Flow Constraint Material and Slurry Compositions

Abstract

A flow constraint material consists essentially of degradable particles, where at least 50% by volume of the degradable particles have an average particle size of about 1 millimeters (mm) to about 6 mm.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A stimulation treatment slurry, comprising:
 a carrier fluid;   about 0.01 wt % to about 1 wt % of a flow constraint material;   about 1 wt % to about 99 wt % of a first proppant;   about 1 wt % to about 99 wt % of a second proppant; and   wherein:
 the weight percentages of the flow constraint material, the first proppant, and the second proppant are based on a combined weight of the first proppant and the second proppant; 
 an average particle size of the first proppant is less than an average particle size of the second proppant; 
 the first proppant and the second proppant have different compositions; 
 the flow constraint material consists essentially of degradable particles; and 
 an average particle size of the degradable particles is at least two times greater than the average particle size of the second proppant. 
   
     
     
         2 . The stimulation treatment slurry of  claim 1 , wherein the stimulation treatment slurry comprises about 0.01 wt % to about 1.0 wt % of the flow constraint material and about 100% of a single proppant. 
     
     
         3 . The stimulation treatment slurry of  claim 1 , wherein the stimulation treatment slurry comprises:
 about 1 wt % to about 99 wt % of a first proppant;   about 1 wt % to about 99 wt % of a second proppant; and   about 1 wt % to about 99 wt % of a third proppant.   
     
     
         4 . The stimulation treatment slurry of  claim 1 , wherein the stimulation treatment slurry comprises:
 about 1 wt % to about 99 wt % of a first proppant;   about 1 wt % to about 99 wt % of a second proppant;   about 1 wt % to about 99 wt % of a third proppant; and   about 1 wt % to about 99 wt % of a fourth proppant.   
     
     
         5 . The stimulation treatment slurry of  claim 1 , wherein the stimulation treatment slurry comprises:
 about 1 wt % to about 99 wt % of a first proppant;   about 1 wt % to about 99 wt % of a second proppant;   about 1 wt % to about 99 wt % of a third proppant;   about 1 wt % to about 99 wt % of a fourth proppant; and   about 1 wt % to about 99 wt % of a fifth proppant.   
     
     
         6 . The stimulation treatment slurry of  claim 1 , wherein the average particle size of the first proppant is about 50 micrometers (μm) to about 250 μm and the average particle size of a subsequent applied proppant is greater than 250 μm to less than 1 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The stimulation treatment slurry of  claim 1 , wherein the first proppant and the second proppant comprise sand, silica, alumina, or any mixture thereof and a subsequent proppant comprises calcium carbonate. 
     
     
         8 . The stimulation treatment slurry of  claim 1 , wherein the stimulation treatment slurry comprises about 275 wt % to about 3800 wt % of the carrier fluid, based on the combined weight of the first proppant and a subsequent proppant. 
     
     
         9 . The stimulation treatment slurry of  claim 1 , wherein at least 50% by volume of the degradable particles has an average particle size of about 1 mm to about 6 mm. 
     
     
         10 . The stimulation treatment slurry of  claim 1 , wherein the degradable particles comprise a degradable polymer, an anhydrous salt, or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The stimulation treatment slurry of  claim 1 , wherein the degradable particles comprise a degradable polymeric lactide. 
     
     
         12 . A method of fracturing a subterranean formation to produce fluid from a reservoir through a wellbore, comprising:
 flowing a stimulation treatment slurry into the wellbore;   wherein the stimulation treatment slurry comprises:
 a carrier fluid; 
 about 0.01 wt % to about 1 wt % of a flow constraint material that consists essentially of degradable particles; 
 about 1 wt % to about 99 wt % of a first proppant; and 
 about 1 wt % to about 99 wt % of a second proppant comprising a different composition than the first proppant; 
   wherein the weight percentages of the flow constraint material, the first proppant, and the second proppant are based on a combined weight of the first proppant and the second proppant;   wherein an average particle size of the first proppant is less than an average particle size of the second proppant; and   an average particle size of the degradable particles is at least two times greater than the average particle size of the second proppant.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the stimulation treatment slurry comprises about 0.01 wt % to about 1.0 wt % of the flow constraint material and about 100% of a single proppant. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the stimulation treatment slurry comprises:
 about 1 wt % to about 99 wt % of a first proppant;   about 1 wt % to about 99 wt % of a second proppant; and   about 1 wt % to about 99 wt % of a third proppant.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the average particle size of the first proppant is about 50 micrometers (μm) to about 250 μm and the average particle size of a subsequent applied proppant is greater than 250 μm to less than 1 mm. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first proppant and the second proppant comprise sand, silica, alumina, or any mixture thereof and a subsequent proppant comprises calcium carbonate. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the stimulation treatment slurry comprises about 275 wt % to about 3800 wt % of the carrier fluid, based on the combined weight of the first proppant and a subsequent proppant. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein at least 50% by volume of the degradable particles has an average particle size of about 1 mm to about 6 mm. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the degradable particles comprise a degradable polymer, an anhydrous salt, or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the degradable particles comprise a degradable polymeric lactide.