Controlling fracture geometry with the use of shrinkable materials

Abstract

A method for treating a subterranean formation utilizing a composition having a plurality of shrinkable materials. The method of treatment may include providing a hydraulic fracture into the subterranean formation, and injecting a slurry having a plurality of shrinkable materials into a far field. The shrinkable materials may shrink once a threshold is reached.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of providing a fracturing treatment to a subterranean formation, comprising:
 producing a hydraulic fracture in the subterranean formation; and   injecting a slurry into a far field,
 wherein the slurry includes a plurality of shrinkable materials. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of providing the fracturing treatment according to  claim 1 , further comprising shrinking the shrinkable materials by increasing a temperature of the slurry. 
     
     
         3 . The method of providing the fracturing treatment according to  claim 1 , further comprising degrading the shrunk materials after a predetermined time. 
     
     
         4 . The method of providing the fracturing treatment according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of shrinkable materials comprise at least one amorphous polymer. 
     
     
         5 . The method of providing the fracturing treatment according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of shrinkable materials comprise polylactic acid. 
     
     
         6 . The method of providing the fracturing treatment according to  claim 1 , wherein the shrinkable material has shapes having an aspect ratio from about 20 to about 2000. 
     
     
         7 . The method of providing the fracturing treatment according to  claim 1 , wherein the shrinkable material is a fiber or a film. 
     
     
         8 . The method of providing the fracturing treatment according to  claim 1 , wherein the far field is at least 50 feet from a surface of a wellbore. 
     
     
         9 . The method of providing the fracturing treatment according to  claim 8 , wherein the fracturing treatment includes controlling the fracture geometry. 
     
     
         10 . The method of providing the fracturing treatment according to  claim 1 , wherein the slurry further comprises a degradable material. 
     
     
         11 . The method of providing the fracturing treatment according to  claim 10 , wherein the further degradable material comprises one or more of powder, beads, chips, and an additive for accelerating degradation. 
     
     
         12 . A method of controlling a fracture geometry of a subterranean formation, comprising:
 producing at least one fracture in the subterranean formation;   injecting a slurry into a wellbore,
 wherein the slurry includes a plurality of shrinkable materials; and 
   penetrating the plurality of shrinkable materials into the at least one fracture,
 wherein the at least one fracture is disposed at a far field. 
   
     
     
         13 . The method of controlling a fracture geometry of a subterranean formation, according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 after the slurry is injected into the wellbore, forming at least one solid agglomeration of particles comprising at least some of the plurality of shrinkable materials to thereby create a plug for the at least one hydraulic fracture.   
     
     
         14 . The method of controlling a fracture geometry of a subterranean formation according to  claim 13 , further comprising performing fracture diversion by means of the plugging of the at least one hydraulic fracture. 
     
     
         15 . The method of controlling a fracture geometry of a subterranean formation according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 controlling a temperature of the shrinkable materials to allow for the shrinkable materials to shrink upon being located within the fracture at a predetermined distance from a wellbore.   
     
     
         16 . The method of controlling a fracture geometry of a subterranean formation according to  claim 15 , further comprising degrading the shrunk materials after a predetermined time. 
     
     
         17 . The method of controlling a fracture geometry of a subterranean formation according to  claim 12 , wherein the predetermined distance from the wellbore is within the far field. 
     
     
         18 . The method of controlling a fracture geometry of a subterranean formation according to  claim 12 , wherein the far field is at least  50  feet from a surface of a wellbore. 
     
     
         19 . The method of controlling a fracture geometry of a subterranean formation according to  claim 12 , further comprising injecting additional slurry into the far field. 
     
     
         20 . The method of controlling a fracture geometry of a subterranean formation according to  claim 19 , further comprising creating additional fractures by means of the injection of the additional slurry. 
     
     
         21 . The method of controlling a fracture geometry of a subterranean formation according to  claim 19 , further comprising creating at least one plug by means of the injection of the additional slurry.