Downhole heterogeneous proppant

Abstract

A technique facilitates treatment of a subterranean formation. A proppant and a proppant carrier fluid are delivered to a subterranean location for treatment of the formation. At the subterranean location, heterogeneities of proppant structures are generated with the proppant and the proppant carrier fluid. The heterogeneous proppant structures are then transported into the subterranean formation to improve conductivity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for stimulating a subterranean formation by hydraulic fracturing, comprising:
 delivering a slurry, comprising a proppant and a proppant carrier fluid, down through a wellbore to a downhole tool;   using the downhole tool to generate heterogeneous proppant structures; and   delivering the heterogeneous proppant structures into a surrounding formation.   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein delivering comprises delivering the proppant and the proppant carrier fluid to the downhole tool along a single flow path. 
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein delivering comprises delivering the proppant and the proppant carrier fluid to the downhole tool along a plurality of flow paths in which at least one of the flow paths carries fluid with a relatively higher concentration of proppant. 
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein using the downhole tool comprises deploying the downhole tool in close proximity to a perforation zone of the wellbore communicating with the surrounding formation. 
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein using the downhole tool comprises using an active downhole tool. 
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein using the downhole tool comprises using a passive downhole tool. 
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising coupling the downhole tool to a bottom of a slurry line. 
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein using comprises using the downhole tool to apply centrifugal forces to the proppant and the proppant fluid to create the heterogeneous proppant structures. 
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein using comprises using the downhole tool to temporarily accumulate the proppant while allowing the proppant fluid to pass. 
     
     
         10 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein using comprises using the downhole tool to temporarily block flow of proppant and to subsequently release the blocked proppant. 
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein using comprises using the downhole tool to direct the proppant and the proppant fluid along a tortuous path to create the heterogeneous proppant structures. 
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein using comprises using the downhole tool to create controlled turbulence with respect to flow of the proppant and the proppant fluid to create the heterogeneous proppant structures. 
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein using comprises using the downhole tool to separate the proppant and the proppant fluid into two different flows having different concentrations of proppant. 
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein using comprises using the downhole tool to periodically interrupt the flow of proppant to create oscillations that result in the heterogeneous proppant structures. 
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein using comprises using the downhole tool to create at least one of heterogeneous pressure and heterogeneous temperature distribution with respect to flow of the proppant and the proppant carrier fluid to create the heterogeneous proppant structures. 
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein using comprises using the downhole tool to create slurry bubbles without interrupting the flow of proppant to create the heterogeneous proppant structures. 
     
     
         17 . A system for stimulating a subterranean formation, comprising:
 a tubing string deployed in a wellbore and along which a slurry, comprising a proppant and a proppant carrier fluid, is delivered downhole to a desired well zone; and   a tool positioned downhole to receive the proppant and the proppant carrier fluid delivered down along the tubing string, the tool comprising a mechanism to create heterogeneous proppant structures.   
     
     
         18 . The system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the mechanism comprises a centrifugal mechanism to separate the proppant and the proppant carrier fluid into the heterogeneous proppant structures. 
     
     
         19 . The system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the mechanism comprises a proppant accumulative mechanism which selectively collects and releases the proppant to create the heterogeneous proppant structures. 
     
     
         20 . The system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the mechanism comprises a mechanism which introduces controlled turbulence into flow of the proppant and the proppant carrier fluid to create the heterogeneous proppant structures. 
     
     
         21 . The system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the mechanism comprises a mechanism which introduces heterogeneous pressure and/or temperature distribution into flow of the proppant and the proppant carrier fluid to create the heterogeneous proppant structures. 
     
     
         22 . The system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the mechanism comprises a mechanism which periodically interrupts the flow of proppant to create the heterogeneous proppant structures. 
     
     
         23 . The system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the mechanism comprises a mechanism which creates slurry bubbles without interrupting the flow of proppant to create the heterogeneous proppant structures. 
     
     
         24 . The system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the tubing string comprises a single flow path for both the proppant and the proppant carrier fluid. 
     
     
         25 . A method for treating a subterranean formation, comprising:
 delivering a proppant and a proppant carrier fluid to a subterranean location;   at the subterranean location, generating heterogeneities of proppant structures with the proppant and the proppant carrier fluid; and   transporting heterogeneous proppant structures into a subterranean formation.   
     
     
         26 . The method as recited in  claim 25 , wherein generating comprises generating the heterogeneity of proppant structures with a tool mounted at an end of a slurry line in a wellbore. 
     
     
         27 . The method as recited in  claim 25 , wherein delivering comprises delivering the proppant and the proppant carrier fluid along at least one flow path of a tubing string deployed in a wellbore.