Method of treating a fractured well

Abstract

This invention relates to a method of treating a tight gas well that has been fractured with a gel solution to increase the production of hydrocarbons. The gel solutions used for fracturing typically include an aqueous portion and a polymer material. Generally, the first step of the method is to apply a soak solution to the fractured formation to mix with the aqueous portion of the gel solution to increase the volatility of the aqueous portion. The next step is to apply a dry gas treatment to the tight gas well to remove the aqueous portion of the gel solution after the volatility has been increased.

1 . A method of treating an oil or gas well that has been fractured with an aqueous gel solution to increase the flow of hydrocarbons, the aqueous gel solution having an aqueous portion and a polymer material portion, the method comprising the steps of:
 contacting a fractured formation with a soak solution, the soak solution mixing with the aqueous portion of the aqueous gel solution to increase the volatility of the aqueous portion of the aqueous gel solution; and   applying a dry gas treatment to the well to evaporate the aqueous portion of the aqueous gel solution and reduce gel saturation in the fractured formation.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the soak solution comprises an alcohol having one, two or three carbon atoms. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the soak solution comprises isopropyl alcohol. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises the step of shutting in the soak solution for a predetermined amount of time to ensure optimum mixing of the soak solution and the aqueous portion of the gel solution. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises the step of recovering the increased flow of hydrocarbons after applying the dry gas treatment. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dry gas treatment includes a gas selected from the group consisting of air, nitrogen, nitrogen-enriched air, single carbon atom gases, monoatomic gases, diatomic gases, subcritical drying fluids, supercritical drying fluids, flue gases, exhaust gases, combustion gases, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the single carbon atom gases can be selected from the group consisting of methane, carbon dioxide and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises the step of heating the dry gas before applying the dry gas treatment. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the soak solution comprises an alcohol having at least one carbon atom.