Hydraulic fracturing additive, hydraulic fracturing treatment fluid made therefrom, and method of hydraulically fracturing a subterranean formation

Abstract

For hydraulic fracturing treatment to increase productivity of subterranean hydrocarbon bearing formation, a hydraulic fracturing additive including a dry mixture of water soluble crosslinkable polymer, a crosslinking agent, and a filter aid which is preferably diatomaceous earth. The method of forming a hydraulic fracturing fluid includes contacting the additive with water or an aqueous solution, with a method of hydraulically fracturing the formation further including the step of injecting the fluid into the wellbore.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A hydraulic fracturing additive comprising a dry mixture of water soluble crosslinkable polymer, a crosslinking agent, and a filter aid.  
     
     
         2 . The additive of  claim 1 , wherein the filter aid is selected from the group consisting of diatomaceous earth, perlite, glass beads, magnesium silicate, solid thermoplastic or thermoset polymer beads, talc, and calcium silicate.  
     
     
         3 . The additive of  claim 2 , wherein the polymer is an a carboxylate-containing polymer, and the crosslinking agent is selected from the group consisting of chromium (III) carboxylate complexes, aldehydes, dialdehydes, formaldehydes, glutaraldehyde, dichromates, titanium chelates, phenols, substituted phenols, ethers, aluminum citrate, and aluminates.  
     
     
         4 . The additive of  claim 3 , wherein the filter aid comprises at least one of diatomaceous earth or pearlite.  
     
     
         5 . The additive of  claim 4 , wherein the polymer comprises a low molecular weight polymer having a molecular weight less than 500,000, and a high molecular weight polymer having a molecular weight of at least 500,000.  
     
     
         6 . The additive of  claim 4 , wherein the polymer is a water soluble, carboxylate containing acrylamide, and the crosslinking agent is a chromium (III) carboxylate complex.  
     
     
         7 . The additive of  claim 6 , wherein the filter aid is diatomaceous earth.  
     
     
         8 . The additive of  claim 6 , wherein the filter aid is pearlite.  
     
     
         9 . The additive of  claim 6 , further comprising reinforcing material selected from the group consisting of hydrophilic fibers, hydrophobic fibers, and comminuted plant material.  
     
     
         10 . A well fluid comprising a hydraulic fracturing fluid, water soluble crosslinkable polymer, a crosslinking agent, and a filter aid.  
     
     
         11 . The well fluid of  claim 10 , wherein the filter aid is selected from the group consisting of diatomaceous earth, perlite, glass beads, magnesium silicate, solid thermoplastic or thermoset polymer beads, talc, and calcium silicate.  
     
     
         12 . The well fluid of  claim 11 , wherein the polymer is an a carboxylate-containing polymer, and the crosslinking agent is selected from the group consisting of chromium (III) carboxylate complexes, aldehydes, dialdehydes, formaldehydes, glutaraldehyde, dichromates, titanium chelates, phenols, substituted phenols, ethers, aluminum citrate, and aluminates.  
     
     
         13 . The well fluid of  claim 12 , wherein the filter aid comprises at least one of diatomaceous earth or pearlite.  
     
     
         14 . The well fluid of  claim 13 , wherein the polymer comprises a low molecular weight polymer having a molecular weight less than 500,000, and a high molecular weight polymer having a molecular weight of at least 500,000.  
     
     
         15 . The well fluid of  claim 13 , wherein the polymer is a water soluble, carboxylate containing acrylamide, and the crosslinking agent is a chromium (III) carboxylate complex.  
     
     
         16 . The well fluid of  claim 15 , wherein the filter aid is diatomaceous earth.  
     
     
         17 . The well fluid of  claim 15 , wherein the filter aid is pearlite.  
     
     
         18 . The well fluid of  claim 15 , further comprising reinforcing material selected from the group consisting of hydrophilic fibers, hydrophobic fibers, and comminuted plant material.  
     
     
         19 . A method of modifying a hydraulic fracturing fluid comprising: 
 (a) contacting the hydraulic fracturing fluid with a water soluble crosslinkable polymer, crosslinking agent, and filter aid to form a modified hydraulic fracturing fluid.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the filter aid is selected from the group consisting of diatomaceous earth, perlite, glass beads, magnesium silicate, solid thermoplastic or thermoset polymer beads, talc, and calcium silicate.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the polymer is an a carboxylate-containing polymer, and the crosslinking agent is selected from the group consisting of chromium (III) carboxylate complexes, aldehydes, dialdehydes, formaldehydes, glutaraldehyde, dichromates, titanium chelates, phenols, substituted phenols, ethers, aluminum citrate, and aluminates.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the filter aid comprises at least one of diatomaceous earth or pearlite.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the polymer comprises a low molecular weight polymer having a molecular weight less than 1,000,000, and a high molecular weight polymer having a molecular weight of at least 1,000,000.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the polymer is a water soluble, carboxylate containing acrylamide, and the crosslinking agent is a chromium (III) carboxylate complex.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the filter aid is diatomaceous earth.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the filter aid is pearlite.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the water soluble crosslinkable polymer, crosslinking agent, and filter aid, are all in solid form.  
     
