Particulate Flow Enhancing Additives and Associated Methods

Abstract

Methods comprising providing a dry, solid particulate material comprising a cementitious material, a non-cementitious material, or a combination thereof and having a flow enhancing additive absorbed thereon. The flow enhancing additive comprises a flow inducing chemical, ethylene glycol, and water. The coated, dry, solid material is then mixed with a sufficient amount of water to form a pumpable slurry and then the slurry may be placed in a subterranean formation. In some cases the dry, solid particulate material comprising a cementitious material, a non-cementitious material, or a combination thereof and having a flow enhancing additive absorbed thereon may be stored for a period of time before the slurry is formed.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method comprising:
 providing a dry, solid particulate material comprising a cementitious material, a non-cementitious material, or a combination thereof and having a flow enhancing additive absorbed thereon, the flow enhancing additive comprising:
 a flow inducing chemical, 
 ethylene glycol, and 
 water; 
   mixing the solid, flowable material with a sufficient amount of water to form a pumpable slurry; and,   placing the pumpable slurry in a subterranean formation.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the flow inducing chemical is selected from the group consisting of an organic acid, a salt of an organic acid, an acid anhydride, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the flow inducing chemical comprises glacial acetic acid. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the ethylene glycol is present in the flow enhancing additive in an amount from about 10% to about 150% by weight of the water on the flow enhancing additive. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the flow enhancing additive is blended with the cementitious material, non-cementitious material, a combination thereof in an amount in the range of from about 0.005% to about 5% by weight of the cementitious material, non-cementitious material, or combination thereof. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the flow enhancing additive is blended with the cementitious material, non-cementitious material, a combination thereof in an amount in the range of from about 0.01% to about 1% by weight of the cementitious material, non-cementitious material, or combination thereof. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the weight ratio of the particulate cementitious material, non-cementitious material, or combination thereof to the flow inducing chemical is in the range of from about 90:10 to about 10:90. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the weight ratio of the particulate cementitious material, non-cementitious material, or combination thereof to the flow inducing chemical is in the range of from about 75:25 to about 25:75. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the dry, solid particulate material that comprises the flow enhancing additive exhibits improved flow properties when compared to the dry, solid particulate material that is otherwise identical, except that it does not comprise the flow enhancing additive. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the flow enhancing additive contained in the cementitious material, non-cementitious material, or combination thereof has a depressed freezing point relative to a flow enhancing additive that is otherwise identical except that it does not comprise ethylene glycol and water. 
     
     
         31 . A method comprising:
 providing a dry, solid particulate material comprising a cementitious material, a non-cementitious material, or a combination thereof and having a flow enhancing additive absorbed thereon, the flow enhancing additive comprising:
 a flow inducing chemical, 
 ethylene glycol, and 
 water; 
   storing the dry, solid particulate material comprising a cementitious material, a non-cementitious material, or a combination thereof and having a flow enhancing additive absorbed thereon for a period of time;   mixing the solid, flowable material with a sufficient amount of water to form a pumpable slurry; and,   placing the pumpable slurry in a subterranean formation.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the period of time is greater than about 12 hours. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the flow inducing chemical is selected from the group consisting of an organic acid, a salt of an organic acid, an acid anhydride, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the flow inducing chemical comprises glacial acetic acid. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the ethylene glycol is present in the flow enhancing additive in an amount from about 10% to about 150% by weight of the water on the flow enhancing additive. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the flow enhancing additive is blended with the cementitious material, non-cementitious material, a combination thereof in an amount in the range of from about 0.005% to about 5% by weight of the cementitious material, non-cementitious material, or combination thereof. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the flow enhancing additive is blended with the cementitious material, non-cementitious material, a combination thereof in an amount in the range of from about 0.01% to about 1% by weight of the cementitious material, non-cementitious material, or combination thereof. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the weight ratio of the particulate cementitious material, non-cementitious material, or combination thereof to the flow inducing chemical is in the range of from about 90:10 to about 10:90. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the weight ratio of the particulate cementitious material, non-cementitious material, or combination thereof to the flow inducing chemical is in the range of from about 75:25 to about 25:75. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the dry, solid particulate material that comprises the flow enhancing additive exhibits improved flow properties when compared to the dry, solid particulate material that is otherwise identical, except that it does not comprise the flow enhancing additive. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the flow enhancing additive contained in the cementitious material, non-cementitious material, or combination thereof has a depressed freezing point relative to a flow enhancing additive that is otherwise identical except that it does not comprise ethylene glycol and water.