Heterogeneous proppant placement in a fracture with removable channelant fill
US8066068B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 22, 2009 |
| Grant date | Nov 29, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 22, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B43/267
- WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A method of heterogeneous proppant placement in a subterranean fracture is disclosed. The method comprises injecting well treatment fluid including proppant (16) and proppant-spacing filler material called a channelant (18) through a wellbore (10) into the fracture (20), heterogeneously placing the proppant in the fracture in a plurality of proppant clusters or islands (22) spaced apart by the channelant (24), and removing the channelant filler material (24) to form open channels (26) around the pillars (28) for fluid flow from the formation (14) through the fracture (20) toward the wellbore (10). The proppant and channelant can be segregated within the well treatment fluid, or segregated during placement in the fracture. The channelant can be dissolvable particles, initially acting as a filler material during placement of the proppant in the fracture, and later dissolving to leave the flow channels between the proppant pillars. The well treatment fluid can include fibers to provide reinforcement and consolidation of the proppant and, additionally or alternatively, to inhibit settling of the proppant in the treatment fluid.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.