Gong Chen

US Patent:

62518380, Jun 26, 2001

Filed:

Oct 2, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/165962

Inventors:

Ralph Moorhouse - Houston TX
Gong Chen - Houston TX

Assignee:

Benchmark Research & Technologies, Inc. - Midland TX

International Classification:

C09K 300
E21B 4326

US Classification:

507273

Abstract:

A composition for delaying the cross-linking of water soluble polymer solutions includes a boron source suspended by an organophilic clay in a solution of a non-aqueous solvent. One process of manufacturing the composition includes the steps of first suspending the organophilic clay in the non-aqueous solvent and then suspending the boron source in the organophilic clay-non-aqueous solvent suspension. Another process of manufacturing composition includes the steps of first mixing the boron source and the organophilic clay to form a dry mixture and then suspending the dry mixture of the boron source and the organophilic clay in a non-aqueous solvent. In a method of hydraulically fracturing a formation, a water soluble polymer solution with a pH between about 8. 5 and 12. 5 and the boron source suspended by the organophilic clay in the solution of the non-aqueous solvent are pumped into the formation under sufficient pressure to cause a fracture in the formation rock.

US Patent:

6225264, May 1, 2001

Filed:

Dec 22, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/470524

Inventors:

Ralph Moorhouse - Houston TX
Gong Chen - Houston TX

Assignee:

Benchmark Research & Technology - Midland TX

International Classification:

C09K 300

US Classification:

507273

Abstract:

A composition for delaying the cross-linking of water soluble polymer solutions includes a boron source suspended by an organophilic clay in a solution of a non-aqueous solvent. One process of manufacturing the composition includes the steps of first suspending the organophilic clay in the non-aqueous solvent and then suspending the boron source in the organophilic clay- non-aqueous solvent suspension. Another process of manufacturing composition includes the steps of first mixing the boron source and the organophilic clay to form a dry mixture and then suspending the dry mixture of the boron source and the organophilic clay in a non-aqueous solvent. In a method of hydraulically fracturing a formation, a water soluble polymer solution with a pH between about 8. 5 and 12. 5 and the boron source suspended by the organophilic clay in the solution of the non-aqueous solvent are pumped into the formation under sufficient pressure to cause a fracture in the formation rock.