Methods Relating to Modifying Flow Patterns Using In-Situ Barriers

Abstract

A method comprises providing a fluid source in a subterranean formation; providing a wellbore in the subterranean formation; and providing an in-situ barrier, wherein the in-situ barrier is disposed within the subterranean environment and modifies the flow pattern of at least one fluid within the subterranean formation that is provided by the fluid source and flows towards the wellbore.

1 . A method comprising:
 providing a fluid source in a subterranean formation;   providing a wellbore in the subterranean formation; and   providing an in-situ barrier, wherein the in-situ barrier is disposed within the subterranean environment and modifies the flow pattern of at least one fluid within the subterranean formation that is provided by the fluid source and flows towards the wellbore.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the in-situ barrier comprises a fracture with a sealant disposed therein. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the in-situ barrier is a non-selective barrier. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the sealant comprises at least one composition selected from the group consisting of: a cement, a linear polymer mixture, a linear polymer mixture with a cross-linker, an in-situ polymerized monomer mixture, a resin-based fluid, an epoxy based fluid, a magnesium based slurry, a drilling mud, drilling cuttings, slag, a clay based slurry, an emulsion, a precipitate, an in-situ precipitate, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the sealant comprises a swellable elastomer that swells in the presence of an aqueous-based fluid and an oil-based fluid, wherein the sealant comprises at least one swellable elastomer selected from the group consisting of: an ethylene propylene rubber, an ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer rubber, a butyl rubber, a brominated butyl rubber, a chlorinated butyl rubber, a chlorinated polyethylene, a neoprene rubber, a styrene butadiene copolymer rubber, a sulphonated polyethylene, an ethylene acrylate rubber, an epichlorohydrin ethylene oxide copolymer, a silicone rubber, a fluorosilicone rubber, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the in-situ barrier is a selective barrier. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the sealant comprises a swellable elastomer that swells in the presence of an aqueous-based fluid, wherein the sealant comprises at least one swellable elastomer selected from the group consisting of: a starch-polyacrylate acid graft copolymer, a polyvinyl alcohol cyclic acid anhydride graft copolymer, a polyacrylamide, poly(acrylic acid-co-acrylamide), a poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate), a poly(2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate), an isobutylene maleic anhydride, an acrylic acid type polymers, a vinylacetate-acrylate copolymer, a polyethylene oxide polymer, a carboxymethyl cellulose type polymer, a starch-polyacrylonitrile graft copolymer, a polymer comprising a swelling clay mineral, a polymer comprising a salt, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the sealant comprises a swellable elastomer that swells in the presence of an oil-based fluid, wherein the sealant comprises at least one swellable elastomer selected from the group consisting of: a natural rubber, an acrylate butadiene rubber, an isoprene rubber, a chloroprene rubber, a butyl rubber, a brominated butyl rubber, a chlorinated butyl rubber, a chlorinated polyethylene, a neoprene rubber, a styrene butadiene copolymer rubber, a chlorinated polyethylene, a sulphonated polyethylene, an ethylene acrylate rubber, an epichlorohydrin ethylene oxide copolymer, an epichlorohydrin terpolymer, an ethylene-propylene rubber, an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, an ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer rubber, an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, a nitrile rubber, an acrylonitrile butadiene rubber, a hydrogenated acrylonitrile butadiene rubber, a carboxylated high-acrylonitrile butadiene copolymer, a polyvinylchloride-nitrile butadiene blend, a fluorosilicone rubber, a silicone rubber, a poly 2,2,1-bicyclo heptene, an alkylstyrene, a polyacrylate rubber, an ethylene-acrylate terpolymer, a fluorocarbon polymer, a copolymers of poly(vinylidene fluoride) and hexafluoropropylene, a terpolymer of poly(vinylidene fluoride)-hexafluoropropylene-tetrafluoroethylene, a terpolymer of poly(vinylidene fluoride)-polyvinyl methyl ether-tetrafluoroethylene, a perfluoroelastomer, a highly fluorinated elastomer, a butadiene rubber, a polychloroprene rubber, a polyisoprene rubber, a polysulfide rubber, a polyurethane, a silicone rubber, a vinyl silicone rubber, a fluoromethyl silicone rubber, a fluorovinyl silicone rubber, a phenylmethyl silicone rubber, a styrene-butadiene rubber, a copolymer of isobutylene and isoprene, a brominated copolymer of isobutylene and isoprene, a chlorinated copolymer of isobutylene and isoprene, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the sealant comprises a relative permeability modifier. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the relative-permeability modifier comprises a water-soluble polymer, wherein the water-soluble polymer comprises a hydrophobically modified polymer, wherein the hydrophobically modified polymer comprises a polymer backbone and a hydrophobic branch, and wherein the hydrophobic branch comprises an alkyl chain of about 4 to about 22 carbons. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the relative-permeability modifier comprises a hydrophobically modified polymer, wherein the relative-permeability modifier comprises a reaction product of at least one hydrophobic compound and at least one hydrophilic polymer. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the relative-permeability modifier comprises a hydrophobically modified polymer synthesized from a polymerization reaction that comprises a hydrophilic monomer and a hydrophobically modified hydrophilic monomer, wherein the hydrophobically modified polymer comprises a hydrophobic branch, and wherein the hydrophobic branch comprises an alkyl chain of about 4 to about 22 carbons. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the relative-permeability modifier comprises a hydrophilically modified polymer, wherein the hydrophilically modified polymer is water soluble. 
     
     
         14 . A method comprising:
 providing a plurality of wellbores in a subterranean formation, wherein at least one wellbore comprises a fracture;   providing at least one injection wellbore in the subterranean formation; and   providing an in-situ barrier by disposing a sealant in the fracture of the at least one wellbore wherein the sealant modifies the flow pattern of at least one fluid provided by the injection wellbore within the subterranean formation.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the in-situ barrier is a selective barrier. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the in-situ barrier is a non-selective barrier. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the sealant comprises at least one sealant selected from the group consisting of: a swellable elastomer that swells in the presence of an aqueous-based fluid, a swellable elastomer that swells in the presence of an oil-based fluid, and a relative permeability modifier. 
     
     
         18 . A system comprising:
 a fluid source within a subterranean formation for providing a fluid driving force within the subterranean formation;   a wellbore disposed in the subterranean formation for producing a production fluid from the subterranean formation; and   an in-situ barrier disposed within the subterranean formation, wherein the in-situ barrier modifies the flow of at least one fluid driven by the fluid driving force within the subterranean formation.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein fluid source comprises an injection well. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the fluid source comprises a natural fluid source, wherein the natural fluid source comprises at least one fluid source selected from the group consisting of: existing water in the subterranean formation, external water entering the subterranean formation, natural gas pressure within the subterranean formation, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 18  further comprising a plurality of in-situ barriers disposed within the subterranean formation, wherein the plurality of in-situ barriers form a baffle that guides the at least one fluid driven by the fluid driving force. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the in-situ barrier comprises a fracture with sealant disposed therein. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the sealant comprises at least one sealant selected from the group consisting of: a swellable elastomer that swells in the presence of an aqueous-based fluid, a swellable elastomer that swells in the presence of an oil-based fluid, and a relative permeability modifier.