EP-4739747-A1 - IN SITU POLYMER PROPPANT PARTICULATES AND METHODS FOR USE THEREOF

EP4739747A1EP 4739747 A1EP4739747 A1EP 4739747A1EP-4739747-A1

Abstract

Methods and fracturing fluids for fracturing a subterranean formation using in situ proppant particulates. Methods include introducing a fracturing fluid into a subterranean formation at or above a fracture gradient. The fracturing fluid includes a non-phase-transition fluid comprising at least an aqueous fluid and a surfactant; and a phase-transition fluid comprising a phase-change material selected from the group consisting of styrene monomers, methyl methacrylate monomers, or a combination of styrene monomers and methyl methacrylate monomers, an initiator, and an optional accelerator.

Inventors

LI, WENGANG
ALHARBI, Bader G.
ALSHAERAH, EDREESE
KRISHNAN, MOHAN RAJ

Assignees

Saudi Arabian Oil Company
Alfaisal University

Dates

Publication Date: 20260513
Application Date: 20240628

Claims (1)

SA21173/074940-000188 CLAIMS The invention claimed is: 1. A method comprising: providing a fracturing fluid comprising: a non-phase-transition fluid comprising at least an aqueous fluid and a surfactant; a phase-transition fluid comprising: a phase-change material selected from the group consisting of styrene monomers, methyl methacrylate monomers, or a combination of styrene monomers and methyl methacrylate monomers; and an initiator; introducing the fracturing fluid into a subterranean formation at or above a fracture gradient pressure to form a plurality of fractures therein; reacting the surfactant, phase-change material, and the initiator within the subterranean formation, thereby forming a plurality of in situ proppant particulates, wherein heat naturally provided within subterranean formation causes the reacting; and allowing at least a portion of the plurality of in situ proppant particulates to settle in the plurality of fractures. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the phase-change material is present in the phase- transition fluid in an amount of from 10 wt% to 40 wt% of the phase-transition fluid. 3. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of an alkyl sulfate surfactant, an alkyl sulfonate surfactant, an alkylbenzene sulfonate surfactant, a polyether surfactant, and any combination thereof. 4. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the surfactant is present in the non-phase- transition fluid in an amount of from 0.1 wt% to 0.5 wt% of the non-phase-transition fluid. 5. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the initiator is selected from the group consisting of a diacyl peroxide, a ketone peroxide, a perester, a perketal, hydrogen peroxide, and any combination thereof. SA21173/074940-000188 6. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the initiator is present in the phase- transition fluid in an amount of from 0.01 wt% to 1 wt% of the phase-transition fluid. 7. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the phase-transition fluid further comprises a 2D-nanomaterial selected from the group consisting of graphene, graphene derivatives thereof, silicate clays, layered double hydroxides, transition metal dichalcogenides, transition metal oxides, black phosphorus, hexagonal boron nitride, antimonene, boron nanosheets, hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets, tin telluride nanosheets, and any combination thereof. 8. The method of any preceding claim, wherein phase-transition fluid further comprises a 2D-nanomaterial present in the phase-transition fluid in an amount of from 0.01 wt% to 1 wt%. 9. The method of any preceding claim further comprising an accelerator. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the accelerator is selected from the group consisting of dimethyl-p-toluidine, N,N-dimethylaniline, N,N-diethylaniline, N,N-bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)-m- toluidine, N,N-bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)-p-toluidine, and any combination thereof. 11. The method of claims 9-10, wherein the accelerator is present in the phase-transition fluid in an amount of from 0.01 wt% to 1 wt% of the phase-transition fluid. 12. A fracturing fluid comprising: a non-phase-transition fluid comprising at least an aqueous fluid and a surfactant, wherein the surfactant is present in the non-phase-transition fluid in an amount of from 0.1 wt% to 0.5 wt% of the phase-transition fluid; and a phase-transition fluid comprising: phase-change material selected from styrene monomers, methyl methacrylate monomers, or a combination of styrene monomers and methyl methacrylate monomers, the phase-change material present in the phase-transition fluid in an amount of from 10 wt% to 40 wt% of the phase-transition fluid; an initiator present in the phase-transition fluid in an amount of from 0.01 wt% to 1 wt% of the phase-transition fluid; and SA21173/074940-000188 an optional accelerator present in the phase-transition fluid in an amount of from 0.01 wt% to 1 wt% of the phase-transition fluid.

