Compositions and methods for improving fracture conductivity in a subterranean well

Abstract

The invention relates to enhancing fluid flow from subterranean formations, and more particularly, to enhancing the conductivity of fractures in a subterranean formation so as to enhance fluid flow therethrough. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a proppant matrix composition comprising at least a plurality of proppant particulates and at least a plurality of composite particles, the composite particles comprising a degradable material and a filler material.

1 . A proppant matrix composition comprising at least a plurality of proppant particulates and at least a plurality of composite particles, the composite particles comprising a degradable material and a filler material.  
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the proppant particulates comprises at least one of the following: interlocking proppant particulates, or proppant particulates coated with a curable resin and/or a tackifying agent.  
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the proppant particulates comprise at least one of the following: natural sand, a ground nut hull, a man-made proppant particulate, bauxite, a ceramic, a polymeric particulate, or a low density particulate.  
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the composite particles has a physical shape of a platelet, shaving, fiber, flake, ribbon, rod, strip, spheroid, toroid, pellet, or tablet.  
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the proppant matrix composition comprises at least one of the following: an acid reactive material or an inert filler.  
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the degradable material is capable of undergoing an irreversible degradation downhole.  
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the composite particles are present in an amount of from about 0.1% to about 30% based on the weight of the proppant particulates in the proppant matrix composition.  
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the degradable material comprises a degradable polymer.  
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the composite particles comprises at least one of the following: a polysaccharide; a chitin; a chitosan; a protein; 
 an aliphatic polyester; a poly(lactide); a poly(glycolide); a poly(ε-caprolactone); a poly(hydroxy ester ether); a poly(hydroxybutyrate); a polyanhydride; a polycarbonate; a poly(orthoester); a poly(acetal); a poly(acrylate); a poly(alkylacrylate); a poly(amino acid); a poly(ethylene oxide); a poly ether ester; a polyester amide; a polyamide; a polyphosphazene; or a copolymer or blend thereof.    
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the filler comprises at least one of the following: an anhydrous salt, glass, talc, calcium carbonate, mica, magnesium oxide, miheral filler, barite, silica, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, an oxidizer, a breaker, sodium persulfate, magnesium peroxide, an inorganic compound, an organic compound, or a derivative thereof.  
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the filler comprises from about 0.5% to about 60% of one of the composite particles.  
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the composite particles comprises at least one of the following: a processing aid, a lubricant, an antistat, an antiblock agent, a pigment, or a derivative thereof.  
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the composite particles is formed by a melt extrusion process.  
     
     
         14 . A treatment fluid for use in a subterranean application comprising a proppant matrix composition, the proppant matrix composition comprising at least a plurality of proppant particulates and at least a plurality of composite particles, the composite particles comprising a degradable material and a filler material.  
     
     
         15 . The treatment fluid of  claim 13  wherein the treatment fluid is formed at a drill site.  
     
     
         16 . The treatment fluid of  claim 13  wherein the degradable material comprises at least one of the following: a polysaccharide, a chitin, a chitosan, a protein, an aliphatic polyester, a poly(lactide), a poly(glycolide), a poly(ε-caprolactone), a poly(hydroxybutyrate), a polyanhydride, an aliphatic polycarbonate, an aromatic polycarbonate, a poly(orthoester), a poly(acetal), a poly(acrylate), a poly(alkylacrylate), a poly(amino acid), a poly(ethylene oxide), or a polyphosphazene.  
     
     
         17 . The treatment fluid of  claim 13  wherein the degradable material produces an acid upon degradation.  
     
     
         18 . A proppant matrix having at least one void therein, the void resulting from the degradation of a degradable material in a composite particle.  
     
     
         19 . The proppant matrix of  claim 18  wherein the degradable material did not completely degrade until the proppant matrix developed some compressive strength.  
     
     
         20 . The proppant matrix of  claim 18  wherein the degradable material comprises at least one of the following: a polysaccharide, a chitin, a chitosan, a protein, an aliphatic polyester, a poly(lactide), a poly(glycolide), a poly(ε-caprolactone), a poly(hydroxybutyrate), a polyanhydride, an aliphatic polycarbonate, an aromatic polycarbonate, a poly(orthoester), a poly(acetal), a poly(acrylate), a poly(alkylacrylate), a poly(amino acid), a poly(ethylene oxide), or a polyphosphazene.