Patent US3630280A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3630280A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and composition for treating subterranean formations
Assignee: Union Oil Company of California
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Filing: 1970-08-13
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Granted: 1971-12-28
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Expires: 1990-08-13
Abstract
Abstract A water-insoluble particulate composition having controlled slow oil-solubility is disclosed. The composition is comprised of solid particles of a homogeneous mixture of (1) about 4 to 8 weight percent of a high molecular weight ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer containing about 15 to 20 weight percent vinyl acetate and exhibiting a melt index of about 1 to 5 grams per 10 minutes, (2) about 3 to 10 weight percent of a low molecular weight ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer containing about 15 to 20 weight percent vinyl acetate and exhibiting a melt index of about 100 to 600 grams per 10 minutes, and (3) about 86 to 92 weight percent of a paraffin wax having a melting point between about 135* and 170* F. Also disclosed is a process employing this particulate composition in drilling wells into subterranean formations having a temperature between about 125* and 155* F., and in fracturing and treating such formations.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul W Fischer
- 👤 John W Scheffel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 01:24
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B33/00; E21B33/10; E21B33/13; E21B33/138; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S507/00; Y10S507/922
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
37 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said high molecular weight ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer contains about 17 to 19 weight percent vinyl acetate and exhibits a melt index of about 2 to 3 grams per 10 minutes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method defined in claim 2 wherein said low molecular weight ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer contains about 17 to 19 weight percent vinyl acetate and exhibits a melt index of about 125 to 175 grams per 10 minutes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein the temperature of said formation is between about 125* and 155* F.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said mixture contains about 88 to 90 weight percent of said paraffin wax.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
163 words
The method of completing a well drilled into a permeable 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 about 4 to 8 weight percent of a high molecular-weight ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer that contains about 15 to 20 weight percent vinyl acetate and exhibits a melt index of about 1 to 5 grams per 10 minutes, (2) about 3 to 10 weight percent of a low molecular weight ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer that contains about 15 to 20 weight percent vinyl acetate and exhibits a melt index of about 100 to 600 grams per 10 minutes, and (3) about 86 to 92 weight percent of a paraffin wax having a melting point between about 135* and 170* F.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method defined in claim 6 wherein said high molecular weight ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer contains about 17 to 19 weight percent vinyl acetate and exhibits a melt index of about 1 to 5 grams per 10 minutes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method defined in claim 7 wherein said low molecular weight ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer contains between about 17 to 19 weight percent vinyl acetate and exhibits a melt index of about 125 to 175 grams per 10 minutes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method defined in claim 6 wherein the temperature of said formation is between about 125* and 155* F.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
158 words
A method of fracturing a permeable 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 4 to 8 weight percent of a high molecular weight ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer that contains about 15 to 20 weight percent vinyl acetate and exhibits a melt index of about 1 to 5 grams per 10 minutes, (2) about 3 to 10 weight percent of a low molecular weight ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer that contains about 15 to 20 weight percent vinyl acetate and exhibits a melt index of about 100 to 600 grams per 10 minutes, and (3) about 86 to 92 weight percent of a paraffin wax having a melting point between about 135* and 170* F.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method defined in claim 10 wherein said high molecular weight ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer contains about 17 to 19 weight percent vinyl acetate and exhibits a melt index of about 1 to 5 grams per 10 minutes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method defined in claim 10 wherein said low molecular ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer contains about 17 to 19 weight percent vinyl acetate and exhibits a melt index of about 125 to 175 grams per 10 minutes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method defined in claim 10 wherein the temperature of said formation is between about 125* and 155* F.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
113 words
A well treating composition comprising discrete solid particles of a homogeneous mixture of (1) about 4 to 8 weight percent of a high molecular weight ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer that contains about 15 to 20 weight percent vinyl acetate and exhibits a melt index of about 1 to 5 grams per 10 minutes, (2) about 3 to 10 weight percent of a low molecular weight ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers that contains about 15 to 20 weight percent vinyl acetate and exhibits a melt index of about 100 to 600 grams per 10 minutes, and (3) about 86 to 92 weight percent of a paraffin wax having a melting point between about 135* and 170* F.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The composition defined in claim 14 wherein said wax has a melting point between about 144* and 150* F.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
The composition defined in claim 14 wherein said high molecular weight ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer contains about 17 to 19 weight percent vinyl acetate and exhibits a melt index of about 2 to 3 grams per 10 minutes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The composition defined in claim 16 wherein said low molecular weight ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer contains about 17 to 19 weight percent vinyl acetate and exhibits a melt index of about 125 to 175 grams per 10 minutes.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
The composition defined in claim 16 wherein said low molecular weight ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer contains about 17 to 19 weight percent vinyl acetate and exhibits a melt index of about 430 to 580 grams per 10 minutes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The composition defined in claim 14 wherein said discrete particles have a mean diameter within the range of about 1 micron to about 1/2 -inch.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The composition defined in claim 14 wherein said paraffin wax is present in an amount between about 88 and 90 weight percent.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
102 words
A well treating composition comprising discrete solid particles of a homogeneous mixture consisting essentially of (1) about 6 weight percent of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer that contains about 17 to 19 weight percent vinyl acetate and that exhibits a melt index of about 2 to 3 grams per 10 minutes, (2) about 4 weight percent of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer that contains about 17 to 19 weight percent vinyl acetate and exhibits a melt index of about 125 to 175 grams per 10 minutes, and (3) a fully refined crystalline paraffin wax having a melting point between about 144* and 150* F.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
101 words
A well treating composition comprising discrete solid particles of a homogeneous mixture consisting essentially of (1) about 6 weight percent of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer that contains about 17 to 19 weight percent vinyl acetate and exhibits a melt index of about 2 to 3 grams per 10 minutes, (2) about 4 weight percent of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer that contains about 17 to 19 weight percent vinyl acetate and exhibits a melt index of about 430 to 580 grams per 10 minutes, and (3) a fully refined, crystalline paraffin wax having a melting point between about 144* and 150* F.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-12-27 | 1975-06-28 | 1975-12-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-12-27 | 1979-06-28 | 1979-12-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-12-27 | 1983-06-28 | 1983-12-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |