Methods of strengthening and consolidating subterranean formations with silicate-aluminum geopolymers

Abstract

Systems and methods for treating fracture faces and/or unconsolidated portions of a subterranean formation are provided. In some embodiments, the methods comprise: providing an aqueous alkali solution; introducing the aqueous alkali solution into at least a portion of a subterranean formation that comprises one or more fractures; contacting an aluminum component and a silicate component with the aqueous alkali solution to form a geopolymer on one or more fracture faces in the fractures; and placing a plurality of proppant particulates in the fractures.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 providing a first treatment fluid that comprises a first aqueous alkali solution, a first aluminum component, and a first silicate component;   providing a second treatment fluid that comprises a second aqueous alkali solution, a second aluminum component, a second silicate component, and a plurality of proppant particulates;   introducing the first treatment fluid and the second treatment fluid into at least a portion of a subterranean formation, at least one of which being introduced at or above a pressure sufficient to create or enhance at least one fracture and at least one microfracture in the subterranean formation, the at least one fracture and the at least one microfracture each comprising one or more fracture faces;   placing the plurality of proppant particulates in the at least one fracture; and   forming a geopolymer on the one or more fracture faces of the microfracture and of the fracture.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first treatment fluid further comprises a microproppant material, and the method further comprises:
 placing the microproppant material in the microfracture; and 
 forming a solid mass that comprises the geopolymer and the microproppant on the one or more fracture faces of the microfracture. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first treatment fluid comprises a concentration of a first alkali component that is greater than a concentration of a second alkali component in the second treatment fluid; 
 the first treatment fluid comprises a concentration of the first silicate component that is greater than a concentration of the second silicate component in the second treatment fluid; and 
 the first treatment fluid comprises a concentration of the first aluminum component that is greater than a concentration of the second aluminum component in the second treatment fluid. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first treatment fluid further comprises a friction reducer. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the second treatment fluid further comprises a viscosifying agent. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first aqueous alkali solution and the second aqueous alkali solution are different, the first aluminum component and the second aluminum component are different, or the first silicate component and the second silicate component are different. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first aluminum component and the first silicate component are provided as an aluminosilicate. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the aluminosilicate comprises fly ash. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first treatment fluid and second treatment fluid are introduced into the subterranean formation using one or more pumps. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the portion of the subterranean formation comprising the one or more fracture faces is at a temperature of from about 20° C. to about 300° C. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein forming the geopolymer comprises forming a film comprising the geopolymer on the one or more fracture faces of the at least one microfracture and of the at least one fracture. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising allowing the film to strengthen the one or more fracture faces of the at least one microfracture and of the at least one fracture. 
     
     
         13 . A method comprising:
 providing an aqueous alkali solution;   introducing the aqueous alkali solution into at least a portion of a subterranean formation that comprises a plurality of at least partially unconsolidated particulates; and   contacting an aluminum component and a silicate component with the aqueous alkali solution to form a geopolymer in contact with the partially unconsolidated particulates to form a consolidated mass.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the aqueous alkali solution further comprises one or both of the aluminum component and the silicate component. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the aluminum component and the silicate component are provided as an aluminosilicate. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the aluminosilicate comprises fly ash. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the aqueous alkali solution is introduced into at least portion of the subterranean formation using one or more pumps. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the aqueous alkali solution further comprises a friction reducer. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the aqueous alkali solution further comprises a viscosifying agent. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13  wherein at least the portion of the subterranean formation is at a temperature of from about 20° C. to about 300° C.