Patent US3640344A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3640344A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fracturing and scavenging formations with fluids containing liquefiable gases and acidizing agents
Assignee: NA Hardin 1977 Trust
•
Filing: 1968-12-02
•
Granted: 1972-02-08
•
Expires: 1988-12-02
Abstract
Abstract A method of fracturing formation with liquefiable gases, liquefiable gases and acidizing agents, and cleansing and scavenging of formations whereby energy waves and high-frequency vibrations may assist in the above.
Inventors
- 👤 Clarence W Brandon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 20:17
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/25; E21B43/26; E21B43/2605; E21B28/00; E21B43/003; E21B43/27
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 59
Claim 1
Independent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the reduction of pressure at the face of the strata is effected by releasing pressure from the well bore at the wellhead.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said fluids include an acidizing agent.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said liquefiable gas is carbon dioxide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said fluid is a strata-acidizing agent.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said liquefiable gas is dissolvable within fluids of the formation or of other applied fluids under the peak pressures of said applied fluid pressure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 6, wherein said fluids include an acidizing agent.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said liquefiable gas (scavenging the disrupted strata by being volatilized by said release of pressure at the wellhead), is carbon dioxide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 8, wherein said fluid includes an acidizing agent.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
72 words
A method of disrupting permeable formations which comprises, introducing a liquefiable gas under a greater pressure than that existing in the formation, applying fluid pressure alternately to vaporize and liquefy said injected gas thereby to assist in rupturing the formation by the successive expansion and contractions of the introduced gas, scavenging the disrupted material from the disrupted formation by said liquefiable gas by reduction of pressure at the face of the formation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 10, wherein said liquefiable gas is carbon dioxide.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the reduction of pressure at the face of the formation is effected by release of pressure at the wellhead.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 12, wherein said fluid includes an acidizing agent.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 11, wherein the reduction of pressure at the face of the formation is effected by release of pressure at the wellhead.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 10, wherein said fluid pressure is applied by fluids in which said liquefiable gas is dissolvable.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 15, wherein said fluids include an acidizing agent.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of undercutting a permeable formation penetrated by a well bore at a selected level therein comprising applying a pressure medium to a selected portion of a face of the formation, effecting said pressure by a gas liquefiable under the applied pressure, applying pressure pulsations to said medium to liquefy and vaporize said liquefiable gas and thereby producing fluctuating pressure differences between the interior and exterior of the formation at said portion of said face to thereby fracture and rupture said portion, scavenging material from the fractured and ruptured portion of the formation by vaporizing said liquefiable gas by reduction of pressure at said face of the formation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 17, wherein said pressure medium is a fluid into which the liquefiable gas is dissolvable under the applied pressure.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 18, wherein said fluid is inclusive of an acidizing agent.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 19, including the step of imposing on said pressure medium an additional high-frequency energy bearing wave to thereby modify said pressure pulsations.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 20, wherein the additional high-frequency energy wave is applied at spaced time intervals to said pressure medium.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 19, including the step of imposing oN said pressure medium an additional high-frequency energy-bearing wave to thereby modify said pressure pulsations, said energy-bearing wave being applied to said pressure medium with a different phase relationship to that of the pressure pulsations.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 18, wherein said liquefiable gas is carbon dioxide.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 23, wherein said fluid is inclusive of an acidizing agent.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 17, wherein the reduction of pressure at the face of the formation is effected by release of pressure at the wellhead.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 17, including the step of energy-bearing wave to thereby modify said pressure pulsations.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 26, wherein the additional high-frequency energy wave is applied at spaced time intervals to said pressure medium.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 17, including the step of imposing on said pressure medium an additional high-frequency energy-bearing wave to thereby modify said pressure pulsations, said energy-bearing wave being applied to said pressure medium with a different phase relationship to that of the pressure pulsations.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 18, including the step of imposing on said pressure medium an additional high-frequency energy-bearing wave to thereby modify said pressure pulsations.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
115 words
