Patent AU-2012203119-B2 (AU)
Title: Gellable treatment fluids comprising quaternary ammonium salt gel-time modifiers and methods for use thereof
Inventor: REDDY B RAGHAVA
IPC: C09K8/514
Filed: 2012-05-28
Granted: 2013-05-16
Abstract: 2011-IP-041816U1 What is claimed is the following: 1. A method comprising: providing a gellable treatment fluid that comprises: an aqueous base fluid; a base polymer comprising an acrylamide monomer unit; an organic crosslinking agent; and a gel-time modifier comprising a quaternary ammonium salt; introducing the gellable treatment fluid into at least a portion of a subterranean formation; and allowing the gellable treatment fluid to form a gel in the subterranean formation. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the base polymer comprises a partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the base polymer comprises a copolymer of acrylamide and t-butyl acrylate. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the organic crosslinking agent comprises a crosslinkable polymer. iS The method of claim 4, wherein the crosslinkable polymer comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethyleneimine, polyvinylamine, any derivative thereof, any salt thereof, and any combination thereof. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the quaternary ammonium salt comprises no alkyl groups that are larger than C4 alkyl groups. The method of claim 1, wherein the quaternary anmmonium salt comprises tetramethylammonium chloride. 2011-IP-041816U1 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the gellable treatment fluid has a reduced gel-time relative to a like gellable treatment fluid lacking the quaternaiy ammonium salt, 9. The method of claim 1, wherein a concentration of the quaternary ammonium salt in the gellable treatment fluid is sufficient to allow a reduced concentration of at least one of the base polymer or the organic crosslinking agent to be used in the gellable treatment fluid, while maintaining a shorter or substantially identical gel-time as a gellable treatment fluid lacking the quaternary ammonium salt and having a higher concentration of at least one of the base polymer or the organic crosslinking agent, 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the gellable treatment fluid further comprises at least one additional gel-time modifier. I. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one additional gel-time modifier comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of amino alcohols, oligomeric polyamines having a molecular weight of less than about 400, any salt thereof, any derivative thereof, and any combination thereof, 2011-IP-041816U1 12. A method comprising: providing a gellable treatment fluid that comprises: an aqueous base fluid; a base polymer comprising an acrylamide monomer unit; an organic crosslinking agent comprising a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethyleneimine, polyvinylamine, any derivative thereof, any salt thereof, and any combination thereof and a gel-time modifier comprising a quaternary ammonium salt that comprises no alkyl groups that are larger than C. alkyl groups; and wherein the gellable treatment fluid has a reduced gel-time relative to a like gellable treatment fluid lacking the quaternary ammonium salt; introducing the gel able treatment fluid into at least a portion of a subterranean formation; and allowing the gellable treatment fluid to form a gel in the subterranean formation. 13, The method of claim 12, wherein the base polymer comprises a partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide. 14. The method of claim 12, wherein the base polymer comprises a copolymer of acrylamide and t-butyl acrylate. 15. The niethod of claim 12, wherein the quaternary ammonium salt comprises tetramethylammonium chloride. 16. The method of claim 12, wherein the gellable treatment fluid further comprises at least one additional gel-time modifier comprising a compound selected from the group consisting of amino alcohols, oligomeric polyamines having a molecular weight of less than about 400, any salt thereof, any derivative thereof, and any combination thereof. 2011-IP-041816U1 17. A gellable treatment fluid comprising: an aqueous base fluid: a base polymer comprising an acrylamide monomer unit; an organic crosslinking agent comprising a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethyleneimine, polyvinylamine, any derivative thereof, any salt thereof, and any combination thereof; and a gel-time modifier comprising a quaternary ammonium salt. 18. The gellable treatment fluid of claim 17, wherein the quaternary ammonium salt comprises no alkyl groups that are larger than C4 alkyl groups. 19. The gellable treatment fluid of claim 17, wherein the base polymer comprises a partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide. 20. The gellable treatment fluid of claim 17, wherein the base polymer comprises a copolymer of acrylamide and t-butyl acrylate. 21. The gel lable treatment fluid of claim 17, further comprising at least one additional gel time modifier. 22. The gellable treatment fluid of claim 21, wherein the at least one additional gel-time modifier comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of amino alcohols, oligomeric polyamines having a molecular weight of less than about 400, any salt thereof, any derivative thereof, and any combination thereof.