Method of controlling displacement of propping agent in fracturing treatments

Patent · Tue Dec 18 04:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:6017853

Graham, R L; Erbstoesser, S R

A method of preventing overdisplacement and underdisplacement of proppant during well treatments to hydraulically induce and maintain a fracture in a subterranean formation traversed by a wellbore having a perforated casing. In the practice of the method, ball sealers are incorporated in the trailing end portion of a fracturing fluid-proppant slurry. The ball sealers have a density such that they do not sink in the slurry nor rise in the displacement fluid injected following the slurry. The ball sealers seat on at least some of the well perforations as the final portion of the slurry reaches the perforations. This causes the surface pumping pressure to increase, signalling the end of the treating operation. The detection of the time at which a selected portion of the injected fluid reaches the perforations allows the treatment to be terminated, minimizing proppant overdisplacement and providing for a fully packed fracture in the near-wellbore region. In another embodiment of the method, slurries of different densities are utilized, with the ball sealers having a density such that they remain at the interface between the slurries during the injection process.

• Assignee: Exxon Production Research Co.
• Patent Number(s): US 4488599
• OSTI ID: 6017853
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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ADDITIVES
COMMINUTION
CONTROL
DENSITY
DISPERSIONS
EFFICIENCY
FLUIDS
FRACTURING
FRACTURING FLUIDS
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
MATERIALS
MIXTURES
NATURAL GAS WELLS
OIL WELLS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PRESSURE CONTROL
PROPPING AGENTS
RESERVOIR ROCK
ROCK-FLUID INTERACTIONS
SEALING MATERIALS
SLURRIES
SUSPENSIONS
WELL COMPLETION
WELLS