A process for hydraulically fracturing a petroliferous subterranean formation penetrated by a well bore wherein fluid is pumped down said well bore and forced under pressure against the face of said formation, said fluid containing a gas which will liquefy under the pumping pressure, separately applying a cyclically varying pressure of relatively high and low pressure pulsations upon said fluid, the amplitude and frequency of which is controlled independently of the fluid pumping pressure and which is sufficient to overcome the breakdown pressure of said formation and thereby cause fracturing of said formation, releasing pressure from the well bore, and scavenging material and fluid from the fractured formation by the vaporization of said liquefiable gas.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 30, wherein said fluid is inclusive of an acidizing agent.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 30, wherein said pumped fluid contains a liquid in which the liquefiable gas is dissolvable.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 32, wherein said fluid or said liquid is inclusive of an acidizing agent.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
224 words
In a process for hydraulically fracturing a subterranean formation penetrated by a well bore wherein a fracturing fluid is pumped down the well bore and forced against the face of said formation under continuous and gradually increasing pressure until the pressure of said fluid against said face exceeds the breakdown pressure of said formation and causes said formation to fracture, and said pumping is thereafter continued to force said fracturing fluid against the face of said formation and into the fractures so formed to extend the length of said fractures, the improvement of which consists in introducing a liquefiable gas into said fluid being pumped against said face of the formation, said liquefiable gas being substantially liquefied under said pumping pressure, applying to the fracturing fluid in the well bore a cyclically varying pressure the amplitude and frequency of which are controlled independently of the pumping pressure, said cyclically varying pressure being applied to said fracturing fluid while continuing the pumping of said fracturing fluid against the face of said formation and said cyclically varying pressure being transmitted through said column of fluid and applied to said face of said formation as a cyclically varying pressure superimposed on said pumping pressure, releasing pressure from the well bore, and scavenging material and fluid from the fractured formation from the vaporization pressure of said liquefiable gas.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 34, wherein an acidizing agent is included in said fracturing fluid.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 34, wheRein said liquefiable gas is dissolvable in the pumped or formation fluids.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 36, including an acidizing agent in the pumped fluid.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 35, wherein said cyclically varying pressure is applied only until the initial acidizing and fracturing of said formation occurs.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 35, wherein said cyclically varying pressure is applied only subsequent to the initial fracturing of the formation and during the time when said acidizing and fracturing fluid is forced into the acidized fractures to extend the length of the same.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 35, wherein the said cyclically varying pressure is applied prior to the initial fracturing of the formation and subsequent thereto during the time when the acidizing and fracturing fluid is forced into the acidized fractures to extend the length of the same.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process according to claim 34, wherein said cyclically varying pressure is applied only until the initial fracturing of said formation occurs.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
42 words
A process according to claim 34, wherein said cyclically varying pressure is applied only subsequent to the initial fracturing of the formation and during the time when said fracturing fluid is forced into the fractures to extend the length of the same.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
44 words
A process according to claim 34, wherein the said cyclically varying pressure is applied prior to the initial fracturing of the formation and subsequent thereto during the time when the fracturing fluid is forced into the fractures to extend the length of the same.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
44 words
A process according to claim 34, wherein the said fracturing fluid is pumped down the well bore through a well tubing string and the walls of said well bore is filled with a fluid to a height substantially above the location of said formation.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of recovering oil or gas from an oil- or gas-bearing strata penetrated by a well bore which includes the step of applying acidizing fluid pressure to the interior of the well bore upon the face of the strata, varying the pressure of the applied acidizing fluid above and then below the internal pressure of the strata immediately adjacent said face to cause thereby fracture and rupture of said face from the internal pressure of the strata, said pressurized acidizing treatment of said strata increasing the recovery of oil or gas from said strata.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
100 words
That method of recovering oil or gas from an oil- or gas-bearing formation penetrated by a well bore which comprises applying an acidizing fluid under pressure into the well bore, applying alternate relatively high- and low-pressure pulsations upon the acidizing fluid and through the fluid to the face of the formation exposed to the well bore and thereby causing acidizing and fracturing of said face, continuing the application of the pressure pulsations until the face of the formation has been undercut with respect to the well bore, collecting and removing oil or gas released from the fractured and acidized formation.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
96 words
