US 12,410,362 B2
Stimulation of wells in nano-darcy shale formations
Andrew Bryce Conway, Weatherford, OK (US)
Assigned to Flex-Chem Holding Company, LLC, Weatherford, OK (US)
Filed by Flex-Chem Holding Company, LLC, Weatherford, OK (US)
Filed on Sep. 22, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/472,513.
Application 18/472,513 is a continuation of application No. 17/526,802, filed on Nov. 15, 2021, granted, now 11,802,234.
Application 17/526,802 is a continuation of application No. 16/831,444, filed on Mar. 26, 2020, granted, now 11,332,658, issued on May 17, 2022.
Application 16/831,444 is a continuation of application No. 15/875,265, filed on Jan. 19, 2018, granted, now 10,633,575, issued on Apr. 28, 2020.
Application 15/875,265 is a continuation of application No. 14/686,237, filed on Apr. 14, 2015, granted, now 9,944,843, issued on Apr. 17, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/087,899, filed on Dec. 5, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/979,210, filed on Apr. 14, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2024/0124763 A1, Apr. 18, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. C09K 8/52 (2006.01); C09K 8/528 (2006.01); C09K 8/60 (2006.01); C09K 8/62 (2006.01); E21B 43/25 (2006.01); E21B 43/26 (2006.01); E21B 43/267 (2006.01); E21B 43/27 (2006.01); E21B 43/28 (2006.01); C09K 8/72 (2006.01)
CPC C09K 8/605 (2013.01) [C09K 8/52 (2013.01); C09K 8/528 (2013.01); C09K 8/602 (2013.01); C09K 8/62 (2013.01); E21B 43/25 (2013.01); E21B 43/26 (2013.01); E21B 43/267 (2013.01); E21B 43/27 (2020.05); E21B 43/28 (2013.01); C09K 8/72 (2013.01); C09K 2208/32 (2013.01)] 27 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for stimulating a well in a formation comprising shale, the method comprising:
providing a treatment mixture containing between about 0.1% and 95% by weight metal complexing agent and between about 0.1 and 95% by weight of acid as pH modifier;
injecting the treatment mixture into the well until at least some of the treatment mixture contacts the formation comprising shale; and
maintaining the treatment mixture in contact with the formation comprising shale for a contact time of between about 1 minute to 100 days, thereby allowing the metal complexing agent to bind with at least some naturally-occurring metals, metalloids, or mixtures thereof contained within the formation comprising shale and thereby removing the bound naturally-occurring metals, metalloids, or mixtures thereof from the formation comprising shale.