US3929191A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for treating subterranean formations
Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Co
•
Filing: 1974-09-25
•
Granted: 1975-12-30
•
Expires: 1994-09-25
Abstract
Abstract Particles coated with a solid, fusible resin are placed in a subterranean formation. At formation conditions, the resin first melts or softens, and then cures to an insoluble, infusible state. This bonds the particles together forming a permeable, self-sustaining structure in or adjacent the formation. One preferred particle for use in the practice of this invention is a glass bead substrate with an outer layer composed of a solid, fusible, thermosetting resin.
Inventors
- 👤 John Wayne Graham
- 👤 Thomas Wayne Muecke
- 👤 Jr Claude Everett Cooke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 04:33
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/60; C09K8/80; C09K8/805; C09K8/50; C09K8/504; C09K8/506; C09K8/508; C09K8/5086; C09K8/56; C09K8/62; E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/25; E21B43/26; E21B43/267
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
36 words
A METHOD OF TREATING A SUBSTERRANEAN FORMATION WHICH COMPRISES PLACING IN OR ADJACENT SAID FORMATION PARTICULATE MATERIAL COATED WITH A FUSIBLE, ONE-STEP, RESOLE-TYPE PHENOLIC RESIN AND THEREAFTER CAUSING SAID RESIN TO FUSE AND CURE TO AN
Claim 2
Independent Claim
36 words
A METHOD OF TREATING A SUBSTERRANEAN FORMATION WHICH COMPRISES PLACING IN OR ADJACENT SAID FORMATION PARTICULATE MATERIAL COATED WITH A FUSIBLE, ONE-STEP, RESOLE-TYPE PHENOLIC RESIN AND THEREAFTER CAUSING SAID RESIN TO FUSE AND CURE TO AN
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the resin-coated particulate material is prepared by dissolving the resole type-resin in a solvent therefor, admixing the resultant solution with particulate material, and thereafter evaporating the solvent to form a hard shell resin-coated particulate material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as defined in claim 2 wherein the resin is an alkaline-catalyzed phenol formaldehyde.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as defined in claim 2 wherein the resin is fusible at the normal temperature of said formation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as defined in claim 2 wherein the resin is cured in a liquid hydrocarbon environment.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as defined in claim 2 wherein the resin is cured in a salt water environment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as defined in claim 2 wherein the resin coating constitutes not less than 3 weight percent nor more than 8 weight percent of each particle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as defined in claim 2 wherein the resin-coated particles further include an organo silicon coupling agent.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the resin coating constitutes not more than 8 weight percent of each particle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the resin is cured with the particulate material under compression.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the particulate material is silica sand having a mesh size between about 6 and about 100 based on the U.S. Standard Sieve Series.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the particulate material is glass beads having a mesh size between about 6 and about 100 based on the U.S. Standard Sieve Series.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the resin-coated particles are prepared by reacting phenol and formaldehyde in the presence of a base catalyst to form a hard resin, dissolving the resin in a solvent which includes an organofunctional silane coupling agent, admixing the solution with particulate matter, and thereafter evaporating the solvent.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
In a method of propping a fracture in subterranean formations, the improvement which comprises placing in said fracture particles coated with a solid thermosetting resin fusible at formation temperature, and thereafter causing said resin to fuse and cure to an infusible state to bond the particles in said fracture together.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
50 words
In a method of propping a fracture in subterranean formations, the improvement which comprises placing in said fracture particles coated with a solid thermosetting resin fusible at formation temperature, and thereafter causing said resin to fuse and cure to an infusible state to bond the particles in said fracture together.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as defined in claim 14 wherein said resin is a one-step kesole-type phenolic resin.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as defined in claim 15 wherein the resin coating constitutes from about 3 to about 8 weight percent of the resin-coated particles.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as defined in claim 15 wherein the resin-coated particles are prepared by dissolving a solid one-step resole-type phenolic resin in a solvent therefor, admixing the resulting solution with particulate material, and thereafter evaporating the solvent.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as defined in claim 15 wherein the resin is the reaction product of phenol with formaldehyde in the presence of an alkaline catalyst.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as defined in claim 15 wherein the cure is effected solely by formation heat.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as defined in claim 15 wherein the particles are silica sand having a mesh size between about 6 and 100 based on the U.S. Standard Sieve Series.