Use of Far-Field Diverting Compositions For Hydraulic Fracturing Treatments

Abstract

The present disclosure provides hydraulic fracturing treatment fluid compositions and systems, and methods of hydraulic fracturing hydrocarbon-bearing formations and/or increasing fracture complexity of a fracture network within a subterranean formation.

1 . A method of hydraulic fracturing a formation, the method comprising:
 injecting a far-field diverting composition into the formation, wherein the far-field diverting composition comprises a carrier fluid, a proppant having an average particle size no larger than about 140 mesh, a non-dissolvable diverting micro-particulate having an average particle size no larger than about 200 mesh, and a viscosity enhancer that increases the viscosity of the carrier fluid to at least about 5 cp; and   injecting a pad fluid into the formation after injecting the far-field diverting composition into the formation.   
     
     
         2 - 3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the far-field diverting composition is injected into the formation at any stage during the hydraulic fracturing treatment and prior to injecting at least 90% of a proppant-laden slurry into the formation. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the total far-field diverting composition injected into the formation is at least about 5 bbl/perforations cluster or at least about 20 bbl/stage. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the carrier fluid in the far-field diverting composition comprises greater than about 50% water. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the proppant is a metal proppant, a sand proppant, a resin coated sand proppant, a ceramic proppant, or a bauxite proppant, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the proppant is coated or uncoated, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the concentration of the proppant in the far-field diverting composition is from about 0.01 lb/gal to about 5.0 lb/gal. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the non-dissolvable diverting micro-particulate is silica, a ceramic, or bauxite, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the concentration of the non-dissolvable diverting micro-particulate in the far-field diverting composition is from about 0.005 lb/gal to about 5.0 lb/gal. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the viscosity enhancer is a viscosifying polymer or a viscoelastic, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the viscosity enhancer increases the viscosity of the carrier fluid in the far-field diverting composition to at least about 50 cp to about 2,000 cp, to at least about 100 cp to about 1,500 cp, to at least about 150 cp to about 1,000 cp, to at least about 200 cp to about 500 cp, or to at least about 5 cp to about 300 cp. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the far-field diverting composition further comprises a friction reducer, a gum, a polymer, a second proppant, a scale inhibitor, an oxygen scavenger, an iron controller, a crosslinker, a corrosion inhibitor, a breaker, a surfactant, a de-emulsifier, a biocide, an acid, a clay control agent, a versifier, or an H 2 S scavenger, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         18 . A method of diverting fluids in a formation, the method comprising injecting a far-field diverting composition into the formation, wherein the far-field diverting composition comprises:
 a carrier fluid;   a proppant having an average particle size no larger than about 140 mesh;   a non-dissolvable diverting micro-particulate having an average particle size no larger than about 200 mesh; and   a viscosity enhancer that increases the viscosity of the carrier fluid to at least about 5 cp.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the carrier fluid comprises greater than about 50% water. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the proppant is a metal proppant, a sand proppant, a resin coated sand proppant, a ceramic proppant, or a bauxite proppant, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the proppant is coated or uncoated, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         22 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the non-dissolvable diverting micro-particulate is silica, a ceramic, or bauxite, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         25 - 26 . (canceled). 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the viscosity enhancer is a viscosifying polymer or a viscoelastic, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the far-field diverting composition further comprises a friction reducer, a gum, a polymer, a second proppant, a scale inhibitor, an oxygen scavenger, an iron controller, a crosslinker, a corrosion inhibitor, a breaker, a surfactant, a de-emulsifier, a biocide, an acid, a clay control agent, a versifier, or an H 2 S scavenger, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         30 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . A method of hydraulic fracturing a formation, the method comprising:
 injecting a far-field diverting composition into the formation, wherein the far-field diverting composition comprises a carrier fluid, and a non-dissolvable diverting micro-particulate having an average particle size no larger than about 200 mesh; and   injecting a pad fluid into the formation after injecting the far-field diverting composition into the formation.   
     
     
         34 - 43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . A method of diverting fluids in a formation, the method comprising injecting a far-field diverting composition into the formation, wherein the far-field diverting composition comprises a carrier fluid, and a non-dissolvable diverting micro-particulate having an average particle size no larger than about 200 mesh. 
     
     
         45 - 52 . (canceled)