Description

IN SITU POLYMER PROPPANT PARTICULATES AND METHODS FOR USE THEREOF FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE [0001] The present disclosure relates generally to subterranean stimulation operations and, more particularly, to forming in situ polymer proppant particulates within a subterranean formation. BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE [0002] Hydrocarbon-producing wells (e.g., oil-producing wells, gas-producing wells, and the like) are often stimulated using hydraulic fracturing treatments. In traditional hydraulic fracturing treatments, a fracturing fluid containing proppant particulates entrained therein is pumped into a portion of a subterranean formation above a fracture gradient pressure sufficient to expand the formation matrix and create one or more fractures therein. The fractures increase the permeability of the formation matrix and allow the production of hydrocarbons to take place more easily. [0003] During fracturing operations, the proppant particulates may enter the fractures while the fractures remain open under high hydraulic pressures. Once the hydraulic pressure is released, the proppant particulates prevent the fractures from fully closing, thereby allowing the increased formation matrix permeability to be at least partially maintained. By keeping the fractures from fully closing, the proppant particulates within the fractures form a proppant pack having interstitial spaces that provide a conductive path through which fluids produced from the formation may flow. [0004] Among numerous factors, the success of a fracturing treatment relies on the proper placement of the proppant particulates within a plurality of fractures to form a suitable proppant pack. Typically, a high viscosity fluid is required to transport the proppant particulates; however, such high viscosity fluids cause considerable friction during pumping and formation damage can occur. Further, leak-off of the fracturing fluid and proppant particulate settling can cause early screen-out and result in a less effective propped area thus reducing the width of fractures and risking fracture closure. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE [0005] Various details of the present disclosure are hereinafter summarized to provide a basic understanding. This summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure and is neither intended to identify certain elements of the disclosure, nor to delineate the scope thereof. Rather, the primary purpose of this summary is to present some concepts of the disclosure in a simplified form prior to the more detailed description that is presented hereinafter. [0006] According to an embodiment consistent with the present disclosure, a method is provided comprising: providing a fracturing fluid comprising: a non-phase-transition fluid comprising at least an aqueous fluid and a surfactant; a phase-transition fluid comprising: a phase-change material selected from the group consisting of styrene monomers, methyl methacrylate monomers, or a combination of styrene monomers and methyl methacrylate monomers; and an initiator; introducing the fracturing fluid into a subterranean formation at or above a fracture gradient pressure to form a plurality of fractures therein; reacting the surfactant, phase-change material, and the initiator within the subterranean formation, thereby forming a plurality of in situ proppant particulates, wherein heat naturally provided within subterranean formation causes the reacting; and allowing at least a portion of the plurality of in situ proppant particulates to settle in the plurality of fractures. [0007] In another embodiment, a method is provided comprising: providing a fracturing fluid comprising: a non-phase-transition fluid comprising at least an aqueous fluid and a surfactant; and a phase-transition fluid comprising: a phase-change material selected from the group consisting of styrene monomers, methyl methacrylate monomers, or a combination of styrene monomers and methyl methacrylate monomers; an initiator; and an accelerator; introducing the fracturing fluid into a subterranean formation at or above a fracture gradient pressure to form a plurality of fractures therein; reacting the surfactant, phase-change material, the initiator, and the accelerator within the subterranean formation, thereby forming a plurality of in situ proppant particulates; and allowing at least a portion of the plurality of in situ proppant particulates to settle in the plurality of fractures. [0008] In a further embodiment, a fracturing fluid is provided comprising: a non-phase- transition fluid comprising at least an aqueous fluid and a surfactant, wherein the surfactant is present in the non-phase-transition fluid in an amount of from 0.1 wt% to 0.5 wt% of the phase- transition fluid; and a phase-transition fluid comprising: phase-change material selected from styrene monomers, methyl methacrylate monomers, or a combination of styrene monomers and methyl methacrylate monomers, the phase-change material present in the phase-transiti