US3841402A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Fracturing with radiation-induced polymers
Assignee: Zeneca Inc
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Filing: 1972-11-06
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Granted: 1974-10-15
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Expires: 1992-11-06
Abstract
Abstract Improved fracturing with water-containing fracturing fluids is obtained by incorporating into the water phase of the fracturing fluid a polymer, preferably water-soluble, obtained as a product of radiation-induced polymerizaton of acrylamide, methacrylamide, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, alkali metal salts thereof or mixtures thereof. Preferably, the polymer is a copolymer. The polymerization is preferably carried out in 10-60 percent aqueous monomer solution with gamma radiation. The mixture of monomers, before radiation, preferably contains 25-99 percent acrylamide and 75-1 percent sodium acrylate. Other additives may be incorporated into the fracturing fluid to impart desired properties.
Inventors
- 👤 B Knight
- 👤 J Rhudy
- 👤 W Gogarty
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 22:51
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/25; E21B43/26; C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/50; C09K8/504; C09K8/506; C09K8/508; C09K8/5083; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S507/00; Y10S507/922
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
AN IMPROVED PROCESS OF FRACTURING A SUBSTERRANEAN FORMATION PENETRATED BY AT LEAST ONE INJECTION MEANS AND WHEREIN A FRACTURING FLUID COMPRISED OF A HIGH MOLECULAR WEIGHT POLYMER IS INJECTED INTO AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE FORMATION AT SUFFICIENT PRESSURE AND RATE TO FRACTURE THE FORMATION, THE IMPROVED PROCESS COMPRISING INCORPORATING INTO THE WATER PHASE OF THE FRACTURING FLUID OF POLYMER OBTAINED AS A PRODUCT OF HIGH ENERGY IONIZING RADIATION POLYMERIATION OF AT LEAST ONE MONOMER SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF ACRYLAMIDE, METHACRYLAMIDE, ACRYLIC ACID, METHACRYLIC ACID, ALKALI METAL ACRYLATE, AND ALKALI METAL METHACRYLATE, IN CONCENTRATIONS OF ABOUT 10 TO ABOUT 60 PERCENT BY WEIGHT DISSOLVED MONOMER IN AN AQUEOUS MEDIUM, THE RADIATION INTENSITY BEING ABOUT 250 TO ABOUT 1,000,000 RADS/GR AND THE RADIATION DOSE BEING ABOUT 500 RADS TO ABOUT 300,000 RADS, AND THEREAFTER INJECTING THE FRACTURIN FLUID INTO AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE FORMATION AT A SUFFICIENT PRESSURE AND RATE TO FRACTURE FORMATION.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
157 words
AN IMPROVED PROCESS OF FRACTURING A SUBSTERRANEAN FORMATION PENETRATED BY AT LEAST ONE INJECTION MEANS AND WHEREIN A FRACTURING FLUID COMPRISED OF A HIGH MOLECULAR WEIGHT POLYMER IS INJECTED INTO AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE FORMATION AT SUFFICIENT PRESSURE AND RATE TO FRACTURE THE FORMATION, THE IMPROVED PROCESS COMPRISING INCORPORATING INTO THE WATER PHASE OF THE FRACTURING FLUID OF POLYMER OBTAINED AS A PRODUCT OF HIGH ENERGY IONIZING RADIATION POLYMERIATION OF AT LEAST ONE MONOMER SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF ACRYLAMIDE, METHACRYLAMIDE, ACRYLIC ACID, METHACRYLIC ACID, ALKALI METAL ACRYLATE, AND ALKALI METAL METHACRYLATE, IN CONCENTRATIONS OF ABOUT 10 TO ABOUT 60 PERCENT BY WEIGHT DISSOLVED MONOMER IN AN AQUEOUS MEDIUM, THE RADIATION INTENSITY BEING ABOUT 250 TO ABOUT 1,000,000 RADS/GR AND THE RADIATION DOSE BEING ABOUT 500 RADS TO ABOUT 300,000 RADS, AND THEREAFTER INJECTING THE FRACTURIN FLUID INTO AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE FORMATION AT A SUFFICIENT PRESSURE AND RATE TO FRACTURE FORMATION.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the polymer is a homopolymer of acrylamide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the polymer is a homopolymer of sodium acrylate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the polymer is a copolymer obtained by copolymerizing acrylamide and sodium acrylate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the radiation intensity is within the range of about 1,000 to about 300,000 rads/hr.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the radiation dose is within the range of about 1,000 to about 100,000 rads.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the aqueous medium is at a pH within the range of about 3 to about 13.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the pH of the aqueous medium is within the range of about 8 to about 11.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
166 words
An improved process of fracturing a subterranean formation penetrated by at least one injection means and wherein a fracturing fluid comprised of a high molecular weight polymer is injected into at least a portion of the formation at sufficient pressure and rate to fracture the formation, the improved process comprising incorporating into the fracturing fluid a polymer obtained as a product of high energy ionizing radiation polymerization of at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of acrylamide and methacrylamide and at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, alkali metal acrylate, and alkali metal methacrylate, in concentrations of about 10 to about 60 percent by weight dissolved monomer in an aqueous medium, the radiation intensity is about 250 to about 1,000,000 rads/hr and the radiation dose is about 500 rads to about 300,000 rads, and thereafter injecting the fracturing fluid into at least a portion of the formation at a sufficient pressure and rate to fracture the formation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
