US4217231A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Low fluid loss foam
Assignee: BP Corp North America Inc
•
Filing: 1978-08-14
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Granted: 1980-08-12
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Expires: 1998-08-14
Abstract
Abstract An improved method for reducing fluid loss during high pressure hydraulic fracturing of well formations using an aqueous foam involving adding to the foam from about 0.0005 to 0.5% by weight of an additive selected from the group consisting of a C5 to C10 unsubstituted monocarboxylic aliphatic acid, a C5 to C10 unsubstituted aliphatic alcohol, malonic acid, lower n-alkyl diesters of malonic acid and their mixtures. The new additives are shown to be as effective in reducing fluid loss during fracturing as the commercial practice employing hydroxy ethyl cellulose at a fraction of the cost of hydroxy ethyl cellulose without depositing polymer within the formation.
Inventors
- 👤 George E. King
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 01:13
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/60; C09K8/92; C09K8/94; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S507/00; Y10S507/922
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
A method for hydraulic fracturing of a well formation comprising the step of injecting into a well under high pressure sufficient to fracture the formation an aqueous foam containing an additive which reduces the fluid loss during hydraulic fracturing selected from the group consisting of an unsubstituted monocarboxylic aliphatic acid having five to ten carbon atoms, an unsubstituted aliphatic alcohol having five to ten carbon atoms, malonic acid, lower n-alkyl diesters of malonic acid and their mixtures.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
77 words
A method for hydraulic fracturing of a well formation comprising the step of injecting into a well under high pressure sufficient to fracture the formation an aqueous foam containing an additive which reduces the fluid loss during hydraulic fracturing selected from the group consisting of an unsubstituted monocarboxylic aliphatic acid having five to ten carbon atoms, an unsubstituted aliphatic alcohol having five to ten carbon atoms, malonic acid, lower n-alkyl diesters of malonic acid and their mixtures.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method of claim 1 wherein said additive is selected from the group consisting of an unsubstituted monocarboxylic aliphatic acid and an unsubstituted aliphatic alcohol, each having five to ten carbon atoms.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method of claim 2 wherein said additive has from six to nine carbon atoms.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
11 words
A method of claim 1 wherein said additive is hexanoic acid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
A method of claim 1 wherein said additive is octyl alcohol.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
A method of claim 1 wherein said additive is malonic acid.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
41 words
A method for hydraulic fracturing of a well formation comprising the step of injecting into a well under high pressure sufficient to fracture the formation an aqueous foam containing as an additive to reduce fluid loss during hydraulic fracturing diethyl malonate.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
41 words
A method for hydraulic fracturing of a well formation comprising the step of injecting into a well under high pressure sufficient to fracture the formation an aqueous foam containing as an additive to reduce fluid loss during hydraulic fracturing diethyl malonate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method of claim 1 wherein said additive is a mixture of hexanoic acid and octyl alcohol.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method of claim 1 wherein said aqueous foam also contains a polymer additive selected from the group consisting of carboxy methyl cellulose and hydroxy ethyl cellulose.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method of claim 9 wherein said polymer additive is hydroxy ethyl cellulose.
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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) | 1983-08-12 | 1984-02-11 | 1984-08-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-08-12 | 1988-02-11 | 1988-08-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-08-12 | 1992-02-11 | 1992-08-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |