Patent ID: 8061424
Filing Date: 2011-11-22
Classification: C09K,E21B,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method for hydraulic fracturing of subterranean formation comprising: a first stage that involves injecting into a borehole a fracturing fluid containing thickeners to create a fracture in the formation; and a second stage comprising sub-stages that involve periodic introduction of proppant into the fracturing fluid to supply the proppant into the created fracture thereby forming proppant clusters within the fracture that prevent fracture closure and providing channels for flowing formation fluids between the clusters, wherein the second stage or sub-stages of the second stage involve introducing either a reinforcing or consolidation material or both, thus increasing the strength of the proppant clusters formed into the fracture fluid, whereby volume of injection of proppant-containing fracturing fluid is less than the volume of injection of fluid containing no proppant to create smaller proppant clusters and larger channels between them for formation fluids to pass.