166 words
An improved process of fracturing a subterranean formation penetrated by at least one injection means and wherein a fracturing fluid comprised of a high molecular weight polymer is injected into at least a portion of the formation at sufficient pressure and rate to fracture the formation, the improved process comprising incorporating into the fracturing fluid a polymer obtained as a product of high energy ionizing radiation polymerization of at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of acrylamide and methacrylamide and at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, alkali metal acrylate, and alkali metal methacrylate, in concentrations of about 10 to about 60 percent by weight dissolved monomer in an aqueous medium, the radiation intensity is about 250 to about 1,000,000 rads/hr and the radiation dose is about 500 rads to about 300,000 rads, and thereafter injecting the fracturing fluid into at least a portion of the formation at a sufficient pressure and rate to fracture the formation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 9 wherein one of the monomers is acrylic acid.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 9 wherein one of the monomers is methacrylic acid.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 9 wherein one of the monomers is sodium acrylate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 9 wherein one of the monomers is sodium methacrylate.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 9 wherein one of the monomers is acrylamide.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 9 wherein the polymer is a copolymer obtained by copolymerizing acrylamide and sodium acrylate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 9 wherein the radiation intensity is within the range of about 1,000 to about 300,000 rads/hr.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 9 wherein the radiation dose is within the range of about 1,000 to about 100,000 rads.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 9 wherein the aqueous medium is at a pH within the range of about 3 to about 13.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 9 wherein the pH of the aqueous medium is within the range of about 8 to about 11.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 9 wherein the frActuring fluid contains a propping agent.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 9 wherein the water phase of the fracturing fluid contains about 0.005 to about 5 percent by weight of the polymer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
151 words
An improved process of hydraulically fracturing a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation penetrated by at least one injection means and wherein a fracturing fluid comprised of water and high molecular weight polymer is injected into at least a portion of the formation to be fractured, the improved process comprising incorporating into the water phase of the fracturing fluid a water-soluble copolymer obtained by radiation copolymerization of an aqueous solution comprised of about 10 percent to about 60 percent of a mixture of about 25 percent to about 99 percent acrylamide and about 75 percent to about 1 percent sodium acrylate, the radiation intensity being within the range of about 5,000 to about 200,000 rads/hr and the radiation dose being within the range of about 1,500 rads to about 50,000 rads, and injecting the fracturing fluid into at least a portion of the formation at a sufficient pressure and rate to fracture the formation.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
151 words
An improved process of hydraulically fracturing a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation penetrated by at least one injection means and wherein a fracturing fluid comprised of water and high molecular weight polymer is injected into at least a portion of the formation to be fractured, the improved process comprising incorporating into the water phase of the fracturing fluid a water-soluble copolymer obtained by radiation copolymerization of an aqueous solution comprised of about 10 percent to about 60 percent of a mixture of about 25 percent to about 99 percent acrylamide and about 75 percent to about 1 percent sodium acrylate, the radiation intensity being within the range of about 5,000 to about 200,000 rads/hr and the radiation dose being within the range of about 1,500 rads to about 50,000 rads, and injecting the fracturing fluid into at least a portion of the formation at a sufficient pressure and rate to fracture the formation.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 22 wherein the sodium acrylate is present in concentrations of about 15 to about 55 percent.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 22 wherein the aqueous phase contains about 0.005 to about 5 percent by weight of the polymer.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 22 wherein the copolymer obtained from the radiation polymerization is in the form of a gel.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 22 wherein the fracturing fluid contains a propping agent.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 22 wherein a temporary diverting agent is intermittently injected into the injection means during the injection of the fracturing fluid.
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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) | 1977-10-14 | 1978-04-15 | 1978-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-14 | 1982-04-15 | 1982-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-14 | 1986-04-15 | 1986-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |