Patent ID: 11441406

Abstract:
A method of treating a highly permeable subterranean formation that is penetrated by a wellbore to form a frac pack in the formation adjacent to a desired wellbore interval is provided. The method comprises (a) injecting a first high efficiency fracturing fluid into the formation to form a fracture in the formation that propagates from a near-wellbore region of the formation into a far-field region of the formation. Thereafter, high strength proppant is placed in a portion of the fracture in the near-wellbore region of the formation, and low strength proppant is placed in a portion of the fracture near the far-field region of the formation using low viscosity fluids. Subsequently, a high strength proppant is squeezed into a portion of the fracture in the near-wellbore region of the formation to assure that the fracture is completely packed.