A method for producing an inorganic silica gel fiber or aerogel fiber, comprising the following steps: a) extrusion of a gel, in particular a hydrogel or alcogel, by means of a spinneret directly into a coagulation bath to form at least one filament, b) stretching of the filament in the coagulation bath, c) regeneration of the filament by extraction from the coagulation bath, and d) supercritical drying or freeze drying in order to convert the filament into a silica fiber, in particular an aerogel fiber.

The present disclosure relates to cementitious fluids comprising additives configured to form a permeable cement matrix after curing of the cement. The cementitious fluids can comprise a cementitious medium (e.g., a cement slurry) with a plurality of fibers dispersed therein. The fibers can be hollow, can be porous, and can be degradable. The cementitious fluid particularly can be used in methods of stimulating hydrocarbon bearing formations. Specifically, the cementitious fluid can be injected into the formation to form or enlarge a fracture, and the fluid can be cured to form the permeable cement matrix, said permeability arising from a loosely assembled tubular network and/or passages remaining after degradation of the fibers.

The present disclosure relates to cementitious fluids comprising additives configured to form a permeable cement matrix after curing of the cement. The cementitious fluids can comprise a cementitious medium (e.g., a cement slurry) with a plurality of fibers dispersed therein. The fibers can be hollow, can be porous, and can be degradable. The cementitious fluid particularly can be used in methods of stimulating hydrocarbon bearing formations. Specifically, the cementitious fluid can be injected into the formation to form or enlarge a fracture, and the fluid can be cured to form the permeable cement matrix, said permeability arising from a loosely assembled tubular network and/or passages remaining after degradation of the fibers.

Polyglycolic acid resin short fibers for a well treatment fluid, the fibers having the following characteristics of (a) to (e): (a) an outside diameter of 5 to 300 m; (b) a fiber length of 1 to 30 mm; (c) fineness of 0.1 to 25 D; (d) strength of 1 to 20 gf/D; and (e) a ratio of an area of the polyglycolic acid resin with respect to an area of a circle circumscribing a cross section of the fibers being from 10 to 95%; and a well treatment fluid containing the polyglycolic acid resin short fibers for a well treatment fluid.

Polyglycolic acid resin short fibers for a well treatment fluid, the fibers having the following characteristics of (a) to (e): (a) an outside diameter of 5 to 300 m; (b) a fiber length of 1 to 30 mm; (c) fineness of 0.1 to 25 D; (d) strength of 1 to 20 gf/D; and (e) a ratio of an area of the polyglycolic acid resin with respect to an area of a circle circumscribing a cross section of the fibers being from 10 to 95%; and a well treatment fluid containing the polyglycolic acid resin short fibers for a well treatment fluid.

A method for making a dry composite material that exhibits contraction in one or more dimensions when initially hydrated includes preparing a mixture of dry, compressible, hydrophilic polymer elements and hydrophobic, thermoplastic polymer, forming the mixture into a mat, heating the mat to a temperature that is greater than the melting-point of the hydrophobic, thermoplastic polymer such that the hydrophobic, thermoplastic polymer melts and forms a continuous phase around the compressible hydrophilic polymer elements, molding the hot mat into a desired shape, and cooling the mat to a temperature that is less than the congealing-point of the hydrophobic, thermoplastic polymer.