Compositions and methods for controlling unconsolidated particulates

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods for stabilizing an unconsolidated or weakly consolidated zone of a subterranean formation. One embodiment provides a method of stabilizing a subterranean formation comprising the steps of placing a gelable liquid composition into the subterranean formation, wherein the gelable liquid composition is capable of forming a gelled substance after placement; and, allowing the gelable liquid composition to convert into a gelled substance that stabilizes unconsolidated or weakly consolidated particles within the subterranean formation. Another embodiment provides a method of stimulating production from a subterranean formation comprising the steps of placing a gelable liquid composition into the subterranean formation; allowing the gelable liquid composition to convert into a gelled substance; creating at least one fracture in the subterranean formation extending from the well bore, through the gelled substance, and into an untreated zone of the subterranean formation; depositing proppant into at least one such fracture.

1 . A method of stabilizing an unconsolidated or weakly consolidated subterranean formation comprising the steps of: 
 placing a gelable liquid composition into the subterranean formation; and,    allowing the gelable liquid composition to convert into a gelled substance that stabilizes unconsolidated or weakly consolidated particles within the subterranean formation.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the gelable liquid composition comprises a curable resin composition, a gelable aqueous silicate composition, or a polymerizable organic monomer composition.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the gelable liquid composition comprises a curable resin composition that comprises a curable resin, a diluent, and a resin curing agent.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein curable resin comprises an organic resin that comprises a bisphenol A-epichlorihydrin resin, a polyepoxide resin, a polyester resin, a urea-aldehyde resin, a furan resin, a urethane resin, or a mixture thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the diluent comprises a phenol, a formaldehyde, a furfuryl alcohol, a furfural, an alcohol, an ether, or a mixture thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the diluent is present in the curable resin composition in an amount in the range of from about 5% to about 75% by weight of the curable resin.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the resin curing agent comprises an amine, a polyamine, an amide, a polyamide, or a methylene dianiline.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the resin curing agent is present in the curable resin composition in an amount in the range of from about 5% to about 75% by weight of the curable resin.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the curable resin composition further comprises a flexibilizer additive.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the flexibilizer additive comprises an organic ester, an oxygenated organic solvent, or an aromatic solvent.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the flexibilizer additive is present in the curable resin composition in an amount in the range of from about 5% to about 80% by weight of the curable resin.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the gelable liquid composition comprises a gelable aqueous silicate composition that comprises an aqueous alkali metal silicate solution and a temperature activated catalyst for gelling the aqueous alkali metal silicate solution.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the alkali metal silicate solution comprises sodium silicate, potassium silicate, lithium silicate, rubidium silicate, or cesium silicate.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the temperature activated catalyst comprises an ammonium sulfate, a sodium acid pyrophosphate, a citric acid, or an ethyl acetate.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the gelable liquid composition is a polymerizable organic monomer composition that comprises an aqueous-base fluid, a water soluble polymerizable organic monomer, an oxygen scavenger, and a primary initiator.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the water soluble polymerizable organic monomer comprises acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, acrylamide, methacrylamide, 2-methacrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid, 2-dimethylacrylamide, vinyl sulfonic acid, N,N-dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate, 2-triethylammoniumethylmethacrylate chloride, N,N-dimethyl-aminopropylmethacryl-amide, methacrylamidepropyltriethylammonium chloride, N-vinyl pyrrolidone, vinyl-phosphonic acid, methacryloyloxyethyl trimethylammonium sulfate, or a mixture thereof.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the water soluble polymerizable organic monomer comprises hydroxyethylacrylate, hydroxymethylacrylate, hydroxyethylmethacrylate, N-hydroxymethylacrylamide, N-hydroxy-methylmethacrylamide, polyethylene acrylate, polyethylene methacrylate, polyethylene glycol acrylate, polyethylene glycol methacrylate, or a mixture thereof.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the water soluble polymerizable organic monomer comprises hydroxyethylcellulose-vinyl phosphoric acid.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the water soluble polymerizable organic monomer is present in the polymerizable organic monomer composition in an amount in the range of from about 1% to about 30% by weight of the aqueous-base fluid.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the oxygen scavenger comprises stannous chloride.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the oxygen scavenger is present in the polymerizable organic monomer composition in an amount in the range of from about 0.005% to about 0.1% by weight of the polymerizable organic monomer composition.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the primary initiator comprises an alkali metal persulfate, a peroxide, an oxidation-reduction system employing reducing agent, or an azo polymerization initiator.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the primary initiator comprises 2,2′-azobis(2-imidazole-2-hydroxyethyl)propane, 2,2′-azobis(2-aminopropane), 4,4′-azobis(4-cyanovaleric acid), or 2,2′-azobis(2-methyl-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)propionamide.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the polymerizable organic monomer composition further comprises a secondary initiator.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the polymerizable organic monomer composition further comprises a crosslinking agent.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of placing an after-flush fluid into the subterranean formation after placement of the gelable liquid composition into the subterranean formation.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the after-flush fluid comprises an aqueous-based fluid or a hydrocarbon-based fluid.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of, after allowing the gelable liquid composition to convert into a gelled substance, creating at least one fracture in the subterranean formation extending from the well bore, through the gelled substance, and into an untreated portion of the subterranean formation.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of shutting in the subterranean formation for a chosen period of time after placing the liquid composition into the subterranean formation.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the chosen period of time is from about 0.5 hours to about 72 hours.  
     
