Patent ID: 11898096
Assignee: STEPAN COMPANY
Field: Basic materials chemistry (Chemistry)
Classification: CPC C | IPC C

Claim 0:
1. A hydraulic fracturing method for recovering oil from a low-temperature subterranean oil formation, wherein low-temperature means an average temperature within the range of 80° F. to 180° F., the method comprising: (a) before, during, or after inducing hydraulic fracturing within the formation, introducing into the formation a particulate, degradable polyester diverting agent in an amount effective to improve oil production from the formation; (b) allowing the diverting agent to degrade; and (c) recovering oil from the formation;
wherein the diverting agent has a melting point greater than the average temperature within the formation; and
wherein the diverting agent is a mixture of polylactic acids or polyglycolic acids with a half acid ester, wherein half acid ester means a reaction product of an alcohol or a polyol with a cyclic anhydride or dicarboxylic acid.