Gelled foam compositions and methods

Abstract

The invention provides a method made of steps of injecting into a wellbore, a composition comprising a solvent, a surfactant, a foaming gas, a foam enhancer, a crosslinkable polymer, and a crosslinking agent capable of crosslinking the polymer, wherein the foam enhancer increases the foam half-life of the gel composition compared to the gel composition without the foam enhancer; and allowing viscosity of the composition to increase and form a gel.

1 . A composition for use in a wellbore consisting essentially of a solvent, a surfactant, a foaming gas and a foam enhancer, wherein the foam enhancer by its own increases the viscosity of the composition and the stability of the foam. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the solvent is water or brine. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of betaine, ammonium C6-C10 alcohol/ethoxysulfate 2-Butoxyethanol (EGMBE)/Ethanol, amphoteric alkyl amine and mixture thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the foaming gas is selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, air, carbon dioxide and mixture thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the foam enhancer is selected from the group consisting of diutan, xanthan, guar, guar derivatives and mixture thereof. 
     
     
         6 . A gel composition for use in a wellbore comprising a solvent, a surfactant, a foaming gas, a foam enhancer, a crosslinkable polymer, and a crosslinking agent capable of crosslinking the polymer, wherein the foam enhancer increases the foam half-life of the gel composition compared to the gel composition without the foam enhancer. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 6 , wherein the solvent is water or brine. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 6 , wherein the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of betaine, ammonium C6-C10 alcohol/ethoxysulfate 2-Butoxyethanol (EGMBE)/Ethanol, amphoteric alkyl amine and mixture thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 6 , wherein the foaming gas is selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, air, carbon dioxide and mixture thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 6 , wherein the foam enhancer is selected from the group consisting of diutan, xanthan, guar, guar derivatives and mixture thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 6 , further comprising a delay agent. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 6 , further comprising a gelling accelerator. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein the foaming agent is the gelling accelerator. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 13 , wherein the gelling accelerator is carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 6 , further comprising a gelling enhancer. 
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 15 , wherein the gelling enhancer is colloidal solid. 
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 15 , wherein the gelling enhancer is colloidal silica. 
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 15 , wherein the gelling enhancer is solid particulate. 
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 15 , wherein the gelling enhancer is fibers. 
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 6 , further comprising a swellable polymer. 
     
     
         21 . The composition of  claim 20 , wherein the swellable polymer is super absorbant polymer. 
     
     
         22 . The composition of  claim 6 , wherein the crosslinkable polymer comprises acrylamide and acrylate copolymer. 
     
     
         23 . A method comprising:
 a. injecting into a wellbore, a composition consisting essentially of a solvent, a surfactant, a foaming gas and a foam enhancer; and   b. allowing viscosity of the composition to increase.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the foam enhancer is selected from the group consisting of diutan, xanthan, guar, guar derivatives and mixture thereof. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the foaming gas is selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, air, carbon dioxide and mixture thereof. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , for treating a subterranean formation made at least partially of carbonate rock. 
     
     
         27 . A method comprising:
 a. injecting into a wellbore, a composition comprising a solvent, a surfactant, a foaming gas, a foam enhancer, a crosslinkable polymer, and a crosslinking agent capable of crosslinking the polymer, wherein the foam enhancer increases the foam half-life of the gel composition compared to the gel composition without the foam enhancer; and   b. allowing viscosity of the composition to increase and form a gel.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the solvent is water or brine. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of betaine, ammonium C6-C10 alcohol/ethoxysulfate 2-Butoxyethanol (EGMBE)/Ethanol, amphoteric alkyl amine and mixture thereof. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the foaming gas is selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, air, carbon dioxide and mixture thereof. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the foam enhancer is selected from the group consisting of diutan, xanthan, guar, guar derivatives and mixture thereof. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising a delay agent. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising a gelling accelerator. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the foaming agent is the gelling accelerator. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the gelling accelerator is carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising a gelling enhancer. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the gelling enhancer is colloidal solid. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the gelling enhancer is colloidal silica. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the gelling enhancer is solid particulate. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the gelling enhancer is fibers. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising a swellable polymer. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the swellable polymer is super absorbant polymer. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the crosslinkable polymer comprises acrylamide and acrylate copolymer. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 27 , for treating a subterranean formation. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , for plugging a fracture in the subterranean formation. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the subterranean formation comprises a rock at least partially made of carbonates.