Methods for controlling water and particulate production in subterranean wells

Abstract

Improved methods for stabilizing unconsolidated subterranean formation particulates and reducing permeability of a subterranean formation to water. Some methods describe methods of stabilizing unconsolidated subterranean formation particulates and reducing the permeability of water comprising providing a portion of a subterranean formation that comprises unconsolidated formation particulates; introducing a fluid comprising a relative permeability modifier into at least a portion of the subterranean formation so as to at least partially reduce the permeability of that portion of the subterranean formation to water; and, introducing a fluid comprising a consolidating agent into at least a portion of the subterranean formation so as to at least partially consolidate the unconsolidated formation particulates.

1 . A method of treating a portion of a subterranean formation that comprises unconsolidated formation particulates, the method comprising: 
 introducing a fluid comprising a relative permeability modifier into at least a portion of the subterranean formation; and then,    introducing a fluid comprising a consolidating agent into at least a portion of the subterranean formation so as to at least partially consolidate the unconsolidated formation particulates.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the portion of the subterranean formation has been previously hydraulically fracture-stimulated.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the consolidating agent comprises at least one consolidating agent selected from the group consisting of a resin, a tackifying agent, a gelable liquid composition, and any combination thereof.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the relative permeability modifier fluid comprises at least one relative permeability modifier selected from the group consisting of a water-soluble, hydrophobically modified polymer; a water-soluble, hydrophilically modified polymer; a water-soluble polymer without hydrophobic or hydrophilic modification; and any combination thereof.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the relative permeability modifier fluid comprises an amino methacrylate/alkyl amino methacrylate copolymer.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of allowing the consolidating agent to set for a period of time sufficient to at least partially consolidate the unconsolidated formation particulates therein.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of introducing a preflush fluid into at least a portion of the subterranean formation before the step of introducing a consolidating agent into at least a portion of the subterranean formation.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the preflush fluid comprises at least one preflush fluid selected from the group consisting of an aqueous based-fluid, a hydrocarbon-based fluid, a mutual solvent, a surfactant, and any combination thereof.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of introducing an after-flush fluid into the portion of the subterranean formation after introduction of the consolidating agent.  
   
   
       10 . A method of treating a portion of a subterranean formation that comprises unconsolidated formation particulates, the method comprising introducing a treatment fluid comprising a relative permeability modifier and a consolidating agent into at least a portion of the subterranean formation so as to at least partially consolidate the unconsolidated formation particulates.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the portion of the subterranean formation has been previously hydraulically fracture-stimulated.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the consolidating agent comprises at least one consolidating agent selected from the group consisting of a resin, a tackifying agent, a gelable liquid composition, and any combination thereof.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the relative permeability modifier fluid comprises at least one relative permeability modifier selected from the group consisting of a water-soluble, hydrophobically modified polymer; a water-soluble, hydrophilically modified polymer; a water-soluble polymer without hydrophobic or hydrophilic modification; and any combination thereof.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the relative permeability modifier fluid comprises an amino methacrylate/alkyl amino methacrylate copolymer.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the step of allowing the consolidating agent to set for a period of time sufficient to at least partially consolidate the unconsolidated formation particulates therein.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the step of introducing a preflush fluid into at least a portion of the subterranean formation before placing the treatment fluid.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the preflush fluid comprises at least one preflush fluid selected from the group consisting of an aqueous based-fluid, a hydrocarbon-based fluid, a mutual solvent, a surfactant, and any combination thereof.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the step of introducing an after-flush fluid into the portion of the subterranean formation after placing the treatment fluid.  
   
   
       19 . A method comprising: 
 providing a portion of a subterranean formation that comprises unconsolidated formation particulates;    introducing a fluid comprising a relative permeability modifier into at least a portion of the subterranean formation so as to at least partially reduce the permeability of that portion of the subterranean formation to water; and,    introducing a fluid comprising a consolidating agent into at least a portion of the subterranean formation so as to at least partially consolidate the unconsolidated formation particulates.    
   
   
       20 . The method  claim 19  where the step of introducing a relative permeability modifier fluid is performed before the step of introducing a consolidating agent.  
   
   
       21 . The method  claim 19  where the step of introducing a relative permeability modifier fluid is performed substantially simultaneously with the step of introducing a consolidating agent.  
   
   
       22 . The method  claim 19  where the portion of a subterranean formation that comprises unconsolidated formation particulates has been previously hydraulically fractured.  
   
   
       23 . The method  claim 19  further comprises the step of introducing a preflush fluid into at least a portion of the subterranean formation before placing the relative permeability modifier fluid.  
   
   
       24 . The method  claim 19  further comprises the step of introducing an after-flush fluid into the portion of the subterranean formation after placing the consolidating agent.