Patent ID: 8607870
Filing Date: 2013-12-17
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. A method of treating a subterranean formation of a well bore, comprising: a. providing a first treatment fluid comprising a fracturing slurry comprising a first carrier fluid and proppant; b. subsequently, pumping the first treatment fluid to initiate and create a complex network of low conductivity fractures in the subterranean formation; c. providing a second treatment fluid comprising a second carrier fluid, a particulate blend including a first amount of particulates having a first average particle size between about 100 and 2000 μm and a second amount of particulates having a second average particle size between about three and twenty times smaller than the first average particle size, such that a packed volume fraction of the particulate blend exceeds 0.74, wherein the second treatment fluid has a higher viscosity relative to the first treatment fluid; and d. subsequently to creation of the complex network, pumping the second treatment fluid in a secondary fracturing treatment operation to initiate at least one high conductivity fracture in the subterranean formation intercepting a plurality of branches of the complex network created by pumping the first treatment fluid, wherein the high conductivity fracture has a conductivity higher than an average conductivity of the low conductivity fractures and connects the network of the low conductivity fractures to the well bore.