Hydrophobic Coating of Particulates for Enhanced Well Productivity

Abstract

Compositions and methods for coated or uncoated particulates, such as proppants, are provided that can, among other things, provide a hydrophobic surface that can enhance well productivity and other compositions and methods are disclosed.

1 - 270 . (canceled) 
     
     
         271 . A coated particulate comprising a particulate core coated with a compatibilizing agent and a hydrophobic polymer coating the particulate core, wherein a portion of the hydrophobic polymer is exposed to provide an exposed hydrophobic surface of the coated particulate. 
     
     
         271 . The coated particulate of  claim 271 , wherein the compatibilizing agent binds the hydrophobic polymer to the particulate. 
     
     
         272 . The coated particulate of  claim 271 , wherein the compatibilizing agent encapsulates the particulate core and a first surface of the hydrophobic polymer binds to the compatibilizing agent and a second surface of the hydrophobic polymer is exposed to provide the exposed hydrophobic surface of the coated particulate. 
     
     
         273 . The coated particulate of any of  claim 271 , wherein the coated particulate has enhanced particulate transport as compared to a particulate without the exposed hydrophobic surface. 
     
     
         274 . The coated particulate of any of  claim 271 , wherein the compatibilizing agent is an alkoxysilane. 
     
     
         275 . The coated particulate of  claim 271 , wherein the alkoxysilane is a methoxysilane, ethoxysilane, butoxysilane, or octoxysilane. 
     
     
         276 . The coated particulate of any of  claim 271 , wherein the compatibilizing agent is a surfactant. 
     
     
         277 . The coated particulate of  claim 276 , wherein the surfactant is a hydroxysultaine. 
     
     
         278 . The coated particulate of  claim 277 , wherein the hydroxysultaine is cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine. 
     
     
         279 . The coated particulate of any of  claim 271 , wherein the compatibilizing agent is an alkoxylated alcohol. 
     
     
         280 . The coated particulate of any of  claim 271 , wherein the coated particulate is substantially free of a hydrogel or a frother. 
     
     
         281 . A process for preparing the coated particulate of  claim 271 , the coated particulate comprising a particulate core coated with a compatibilizing agent and a hydrophobic polymer, the process comprising contacting the particulate core with the compatibilizing agent and the hydrophobic polymer under conditions sufficient to coat the particulate core to produce the coated particulate. 
     
     
         282 . The process of  claim 281 , wherein the particulate core is contacted with the compatibilizing agent and the hydrophobic polymer simultaneously. 
     
     
         283 . The process of  claim 281 , wherein the particulate core is contacted with the compatibilizing agent and the hydrophobic polymer sequentially. 
     
     
         284 . The process of  claim 281 , wherein the particulate core is contacted with a first treatment agent comprising the compatibilizing agent and a second treatment agent comprising the hydrophobic polymer. 
     
     
         285 . The process of  claim 281 , wherein the compatibilizing agent is a alkoxysilane. 
     
     
         286 . A method of extracting oil and/or gas from a subterranean stratum, the method comprising:
 injecting into the subterranean stratum the coated particulate of  claim 271 ; and   extracting the oil and/or gas from the subterranean stratum.   
     
     
         287 . A method of cleaning out a well bore comprising a coated particulate of  claim 271 , the method comprising injecting a gas into the well bore to suspend the coated particulates in the well bore and displacing the coated particulate from the well bore. 
     
     
         288 . A coated particulate comprising a particulate core coated with a surfactant, a polymer binder, and a hydrophobic polymer. 
     
     
         289 . The coated particulate of  claim 288 , wherein the surfactant is an alkoxylate. 
     
     
         290 . The coated particulate of  claim 289 , wherein the alkoxylate has a formula of Formula I, II, III, IV, or V:
   R a O-(AO) z —H  (I),
   wherein R a  is aryl, or linear or branched C 6 -C 24  alkyl, AO at each occurrence is independently ethyleneoxy, propyleneoxy, butyleneoxy, or random or block mixtures thereof, and z is from 1 to 50;
   R—O—(C 3 H 6 O) x (C 2 H 4 O) y —H  (II),
 
   wherein x is a real number within a range of from 0.5 to 10; y is a real number within a range of from 2 to 20, and R represents a mixture of two or more linear alkyl moieties each containing one or more linear alkyl group with an even number of carbon atoms from 4 to 20;
   R 1 O—(CH 2 CH(R 2 )—O) p —(CH 2 CH 2 O) q —H  (III),
 
   wherein R 1  is linear or branched C 4 -C 18  alkyl; R 2  is CH 3  or CH 3 CH 2 ; p is a real number from 0 to 11; and q is a real number from 1 to 20;
   R a —O—(C 2 H 4 O) m (C 4 H 8 O) n —H  (IV),
 
   wherein R a  is one or more independently straight chain or branched alkyl groups or alkenyl groups having 3-22 carbon atoms, m is from 1 to 12, and n is from 1 to 8;
   C 4 H 9 O—(C 2 H 4 O)r(C 3 H 9 O) s (C 2 H 4 O) t —H  (V),
 
   wherein r is from 3-10, s is from 3 to 40, and t is from 10 to 45;
   R—O—(—CH—CH 3 —CH 2 —O) x —(—CH 2 —CH 2 —O) y —H  (VI),
 
   wherein x is from 0.5 to 10, y is from 2 to 20, and R is a mixture of two or more linear alkyl moieties having an even number of carbon atoms between 4 and 20.