Use of surface-modified nanoparticles for oil recovery

• US 20030220204A1
• Filed: 05/20/2003
• Published: 11/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Cabrera, Oswaldo J., Baran, Jimmie R. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,033,975 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 507/200
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2004/64 Nanometer sized, i.e. from 1-100 nanometer
• CPC Class Codes: C09C 1/3081 Treatment with organo-silicon compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2208/10 Nanoparticle-containing well treatment fluids
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/38 Gaseous or foamed well-drilling compositions
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/518 Foams
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/536 characterised by their form or by the form of their components, e.g. encapsulated material
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/58 Compositions for enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons, i.e. for improving the mobility of the oil, e.g. displacing fluids
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/703 Foams
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 507/901 Organically modified inorganic solid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 507/906 Solid inorganic additive in defined physical form
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/903 for conversion, containment, or destruction of hazardous material

Abstract

The present invention provides the use of surface-modified nanoparticles in fluids used to recover hydrocarbon from underground formations. The use of surface-modified nanoparticles in such fluids provides foams that are stable under pressure yet have a shorter foam lifetime than typical surfactant-stabilized foams after the pressure is released or lowered.

Claims

1. A method of recovering hydrocarbon from a permeable formation comprising the steps of:

injecting a fluid under pressure into the permeable formation through one or more injection wells; and

recovering the hydrocarbons through one or more production wells, wherein the fluid foams while under pressure and said foam substantially breaks when the pressure is relieved, the fluid comprising a foam composition comprising solvent, surface-modified nanoparticles, and a foaming agent.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the foam composition further comprises a surfactant.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the surface-modified particles are present in an amount of from about 0.01 to about 70 wt. %.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said nanoparticles have a particle diameter of less than about 100 nanometers.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said nanoparticles are selected from the group consisting of silica, titania, alumina, zirconia, vanadia, ceria, iron oxide, antimony oxide, tin oxide, aluminum/silica, and combinations thereof.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said nanoparticles comprise surface groups selected from the group consisting of hydrophobic groups, hydrophilic groups, and combinations thereof.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said nanoparticles comprise surface groups derived from an agent selected from the group consisting of silane, organic acid, organic base, and combinations thereof.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said solvent is selected from the group consisting of water, acids, alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, amines, ethers, hydrocarbons, petroleum oils, halocarbons, monomers, oligomers, polymers, and combinations thereof.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said foaming agent is selected from the group consisting of liquid, gas, and solid foaming agents, and combinations thereof.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said foaming agent comprises a gas selected from the group consisting of air, nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, helium, argon, nitrous oxide, and mixtures thereof.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said solvent comprises water.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the solvent comprises non-aqueous fluids.

13. A method of removing debris from a well using a drilling fluid comprising the steps of:

injecting under pressure a foamed drilling fluid into the well;

contacting the debris with the foamed drilling fluid; and

directing the debris and foamed drilling fluid out of the well, wherein the drilling fluid comprises a foam composition comprising solvent, foaming agent, and surface-modified nanoparticles disposed in said solvent.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the foam composition further comprises a surfactant.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the surface-modified particles are present in an amount of from about 0.01 to about 70 wt. %.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein said nanoparticles have a particle diameter of less than about 100 nanometers.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein said nanoparticles are selected from the group consisting of silica, titania, alumina, zirconia, vanadia, ceria, iron oxide, antimony oxide, tin oxide, aluminum/silica, and combinations thereof.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein said nanoparticles comprise surface groups selected from the group consisting of hydrophobic groups, hydrophilic groups, and combinations thereof.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein said nanoparticles comprise surface groups derived from an agent selected from the group consisting of silane, organic acid, organic base, and combinations thereof.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein said solvent is selected from the group consisting of water, acids, alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, amines, ethers, hydrocarbons, petroleum oils, halocarbons, monomers, oligomers, polymers, and combinations thereof.

21. The method of claim 13 wherein said foaming agent is selected from the group consisting of liquid, gas, and solid foaming agents, and combinations thereof.

22. The method of claim 13 wherein said foaming agent comprises a gas selected from the group consisting of air, nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, helium, argon, nitrous oxide, and mixtures thereof.

23. The method of claim 13 wherein said solvent comprises water.

24. The method of claim 13 wherein the solvent comprises non-aqueous fluids.

25. A method for controlling the mobility of a fluid in a hydrocarbon-bearing formation comprising the step of:

incorporating a foam into the hydrocarbon-bearing formation in association with a fluid to control the mobility of said fluid,

wherein said foam is formed from a foam composition comprising foaming agent, solvent, and surface-modified nanoparticles disposed in said solvent.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the foam composition further comprises a surfactant.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the surface-modified particles are present in an amount of from about 0.01 to about 70 wt. %.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein said nanoparticles have a particle diameter of less than about 100 nanometers.

29. The method of claim 25 wherein said nanoparticles are selected from the group consisting of silica, titania, alumina, zirconia, vanadia, ceria, iron oxide, antimony oxide, tin oxide, aluminum/silica, and combinations thereof.

30. The method of claim 25 wherein said nanoparticles comprise surface groups selected from the group consisting of hydrophobic groups, hydrophilic groups, and combinations thereof.

31. The method of claim 25 wherein said nanoparticles comprise surface groups derived from an agent selected from the group consisting of silane, organic acid, organic base, and combinations thereof.

32. The method of claim 25 wherein said solvent is selected from the group consisting of water, acids, alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, amines, ethers, hydrocarbons, petroleum oils, halocarbons, monomers, oligomers, polymers, and combinations thereof.

33. The method of claim 25 wherein said foaming agent is selected from the group consisting of liquid, gas, and solid foaming agents, and combinations thereof.

34. The method of claim 25 wherein said foaming agent comprises a gas selected from the group consisting of air, nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, helium, argon, nitrous oxide, and mixtures thereof.

35. The method of claim 25 wherein said solvent comprises water.

36. The method of claim 25 wherein the solvent comprises non-aqueous fluids.

37. A hydrocarbon formation comprising:

a hydrocarbon formation containing hydrocarbon and a foam composition,

wherein the foam composition comprises foaming agent, solvent, and surface-modified nanoparticles disposed in said solvent.

38. The formation of claim 37 wherein the foam composition further comprises a surfactant.

39. The formation of claim 37 wherein the surface-modified particles are present in an amount of from about 0.01 to about 70 wt. %.

40. The formation of claim 37 wherein said nanoparticles have a particle diameter of less than about 100 nanometers.

41. The formation of claim 37 wherein said nanoparticles are selected from the group consisting of silica, titania, alumina, zirconia, vanadia, ceria, iron oxide, antimony oxide, tin oxide, aluminum/silica, and combinations thereof.

42. The formation of claim 37 wherein said nanoparticles comprise surface groups selected from the group consisting of hydrophobic groups, hydrophilic groups, and combinations thereof.

43. The formation of claim 37 wherein said nanoparticles comprise surface groups derived from an agent selected from the group consisting of silane, organic acid, organic base, and combinations thereof.

44. The formation of claim 37 wherein said solvent is selected from the group consisting of water, acids, alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, amines, ethers, hydrocarbons, petroleum oils, halocarbons, monomers, oligomers, polymers, and combinations thereof.

45. The formation of claim 37 wherein said foaming agent is selected from the group consisting of liquid, gas, and solid foaming agents, and combinations thereof.

46. The formation of claim 37 wherein said foaming agent comprises a gas selected from the group consisting of air, nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, helium, argon, nitrous oxide, and mixtures thereof.

47. The formation of claim 37 wherein said solvent comprises water.