US2006032633A1PendingUtilityA1

Methods and compositions for carrier fluids comprising water-absorbent fibers

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Assignee: NGUYEN PHILIP DPriority: Aug 10, 2004Filed: Aug 10, 2004Published: Feb 16, 2006
Est. expiryAug 10, 2024(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Philip D. Nguyen
C09K 8/68
45
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Claims

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods and compositions for carrier fluids comprising water-absorbent fibers. One embodiment of the present invention provides a method of treating a portion of a subterranean formation, comprising providing a slurry wherein the slurry comprises a servicing fluid, particulates, and a degradable, water-absorbent material wherein the degradable, water-absorbent material acts to help keep the particulates from settling out of the slurry; and, introducing the slurry into the portion of the subterranean formation. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a slurry suitable for use in subterranean operations comprising a servicing fluid, particulates, and a degradable, water-absorbent material wherein the degradable, water-absorbent material acts to help keep the particulates from settling out of the slurry.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A method of treating a portion of a subterranean formation, comprising: 
 providing a slurry wherein the slurry comprises a servicing fluid, particulates, and a degradable, water-absorbent material wherein the degradable, water-absorbent material acts to help keep the particulates from settling out of the slurry; and,    introducing the slurry into the portion of the subterranean formation.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the degradable, water-absorbent material comprises fibers.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the degradable, water-absorbent material has a length of from about 50 microns to 50,000 microns.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the degradable, water-absorbent material comprises a poly(lactic acid), a poly(ortho ester), polybutylene succinate, polybutylene succinate-co-adipate, polyhydroxybutyrate-valerate, polyhydroxybutyrate-covalerate, polycaprolactone, a polyester amide, a starch-based polymer, a polyethylene terephthalate-based polymer, sulfonated polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene oxide, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl alcohol, an aliphatic aromatic copolyester, or a combination thereof.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the slurry comprises degradable, water-absorbent material present in an amount of from about 0.01% to about 10% by weight of the slurry.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the slurry comprises degradable, water-absorbent material present in an amount of from about 0.1% to about 2% by weight of the slurry.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the slurry further comprises a super-absorbent material.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the super-absorbent material comprises modified cellulose, modified lignocellulose, modified polysaccharide, or a mixture of poly(vinylamine) polymer and polyacrylic acid.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the super-absorbent material comprises an alkali metal salt of polyacrylic acid; a polyacrylamide; a polyvinyl alcohol; an ethylene maleic anhydride copolymer; a polyvinyl ether; a hydroxypropylcellulose; a polyvinyl morpholinone; a polymer or copolymer of vinyl sulfonic acid, a polyacrylate, a polyacrylamide, a polyvinyl pyridine; a hydrolyzed acrylonitrile grafted starch, an acrylic acid grafted starch, an isobutylene maleic anhydride copolymer; a polyphosphazene; or a combination thereof.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the particulates are at least partially coated with a curable resin.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the particulates are at least partially coated with a tackifying agent.  
   
   
       12 . A method of placing proppant into a fracture within a portion of a subterranean formation, comprising: 
 providing a slurry wherein the slurry comprises a servicing fluid, particulates, and a degradable, water-absorbent material wherein the degradable, water-absorbent material acts to help keep the particulates from settling out of the slurry; and,    introducing the slurry into the fracture within a portion of a subterranean formation.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the degradable, water-absorbent material comprises fibers.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the degradable, water-absorbent material has a length of from about 50 microns to 50,000 microns.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the degradable, water-absorbent material comprises a poly(lactic acid), a poly(ortho ester), polybutylene succinate, polybutylene succinate-co-adipate, polyhydroxybutyrate-valerate, polyhydroxybutyrate-covalerate, polycaprolactone, a polyester amide, a starch-based polymer, a polyethylene terephthalate-based polymer, sulfonated polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene oxide, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl alcohol, an aliphatic aromatic copolyester, or a combination thereof.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the slurry comprises degradable, water-absorbent material present in an amount of from about 0.01% to about 10% by weight of the slurry.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the slurry comprises degradable, water-absorbent material present in an amount of from about 0.1% to about 2% by weight of the slurry.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the slurry further comprises a super-absorbent material.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the super-absorbent material comprises modified cellulose, modified lignocellulose, modified polysaccharide, or a mixture of poly(vinylamine) polymer and polyacrylic acid.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the super-absorbent material comprises an alkali metal salt of polyacrylic acid; a polyacrylamide; a polyvinyl alcohol; an ethylene maleic anhydride copolymer; a polyvinyl ether; a hydroxypropylcellulose; a polyvinyl morpholinone; a polymer or copolymer of vinyl sulfonic acid, a polyacrylate, a polyacrylamide, a polyvinyl pyridine; a hydrolyzed acrylonitrile grafted starch, an acrylic acid grafted starch, an isobutylene maleic anhydride copolymer; a polyphosphazene; or a combination thereof.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the particulates are at least partially coated with a curable resin.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the particulates are at least partially coated with a tackifying agent.  
   
   
       23 . A slurry suitable for use in subterranean operations comprising a servicing fluid, particulates, and a degradable, water-absorbent material wherein the degradable, water-absorbent material acts to help keep the particulates from settling out of the slurry.  
   
   
       24 . The slurry of  claim 23  wherein the degradable, water-absorbent material comprises fibers.  
   
   
       25 . The slurry of  claim 24  wherein the degradable, water-absorbent material has a length of from about 50 microns to 50,000 microns.  
   
   
       26 . The slurry of  claim 23  wherein the degradable, water-absorbent material comprises a poly(lactic acid), a poly(ortho ester), polybutylene succinate, polybutylene succinate-co-adipate, polyhydroxybutyrate-valerate, polyhydroxybutyrate-covalerate, polycaprolactone, a polyester amide, a starch-based polymer, a polyethylene terephthalate-based polymer, sulfonated polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene oxide, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl alcohol, an aliphatic aromatic copolyester, or a combination thereof.  
   
   
       27 . The slurry of  claim 23  wherein the slurry comprises degradable, water-absorbent material present in an amount of from about 0.01% to about 10% by weight of the slurry.  
   
   
       28 . The slurry of  claim 23  wherein the slurry comprises degradable, water-absorbent material present in an amount of from about 0.1% to about 2% by weight of the slurry.  
   
   
       29 . The slurry of  claim 23  wherein the slurry further comprises a super-absorbent material.  
   
   
       30 . The slurry of  claim 29  wherein the super-absorbent material comprises modified cellulose, modified lignocellulose, modified polysaccharide, or a mixture of poly(vinylamine) polymer and polyacrylic acid.  
   
   
       31 . The slurry of  claim 29  wherein the super-absorbent material comprises an alkali metal salt of polyacrylic acid; a polyacrylamide; a polyvinyl alcohol; an ethylene maleic anhydride copolymer; a polyvinyl ether; a hydroxypropylcellulose; a polyvinyl morpholinone; a polymer or copolymer of vinyl sulfonic acid, a polyacrylate, a polyacrylamide, a polyvinyl pyridine; a hydrolyzed acrylonitrile grafted starch, an acrylic acid grafted starch, an isobutylene maleic anhydride copolymer; a polyphosphazene; or a combination thereof.  
   
   
       32 . The slurry of  claim 23  wherein the particulates are at least partially coated with a curable resin.  
   
   
       33 . The slurry of  claim 23  wherein the particulates are at least partially coated with a tackifying agent.

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