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as defined in claim 15 wherein the resin is cured at formation temperature with the particles under compression.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as defined in claim 15 wherein the particles are placed in the fracture in an aqueous carrier fluid having a salt content of at least 10,000 ppm.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as defined in claim 15 wherein the particles are placed in the formation in a liquid hydrocarbon carrier fluid.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as defined in claim 14 wherein the particles have a glass bead substrate having a mesh size between about 6 and 100 based on the U.S. Standard Sieve Series.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as defined in claim 24 wherein said glass bead is substantIally spherical with a minimum Krumbin roundness of 0.8.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as defined in claim 24 wherein said glass bead has a compressive strength of at least 100,000 psi.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as defined in claim 26 wherein said substrate has a specific gravity of approximately 2.6.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as defined in claim 24 wherein said resin is a one-step, resole-type phenolic resin.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as defined in claim 29 wherein said resin is an alkaline-catalyzed, phenol formaldehyde.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as defined in claim 29 wherein the resin coating constitutes not less than 3 weight percent nor more than 8 weight percent of said resin-coated particles.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as defined in claim 30 wherein said resin is bonded to said substrate with an organofunctional silane coupling agent.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of fracturing a subterranean formation penetrated by a well which comprises injecting into said well a fracturing fluid to form a fracture in said formation; injecting into said formation a carrier fluid having suspended therein a proppant composed of particles coated with partially polymerized, hard shell, one-step resole-type phenolic resin which is curable to an infusible state at a temperature below that of the formation temperature; and thereafter permitting said resin to first melt and then cure thereby bonding said particles together.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of fracturing a subterranean formation penetrated by a well which comprises injecting into said well a fracturing fluid to form a fracture in said formation; injecting into said formation a carrier fluid having suspended therein a proppant composed of particles coated with partially polymerized, hard shell, one-step resole-type phenolic resin which is curable to an infusible state at a temperature below that of the formation temperature; and thereafter permitting said resin to first melt and then cure thereby bonding said particles together.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as defined in claim 32 wherein the proppant is placed in said fracture in multilayers.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for controlling the production of sand in a subterranean formation which comprises placing a filter bed of aggregate adjacent to said formation, said aggregate being sized to retard the production of formation sand and being a composite material comprising a substrate material coated with a hard, partially cured, one-step, resole-type phenolic resin, thereafter causing said resin to fuse and cure to an infusible state thereby bonding the aggregate together into a cohesive, permeable mass.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for controlling the production of sand in a subterranean formation which comprises placing a filter bed of aggregate adjacent to said formation, said aggregate being sized to retard the production of formation sand and being a composite material comprising a substrate material coated with a hard, partially cured, one-step, resole-type phenolic resin, thereafter causing said resin to fuse and cure to an infusible state thereby bonding the aggregate together into a cohesive, permeable mass.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as defined in claim 34 wherein said resin is cured solely by formation heat.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
51 words
A method of gravel packing a well penetrating a subterranean formation which comprises placing a screen liner in said well, placing an aggregate including a solid resole-type phenolic resin in said well in surrounding relation to said liner, and thereafter causing said resin to fuse and cure to an infusible state.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
51 words
A method of gravel packing a well penetrating a subterranean formation which comprises placing a screen liner in said well, placing an aggregate including a solid resole-type phenolic resin in said well in surrounding relation to said liner, and thereafter causing said resin to fuse and cure to an infusible state.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2846390A
Cited
US3026938A
Cited
US2981334A
Cited
US2986538A
Cited
US3150726A
Cited
US3209826A
Cited
US3376930A
Cited
US3696867A
Cited
US3760880A
Cited
US3780807A
Cited
US3857444A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-12-29 | 1979-06-30 | 1979-12-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-29 | 1983-06-30 | 1983-12-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-29 | 1987-06-30 | 1987-12-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |