Patent · US Active

Proppant pillar placement in a fracture with high solid content fluid

US9080440B2 · kind B2 · utility

41Cited by
153References
27Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 28, 2011
Grant dateJul 14, 2015
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 11, 2032

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02P90/70
  • WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A method of placing proppant into a fracture formed in a subterranean formation from a wellbore is disclosed. The method comprises injecting through the wellbore a first treatment fluid to initiate the fracture in the subterranean formation; injecting through the wellbore a second treatment fluid comprising a particulate blend slurry made of proppant; the particulate blend comprising at least a first amount of particulates having a first average particle size between about 100 and 5000 μm and at least a second amount of particulates having a second average particle size between about three and twenty times smaller than the first average particle size; and forming with the particulate blend slurry a plurality of proppant-rich clusters spaced apart by proppant-free regions forming open channels.

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