Method of fracturing a subterranean formation

Patent · Tue Jan 13 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:7001516

Anderson, J L; Paktinat, J

A method is described of fracturing a subterranean formation, comprising the steps of: preparing a base gel by mixing together an aqueous fluid, a hydratable gelling agent comprising a carboxymethylhydroxypropylguar polymer having a hydroxypropyl molar substitution in the range of 0.1 to 0.4. It has a molecular weight of at least about 100,000, and a sodium discetate buffer capable of adjusting the pH of the base gel; adding a crosslinking means to the aqueous fluid containing the hydratable gelling agent which allows continued hydration of the gelling agent in the presence of the crosslinking means as the aqueous fluid is being pumped into the well bore. It also serves to crosslink the base gel to form a crosslinked aqueous gel after a predicted time period, the crosslinking means comprising: a liquid solution containing approximately 75% by volume of a 7% aqueous solution of active zirconium lactate, and 25% by volume of a 30% aqueous solution of aluminum chlorohydrate; and introducing the resulting crosslinked aqueous gel into the formation at a flow rate and pressure sufficient to fracture the formation.

• Assignee: Hughes Tool Co., Houston, TX
• Patent Number(s): US 4635727
• OSTI ID: 7001516
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM HYDRIDES
AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
CHEMICAL PREPARATION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COLLOIDS
COMMINUTION
CROSS-LINKING
DISPERSIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FRACTURING
FRACTURING FLUIDS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
GELS
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MIXING
MIXTURES
MOLECULAR WEIGHT
NATURAL GAS
NATURAL GAS WELLS
OIL WELLS
PETROLEUM
PH VALUE
POLYMERIZATION
POLYMERS
QUANTITY RATIO
RECOVERY
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
SOLUTIONS
STIMULATION
SYNTHESIS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS
ZIRCONIUM COMPOUNDS