Well Bore Operations Using Reactive Proppant

Abstract

An improved proppant and method of use are shown for use in wellbore operations in which a well is hydraulically fractured with a suitable fluid to create fractures in a surrounding subterranean formation where the proppant is used to hold the fracture open and provide a conduit for the production of fluids or gases. The improved proppant has associated therewith a chemically active adjunct material designed to react with the fracturing fluid, with the surrounding subterranean formation or with a fluid produced from the subterranean formation. The chemically active adjunct material may be an ion exchange resin which reacts with any multivalent ions released into solution by reaction of the fracturing fluid with the surrounding formation or with any multivalent ions dissolved in formation fluids, in order that these fluids being produced from the well will not contain these ions, requiring more exotic treatment procedures on the well surface.

1 . A well treatment method wherein a well is hydraulically fractured with a suitable fluid to create fractures in a surrounding subterranean formation, the fluid containing a well proppant to hold the fracture open and provide a conduit for the production of fluids or gases, the improvement comprising:
 the use of a proppant which has associated therewith a chemically active adjunct material designed to react with the fracturing fluid or with the surrounding subterranean formation or a fluid produced from the subterranean formation to achieve a particular specified result.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the chemically active adjunct material is a discrete material used as a total or partial replacement for a traditional proppant material. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the chemically active adjunct material is a treatment applied to a traditional proppant material. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the proppant is coated with an ion exchange resin. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the proppant is selected from the group consisting of sand and bauxite. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the chemically active adjunct material is designed to react with any multivalent ions released into solution by reaction of the fracturing fluid with the surrounding formation or with any multivalent ions dissolved in the fracturing fluid or formation fluids, in order that these ions will be removed from any fluids being produced from the well, thereby eliminating the need for more exotic treatment procedures on the well surface. 
     
     
         7 . An improved proppant for use in wellbore operations in which a well is hydraulically fractured with a suitable fluid to create fractures in a surrounding subterranean formation, the fluid also containing a well proppant to hold the fracture open and provide a conduit for the production of fluids or gases, the improvement comprising:
 the use of a proppant which has associated there with a chemically active adjunct material designed to react with the fracturing fluid, with the surrounding subterranean formation or a fluid produced from the subterranean formation to achieve a particular specified end result.   
     
     
         8 . The proppant of  claim 7 , wherein the chemically active adjunct material is designed to react with any multivalent ions released into solution by reaction of the fracturing fluid with the surrounding formation or with any multivalent ions dissolved in the fracturing fluid or formation fluids, in order that these ions will be removed from any fluids being produced from the well, thereby eliminating the need for more exotic treatment procedures on the well surface.