Patent ID: 7902125
Filing Date: 2011-03-08
Classification: B82Y,C04B,C09K,E21B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for forming a gravel pack within a wellbore comprising: blending into the gravel pack formulation an effective amount of a polymeric nanocomposite spherical bead comprising: a polymer matrix; and from 0.001 to 60 volume percent of nanofiller particles possessing a length that is less than 0.5 microns in at least one principal axis direction, wherein said nanofiller particles comprise at least one of fine particulate material, fibrous material, discoidal material, or a combination of such materials; and wherein said nanofiller particles are selected from the group of nanofillers consisting of: carbon black, fumed silica, fumed alumina, carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, cellulosic nanofibers, fly ash, polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes, or mixtures thereof, and wherein said nanofiller particles are dispersed throughout said polymeric nanocomposite spherical bead, wherein said spherical bead has a diameter ranging from 0.1 mm to 4 mm; and introducing the gravel pack formulation with said effective amount of the polymer nanocomposite spherical bead into the wellbore.