Method for forming a consolidated gravel pack in a subterranean formation

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein said slurry is placed in communication with said formation and also in said borehole to form a continuous mass, said entire mass is cured and a portion of the cured mass located in said borehole is removed to provide a consolidated mass extending into said borehole.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 wherein said particulate material is a sIliceous material and said pumpable slurry includes in addition a coupling agent consisting of an organo-silicon compound.

Claim 5

The method of claim 3 wherein said resin is provided in an amount ranging from about 2.5 to about 9 pounds per 100 pounds of particulate material.

Claim 6

The method of claim 3 wherein said particulate material ranges in size from about 0.065 to about 0.01 inch in diameter.

Claim 7

The method of claim 5 wherein said particulate material is present in an amount ranging from about 9 to about 20 pounds per gallon of liquid and said resin is present in an amount ranging from about 2.5 to about 9 pounds per 100 pounds of particulate material.

Claim 8

The method of claim 1 wherein the carrier liquid is a hydrocarbon oil having a viscosity at 80*F ranging from about 100 to about 2,500 centipoise.

Claim 9

The method of claim 7 wherein said particulate material is sand which ranges in size from about 0.065 to about 0.01 in diameter, said sand is present in an amount ranging from about 9 to about 20 pounds per gallon of liquid in said mixture, and said resin is present in an amount ranging from about 2.5 to about 9 pounds per 100 pounds of sand.

Claim 10

The method of claim 8 wherein a sufficient amount of said mixture is pumped into said well to form a mass against said formation and also in the well bore and said entire mass is cured.

Claim 11

The method of claim 9 wherein a portion of said cured mass located in said well bore is removed.

Claim 12

The method of claim 9 wherein said mixture comprises a diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A epoxy resin dissolved in ethylene glycol n-butyl ether in a weight ratio of 60:40, a curing agent consisting of p,p-methylene dianiline, said resin-solvent mixture comprising 38 parts by volume, sufficient sand to provide about 5.6 pounds of resin per 100 pounds of sand, 210 parts by volume of a carrier oil and 3 parts by volume of gamma aminopropyl triethoxy silane.

Claim 13

The method of claim 1 including in addition applying a fracturing pressure to said formation prior to introducing said slurry into the well bore, continuing the application of said fracturing pressure, introducing the slurry into said formation under fracturing pressure, reducing the pressure on said formation below fracturing pressure, and depositing a portion of said slurry in said borehole in communication with said slurry in said formation.

Claim 14

The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said pumpable slurry includes in addition a coupling agent.

Claim 15

In a method of fracturing an unconsolidated subterranean formation wherein a fracturing pressure is exerted on the formation with a fracturing fluid and a particulate proppant is placed in the formation, the improvement which comprises: a. placing into said formation at fracturing pressure a pumpable slurry formed by mixing together an epoxy resin-solvent mixture, a particulate material, a curing agent and a carrier liquid, said particulate material ranging in size from about 0.1 to about 0.0025 inch in diameter and is present in an amount ranging from about 7 to about 20 pounds per gallon of liquid in said slurry, said epoxy resin-solvent mixture comprising an epoxy resin and a polar organic solvent for said resin, said solvent in conjunction with said resin being only partially miscible with said carrier liquid, said resin being present in an amount ranging from about 2 to about 10 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of particulate material, said resin-solvent mixture containing from about 55 to about 85 percent by weight of resin, b. curing said slurry in place in said formation to form a consolidated permeable mass.

Claim 16

In a method of fracturing an unconsolidated subterranean formation wherein a fracturing pressure is exerted on the formation with a fracturing fluid and a particulate proppant is placed in the formation, the improvement which comprises: a. placing into said formation at fracturing pressure a pumpable slurry formed by mixing together an epoxy resin-solvent mixture, a particulate material, a curing agent and a carrier liquid, said particulate material ranging in size from about 0.1 to about 0.0025 inch in diameter and is present in an amount ranging from about 7 to about 20 pounds per gallon of liquid in said slurry, said epoxy resin-solvent mixture comprising an epoxy resin and a polar organic solvent for said resin, said solvent in conjunction with said resin being only partially miscible with said carrier liquid, said resin being present in an amount ranging from about 2 to about 10 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of particulate material, said resin-solvent mixture containing from about 55 to about 85 percent by weight of resin, b. curing said slurry in place in said formation to form a consolidated permeable mass.

Claim 17

The method of claim 14 wherein said slurry is placed in communication with said formation and also in said borehole to form a continuous mass of said slurry, said entire mass is cured and a portion of the cured mass located in said borehole is removed to provide a consolidated mass extending into said borehole.

Claim 18

The method of claim 14 wherein said particulate material is a siliceous material and said pumpable slurry includes in addition a coupling agent consisting of an organo-silicon compound.

Claim 19

The method of claim 16 wherein said resin is provided in an amount ranging from about 2.5 to about 9 pounds per 100 pounds of particulate material.

Claim 20

The method of claim 16 wherein said particulate material ranges in size from about 0.065 to about 0.01 inch in diameter.

Claim 21

The method of claim 18 wherein said particulate material is present in an amount ranging from about 9 to about 20 pounds per gallon of liquid and said resin is present in an amount ranging from about 2.5 to about 9 pounds per 100 pounds of particulate material.

Claim 22

The method of claim 14 wherein the carrier liquid is a hydrocarbon oil having a viscosity at 80*F ranging from about 100 to about 2,500 centipoise.

Claim 23

The method of claim 20 wherein said particulate material is sand which ranges in size from about 0.065 to about 0.01 in diameter, said sand is present in an amount ranging from about 9 to about 20 pounds per gallon of liquid in said mixture, and said resin is present in an amount ranging from about 2.5 to about 9 pounds per 100 pounds of sand.

Claim 24

The method of claim 21 wherein a sufficient amount of said mixture is pumped into said well to form a mass against said formation and also in the well bore and said entire mass is cured.

Claim 25

The method of claim 22 wherein a portion of said cured mass located in said well bore is removed.

Claim 26

The method of claim 22 wherein said mixture comprises a diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A epoxy resin dissolved in ethylene glycol n-butyl ether in a weight ratio of 60:40, a curing agent consisting of p,p-methylene dianiline, said resin-solvent mixture comprising 38 parts by volume, sufficient sand to provide about 5.6 pounds of resin per 100 pounds of sand, 210 parts by volume of a carrier oil and 3 parts by volume of gamma aminopropyl triethoxy silane.

Claim 27

The method of claim 14 including in addition applying a fracturing pressure to said formation prior to introducing said slurry into the well bore, continuing the application of said fracturing pressure, introducing the slurry in said formation under fracturing pressure, reducing the pressure on said formation below fracturing pressure, and depositing a portion of said slurry in said borehole in communication with said slurry in said formation.

Claim 28

The method of claim 13 wherein said pumpable slurry includes in addition a coupling agent.