US4567947A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gellation of pure methyl alcohol
Assignee: Canadian Fracmaster Ltd
•
Filing: 1983-09-13
•
Granted: 1986-02-04
•
Expires: 2003-09-13
Abstract
Abstract Underground formation fracturing compositions comprise a fracturing fluid composition for use in fracturing underground formations, such as oil or gas wells, comprising at least one substantially anhydrous aliphatic alcohol, a non-ionic homopolymer to form a gel with the alcohol and having a molecular weight from about 4 million to about 5 million, and as gel activating agent an alkali metal halide or an alkaline earth metal halide. A gel breaker comprising a salt containing iron or chromium, can be present.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph Mzik
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 17:57
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/60; C09K8/62; C09K8/64; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S507/00; Y10S507/902; Y10S507/921; Y10S507/922
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
A fracturing fluid composition for use in fracturing underground formations penetrated by a well bore, comprising: (1) a major amount of at least one lower aliphatic alcohol which is anhydrous or has a water content not exceeding about 5% by volume, (2) a minor amount of a polyalkylene oxide homopolymer having a molecular weight from about 4 million to about 5 million and being present in an amount effective to form a gel with the alcohol, and (3) as gel activating agent, a minor amount of an alkali metal halide or an alkaline earth metal halide in an amount effective to activate gellation of the composition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
106 words
A fracturing fluid composition for use in fracturing underground formations penetrated by a well bore, comprising: (1) a major amount of at least one lower aliphatic alcohol which is anhydrous or has a water content not exceeding about 5% by volume, (2) a minor amount of a polyalkylene oxide homopolymer having a molecular weight from about 4 million to about 5 million and being present in an amount effective to form a gel with the alcohol, and (3) as gel activating agent, a minor amount of an alkali metal halide or an alkaline earth metal halide in an amount effective to activate gellation of the composition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A fracturing fluid composition as claimed in claim 1 in which the alcohol is methyl, ethyl or isopropyl alcohol.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A composition as claimed in claim 1 in which the homopolymer is poly(ethylene oxide).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A composition as claimed in claim 1 in which the activating agent is a potassium, sodium, calcium or magnesium halide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A composition as claimed in claim 4 in which the activating agent is potassium bromide present in an amount of from 0.1 to 0.8% by weight based on the volume of the composition.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A composition as claimed in claim 5 in which the potassium bromide is present in amount of from 0.25 to 0.4% by weight based on the volume of the composition.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A composition as claimed in claim 1, in which the homopolymer is mixed with the alcohol in a concentration of from 0.1 to 3.0% by weight per volume of alcohol.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A composition as claimed in claim 1 including a gel breaker which acts over a time period to degrade the homopolymer and thereby reduce the viscosity of the gel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A composition as claimed in claim 8 in which the gel breaker is a salt containing iron or chromium.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A composition as claimed in claim 8 in which the gel breaker and amount thereof are chosen to break down the polymer within a chosen time period.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A composition as claimed in claim 10 in which the chosen time period is from 2 to 16 hours.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
A composition as claimed in claim 9 in which the gel breaker is sodium dichromate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
A composition as claimed in claim 12 in which the concentration of sodium dichromate is 0.5 to 6 liters of 2% solution of sodium dichromate in methanol per cubic meter of gel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
10 words
A composition as claimed in claim 1 admixed with proppant.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
A composition as claimed in claim 14 in which the proppant is sand or sintered bauxite.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
141 words
A method of fracturing an underground formation penetrated by a well bore, comprising: (1) injecting the formation with an effective amount of a fracturing fluid gel composition comprising: at least one lower aliphatic alcohol, which is anhydrous or has a water content not exceeding about 5% by volume, a polyoxyalkylene oxide homopolymer having a molecular weight from about 4 million to about 5 million and present in an amount effective to form a gel with the alcohol, and as a gel activating agent, an alkali metal halide or an alkaline earth metal halide in an amount effective to activate gellation of the composition, and a gel breaker which acts over a time period to degrade the polymer and thereby reduce the viscosity of the gel; and (2) applying pressure to the composition in the formation to induce fracture of the formation.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
141 words
A method of fracturing an underground formation penetrated by a well bore, comprising: (1) injecting the formation with an effective amount of a fracturing fluid gel composition comprising: at least one lower aliphatic alcohol, which is anhydrous or has a water content not exceeding about 5% by volume, a polyoxyalkylene oxide homopolymer having a molecular weight from about 4 million to about 5 million and present in an amount effective to form a gel with the alcohol, and as a gel activating agent, an alkali metal halide or an alkaline earth metal halide in an amount effective to activate gellation of the composition, and a gel breaker which acts over a time period to degrade the polymer and thereby reduce the viscosity of the gel; and (2) applying pressure to the composition in the formation to induce fracture of the formation.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as claimed in claim 16 in which the alcohol is methyl, ethyl or isopropyl alcohol.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as claimed in claim 16 in which the homopolymer is poly(ethylene oxide).
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 16 in which the activating agent is a potassium, sodium, calcium or magnesium halide.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as claimed in claim 16 in which the gel breaker is a salt containing iron or chromium.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as claimed in claim 16 in which liquid carbon dioxide is injected into the formation mixed with the gel.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as claimed in claim 21 in which the liquid carbon dioxide is present in a concentration of from 40 to 80% of the carbon dixoide-gel mixture.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 16 in which gaseous nitrogen is injected into the formation together with the gel.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as claimed in claim 23 in which the gaseous nitrogen occupies 60 to 90% by volume of the space occupied by the gaseous nitrogen and gel together under formation fracturing conditions.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
119 words
A method of making a fracturing fluid gel composition for use in fracturing an underground formation penetrated by a well bore, comprising mixing at least one lower aliphatic alcohol which is anhydrous or has a water content not exceeding about 5% by volume, with a polyalkylene oxide homopolymer having a molecular weight of from about 4 million to about 5 million at a temperature of at least 20° C. to permit initial swelling of the polymer, the amount of said homopolymer being effective to form a gel with the alcohol, and thereafter mixing in, as a gel activating agent, an alkali metal halide or an alkaline earth metal halide in an amount effective to activate gellation of the composition.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
119 words
A method of making a fracturing fluid gel composition for use in fracturing an underground formation penetrated by a well bore, comprising mixing at least one lower aliphatic alcohol which is anhydrous or has a water content not exceeding about 5% by volume, with a polyalkylene oxide homopolymer having a molecular weight of from about 4 million to about 5 million at a temperature of at least 20° C. to permit initial swelling of the polymer, the amount of said homopolymer being effective to form a gel with the alcohol, and thereafter mixing in, as a gel activating agent, an alkali metal halide or an alkaline earth metal halide in an amount effective to activate gellation of the composition.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as claimed in claim 25 in which the alcohol is methyl, ethyl or isopropyl alcohol.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as claimed in claim 25 in which the homopolymer is a poly(ethylene oxide).
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 25 in which the activating agent is a potassium, sodium, calcium or magnesium halide.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3747681A
Cited
US3836465A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-02-03 | 1989-08-05 | 1990-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-02-03 | 1993-08-05 | 1994-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-02-03 | 1997-08-05 | 1998-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |