Schlumberger Technology Corporation

Raymond J. Tibbles

Diankui Fu

Frank F. Chang

Mehmet Parlar

Palathinkara Vinod

Mark Davison

Elizabeth W. A. Morris

Antje M. Wierenga

Palathinkara S Vinod

Frank F Chang

Mathew M Samuel

J Ernest Brown

Dean M Willberg

Raymond J Tibbles

Antje M Wierenga

Jonathan Mark Davison

Erik B Nelson

Wayne W Frenier

Matthew J Miller

Roger J Card

Mark Brady

Roger Card

Elizabeth W A Morris

Qi Qu

Ronnie L Thomas

Thomas N Olsen

Elizabeth W Morris

Jesse C Lee, Jr

The Invention relates to fluids and techniques to optimize/enhance the production of hydrocarbon from subterranean formations (e.g., &ldquo;completion fluids&rdquo;), in particular, fluids and techniques are. disclosed and claimed which remove wellbore damage and near-wellbore damage in the form of coating formed from drilling and production-related operations (&ldquo;filtercake&rdquo;); the techniques can be applied either by themselves or in conjunction with other completion operations, such as gravel packing; preferred embodiments are chelating agent and enzyme systems in a viscoelastic surfactant (VES) matrix.

Fluids and techniques for hydrocarbon well completion

Herein is disclosed a well completion or stimulation fluid, comprising (i) a carrier fluid; (ii) a viscoelastic surfactant; and (iii) a fluid loss control additive (FLA) comprising at least one polymer and at least one crosslinker. The fluid may further comprise proppant or gravel, if it is intended for use as a fracturing fluid or a gravel packing fluid, although such uses do not require that the fluid comprise proppant or gravel. Also disclosed herein are methods of fracturing a subterranean formation, comprising (i) providing a fracturing fluid discussed above and (ii) injecting the fracturing fluid into the formation at a pressure sufficiently high to fracture the formation. In addition, disclosed herein are methods of gravel packing a wellbore, comprising (i) providing a gravel packing fluid discussed above and (ii) injecting the gravel packing fluid into the wellbore.

Compositions and methods to control fluid loss in surfactant-based wellbore service fluids

The Invention relates to novel fluids and techniques to optimize/enhance the production of hydrocarbon from subterranean formations (e.g., &ldquo;completion fluids&rdquo;), in particular, fluids and techniques are disclosed and claimed which remove wellbore damage and near-wellbore damage in the form of coating formed from drilling and production-related operations (&ldquo;filtercake&rdquo;); the techniques can be applied either by themselves or in conjunction with other completion operations, such as gravel packing; preferred embodiments are chelating agent and enzyme systems in a viscoelastic surfactant (VES) matrix.

The improved recovery of hydrocarbons from subterranean formations by hydraulically fracturing a subterranean formation is accomplished. Fracturing fluids using a viscosifying surfactant fluid containing viscosifying micelles, for example, wormlike micelles, are useful to improve recovery of hydrocarbons and limit the loss of fracturing fluid into the formation fracture face. The invention further relates to novel fracturing and acidizing methods useful for increasing hydrocarbon production, limiting water production, resisting fracturing fluid loss into the subterranean formation, and reducing the equipment requirements in mixing and pumping fracturing fluid. The action of viscosifying micelles of surfactant in aqueous zones of the subterranean formation diverts fracturing fluid or acid from the aqueous zones to the hydrocarbon-bearing zones and also facilitates the flowback of increased amounts of hydrocarbons once a fractured well is placed back on production. These methods selectively block the pore structure in a water-bearing zone and do not blocking the pore structure of a hydrocarbon zone at the formation face. The step for selectively blocking forms a plug of a viscous fluid containing viscosifying micelles in the pore structure of the water-bearing zone at the formation face.

Compositions containing aqueous viscosifying surfactants and methods for applying such compositions in subterranean formations

The Invention relates to novel fluids and techniques to optimize/enhance the production of hydrocarbon from subterranean formations (e.g., 'completion fluids'), in particular, fluids and techniques are disclosed and claimed which remove wellbore damage and near-wellbore damage in the form of coating formed from drilling and production-related operations ('filtercake'); the techniques can be applied either by themselves or in conjunction with other completion operations, such as gravel packing; preferred embodiments are chelating agent and enzyme systems in a viscoelastic surfactant (VES) matrix.

A method is provided for limiting the inflow of formation water during a well turn around to maximize polymer recovery after a hydraulic fracturing treatment of a formation. The method includes a step for selectively blocking the pore structure in a water-bearing zone and not blocking the pore structure of a hydrocarbon zone at the formation face; performing a hydraulic fracturing treatment using a fluid having a polymer; and turning the well around to recover the polymer. There is also provided a method of acidizing, preferably matrix acidizing, a formation having a hydrocarbon zone and a water-bearing zone. The method includes a step for selectively blocking the pore structure in the water-bearing zone at the formation face to selectively retard migration of acid into the water-bearing zone; and injecting acid into the formation, wherein the acid is diverted from the water-bearing zone to the hydrocarbon zone as a result of the selective blocking step. When the water-bearing zone contains a residual amount of hydrocarbon residues, the method further includes injecting a mutual solvent prior to the step for selectively blocking. In these methods, the step for selectively blocking preferably forms a plug of a viscous fluid in the pore structure of the water-bearing zone at the formation face. The viscous fluid preferably has at least a viscoelastic surfactant capable of forming a worm-like micelle in an aqueous environment, a water-soluble salt to effect formation stability, and an aqueous carrier fluid.

Methods for limiting the inflow of formation water and for stimulating

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Stafford, TX, United States of America

Palathinkara S Vinod