Methods of Enhancing Fracture Conductivity of Subterranean Formations Propped with Cement Pillars

Abstract

Methods of treating a subterranean formation having at least one fracture including providing a cement slurry comprising an expandable cementitious material and a breakable foamed carrier fluid, wherein the expandable cementitious material is capable of consolidating to form a plurality of expandable cementitious material aggregates and wherein the breakable foamed carrier fluid is capable of coating and isolating the expandable cementitious material aggregates; introducing the cement slurry into the fracture; curing the expandable cementitious material aggregates so as to form a cement pillar within the fracture in the subterranean formation, wherein the curing of the expandable cementitious material aggregates expands the expandable cementitious material aggregates such that at least one microfracture is created within the fracture; breaking the breakable foamed carrier fluid; removing the broken breakable foamed carrier fluid from the subterranean formation; and acid-fracturing the at least one fracture in the subterranean formation.

1 . A method comprising:
 providing a wellbore in a subterranean formation having at least one fracture;   providing a cement slurry comprising an expandable cementitious material and a breakable foamed carrier fluid,
 wherein the expandable cementitious material is capable of consolidating to form a plurality of expandable cementitious material aggregates and wherein the breakable foamed carrier fluid is capable of coating and isolating the expandable cementitious material aggregates; 
   introducing the cement slurry into the at least one fracture in the subterranean formation;   curing the expandable cementitious material aggregates so as to form a cement pillar within the fracture in the subterranean formation,
 wherein the curing of the expandable cementitious material aggregates expands the expandable cementitious material aggregates such that at least one microfracture is created within the at least one fracture in the subterranean formation; 
   breaking the breakable foamed carrier fluid;   removing the broken breakable foamed carrier fluid from the subterranean formation; and   acid-fracturing the at least one fracture in the subterranean formation.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least one fracture in the subterranean formation is created through a slot or a perforation in the subterranean formation. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the expandable cementitious material comprises an expandable agent selected from the group consisting of calcium oxide; magnesium oxide; any derivatives thereof; and any combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the breakable foamed carrier fluid comprises a foaming agent selected from the group consisting of an ethoxylated alcohol ether sulfate; an alkyl amidopropyl betaine; an alkene amidopropyl betaine surfactant; an alkyl amidopropyl dimethyl amine oxide; and alkene amidopropyl dimethyl amine oxide; any derivatives thereof; and any combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the breakable foamed carrier fluid further comprises an encapsulated foam breaker, wherein the foam breaker is selected from the group consisting of an oil-based foam breaker; a water-based foam breaker; a silicone-based foam breaker; a polymer-based foam breaker; a alkyl polyacrylate foam breaker; and any combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the breakable foamed carrier fluid further comprises a gas generating agent selected from the group consisting of nitrogen; carbon dioxide; air; methane; helium; argon; and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the breakable foamed carrier fluid further comprises a nano-particle. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the cement slurry further comprises degradable particulates. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the cement slurry is introduced intermittently into the at least one fracture in the subterranean formation with a substantially particulate-free pad fluid so as to alternate the expandable cementitious material aggregates and the substantially particulate-free pad fluid within the at least one fracture in the subterranean formation. 
     
     
         10 . A method comprising:
 providing a wellbore in a subterranean formation having at least one fracture;   providing a cement slurry comprising a cementitious material and a breakable foamed carrier fluid,
 wherein the cementitious material is capable of consolidating to form a plurality of cementitious material aggregates and wherein the breakable foamed carrier fluid is capable of coating and isolating the cementitious material aggregates; 
   introducing the cement slurry into the at least one fracture in the subterranean formation;   curing the cementitious material aggregates so as to form a cement pillar within the fracture in the subterranean formation;   breaking the breakable foamed carrier fluid; and   removing the broken breakable foamed carrier fluid from the subterranean formation.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the at least one fracture in the subterranean formation is created through a slot or a perforation in the subterranean formation. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the at least one fracture in the subterranean formation is acid-fracturized after the removal of the broken breakable foamed carrier fluid. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the breakable foamed carrier fluid comprises a foaming agent and an encapsulated foam breaker. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the cement slurry further comprises a consolidating agent. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the cement slurry is introduced intermittently into the at least one fracture in the subterranean formation with a substantially particulate-free pad fluid so as to alternate the cementitious material aggregates and the substantially particulate-free pad fluid within the at least one fracture in the subterranean formation. 
     
     
         16 . A method comprising:
 providing a wellbore in a subterranean formation having at least one fracture;   providing a cement slurry comprising an expandable cementitious material and a breakable foamed carrier fluid,
 wherein the expandable cementitious material is capable of consolidating to form a plurality of expandable cementitious material aggregates and wherein the breakable foamed carrier fluid is capable of coating and isolating the expandable cementitious material aggregates; 
   introducing the cement slurry into the at least one fracture in the subterranean formation;   curing the expandable cementitious material aggregates so as to form a cement pillar within the fracture in the subterranean formation;   breaking the breakable foamed carrier fluid; and   removing the broken breakable foamed carrier fluid from the subterranean formation.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the at least one fracture in the subterranean formation is created through a slot or a perforation in the subterranean formation. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the at least one fracture in the subterranean formation is acid-fracturized after the removal of the broken breakable foamed carrier fluid. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the breakable foamed carrier fluid comprises a foaming agent and an encapsulated foam breaker. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the cement slurry is introduced intermittently into the at least one fracture in the subterranean formation with a substantially particulate-free pad fluid so as to alternate the expandable cementitious material aggregates and the substantially particulate-free pad fluid within the at least one fracture in the subterranean formation.