Patent · US Expired

Method for hydraulic fracturing of subterranean formation

US8061424B2 · kind B2 · utility

42Cited by
12References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 27, 2006
Grant dateNov 22, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 27, 2026

Classification

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

Abstract

The invention provides economically effective methods for hydraulic fracturing a subterranean formation that ensure improvement of the hydraulic fracturcconductivity because of forming strong proppant clusters uniformly placed in the fracture throughout its length. One of these methods comprises: a first stage that involves injection into a borehole of fracturing fluid containing thickeners to create a fracture in the formation; and a second stage that involves periodic introduction of proppant into the injected fracturing fluid to supply the proppant into a created fracture, to form proppant clusters within the fracture to prevent fracture closure and channels for flowing formation fluids between the clusters, wherein the second stage or its sub-stages involve additional introduction of either a reinforcing or consolidation material or both, thus increasing the strength of the proppant clusters formed into the fracture fluid.

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