoms per molecule.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method defined in claim 5 wherein said ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer contains between about 27 to 29 weight percent vinyl acetate and exhibits a melt index of about 335 to 465 grams per 10 minutes, and wherein said paraffin wax contains at least 90 percent hydrocarbons having 25 to 32 carbon atoms per molecule.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method defined in claim 5 wherein the temperature of said formation is less than about 125* F.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of fracturing a permeable, low-temperature subterranean formation penetrated by a well which comprises injecting a fracturing fluid into said well and into contact with said formation at a pressure and volumetric flow rate sufficient to fracture said formation, said fracturing fluid comprising a liquid having suspended therein discrete oil-soluble, water-insoluble, solid particles of a homogeneous mixture of (1) about 10 to 13 weight percent of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer that contains about 23 to 30 weight percent vinyl acetate and that exhibits a melt index of about 300 to 500 gramS per 10 minutes and (2) paraffin wax that contains at least 70 weight percent hydrocarbons having 25 to 32 carbon atoms per molecule.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method defined in claim 9 wherein said ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer contains about 24 to 26 weight percent vinyl acetate and exhibits a melt index of about 335 to 465 grams per 10 minutes, and wherein said paraffin wax contains at least 90 weight percent hydrocarbons having 25 to 32 carbon atoms per molecule.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method defined in claim 9 wherein said ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer contains about 27 to 29 weight percent vinyl acetate and exhibits a melt index of about 335 to 465 grams per 10 minutes, and wherein said paraffin wax contains at least 90 weight percent hydrocarbons having 25 to 32 carbon atoms per molecule.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method defined in claim 9 wherein the temperature of said formation is less than about 125* F.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
68 words
A well-treating composition comprising discrete solid particles of a homogeneous mixture of (1) about 10 to 13 weight percent of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer that contains about 23 to 30 weight percent vinyl acetate and exhibits a melt index of about 300 to 500 grams per 10 minutes and (2) paraffin wax that contains at least 70 weight percent hydrocarbons having 25 to 32 carbon atoms per molecule.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The composition defined in claim 13 wherein said wax contains at least 90 weight percent hydrocarbons having 25 to 32 carbon atoms per molecule.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The composition defined in claim 13 wherein said ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer contains about 24 to 26 weight percent vinyl acetate and exhibits a melt index of about 335 to 465 grams per 10 minutes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The composition defined in claim 13 wherein said ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer contains about 27 to 29 weight percent vinyl acetate and exhibits a melt index of about 335 to 465 grams per 10 minutes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The composition defined in claim 13 wherein said discrete particles have a mean diameter within the range of about 1 micron to about one-half inch.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
73 words
A well-treating composition comprising discrete solid particles of a homogeneous mixture of (1) about 10 to 13 weight percent of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer that contains about 24 to 26 weight percent vinyl acetate and that exhibits a melt index of about 335 to 465 grams per 10 minutes and (2) a fully refined crystalline paraffin wax that contains at least 90 weight percent hydrocarbons having 25 to 32 carbon atoms per molecule.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
73 words
A well-treating composition comprising discrete solid particles of a homogeneous mixture of (1) about 10 to 13 weight percent of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer that contains about 27 to 29 weight percent vinyl acetate and exhibits a melt index of about 335 to 465 grams per 10 minutes and (2) a fully refined, crystalline paraffin wax that contains at least 90 weight percent hydrocarbons having about 25 to 32 carbon atoms per molecule.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-07-19 | 1975-01-18 | 1975-07-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-19 | 1979-01-18 | 1979-07-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-19 | 1983-01-18 | 1983-07-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |