Composite diversion particle agglomeration

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to material for use in oil and gas well completion activities. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to diversion particles, along with methods for making and using the diversion particles. In an embodiment, a composite diversion material includes a non-degradable component comprising two or more non-degradable particulates, wherein the non-degradable particulates have a long term permeability at 7,500 psi of at least about 20 D. The composite diversion material includes a degradable component surrounding at least a portion of the non-degradable component. In another embodiment, a method of making a composite diversion material includes mixing non-degradable proppant particles with an aqueous solution containing a first degradable material to provide a mixture having a proppant concentration of at least about 20 volume percent. The method includes drying the mixture at a temperature of from about 25° C. to about 200° C. to provide the composite diversion material.

1 . A composite diversion material, comprising:
 a non-degradable component comprising two or more non-degradable particulates, wherein the non-degradable particulates have a long term permeability at 7,500 psi of at least about 20 D; and   a degradable component surrounding at least a portion of the non-degradable component.   
     
     
         2 . The composite diversion material of  claim 1 , wherein the non-degradable particulates comprise ceramic proppant. 
     
     
         3 . The composite diversion material of  claim 2 , wherein the ceramic proppant has a bulk density of less than 3 g/cc. 
     
     
         4 . The composite diversion material of  claim 3 , wherein the ceramic proppant has a silica concentration of about 0.1 wt % to about 70 wt %. 
     
     
         5 . The composite diversion material of  claim 4 , wherein the ceramic proppant has size from about 20 mesh to about 150 mesh. 
     
     
         6 . The composite diversion material of  claim 4 , wherein the ceramic proppant has size from about 5 mesh to about 14 mesh. 
     
     
         7 . The composite diversion material of  claim 5 , wherein the non-degradable component comprises 7 to 15 non-degradable particles. 
     
     
         8 . The composite diversion material of  claim 6 , wherein the non-degradable component comprises 2 to 5 non-degradable particles. 
     
     
         9 . The composite diversion material of  claim 1 , wherein the degradable component comprises a polymeric material configured to degrade in the presence of a fluid at a temperature from about 25° C. to about 180° C. 
     
     
         10 . The composite diversion material of  claim 9 , wherein the degradable component comprises polyvinyl alcohol. 
     
     
         11 . The composite diversion material of  claim 10 , wherein the degradable component further comprises one or more of polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, starch, cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, acrylic latex, guar, polytrimethylene terephthalate, polybutylene succinate, polybutylene adipate terephthalate, polybutylene adipate succinate, and polyvinyl acetate, polyolefins, water-soluble polymers and any combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The composite diversion material of  claim 10 , wherein the degradable component further comprises polylactic acid. 
     
     
         13 . The composite diversion material of  claim 1 , wherein the non-degradable component is present in the composite diversion material in an amount of at least about 20 volume percent. 
     
     
         14 . A method of making the composite diversion material of  claim 1 , comprising:
 mixing non-degradable proppant particles with an aqueous solution containing a first degradable material to provide a mixture having a proppant concentration of at least about 20 volume percent; and   drying the mixture at a temperature of from about 25° C. to about 200° C. to provide the composite diversion material.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising adding to the mixture a second degradable material comprising solid particle flakes. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second degradable materials have the same composition. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second degradable materials have different compositions. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising coating the composite diversion material with a third degradable material. 
     
     
         19 . A method of placing a diverter material in a subterranean formation, comprising:
 injecting a hydraulic fluid comprising the composite diversion material of  claim 1  into a wellbore and an adjacent subterranean formation at a rate and pressure sufficient to place the composite diversion material into a portion of a fracture in the subterranean formation; and   removing the degradable component from the composite diversion material by contact with a fluid after a period of time from placement in the fracture;   wherein the fracture experiences a reduction in width of less than 5% when the degradable component is completely removed from the composite diversion material from when the composite diversion material was initially placed into the fracture.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein one of the degradable component or the non-degradable component comprises a thermal neutron absorbing material. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 obtaining a first data set by:
 lowering into the wellbore a pulsed neutron logging tool comprising a pulsed neutron source and a detector, 
 emitting pulses of neutrons from the pulsed neutron source into the fracture containing the composite diversion material, 
 detecting capture gamma rays; 
   obtaining a second data set by:
 lowering into the wellbore a pulsed neutron logging tool comprising a pulsed neutron source and a detector, 
 emitting pulses of neutrons from the pulsed neutron source into the fracture containing at least a portion of the composite diversion material, 
 detecting capture gamma rays; and 
   comparing the first data set and the second data set to determine removal of the degradable component from the composite diversion material placed in the fracture.