US4453596A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of treating subterranean formations utilizing foamed viscous fluids
Assignee: Halliburton Co
•
Filing: 1983-02-14
•
Granted: 1984-06-12
•
Expires: 2003-02-14
Abstract
Abstract A method of treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a well bore comprising injecting a gelled foamed fluid into said formation. The gelled foamed fluid is prepared by foaming an admixture of a fluid and a surface active foaming agent and admixing the foamed fluid with a gelled fluid whereby the foamed fluid is diluted by the gel to form the gelled foamed fluid.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael W. Conway
- 👤 Lewis R. Norman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 06:21
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/60; C09K8/62; C09K8/70; C09K8/703; E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/02; E21B43/04; E21B43/25; E21B43/255; E21B43/26; E21B43/2607
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a well bore comprising: providing an admixture of a fluid and a surface active foaming agent; foaming said fluid admixture by the injection of an elevated pressure gas into said fluid; providing a gelled fluid; admixing said gelled fluid with said foamed fluid whereby said foamed fluid is diluted by said gelled fluid to form a gelled foamed fluid; and injecting said gelled foamed fluid into said well bore to contact said subterranean formation.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a well bore comprising: providing an admixture of a fluid and a surface active foaming agent; foaming said fluid admixture by the injection of an elevated pressure gas into said fluid; providing a gelled fluid; admixing said gelled fluid with said foamed fluid whereby said foamed fluid is diluted by said gelled fluid to form a gelled foamed fluid; and injecting said gelled foamed fluid into said well bore to contact said subterranean formation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said surface active foaming agent is present in an amount of about 0.1 to about 10 percent by volume of the total fluid present.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said gelled fluid is produced by the admixture of a gelling agent with an aqueous or hydrocarbon fluid in an amount sufficient to provide said gelled fluid with a viscosity in the range of from about 20 to about 80 centipoise.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said foamed fluid has a foam quality in the range of from about 50 to about 99 percent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said gelled foamed fluid has a foam quality in the range of from about 50 to about 80 percent.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said gelled fluid includes a solid particulate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said solid particulate is present in an amount of from about one pound to about 25 pounds per gallon of said gelled fluid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said gelled foamed fluid is utilized to fracture said subterranean formation and said injecting of said gelled foamed fluid is defined further as: injecting said gelled foamed fluid into said well bore under sufficient pressure to create at least one fracture in said formation.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
181 words
A method of fracturing a subterranean formation penetrated by a well bore comprising: admixing a quantity of a surface active foaming agent with a first fluid; foaming said admixture by the injection of a gas to form a foamed fluid; admixing a quantity of a gelling agent with a second fluid in an amount sufficient to form a gelled fluid having a viscosity of at least 20 centipoise; admixing a quantity of a solid particulate with said gelled fluid to form a gelled slurry; admixing said foamed fluid with said gelled slurry whereby said foamed fluid is diluted by said gelled slurry to form a gelled foamed fluid; injecting said gelled foamed fluid into said well bore penetrating said subterranean formation under sufficient pressure to create at least one fracture in said formation; pumping an additional quantity of said gelled foamed fluid into at least a portion of said created fracture to extend said fracture and, thereafter reducing the pressure applied to said gelled foamed fluid whereby said foam is caused to break and deposit said solid particulate in said fracture.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
181 words
A method of fracturing a subterranean formation penetrated by a well bore comprising: admixing a quantity of a surface active foaming agent with a first fluid; foaming said admixture by the injection of a gas to form a foamed fluid; admixing a quantity of a gelling agent with a second fluid in an amount sufficient to form a gelled fluid having a viscosity of at least 20 centipoise; admixing a quantity of a solid particulate with said gelled fluid to form a gelled slurry; admixing said foamed fluid with said gelled slurry whereby said foamed fluid is diluted by said gelled slurry to form a gelled foamed fluid; injecting said gelled foamed fluid into said well bore penetrating said subterranean formation under sufficient pressure to create at least one fracture in said formation; pumping an additional quantity of said gelled foamed fluid into at least a portion of said created fracture to extend said fracture and, thereafter reducing the pressure applied to said gelled foamed fluid whereby said foam is caused to break and deposit said solid particulate in said fracture.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said surface active foaming agent is present in an amount of about 0.1 to about 10 percent by volume of the total fluid.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said foamed fluid has a foam quality in the range of from about 50 to about 99 percent.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said gelled foamed fluid has a foam quality in the range of from about 50 to about 80 percent.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said gelled fluid has a viscosity in the range of from about 20 to about 80 centipoise.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said solid particulate is present in an amount of from about 1 pound to about 25 pounds per gallon of gelled fluid.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of performing a gravel pack operation comprising: admixing a quantity of a surface active foaming agent with a first fluid; foaming said admixture by the injection of a gas to form a foamed fluid; admixing a quantity of a gelling agent with a second fluid in an amount sufficient to form a gelled fluid having a viscosity of at least 20 centipoise; admixing a quantity of a solid particulate with said gelled fluid to form a gelled slurry; admixing said foamed fluid with said gelled slurry whereby said foamed fluid is diluted by said gelled slurry to form a gelled foamed fluid; injecting said gelled foamed fluid into said well bore penetrating said subterranean formation; and depositing said solid particulate present in said gelled foamed fluid in a desired zone within said well bore.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of performing a gravel pack operation comprising: admixing a quantity of a surface active foaming agent with a first fluid; foaming said admixture by the injection of a gas to form a foamed fluid; admixing a quantity of a gelling agent with a second fluid in an amount sufficient to form a gelled fluid having a viscosity of at least 20 centipoise; admixing a quantity of a solid particulate with said gelled fluid to form a gelled slurry; admixing said foamed fluid with said gelled slurry whereby said foamed fluid is diluted by said gelled slurry to form a gelled foamed fluid; injecting said gelled foamed fluid into said well bore penetrating said subterranean formation; and depositing said solid particulate present in said gelled foamed fluid in a desired zone within said well bore.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said solid particulate comprises graded gravel or sand.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said surface active foaming agent is present in an amount of about 0.1 to about 10 percent by volume of the total fluid.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said foamed fluid has a foam quality in the range of from about 50 to about 99 percent.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said gelled foamed fluid has a foam quality in the range of from about 50 to about 80 percent.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
89 words
The method of claim 15 defined further to include the steps of: applying sufficient pressure to said gelled foamed fluid to force at least a portion of said fluid into a desired zone in said subterranean formation; depositing at least a portion of said solid particulate present in said gelled foamed fluid in said desired zone of said subterranean formation; and reducing the pressure on said gelled foamed fluid whereby said foam is caused to break and at least a portion of the broken fluid filters into the formation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2947647A
Cited
US3136361A
Cited
US3195634A
Cited
US3245470A
Cited
US3251417A
Cited
US3363691A
Cited
US3483121A
Cited
US3448044A
Cited
US3486560A
Cited
US3603398A
Cited
US3593800A
Cited
US3765488A
Cited
US3980136A
Cited
US3937283A
Cited
US4152289A
Cited
US4044833A
Cited
US4126181A
Cited
US4156464A
Cited
US4237975A
Cited
US4237974A
Cited
US4301868A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-06-12 | 1987-12-12 | 1988-06-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-06-12 | 1991-12-12 | 1992-06-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-06-12 | 1995-12-12 | 1996-06-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |