Clifford L Crabtree

US Patent:

58693254, Feb 9, 1999

Filed:

Mar 22, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/621305

Inventors:

Clifford L. Crabtree - Anchorage AK
James B. Hoeltgen - Bakersfield CA
Daniel A. Spencer - Bakersfield CA

Assignee:

Atlantic Richfield Company - Los Angeles CA

International Classification:

C10G 3200

US Classification:

435281

Abstract:

A method for carrying out a well treatment in a well (e. g. fracturing, sand control, etc. ) wherein a high-viscosity treatment fluid containing a gel (e. g. a polymeric gelling agent) is flowed down the well along with a bacteria selected from the generic classes of Enterococcus and Corynebacterium or a mixture of the two, which is capable of digesting and/or cleaving the gel to reduce the viscosity of the gel at the conclusion of the well treatment.