The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 31, 1976
Filed:
Oct. 16, 1975
John W Graham, Houston, TX (US);
Clay Gruesbeck, Houston, TX (US);
William M Salathiel, Houston, TX (US);
Exxon Production Research Company, Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
A hydraulic fracturing method wherein a viscous oil-in-water emulsion is injected into a formation under sufficient pressure to fracture the formation. The emulsion contains from about 70 to about 90 volume percent of an internal liquid hydrocarbon phase, from about 10 to about 30 volume percent of an external aqueous phase and sufficient amounts of a nonionic surfactant to stabilize and viscosify the emulsion. The preferred hydrocarbon phase concentration is between about 75 and 85 volume percent. The nonionic surfactant also gives the emulsion a breaking temperature which is not greater than the temperature of the formation. Preferably, an electrolyte is used to adjust the temperature at which the emulsion will break. After fracturing is completed the emulsion is then left in the wellbore for a sufficient time to permit the temperature of the emulsion to reach its breaking temperature. Upon breaking, the emulsion reverts to a low viscosity fluid which is readily removable from the formation.