US4887671A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fracturing with a mixture of carbon dioxide and alcohol
Assignee: Texaco Development Corp
•
Filing: 1988-12-23
•
Granted: 1989-12-19
•
Expires: 2008-12-23
Abstract
Abstract The invention is a method of fracturing an underground formation penetrated by a wellbore, which comprises injecting into a formation a mixture of carbon dioxide and a polar alcohol or polar glycol additive at a temperature and pressure above the critical temperature and pressure of carbon dioxide. The alcohol or glycol additive should have less than about 9 carbon atoms and comprises about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the injected mixture. The mixture is injected with sufficient volume and pressure to cause a fracture to be formed in the underground formation.
Inventors
- 👤 James F. Stevens, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 21:12
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/25; E21B43/26; E21B43/2605; C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/60; C09K8/62; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S507/00; Y10S507/922
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of fracturing an underground, formation penetrated by a wellbore, which consists essentially of: injecting into an underground formation through a wellbore a mixture of carbon dioxide and a polar alcohol or polar glycol additive at a temperature and pressure above the critical temperature and pressure of carbon dioxide, said alcohol or glycol additive having less than about 9 carbon atoms and comprising about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the injected mixture; said mixture injected with sufficient volume and pressure to cause a fracture to be formed in said underground formation.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of fracturing an underground, formation penetrated by a wellbore, which consists essentially of: injecting into an underground formation through a wellbore a mixture of carbon dioxide and a polar alcohol or polar glycol additive at a temperature and pressure above the critical temperature and pressure of carbon dioxide, said alcohol or glycol additive having less than about 9 carbon atoms and comprising about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the injected mixture; said mixture injected with sufficient volume and pressure to cause a fracture to be formed in said underground formation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the injected mixture further comprises a proppant material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the additive is methanol.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the additive is ethanol.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the additive is ethylene glycol.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the additive comprises about 1% to about 4% by weight of the injected mixture.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
79 words
A method of fracturing an underground formation penetrated by a wellbore, which consists essentially of: injecting into an underground formation through a wellbore a mixture of carbon dioxide and ethylene glycol at a temperature and pressure above the critical temperature and pressure of carbon dioxide, said ethylene glycol comprising about 1% to about 4% by weight of the injected mixture, said mixture injected with sufficient volume and pressure to cause a fracture to be formed in said underground formation.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
79 words
A method of fracturing an underground formation penetrated by a wellbore, which consists essentially of: injecting into an underground formation through a wellbore a mixture of carbon dioxide and ethylene glycol at a temperature and pressure above the critical temperature and pressure of carbon dioxide, said ethylene glycol comprising about 1% to about 4% by weight of the injected mixture, said mixture injected with sufficient volume and pressure to cause a fracture to be formed in said underground formation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3664422A
Cited
US4156464A
Cited
US4324668A
Cited
US4400034A
Cited
US4393934A
Cited
US4374545A
Cited
US4567947A
Cited
US4519455A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-12-18 | 1993-06-19 | 1993-12-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-12-18 | 1997-06-19 | 1997-12-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-12-18 | 2001-06-19 | 2001-12-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |