US4074760A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for forming a consolidated gravel pack
Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corp
•
Filing: 1976-11-01
•
Granted: 1978-02-21
•
Expires: 1996-11-01
Abstract
Abstract An aqueous based slurry is disclosed containing an aqueous carrier fluid, an epoxy resin, a curing agent for the resin, a solvent for said resin and curing agent, a finely divided particulate material, a particular quaternary ammonium halide, and a coupling agent to promote bonding of the resin to the particulate. Optionally, the slurry may contain a thickening or gelling agent for the water to enhance its solids carrying capacity and an agent to break the gel after its purpose has been served. The slurry, suitable for use in placing a permeable, consolidated gravel pack adjacent an incompetent subterranean formation, is characterized in that it does not require an oil-based carrier and also in that it can easily be prepared in the field by adding the particulate directly to the aqueous carrier without precoating the particulate with the resin.
Inventors
- 👤 Claude T. Copeland
- 👤 Vernon G. Constien
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 22:29
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/56; C09K8/57; C09K8/575; C09K8/5751; C09K8/5755; C09K8/50; C09K8/504; C09K8/506; C09K8/508; C09K8/5086
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
A method of forming a permeably consolidated particulate mass in communication with a permeable subterranean formation which comprises: (a) forming a pumpable slurry by mixing together in a sequence and respective quantities effective to form a pumpable slurry which can be cured to form a permeable but consolidated particulate mass; an epoxy resin-solvent mixture, a curing agent, a coupling agent, an aqueous carrier liquid, a particulate, and a surfactant selected from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium salts corresponding to the formula ##STR6## wherein: R 1 and R 3 are each independently lower alkyl, hydroxy substituted lower alkyl, or polyoxyethylene alkyl of the formula --(CH 2 CH 2 O) n H wherein n is 2 or 3; R 2 is an 8- through 18-carbon hydrocarbon chain; R 4 is an aliphatic hydrocarbon chain or an alkyl aryl group, containing 7 to 18 carbon atoms; and X is fluorine, chlorine, bromine, or iodine; (b) introducing said slurry through a well bore and into communication with said permeable formation; and (c) curing said slurry in place to form a consolidated permeable mass.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
180 words
A method of forming a permeably consolidated particulate mass in communication with a permeable subterranean formation which comprises: (a) forming a pumpable slurry by mixing together in a sequence and respective quantities effective to form a pumpable slurry which can be cured to form a permeable but consolidated particulate mass; an epoxy resin-solvent mixture, a curing agent, a coupling agent, an aqueous carrier liquid, a particulate, and a surfactant selected from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium salts corresponding to the formula ##STR6## wherein: R 1 and R 3 are each independently lower alkyl, hydroxy substituted lower alkyl, or polyoxyethylene alkyl of the formula --(CH 2 CH 2 O) n H wherein n is 2 or 3; R 2 is an 8- through 18-carbon hydrocarbon chain; R 4 is an aliphatic hydrocarbon chain or an alkyl aryl group, containing 7 to 18 carbon atoms; and X is fluorine, chlorine, bromine, or iodine; (b) introducing said slurry through a well bore and into communication with said permeable formation; and (c) curing said slurry in place to form a consolidated permeable mass.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the surfactant is employed in an amount of from about 0.01 to about 0.23 percent, based on the weight of the particulate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
9 words
The method of claim 1 wherein X represents Cl.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the aqueous carrier is a brine containg one alkali metal halide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the aqueous carrier is substantially free of free polyvalent metal cations.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the aqueous carrier contains from about 1 to about 3 weight percent KCl.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the aqueous carrier contains an effective amount of a gelling agent to enhance the solids carrying capacity of the slurry.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the gelling agent is hydroxyethylcellulose.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the aqueous carrier contains an agent to cause the gel formed by the gelling agent to break to a determinable extent once the slurry has been emplaced.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 1 wherein R 4 is alkylaryl.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
9 words
The method of claim 10 wherein X represents Cl.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 10 wherein R 4 is benzyl.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein R 1 and R 3 each contain at least one hydroxyl group.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
9 words
The method of claim 13 wherein X represents Cl.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 14 wherein R 4 is alkylaryl.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 15 wherein R 4 is benzyl.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the surfactant is employed in an amount of from about 0.01 to about 0.23 percent, based on the weight of the particulate.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the surfactant is at least one alkyl (C 8 -C 18 ) bis(2-hydroxyethyl)benzylammonium chloride.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
151 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the particulate is employed in an amount of from about 7 to about 20 pounds per gallon of total liquid in the slurry; wherein the epoxy resin is employed in an amount of from about 2 to about 10 percent by weight of the particulate; wherein the curing agent is employed in an amount of from about 40 to about 125 percent of that stoichiometrically required to react with the resin; wherein the coupling agent is employed in an amount of from about 0.05 to about 2 percent by weight of the particulate; wherein sufficient gelling agent is employed so that the aqueous carrier component of the slurry has a viscosity at about 25° C of from about 130 to 350 centipoise; and wherein the surfactant is employed in an amount from about 0.01 to about 0.23 percent based on the weight of the particulate.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the epoxy resin is a glycidyl polyether of a dihydric phenol; and wherein the coupling agent is an organosilane.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
260 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the particulate is sand having a diameter ranging from about 0.065 to about 0.01 inch and is employed in an amount of from about 14 to about 16 pounds per gallon of total liquid in the slurry; wherein the epoxy resin is of the bisphenol A/epichlorohydrin type and is employed in an amount of from about 3.5 to about 5.5 percent, based on the weight of the sand; wherein a blend of xylene and ethylene glycol ethyl ether is employed as a solvent for said resin, the weight ratio of xylene and said ether to one another being from about 1.5:1 to about 0.3:1, said blend being employed in an amount of from about 20 to about 75 percent based on the weight of the resin; wherein the curing agent is 4,4'-dimethylenedianiline, and wherein said curing agent is employed in an amount of from about 85 to about 100 percent of that stiochiometrically required to react with the resin; wherein the coupling agent is gammaaminopropyltriethoxysilane and said coupling agent is employed in an amount of from about 0.3 to about 0.9 percent based on the weight of the sand; wherein the aqueous carrier is a brine substantially free from free polyvalent metal cations, containing, based on the weight of the water, from about 1 to about 3 weight percent KCl and from about 0.5 to about 0.75 weight percent hydroxyethylecellulose; and wherein the surfactant is employed in an amount of from about 0.03 to about 0.1 percent, based on the weight of the sand.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2823753A
Cited
US3285339A
Cited
US3443637A
Cited
US3696867A
Cited
US3976135A
Cited
US3857444A
Cited
US3878893A
Cited
US3854533A
Cited
US3867986A
Cited
US4000781A
Cited
US4016931A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-02-20 | 1981-08-22 | 1982-02-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-02-20 | 1985-08-22 | 1986-02-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-02-20 | 1989-08-22 | 1990-02-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |