US4436156A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of treating well formations employing foamed treatment fluids
Assignee: Halliburton Co
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Filing: 1982-06-21
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Granted: 1984-03-13
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Expires: 2002-06-21
Abstract
Abstract A method for placing a foamed treating fluid in the upper portion of a fracture comprising the steps of: (i) introducing a foamed preflush fluid into the fracture; (ii) introducing an inert gas into the fracture to form a flow channel over the foamed preflush fluid located therein and (iii) introducing a foamed treatment fluid into the fracture whereby said treatment fluid is caused to flow through the flow channel over the foamed preflush fluid and enter the upper portion of the fracture.
Inventors
- 👤 Sherman E. Fredrickson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 18:30
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/60; C09K8/62; C09K8/72; E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/25; E21B43/255; E21B43/26; E21B43/2605; E21B43/267; E21B43/27
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for placing a foamed treating fluid into an upper portion of a fracture in an underground well formation comprising: introducing a foamed preflush fluid having a known specific gravity into said fracture; introducing an inert gas into said fracture containing said foamed preflush fluid in an amount sufficient to create a flow channel above said foamed preflush fluid in said fracture; and, introducing a foamed treating fluid into said fracture whereby said foamed treating fluid is caused to override said foamed preflush fluid and flow through said flow channel formed by said inert gas into an upper portion of said fracture.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for placing a foamed treating fluid into an upper portion of a fracture in an underground well formation comprising: introducing a foamed preflush fluid having a known specific gravity into said fracture; introducing an inert gas into said fracture containing said foamed preflush fluid in an amount sufficient to create a flow channel above said foamed preflush fluid in said fracture; and, introducing a foamed treating fluid into said fracture whereby said foamed treating fluid is caused to override said foamed preflush fluid and flow through said flow channel formed by said inert gas into an upper portion of said fracture.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said foamed preflush fluid is produced by foaming a preflush fluid selected from the group consisting of water, alcohols, oils, liquid carbon dioxide and mineral salt solutions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said foamed preflush fluid is formed by admixture of said selected solution with at least one gas selected from the group consisting of air, carbon dioxide and nitrogen.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said inert gas comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide, nitrogen and air.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said foamed treating fluid comprises a foamed acidic solution selected from the group consisting of hydrochloric acid, hydrochloric acid-organic acid mixtures and organic acids.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said foamed treating fluid includes a proppant material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method claim 6 wherein said proppant material is carried in the foam in an amount of from about 2 to about 6 pounds per gallon of foam.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
150 words
A method of placing a foamed acid treating fluid into an upper portion of a fracture in an underground well formation comprising: introducing a foamed preflush fluid having a known specific gravity into said fracture; introducing an inert gas into said fracture containing said foamed preflush in an amount sufficient to create a flow channel above said foamed preflush fluid in said fracture; introducing a foamed acid treating fluid into said fracture whereby said foamed acid treating fluid is caused to override said foamed preflush fluid and flow through said flow channel formed by said inert gas into an upper portion of said fracture; and introducing a foamed overflush fluid having a specific gravity about the same as said foamed acid treating fluid into said fracture whereby said foamed acid treating fluid is caused to move through said upper portion of said fracture in advance of said foamed overflush fluid.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
150 words
A method of placing a foamed acid treating fluid into an upper portion of a fracture in an underground well formation comprising: introducing a foamed preflush fluid having a known specific gravity into said fracture; introducing an inert gas into said fracture containing said foamed preflush in an amount sufficient to create a flow channel above said foamed preflush fluid in said fracture; introducing a foamed acid treating fluid into said fracture whereby said foamed acid treating fluid is caused to override said foamed preflush fluid and flow through said flow channel formed by said inert gas into an upper portion of said fracture; and introducing a foamed overflush fluid having a specific gravity about the same as said foamed acid treating fluid into said fracture whereby said foamed acid treating fluid is caused to move through said upper portion of said fracture in advance of said foamed overflush fluid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said foamed preflush fluid is produced by foaming a preflush fluid selected from the group consisting of water, alcohols, oils, liquid carbon dioxide and mineral salt solutions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said foamed preflush fluid is formed by admixture of said selected solution with at least one gas selected from the group consisting of air, carbon dioxide and nitrogen.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said inert gas comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide, nitrogen and air.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said foamed acid treating fluid comprises a foamed acid solution selected from the group consisting of hydrochloric acid, hydrochloric acid-organic acid mixtures and organic acids.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method claim 8 wherein said foamed acid treating fluid has a specific gravity of at least about 0.03 less than the specific gravity of said foamed preflush fluid.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 8 which is further characterized to include the initial step of inducing one or more of said fractures.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
141 words
A method for placing a proppant laden foamed treating fluid into an upper portion of a fracture in an underground well formation comprising: introducing a foamed preflush fluid having a known specific gravity into said fracture; introducing an inert gas into said fracture containing said foamed preflush fluid in an amount sufficient to create a flow channel above said foamed preflush fluid in said fracture; and introducing a proppant laden foamed treating fluid having a specific gravity less than the specific gravity of said foamed preflush fluid into said fracture, the specific gravity of said foamed treating fluid being sufficiently less than the specific gravity of said foamed preflush fluid that said foamed treating fluid is caused to override said foamed preflush fluid and flow through said flow channel formed by said inert gas into an upper portion of said fracture.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
141 words
A method for placing a proppant laden foamed treating fluid into an upper portion of a fracture in an underground well formation comprising: introducing a foamed preflush fluid having a known specific gravity into said fracture; introducing an inert gas into said fracture containing said foamed preflush fluid in an amount sufficient to create a flow channel above said foamed preflush fluid in said fracture; and introducing a proppant laden foamed treating fluid having a specific gravity less than the specific gravity of said foamed preflush fluid into said fracture, the specific gravity of said foamed treating fluid being sufficiently less than the specific gravity of said foamed preflush fluid that said foamed treating fluid is caused to override said foamed preflush fluid and flow through said flow channel formed by said inert gas into an upper portion of said fracture.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said foamed preflush is produced by foaming a preflush fluid selected from the group consisting of water, alcohols, oils, liquid carbon dioxide and mineral salt solutions.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said inert gas comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide, nitrogen and air.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said foamed treating fluid carries from about 1 to about 6 pounds of proppant per gallon of foam.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 15 which is characterized further to include the initial steps of inducing one or more of said fractures.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 15 which is characterized further to include the steps of: breaking said proppant laden foamed treating fluid within said upper portion of said fracture whereby said proppant is deposited in said upper portion of said fracture; and recovering at least a portion of said broken treating fluid from said fracture.
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-03-13 | 1987-09-12 | 1988-03-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-03-13 | 1991-09-12 | 1992-03-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-03-13 | 1995-09-12 | 1996-03-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |