Patent · US Expired

Methods for improving proppant pack permeability and fracture conductivity in a subterranean well

US7178596B2 · kind B2 · utility

119Cited by
139References
40Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 20, 2004
Grant dateFeb 20, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 3, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S507/924
  • WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

The present invention provides compositions and methods for enhancing subterranean well productivity by enhancing fracture conductivity. A method of increasing the conductivity of a fracture in a portion of a subterranean formation comprising providing a slurry comprising a fracturing fluid, a degradable material, and proppant particulates coated with a tackifying agent; allowing the degradable material to become at least temporarily attached to the tackifying agent coated onto the proppant particulates so as to avoid substantial segregation of the degradable material from the proppant particulates within the slurry; introducing the slurry to the fracture and allowing the proppant particulates and degradable material to form a substantially uniform particulate pack; and, allowing the degradable material to degrade and produce a particulate pack having voids therein.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.