Applying treatment fluid to a subterranean rock matrix

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to applying treatment fluid to a rock matrix in a subterranean formation. An injection fluid is received in a wellbore in a subterranean formation. The subterranean formation includes a rock matrix about the wellbore. Shear bands are induced in the rock matrix by communicating the injection fluid from the wellbore into the rock matrix. A chemical treatment fluid is communicated through the shear bands into the matrix. The chemical treatment is conducted from the wellbore primarily by a portion of the rock matrix that forms a wall of the wellbore, primarily by a subset of the shear bands that intersect the wall of the wellbore, or primarily by a combination of them. In some instances, the shear bands may improve uniformity or efficiency of the chemical treatment.

1 . A method of performing a chemical treatment of a rock matrix, the method comprising:
 receiving an injection fluid in a wellbore defined in a subterranean formation, the subterranean formation comprising a rock matrix about the wellbore;   inducing shear bands in the rock matrix about the wellbore by communicating the injection fluid from the wellbore into the rock matrix about the wellbore; and   communicating a chemical treatment fluid through the shear bands and into the rock matrix about the wellbore, the chemical treatment fluid conducted from the wellbore primarily by at least one of a portion of the rock matrix forming a wall of the wellbore or a subset of the shear bands intersecting the wall.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , a leak-off rate of the injection fluid in the rock matrix prevents initiation of a dominant fracture at the wellbore wall. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the injection fluid comprises the chemical treatment fluid. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wellbore comprises a wellbore casing, and fluids communicated from the wellbore into the rock matrix are communicated through perforations in the wellbore casing. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wellbore comprises an open hole wellbore. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving the chemical treatment fluid in the wellbore after communicating the injection fluid into the rock matrix; and   communicating the chemical treatment fluid from the wellbore through the shear bands after communicating the injection fluid into the rock matrix.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein inducing shear bands comprises inducing the shear bands in the rock matrix substantially uniformly over a range of azimuthal directions about the wellbore. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein communicating a chemical treatment fluid into the rock matrix comprises communicating the chemical treatment fluid into the rock matrix substantially uniformly over the range of azimuthal directions about the wellbore. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein inducing shear bands comprises inducing the shear bands in the rock matrix substantially uniformly about a longitudinal section of the wellbore. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein communicating a chemical treatment fluid into the rock matrix comprises communicating the chemical treatment fluid into the rock matrix substantially uniformly about the longitudinal section of the wellbore 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein inducing shear bands comprises inducing the shear bands in the rock matrix substantially uniformly over a radial distance about the wellbore. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein communicating a chemical treatment fluid into the rock matrix comprises communicating the chemical treatment fluid into the rock matrix substantially uniformly over the radial distance about the wellbore 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein inducing shear bands in the rock matrix comprises inducing shear bands in a first interval of the rock matrix, the method further comprising:
 inducing additional shear bands in multiple additional intervals of the rock matrix by communicating the injection fluid from the wellbore into the additional intervals of the rock matrix about the wellbore, wherein the injection fluid is communicated into each of the intervals at different time periods; and   communicating the chemical treatment fluid through the additional shear bands and into additional intervals of the rock matrix.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the injection fluid comprises a thin injection fluid containing substantially no solids, and wherein the thin injection fluid forms substantially no filter cakes. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the rock matrix comprises a soft rock formation having a Young's Modulus less than two million. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the chemical treatment comprises at least one of:
 an acid stimulation treatment;   a solvent treatment;   a formation stabilization treatment;   a consolidation treatment; or   a scale inhibitor treatment.   
     
     
         17 . A chemical treatment method for treating a rock matrix about a subterranean wellbore, the chemical treatment method comprising:
 communicating a first fluid from the wellbore into an interval of the rock matrix about the wellbore at a pressure that forms shear bands in the interval about the wellbore; and   communicating a chemical treatment fluid substantially uniformly into the interval of the rock matrix about the wellbore by conducting the chemical treatment fluid through the shear bands in the interval, the chemical treatment fluid conducted from the wellbore primarily by at least one of a portion of the rock matrix forming a wall of the wellbore or a subset of the shear bands intersecting the wall.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , a leak-off rate of the first fluid in the rock matrix prevents initiation of a dominant fracture at the wellbore wall. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first fluid is the chemical treatment fluid. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein inducing the shear bands in the rock matrix increases a permeability of the rock matrix. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first fluid and the chemical treatment fluid are two different fluids and the chemical treatment fluid is communicated into the interval after the first fluid is communicated into the interval. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising communicating additional fluids into the rock matrix. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first fluid comprises a thin injection fluid containing substantially no solids, and wherein the thin injection fluid forms substantially no filter cakes, and wherein the rock matrix comprises a soft rock formation having a Young's Modulus less than two million. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 17 , the interval comprising a first interval, the method further comprising:
 injecting a diverter-laden fluid into the first interval;   communicating the first fluid from the wellbore into a second, different interval of the rock matrix about the wellbore at a pressure that forms shear bands in the second interval about the wellbore; and   communicating the chemical treatment fluid substantially uniformly into the second interval of the rock matrix about the wellbore by conducting the chemical treatment fluid through the shear bands in the second interval.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  where the diverter comprises at least one of sand, a proppant, a plugging material, an emulsion, foam, or a relative permeability modifier. 
     
     
         26 . A chemical treatment system for applying a chemical treatment to a rock matrix, the system comprising:
 a fluid supply system comprising a thin injection fluid and a chemical treatment fluid;   a conduit system in a wellbore in a subterranean formation, the conduit system in fluid communication with the fluid supply system, the subterranean formation comprising a rock matrix; and   a port system in the wellbore and in fluid communication with the conduit system, the port system operable to receive the thin injection fluid and the chemical treatment fluid from the conduit system, to communicate the thin injection fluid into the rock matrix under a condition that induces shear bands in the rock matrix about the wellbore, and to communicate the chemical treatment fluid into the rock matrix primarily through at least one of the rock matrix at a wall of the wellbore or a subset of the shear bands intersecting the wall.   
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the fluid supply system resides at a well system surface, and wherein the fluid supply system comprises a single fluid composition that is both the thin injection fluid and the chemical treatment fluid. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the fluid supply system resides at a well system surface, and wherein the fluid supply system comprises a first fluid composition that is the thin injection fluid and second, different fluid composition that is the chemical treatment fluid. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the conduit system comprises one or more conduits in a production string, and wherein the port system comprises a plurality of inflow control devices in the production string. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the conduit system comprises one or more conduits within a wellbore casing, and wherein the port system comprises a plurality of perforations in the wellbore casing. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the condition comprises at least one of an injection pressure condition or an injection flow rate condition.