Stimulated Liquid-Sensitive Subterranean Formations

Abstract

Liquid-sensitive subterranean formation zones having at least one pathway enhanced by a stimulation process involving a stimulation fluid that comprises: a continuous gas phase comprising a stimulation gas; a consolidating agent in a solvent within the continuous gas phase; and, a surfactant that enhances the miscibility of the consolidating agent with the stimulation gas. In some cases the continuous gas phase may be a liquefied gas.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A zone in a liquid-sensitive subterranean formation comprising a pathway enhanced by a stimulation process involving a stimulation fluid that comprises:
 a continuous gas phase comprising a stimulation gas;   a consolidating agent in a solvent within the continuous gas phase; and,   a surfactant that enhances the miscibility of the consolidating agent with the stimulation gas.   
     
     
         22 . The zone of  claim 21  wherein the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of phenoxypolyethoxyethanol, t-octylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         23 . The zone of  claim 21  further comprising at least one additional component selected from the group consisting of a diluting agent, a hydrocarbon carrier, and a plurality of proppant particulates. 
     
     
         24 . The zone of  claim 21  wherein the stimulation gas is selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, air, carbon dioxide, propane, and ammonia. 
     
     
         25 . The zone of  claim 21  wherein the consolidating agent is selected from the group consisting of an aqueous tackifying agent, a curable resin, and a noncurable and nonaqueous consolidating composition. 
     
     
         26 . The zone of  claim 25  wherein the aqueous tackifying agent is selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid polymers, acrylic acid ester polymers, acrylic acid derivative polymers, acrylic acid homopolymers, acrylic acid ester homopolymers, poly(methyl acrylate), poly(butyl acrylate), poly(2-ethylhexyl acrylate), acrylic acid ester co-polymers, methacrylic acid derivative polymers, methacrylic acid homopolymers, methacrylic acid ester homopolymers, poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(butyl methacrylate), poly(2-ethylhexyl methacrylate), acrylamido-methyl-propane sulfonate polymers, acrylamido-methyl-propane sulfonate derivative polymers, acrylamido-methyl-propane sulfonate co-polymers, acrylic acid/acrylamido-methyl-propane sulfonate co-polymers, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         27 . The zone of  claim 25  wherein the aqueous tackifying agent is selected from the group consisting of benzyl coco di-(hydroxyethyl) quaternary amine, p-T-amyl-phenol condensed with formaldehyde, and a copolymer comprising about 80% to about 100% C1-30 alkylmethacrylate monomers and about 0% to about 20% hydrophilic monomers. 
     
     
         28 . The zone of  claim 27  wherein the hydrophilic monomers are selected from the group consisting of dialkyl amino alkyl (meth) acrylates, unsaturated carboxylic acids, methacrylic acid, acrylic acid, hydroxyethyl acrylate, and acrylamide. 
     
     
         29 . The zone of  claim 25  wherein the aqueous tackifying agent is a solution-based polymer having a concentration of about 20% to about 40%. 
     
     
         30 . The zone of  claim 25  wherein the curable resin composition is selected from the group consisting of two component epoxy based resins, novolak resins, polyepoxide resins, phenol-aldehyde resins, urea-aldehyde resins, urethane resins, phenolic resins, furan resins, furan/furfuryl alcohol resins, phenolic/latex resins, phenol formaldehyde resins, polyester resins and hybrids and copolymers thereof, polyurethane resins and hybrids and copolymers thereof, acrylate resins, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         31 . The zone of  claim 25  wherein the curable composition is cured with an agent selected from the group consisting of an internal catalyst, an activator, a time-delayed catalyst, and an external catalyst. 
     
     
         32 . The zone of  claim 25  wherein the curable composition has a viscosity of about 1 cP to about 100 cP. 
     
     
         33 . The zone of  claim 25  wherein the noncurable and nonaqueous consolidating composition is selected from the group consisting of condensation reaction products comprised of polyacids and a polyamine; mixtures of C36 dibasic acids containing some trimer and higher oligomers and monomer acids that are reacted with polyamines; polyacids; trimer acids; synthetic acids produced from fatty acids; maleic anhydride; acrylic acid; liquids or solutions of polyesters, polycarbonates, polycarbamates, or natural resins; silyl-modified polyamides; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         34 . The zone of  claim 21  wherein the consolidating agent comprises an aqueous tackifying agent. 
     
     
         35 . The zone of  claim 21  wherein the continuous gas phase comprises a liquefied gas. 
     
     
         36 . A zone in a liquid-sensitive subterranean formation comprising a pathway enhanced by a stimulation process involving a stimulation fluid that comprises:
 a liquefied gas;   a consolidating agent in a solvent within the liquefied gas; and,   a surfactant that enhances the miscibility of the consolidating agent with the liquefied gas.   
     
     
         37 . The zone of  claim 35  wherein the liquefied gas comprises nitrogen. 
     
     
         38 . The zone of  claim 35  wherein the liquefied gas comprises carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         39 . The zone of  claim 35  wherein the liquefied gas comprises propane. 
     
     
         40 . The zone of  claim 35  wherein the consolidating agent is selected from the group consisting of an aqueous tackifying agent, a curable resin, and a noncurable and nonaqueous consolidating composition. 
     
     
         41 . The zone of  claim 35  wherein the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of phenoxypolyethoxyethanol, t-octylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol, and combinations thereof.