Composition and Method for Fluid Recovery from Well

• US 20090281004A1
• Filed: 04/30/2009
• Published: 11/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (SLB)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (SLB)
• Inventors: Li, Leiming, Howard, Paul R., Ali, Syed, Mukhopadhyay, Sumitra
• Granted Patent: US 7,893,010 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 507/219
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/602 containing surfactants
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/604 Polymeric surfactants
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/68 containing organic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/74 combined with additives added for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 507/904 Process of making fluids or additives therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 507/922 Fracture fluid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 507/924 with specified propping feature
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 516/922 Colloid systems having specified particle size, range, or distribution, e.g. bimodal particle distribution

Abstract

A well treatment microemulsion for use in a subterranean formation is disclosed, the microemulsion comprises a solvent blend comprising a solvent and a co-solvent; a surfactant blend comprising a surfactant, wherein the surfactant blend is able to give formation intermediate wettability properties; an alcohol; and a carrier fluid; wherein the alcohol, the solvent and surfactant blends are combined with the carrier fluid to produce the well treatment microemulsion. By intermediate wettability it is meant that the water has an advancing contact angle on the surface between 62 and 133 degrees. The associate method of treating a subterranean formation of a well with the microemulsion and the associate method of modifying the wettability of the formation with the microemulsion are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A well treatment microemulsion for use in a subterranean formation comprising:

a solvent blend comprising a solvent and a co-solvent;

a surfactant blend comprising a surfactant, wherein the surfactant blend is able to give formation intermediate wettability properties;

an alcohol; and

a carrier fluid;

wherein the alcohol, the solvent and surfactant blends are combined with the carrier fluid to produce the well treatment microemulsion.

2. The microemulsion of claim 1, wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of:

n-butyl acetate, ethyl lactate, methyl soyate, d-limonene and combinations thereof.

3. The microemulsion of claim 1, wherein the co-solvent is ethylene glycol monobutyl ether.

4. The microemulsion of claim 1, wherein the alcohol is an alkyl alcohol.

5. The microemulsion of claim 1, wherein the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of:

alkyl sulfates, sulfonates, carboxylates, ethylene oxide-propylene oxide copolymers, polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers, primary alkylamines, dialkyl secondary amines, ethoxylated fatty amines, amine oxides, and combinations thereof.

6. The microemulsion of claim 1, wherein the surfactant blend further comprises a co-surfactant.

7. The microemulsion of claim 8, wherein the co-surfactant is oxyalkylated alcohols.

8. The microemulsion of claim 1, wherein the carrier fluid is water based.

9. A method of treating a subterranean formation in a well comprising:

providing a solvent blend comprising a solvent and a co-solvent, a surfactant blend, an alcohol, and a carrier fluid;

combining the alcohol, the solvent and surfactant blends with the carrier fluid to produce a well treatment microemulsion;

introducing the microemulsion in to the well; and

allowing the microemulsion to contact the formation to give intermediate wettability properties.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein after contact with the microemulsion, the water advancing contact angle on the formation is between 62 and 133 degrees.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the microemulsion is pumped into the well for fracturing operation.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

e. introducing proppant in to the well.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the carrier fluid is water based.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of:

n-butyl acetate, ethyl lactate, methyl soyate, d-limonene and combinations thereof.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the co-solvent is ethylene glycol monobutyl ether.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the alcohol is an alkyl alcohol.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of:

alkyl sulfates, sulfonates, carboxylates, ethylene oxide-propylene oxide copolymers, polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers, primary alkylamines, dialkyl secondary amines, ethoxylated fatty amines, amine oxides, and combinations thereof.

18. The method of claim 9, wherein the surfactant blend further comprises a co-surfactant.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the co-surfactant is oxyalkylated alcohols.

20. The method of claim 9, wherein the microemulsion has a concentration from 0.05 to 0.2% by weight.

21. A method of modifying the wettability property of a subterranean formation in a well comprising:

providing a solvent blend comprising a solvent and a co-solvent, a surfactant blend, an alcohol, and a carrier fluid;

combining the alcohol, the solvent and surfactant blends with the carrier fluid to produce a well treatment microemulsion;

introducing the microemulsion in to the well;

allowing the microemulsion to contact the formation; and

leaving the formation with intermediate wettability properties.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein after contact with the microemulsion, the water advancing contact angle on the formation is between 62 and 133 degrees.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the carrier fluid is water based.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the alcohol is an alkyl alcohol.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the surfactant is decyl-dimethyl amine oxide.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the microemulsion has a concentration from 0.05 to 0.2%.