Encapsulated materials and their use in oil and gas wells

Abstract

A subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore is treated by introducing into the wellbore an encapsulated material comprising an encapsulating component formed from a regenerated ionic-liquid-dissolved compound and an active component that is encapsulated by the encapsulating component. The encapsulating material is then allowed to release the active component into the formation. In another treatment method, an encapsulated material comprising an encapsulating component and an active component that is encapsulated by the encapsulating component are introduced into the wellbore. The encapsulating component is degradable when subjected to electromagnetic radiation having a frequency of from about 300 MHz to about 300. The encapsulated material is then subjected to electromagnetic energy in the frequency range of from about 300 MHz to about 300 GHz to degrade the encapsulating component and facilitate the release the active component into the formation.

1 . A method of treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore, comprising:
 introducing into the wellbore an encapsulated material comprising an encapsulating component formed from a regenerated ionic-liquid-dissolved compound and an active component that is encapsulated by the encapsulating component; and   allowing the encapsulating material to release the active component into the formation.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the regenerated ionic-liquid-dissolved compound is a cellulose material.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 allowing the encapsulated material to release the active component includes subjecting the encapsulated material to electromagnetic energy.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the encapsulated material further comprises a susceptor.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the susceptor is selected from at least one of a metal, graphite, and carbon-black.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the active component is selected from at least one of a breaker, an emulsifier, a cross-linking agent, an acid, a base, an oxidizer, an acid precursor, and a base precursor.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 allowing the encapsulating material to release the active component into the formation includes subjecting the encapsulated material to at least one of temperatures, mechanical forces, and degrading materials that facilitate degrading of the encapsulating component.   
     
     
         8 . A method of treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore, the method comprising:
 introducing into the wellbore an encapsulated material comprising an encapsulating component formed from a regenerated ionic-liquid-dissolved cellulose and an active component that is encapsulated by the encapsulating component; and   allowing the encapsulating material to release the active component into the formation.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein:
 allowing the encapsulated material to release the active component includes subjecting the encapsulated material to electromagnetic energy.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the encapsulated material further comprises a susceptor.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the susceptor is selected from at least one of a metal, graphite, and carbon-black.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the active component is selected from at least one of a breaker, an emulsifier, a cross-linking agent, an acid, a base, an oxidizer, an acid precursor, and a base precursor.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein:
 allowing the encapsulating material to release the active component into the formation includes subjecting the encapsulated material to at least one of temperatures, mechanical forces, degrading materials sufficient to degrade the encapsulating component.   
     
     
         14 . A method of treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore, the method comprising:
 introducing into the wellbore an encapsulated material comprising an encapsulating component and an active component that is encapsulated by the encapsulating component, the encapsulating component being degradable when subjected to electromagnetic radiation having a frequency of from about 300 MHz to about 300 GHz; and then   subjecting the encapsulated material to electromagnetic energy in the frequency range of from about 300 MHz to about 300 GHz to degrade the encapsulating component and facilitate the release the active component into the formation.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the encapsulating component is formed from a regenerated ionic-liquid-dissolved compound.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the regenerated ionic-liquid-dissolved compound is a regenerated ionic-liquid-dissolved cellulose material.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the encapsulated material further comprises a susceptor.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the susceptor is selected from at least one of a metal, graphite, and carbon-black.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the active component is selected from at least one of a breaker, an emulsifier, a cross-linking agent, an acid, a base, an oxidizer, an acid precursor, a base precursor.