     
         31 . A method of stimulating production from an unconsolidated or weakly consolidated subterranean formation penetrated by a well bore comprising the steps of: 
 placing a liquid composition into the subterranean formation;    allowing the gelable liquid composition to convert into a gelled substance;    creating at least one fracture in the subterranean formation extending through the gelled substance, and into an untreated zone of the subterranean formation; and    depositing proppant into a fracture.    
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the gelable liquid composition comprises a curable resin composition that comprises a curable resin, a diluent, and a resin curing agent.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the curable resin comprises an organic resin that comprises a bisphenol A-epichlorihydrin resin, a polyepoxide resin, a polyester resin, a urea-aldehyde resin, a furan resin, a urethane resin, or a mixture thereof.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the diluent comprises a phenol, a formaldehyde, a furfuryl alcohol, a furfural, an alcohol, an ether, or a mixture thereof.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the diluent comprises butyl lactate.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the resin curing agent comprises an amine, a polyamine, a polyamide, or a methylene dianiline.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the curable resin composition further comprises a flexibilizer additive.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the flexibilizer additive comprises an organic ester, an oxygenated organic solvent, or an aromatic solvent.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the gelable liquid composition comprises a gelable aqueous silicate composition that comprises an aqueous alkali metal silicate solution, and a temperature activated catalyst.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39  wherein the alkali metal silicate solution comprises sodium silicate, potassium silicate, lithium silicate, rubidium silicate, or cesium silicate.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 39  wherein the temperature activated catalyst comprises an ammonium sulfate, a sodium acid pyrophosphate, a citric acid, or an ethyl acetate.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the gelable liquid composition comprises a crosslinkable aqueous polymer composition that comprises an aqueous solvent, a crosslinkable polymer, and a crosslinking agent.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42  wherein the crosslinkable polymer comprises an acrylamide-containing polymer.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 42  wherein the crosslinkable polymer comprises polyacrylamide, partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide, a copolymer of acrylamide and acrylate, a carboxylate-containing terpolymer, or a tetrapolymer of acrylate.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 42  wherein the crosslinkable polymer comprises a guar gum, a locust bean gum, tara, konjak, tamarind, a starch, a cellulose, karaya, xanthan, tragacanth, carrageenan, derivatives of the above, or combinations thereof  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 42  wherein the crosslinkable polymer comprises a polyacrylate, a polymethacrylate, a polyacrylamide, a maleic anhydride, a methylvinyl ether polymer, a polyvinyl alcohol, or a polyvinylpyrolidone.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 42  wherein the crosslinking agent comprises a transition metal cation-containing crosslinking agent.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the gelable liquid composition comprises a polymerizable organic monomer composition that comprises an aqueous-base fluid, a water soluble polymerizable organic monomer, an oxygen scavenger, and a primary initiator.  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48  wherein the water soluble polymerizable organic monomer comprises acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, acrylamide, methacrylamide, 2-methacrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid, 2-dimethylacrylamide, vinyl sulfonic acid, N,N-dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate, 2-triethylammoniumethylmethacrylate chloride, N,N-dimethyl-aminopropylmethacryl-amide, methacrylamidepropyltriethylammonium chloride, N-vinyl pyrrolidone, vinyl-phosphonic acid, methacryloyloxyethyl trimethylammonium sulfate, or a mixture thereof.  
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 48  wherein the water soluble polymerizable organic monomer comprises hydroxyethylacrylate, hydroxymethylacrylate, hydroxyethylmethacrylate, N-hydroxymethylacrylamide, N-hydroxy-methylmethacrylamide, polyethylene acrylate, polyethylene methacrylate, polyethylene glycol acrylate, polyethylene glycol methacrylate, or a mixture thereof.  
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 48  wherein the water soluble polymerizable organic monomer comprises hydroxyethylcellulose-vinyl phosphoric acid.  
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 48  wherein the oxygen scavenger comprises stannous chloride.  
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 48  wherein the primary initiator comprises an alkali metal persulfate, a peroxide, an oxidation-reduction system employing reducing agents, or an azo polymerization initiator.  
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 48  wherein the primary initiator comprises 2,2′-azobis(2-imidazole-2-hydroxyethyl)propane, 2,2′-azobis(2-aminopropane), 4,4′-azobis(4-cyanovaleric acid), or 2,2′-azobis(2-methyl-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)propionamide.  
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 48  wherein the polymerizable organic monomer composition further comprises a secondary initiator.  
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 48  wherein the polymerizable organic monomer composition further comprises a crosslinking agent.  
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 31  further comprising the step of placing an after-flush fluid into the subterranean formation after placement of the gelable liquid composition into the subterranean formation.  
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57  wherein the after-flush fluid comprises an aqueous-based fluid or a hydrocarbon fluid.  
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the at least one fracture is created by pumping a fracturing fluid into the subterranean formation at a sufficient rate and pressure to fracture the subterranean formation.  
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 59  wherein proppant is suspended in the fracturing fluid  
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 59  wherein the proppant comprises a hardenable resin coating.  
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 31  further comprising the step of shutting in the subterranean formation for a chosen period of time after placing the gelable liquid composition into the subterranean formation.  
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 62  wherein the chosen period of time is from about 0.5 hours to about 72 hours.  
     
     
         64 . A method of stimulating production from an unconsolidated or weakly consolidated subterranean formation penetrated by a well bore comprising the steps of: 
 placing a gelable liquid composition into the subterranean formation, wherein the gelable liquid composition comprises a polyepoxide resin, a diluent, a flexibilizer additive, and a resin curing agent;    allowing the gelable liquid composition to convert into a gelled substance;    creating at least one fracture in the subterranean formation extending from the well bore through the gelled substance and into an untreated zone of the subterranean formation; and    depositing proppant into the at least one fracture.    
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 64  wherein the polyepoxide resin comprises bisphenol A-epichlorihydrin resin.  
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 64  wherein the diluent comprises butyl lactate.  
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 64  wherein the flexibilizer additive comprises dibutyl phthalate.  
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 64  wherein the resin curing agent comprises methylene dianiline.