Hydraulic fracturing process using a polymer gel

Patent · Tue Oct 25 04:00:00 EDT 1988

OSTI ID:6544862

Sydansk, R D

This patent describes a fracturing process applied to a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation below an earthen surface in fluid communication with a wellbore comprising: (a) premixing a fracturing fluid at the surface comprising a gel breaker and a gelation solution consisting essentially of an aqueous solvent, a water-soluble acrylamide polymer selected from the group consisting of polyacrylamide and partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide, and a crosslinking agent formed of at least one chromium III species complexed with at least one carboxylate species selected from the group consisting of propionate, acetate, lactate, and mixtures thereof; (b) at least partially gelling the gelation solution at the surface to form a gel; and (c) injecting the fracturing fluid into the formation via the wellbore at a pressure sufficient to hydraulically fracture the formation.

• Assignee: Marathon Oil Co., Findlay, OH
• Patent Number(s): US 4779680
• OSTI ID: 6544862
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
ACETATES
ACRYLAMIDE
AMIDES
CARBOXYLATION
CARBOXYLIC ACID SALTS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COLLOIDS
COMMINUTION
CROSS-LINKING
DISPERSIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FRACTURING
FRACTURING FLUIDS
FUELS
GELATION
GELS
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
LACTATES
OIL WELLS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
POLYMERIZATION
POLYMERS
RECOVERY
SOLVENT PROPERTIES
STIMULATION
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS