Completing wells in unconsolidated formations

Abstract

A method of completing an unconsolidated formation by first injecting a curable resin into diametrically-opposed zones within the formation and then allowing the resin to set to form a consolidated mass in these zones. Once the resin has set, the consolidated zones are hydraulically fractured to establish fluid communication between the untreated area of the formation outside these zones and the wellbore. Preferably, the fracturing fluid carries resin-coated proppants which, when set, form a permeable mass within the fractures to thereby allow flow of fluids through the fracture while preventing flow of sand.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of completing an unconsolidated, subterranean formation through a wellbore, said method comprising: 
 injecting a consolidating agent through said wellbore and into at least one zone within said formation to form a consolidated mass therein; and    fracturing said consolidated mass with a fracturing fluid to establish fluid communication between the area of said formation outside of said zone and said wellbore.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said consolidating agent is a curable resin.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said resin is selected from the group consisting of thermo-setting epoxy, phenolic, furan, and polyurethane.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said fracturing fluid contains proppants.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said proppants are resin-coated.  
     
     
         6 . A method of completing an unconsolidated subterranean formation through a wellbore, said method comprising: 
 casing said wellbore with a casing;    forming openings in said casing adjacent said formation;    injecting a consolidating agent down said wellbore into said formation through said openings in said casing;    allowing said consolidating agent to set to form consolidated zones within said formation which lie adjacent said openings in said casing; and    injecting a fracturing fluid through said openings in said casing to fracture said consolidated zones and thereby establish fluid communication between the untreated area of said formation outside said consolidated zones and said wellbore.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein said openings comprise: 
 two sets of openings formed in said casing and spaced diametrically-opposed from each other.  
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said two sets of openings are positioned adjacent the natural fracture plane of said formation.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said openings are perforations through said casing.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said openings are slots through said casing.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said consolidating agent is a curable resin.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said resin is selected from the group consisting of thermo-setting epoxy, phenolic, furan, polyurethane  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said curable resin is injected into said formation through each of said two sets of openings in said casing to form respective consolidated zones in said formation adjacent said sets of openings.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said fracturing fluid contains proppants.