     
         28 . A method for hydraulically fracturing a subterranean hydrocarbon bearing formation below an earthen surface in fluid communication with a wellbore comprising: 
 (a) providing a hydraulic fracturing fluid comprising water soluble crosslinkable polymer, a crosslinking agent, and filter aid; and    (b) injecting the hydraulic fracturing fluid into said formation via said wellbore at a pressure sufficient to hydraulically fracture said formation.    
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the filter aid is selected from the group consisting of diatomaceous earth, perlite, glass beads, magnesium silicate, solid thermoplastic or thermoset polymer beads, talc, and calcium silicate.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the polymer is an a carboxylate-containing polymer, and the crosslinking agent is selected from the group consisting of chromium (III) carboxylate complexes, aldehydes, dialdehydes, formaldehydes, glutaraldehyde, dichromates, titanium chelates, phenols, substituted phenols, ethers, aluminum citrate, and aluminates.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the filter aid comprises at least one of diatomaceous earth or pearlite.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the polymer comprises a low molecular weight polymer having a molecular weight less than 500,000, and a high molecular weight polymer having a molecular weight of at least 500,000.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the polymer is a water soluble, carboxylate containing acrylamide, and the crosslinking agent is a chromium (III) carboxylate complex.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the filter aid is diatomaceous earth.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the filter aid is pearlite.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising reinforcing material selected from the group consisting of hydrophilic fibers, hydrophobic fibers, and comminuted plant material.  
     
     
         37 . A method for hydraulically fracturing a subterranean hydrocarbon bearing formation below an earthen surface in fluid communication with a wellbore comprising: 
 (a) providing a hydraulic fracturing additive comprising a dry mixture of water soluble crosslinkable polymer, a crosslinking agent, and filter aid;    (b) contacting the hydraulic fracturing additive with water or an aqueous solution to form a hydraulic fracturing fluid; and    (c) injecting the hydraulic fracturing fluid into said formation via said wellbore at a pressure sufficient to hydraulically fracture said formation.    
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the filter aid is selected from the group consisting of diatomaceous earth, perlite, glass beads, magnesium silicate, solid thermoplastic or thermoset polymer beads, talc, and calcium silicate.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the polymer is an a carboxylate-containing polymer, and the crosslinking agent is selected from the group consisting of chromium (III) carboxylate complexes, aldehydes, dialdehydes, formaldehydes, glutaraldehyde, dichromates, titanium chelates, phenols, substituted phenols, ethers, aluminum citrate, and aluminates.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the filter aid comprises at least one of diatomaceous earth or pearlite.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the polymer comprises a low molecular weight polymer having a molecular weight less than 500,000, and a high molecular weight polymer having a molecular weight of at least 500,000.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the polymer is a water soluble, carboxylate containing acrylamide, and the crosslinking agent is a chromium (III) carboxylate complex.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the filter aid is diatomaceous earth.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the filter aid is pearlite.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising reinforcing material selected from the group consisting of hydrophilic fibers, hydrophobic fibers, and comminuted plant material.  
     
     
         46 . A method of circulating a hydraulic fracturing fluid in a welbore penetrating a subterranean formation, comprising: 
 (a) providing a hydraulic fracturing fluid comprising water or an aqueous solution, water soluble crosslinkable polymer, a crosslinking agent, and a filter aid;    (b) circulating the hydraulic fracturing fluid in the wellbore.    
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the filter aid is selected from the group consisting of diatomaceous earth, perlite, glass beads, magnesium silicate, solid thermoplastic or thermoset polymer beads, talc, and calcium silicate.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the polymer is an a carboxylate-containing polymer, and the crosslinking agent is selected from the group consisting of chromium (III) carboxylate complexes, aldehydes, dialdehydes, formaldehydes, glutaraldehyde, dichromates, titanium chelates, phenols, substituted phenols, ethers, aluminum citrate, and aluminates.  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the filter aid comprises at least one of diatomaceous earth or pearlite.  
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the polymer comprises a low molecular weight polymer having a molecular weight less than 500,000, and a high molecular weight polymer having a molecular weight of at least 500,000.  
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the polymer is a water soluble, carboxylate containing acrylamide, and the crosslinking agent is a chromium (III) carboxylate complex.  
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the filter aid is diatomaceous earth.  
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the filter aid is pearlite.  
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising reinforcing material selected from the group consisting of hydrophilic fibers, hydrophobic fibers, and comminuted plant material.  
     
     
         55 . A method of modifying a hydraulic fracturing fluid circulating in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, comprising: 
 (a) introducing a water soluble crosslinkable polymer, crosslinking agent, and filter aid to the circulating hydraulic fracturing fluid.    
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the filter aid is selected from the group consisting of diatomaceous earth, perlite, glass beads, magnesium silicate, solid thermoplastic or thermoset polymer beads, talc, and calcium silicate.  
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein the polymer is an a carboxylate-containing polymer, and the crosslinking agent is selected from the group consisting of chromium (III) carboxylate complexes, aldehydes, dialdehydes, formaldehydes, glutaraldehyde, dichromates, titanium chelates, phenols, substituted phenols, ethers, aluminum citrate, and aluminates.  
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the filter aid comprises at least one of diatomaceous earth or pearlite.  
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the polymer comprises a low molecular weight polymer having a molecular weight less than 500,000, and a high molecular weight polymer having a molecular weight of at least 500,000.  
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the polymer is a water soluble, carboxylate containing acrylamide, and the crosslinking agent is a chromium (III) carboxylate complex.  
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the filter aid is diatomaceous earth.  
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the filter aid is pearlite.  
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the water soluble crosslinkable polymer, crosslinking agent, and filter aid, are all in solid form.