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:
Apr. 05, 2016
Filed:
May. 16, 2007
Bruno Drochon, Missouri City, TX (US);
Isabelle Couillet, Houston, TX (US);
Bruno Drochon, Missouri City, TX (US);
Isabelle Couillet, Houston, TX (US);
SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION, Sugar Land, TX (US);
Abstract
A thermoviscoelastic system (TVE) fluid useful in a well treatment method can include a hydrophobically-modified polymer and a viscoelastic surfactant (VES) in an aqueous medium, wherein the polymer has a lower critical solution temperature (LCST). The polymer can have water solubility for preparation below the LCST, and the TVE has a low viscosity for pumping down a well bore in communication with a subterranean formation. When the TVE is heated above the LCST, interaction between the hydrophobic groups of the polymer and the VES form a cross-linked network to increase the viscosity to transport proppant into a fracture. The thickened TVE can have a low leak-off rate, optionally including colloidal particles or other fluid loss control agent, and can be broken by contact with hydrocarbons as during flowback from the reservoir.