Fiber paste and methods for treating a subterranean formation with the fiber paste

Abstract

Methods of treating a subterranean formation are disclosed that include contacting a paste including a liquid chemical and a lightweight fiber having a high aspect ratio with a treatment fluid, and placing the treatment fluid into a subterranean formation. Also disclosed is an additive for treating a subterranean formation comprising a paste including a liquid chemical and a lightweight fiber having a high aspect ratio.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for treating a subterranean formation comprising, in any order:
 contacting a treatment fluid with a paste comprising a liquid chemical and lightweight fibers having a high aspect ratio, wherein the lightweight fibers are uniformly distributed in the paste; and   placing the treatment fluid into a subterranean formation via a wellbore; wherein the lightweight fibers are present in the paste at a concentration in a range of from about 500 ppt to about 10,000 ppt.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid chemical is selected from the group consisting of include glycerol, a solutions of a polymer, a solution of polyacrylamide, a solution of guar, a solution of polyethylene oxide, a solution of polyethylene glycol, and a solution of a water soluble polymer, a solution of a degradable polymer, an oil-based fluid, a hydrocarbon based fluid, an aromatic hydrocarbon, o-xylene, m-xylene, p-xylene, ethyl benzene, nitrogen containing solvent systems, methyl isobutyl ketone, formamine, petroleum jelly, gelatin, agar, alcohol solvents, methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, 1-butanol, 3-methyl-1-butanol, ester solvents, n-butyl acetate, ethyl lactate, ether solvents, isopropyl ether, an emulsion, emulsions containing mineral oil, and an emulsions containing vegetable oil. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lightweight fibers have a specific gravity of about 2.0 or lower, the high-aspect ratio of the lightweight fiber being an aspect ratio greater than about 100:1, and the paste has a viscosity in the range of from about 1 cP to 500,000 cP at 25° C. at a shear rate of 1 s −1  to 200 s −1 . 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lightweight fibers are at least one member selected from the group consisting of substituted and unsubstituted lactide fibers, glycolide fibers, oily lactic acid fibers, polyglycolic acid fibers, fibers of copolymers of glycolic acid with hydroxy containing moieties, fibers of copolymers of glycolic acid with carboxylic acid containing moieties, fibers of copolymers of glycolic acid with hydroxycarboxylic acid containing moieties, polyethylene fibers, polyethylene terephthalate fibers, cellulose fibers, glass fibers, and phenol formaldehyde fibers. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein contacting a treatment fluid with a paste comprises transporting the paste via a conduit at a flow rate in the range of from about 2 gallons per hour to about 40 gallons per hour; wherein
 a diameter of the conduit is in the range of from about 0.5 to about 2 inches, and   less than about 2% by weight of the lightweight fibers, based on the total weight of the fiber in the paste, separates or filters out of the paste during transport of the paste through the conduit.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the treatment fluid is contacted with the paste at a surface of the wellbore before the treatment fluid is placed into the wellbore. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the treatment fluid is contacted with the paste after the treatment fluid has been placed into the wellbore. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein contacting the treatment fluid with the paste occurs at one or more underground locations selected from the group consisting of the wellbore and the subterranean formation. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the treatment fluid is selected from the group consisting of a fluid loss control pill, a water control treatment fluid, a scale inhibition treatment fluid, a fracturing fluid, a gravel packing fluid, a drilling fluid, and a drill-in fluid. 
     
     
         10 . A method of delivering a solid to a wellsite, comprising:
 forming a paste, wherein a concentration of the solid to liquid is in the range of 500 ppt to 10,000 ppt;   transporting the paste to the wellsite; and   diluting the paste such that a concentration of the solid to liquid is in the range of 1 ppt to 200 ppt.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the forming the concentration occurs at a location remote from the wellsite. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the diluting the paste occurs at the wellsite. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the forming of the paste employs a mixing device, the mixing device being a batch mixing tank, or a continuous mixer using a vertical auger. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the diluting of the paste employs a dilution device, the dilution device being a positive displacement pump. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the positive displacement pump is a progressive cavity pump, gear pump, vane pump, or lobe pump.