Gravel pack carrier fluids

Abstract

A method of gravel packing a hole in a subterranean formation having a filter cake coated on the surface thereof is disclosed. The method may include: injecting into the hole a gravel pack composition comprising gravel and a carrier fluid comprising a base fluid and at least one alkyl glycoside. Also disclosed is a solution including an aqueous fluid, at least one alkyl glycoside, and gravel which may be used as a composition for a gravel pack operation, for example.

1 . A method of gravel packing a hole in a subterranean formation having a filter cake coated on the surface thereof, comprising:
 injecting into the hole a gravel pack composition comprising gravel and a carrier fluid comprising a base fluid and at least one alkyl glycoside;   wherein the carrier fluid has at least one of:   a density of at least 11 pounds per gallon; and   a Fann 35 viscometer value of 10 or less when measured at 300 rpm and 120° F.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the alkyl glycoside has an HLB of about 9.5 to about 15. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the alkyl glycoside has the formula RO—(R′O) x Z y  where the letter O represents an oxygen atom; R represents a monovalent alkyl radical containing from 8 to 16 carbon atoms; R′ represents a divalent alkyl radical containing 2 to 4 carbon atoms; x represents the number of oxy-alkylene units in the alkyl glycoside varying from 0 to about 12; Z represents a saccharide moiety containing 5 or 6 carbon atoms, and y represents the number of saccharide units in the glycoside. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein y ranges from 1.3 to 1.8. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier fluid further includes a weighting agent that is a high density brine containing water soluble salts of alkali and alkaline earth metals. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the high density brine forms the continuous phase of a direct emulsion fluid. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the direct emulsion fluid has a discontinuous phase selected from oleaginous fluids in the group consisting of diesel oil, mineral oil, synthetic oils, fatty acid ester based synthetic oils, polyolefin based synthetic oils, saturated and unsaturated polyalpha olefins, saturated and unsaturated long chain internal olefins, polydiorganosiloxanes, siloxanes or organo-siloxanes, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the gravel pack composition is a stable suspension, exhibiting essentially no phase separation for at least 120 hours as measured at room temperature and pressure. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier fluid further comprises a scale inhibitor. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 allowing the formation fluids to enter into the well; and   producing fluids from the well.   
     
     
         12 . A method of gravel packing a hole in a subterranean formation having a filter cake coated on the surface thereof, comprising:
 injecting into the hole a gravel pack composition comprising gravel and a carrier fluid comprising:
 a base fluid having a non-oleaginous external phase and an oleaginous internal phase; and 
   at least one surfactant;   wherein the carrier fluid has at least one of:   a density of at least 11 pounds per gallon; and   a Fann 35 viscometer value of 10 or less when measured at 300 rpm and 120° F.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the surfactant is at least one of an alkyl glucoside, alkyl poly glucoside, sorbitan esters, ethoxylated alcohol, phenols, alkyl alkanolamide ethoxylate, alkyl poly (ethylene oxide), Alkyl phenol poly (ethylene oxide), fatty alcohols, cocoamide MEA, or mixtures thereof 
     
     
         14 . The method in  claim 12  where the surfactant is present at a concentration of 0.01% to 15% by volume based on a total amount of the base fluid and the surfactant. 
     
     
         15 . A solution, comprising:
 an aqueous fluid;   at least one alkyl glycoside; and   gravel;   wherein the aqueous fluid has at least one of:   a density of at least 11 pounds per gallon; and   a Fann 35 viscometer value of 10 or less when measured at 300 rpm and 120° F.   
     
     
         16 . The solution of  claim 15 , further comprising a weighting agent. 
     
     
         17 . The solution of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 at least one selected from a wetting agent, a cleaning agent, a viscosifying agent, a fluid loss control agent, a dispersant, an interfacial tension reducer, a pH buffer, a thinner, defoamer, bactericide, and a surfactant.   
     
     
         18 . The solution of  claim 15 , wherein the aqueous fluid is selected from fresh water, sea water, a brine containing organic and/or inorganic dissolved salts, liquids containing water-miscible organic compounds and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The solution of  claim 15 , wherein the aqueous fluid forms the continuous phase of a direct emulsion fluid. 
     
     
         20 . The solution of  claim 19 , wherein the direct emulsion fluid has a discontinuous phase selected from oleaginous fluids in the group consisting of diesel oil, mineral oil, synthetic oils, fatty acid ester based synthetic oils, polyolefin based synthetic oils, saturated and unsaturated polyalpha olefins, saturated and unsaturated long chain internal olefins, polydiorganosiloxanes, siloxanes or organo-siloxanes, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         21 . A solution, comprising:
 an aqueous fluid;   at least one alkyl glycoside; and   a proppant;   wherein the aqueous fluid has at least one of:   a density of at least 11 pounds per gallon and   a Farm 35 viscometer value of 10 or less when measured at 300 rpm and 120° F.   
     
     
         22 . The solution of  claim 21 , wherein the proppant comprises at least one of sand and a ceramic.