Method and composition for treating high-temperature subterranean formations

Patent · Tue Feb 20 04:00:00 EST 1973

OSTI ID:5268912

Scheffel, J W; Fischer, P W

A water-insoluble particulate composition having controlled slow oil-solubility at elevated temperatures consists of solid particles of homogeneous mixture of (1) about 2 to 15% by wt of a polymer selected from the class consisting of polyethylene and ethylene-vinyl acetate containing about 15 to 30% by wt vinyl acetate or a combination of both; (2) about 75 to 90% by wt of a paraffin wax having a melting point between about 130/sup 0/F and 175/sup 0/F; and (3) about 1 to 20% by wt of a solubility retarding agent selected from the group consisting of long chain aliphatic hydrocarbons, aliphatic amides and oxidized hydrocarbon waxes melting at a temperature between about 250/sup 0/F and 325/sup 0/F. Also described is a process employing this particulate composition in drilling wells into high-temperature formations, and in fracturing and treating such formations. (23 claims)

• Assignee: Union Oil Co. California
• Patent Number(s): US 3717204
• OSTI ID: 5268912
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
ACETIC ACID ESTERS
ALKANES
ALKENES
AMIDES
CARBOXYLIC ACID ESTERS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
COMMINUTION
DISPERSIONS
DRILLING FLUIDS
ESTERS
FLUIDS
FRACTURING
HYDROCARBONS
MELTING POINTS
MIXTURES
OIL WELLS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PARTICLES
PARTICULATES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POLYETHYLENES
POLYMERS
POLYOLEFINS
RESERVOIR TEMPERATURE
SOLUBILITY
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
TRANSITION TEMPERATURE
WELLS