The method of increasing productivity of oil or gas from an oil- or gas-bearing formation which comprises undercutting the formation contiguous to a well bore, applying an acidizing pressure fluid under a predetermined minimum pressure to cause vertical displacement of the formation above the undercut portion with resultant horizontal acidized fractures in the raised formation, applying pulsating pressure waves to the acidizing pressure fluid to cause fracturing and acidizing of the raised formation and extension of the acidizing of said formation and of the horizontal fractures while maintaining the raised formation in its vertically displaced condition.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 47, including the step of applying sand or gravel into the undercut or extended portions while maintaining the raised portion in its lifted position.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of undercutting a permeable formation penetrated by a well bore at a selected level therein comprising applying an aciDizing pressure medium to a selected portion of a face of the formation, applying pressure pulsations to said medium and thereby producing fluctuating pressure differences between the interior and exterior of the formation at said portion of said face to thereby acidize, fracture and rupture said portion and allow acidizing treatment of said selected portion of said face.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 49, including the step of imposing on said acidizing pressure medium an additional high-frequency energy-bearing wave to thereby modify said pressure pulsations, said energy-bearing wave being applied to said acidizing pressure medium with a different phase relationship to that of the pressure pulsations.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 49, including the step of imposing on said acidizing pressure medium an additional high-frequency energy-bearing wave to thereby modify said pressure pulsations.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 51 wherein said added high-frequency wave is of the same frequency as that of the pressure pulsations of the acidizing pressure medium.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 51 wherein the additional high-frequency energy wave is applied at spaced time intervals to said acidizing pressure medium.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 51 wherein the energy-carrying wave is periodic.
Claim 54
Independent Claim
55 words
A method of disrupting and acidizing permeable formations which comprises introducing a liquefiable gas under a greater pressure than that existing in the formation. alternately applying acidizing fluid pressure to vaporize and liquefy said injected gas, thereby to assist in rupturing and acidizing said formation by the successive expansion and contractions of the introduced gas.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
125 words
A process for hydraulically acidizing and fracturing a petroliferous subterranean formation penetrated by a well bore wherein a fluid is pumped down said well bore and forced under pressure against the face of said formation, separately applying a cyclically varying pressure of relatively high- and low-pressure pulsations upon said fluid, the amplitude and frequency of which is controlled independently of the fluid-pumping pressure and which is sufficient to overcome the breakdown pressure of said formation and thereby cause acidizing and fracturing of said formation, continuing the application of said acidizing fluid pressure until the face of the formation has been undercut with respect to said well bore, and collecting and removing oil or gas from said well bore released from said acidized and fractured formation.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
192 words
In a process for hydraulically fracturing and acidizing a subterranean formation penetrated by a well bore wherein a fracturing and acidizing fluid is pumped down the well bore and forced against the face of said formation under continuous and gradually increasing pressure until the pressure of said fluid against said face exceeds the breakdown pressure of said formation and causes said formation to fracture, and said pumping is thereafter continued to force said fracturing and acidizing fluid against the face of said formation and into the fracture so formed to extend the length of said fractures and the acidizing thereof, the improvement of which consists in applying to the fracturing and acidizing fluid in the well bore a cyclically varying pressure the amplitude and frequency of which are controlled independently of the pumping pressure, said cyclically varying pressure being applied to said fracturing and acidizing fluid while continuing the pumping of said fracturing and acidizing fluid against the face of said formation and said cyclically varying pressure being transmitted through said column of fluid and applied to the face of said formation as a cyclically varying pressure superimposed on said pumping pressure.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process according to claim 57, wherein said cyclically varying pressure is applied only until the initial acidizing and fracturing of said formation occurs.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
47 words
A process according to claim 57, wherein said cyclically varying pRessure is applied only subsequent to the initial acidizing and fracturing of the formation and during the time when said acidizing and fracturing fluid is forced into the acidized fractures to extend the length of the same.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
49 words
A process according to claim 57, wherein the said cyclically varying pressure is applied prior to the initial acidizing and fracturing of the formation and subsequent thereto during the time when the acidizing and fracturing fluid is forced into the acidized fractures to extend the length of the same.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2308414A
Cited
US2661066A
Cited
US2778427A
Cited
US3302720A
Cited
US3076762A
Cited
US3504747A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-02-07 | 1975-08-09 | 1976-02-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-07 | 1979-08-09 | 1980-02-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-07 | 1983-08-09 | 1984-02-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |