Surfactant compositions and uses therefor

• US 6,302,209 B1
• Filed: 09/10/1998
• Issued: 10/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: B J Services Company (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: BJ Services Company
• Inventors: Wood, William R., Woo, George Tso-Chih, Brannon, Harold D., Ault, Marshall G., Dawson, Jeffrey C., Thompson, Joseph E. Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bagnell, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dougherty, Jennifer R.
• Application Number:
  US09/151,169
• Time in Patent Office: 1,132 Days
• Field of Search: 166/305.1, 166/309, 166/311, 507/134, 507/135, 507/131, 507/136, 507/252, 507/259, 507/261, 507/244
• US Class Current: 166/305.1
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 23/00 Use of substances as emulsifying, wetting, dispersing, or foam-producing agents
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 23/02 Alkyl sulfonates or sulfuric acid ester salts derived from monohydric alcohols
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/035 Organic additives
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/602 containing surfactants

Abstract

Solid surfactant suspension compositions are formed by combining solid surfactants, such as alpha-olefin sulfonates, with an organic base fluid, such as diesel. Solid surfactant suspensions may be combined with an aqueous carrier fluid to form surfactant-containing fluids suitable for, among other things, forming foams or for water wetting surfaces. Solid surfactant suspensions may also be combined with additive materials, such as polymer particles, to form a dispersion or emulsion. Polymer-containing solid surfactant suspensions may also be combined with aqueous carrier fluids to form, for example, viscosified, gelled, or foamed fluids. Concentration of solid surfactant materials contained in a solid surfactant suspension may be varied to affect the function the solid surfactant suspension. For example, the solid surfactant material may function as a polymer surface wetting agent, an emulsifier, a dispersant, a viscosifier, and/or a foamer in well completion and remedial and/or workover fluids.

Claims

1. A method for treating a well, comprising:

combining a solid surfactant suspension with an aqueous carrier fluid to form a treatment fluid;

introducing said treatment fluid into said well; and

wherein said surfactant suspension comprises a solid surfactant suspended in an organic base fluid, said solid surfactant being substantially insoluble in said organic base fluid.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said well penetrates a subterranean formation and further comprising introducing said treatment fluid into said formation, wherein at least a portion of said solid surfactant dissolves in said aqueous carrier fluid to water wet said formation.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said solid surfactant comprises at least one of a solid alpha olefin sulfonate, alcohol ethoxylate, alcohol ether sulfate, betaine, sulfosuccinate ester, alkyl sulfate, alkyl aryl sulfonate or a mixture thereof.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said solid surfactant comprises an alpha-olefin sulfonate.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said alpha-olefin sulfonate is at least one of a sodium, ammonium or potassium alpha-olefin sulfonate, or a mixture thereof.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said alpha-olefin sulfonate has up to about 20 carbon atoms.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein said solid surfactant further comprises a solid betaine.

8. The method of claim 7 where in said solid betaine comprises a cocoamidopropyl betaine and wherein said alpha olefin sulfonate has from about 12 to about 14 carbon atoms.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein said solid surfactant comprises alpha olefin sulfonate having at least one of the following structures:

 

CH₃(CH₂)_nCH═

CH—

(CH₂)_m—

SO₃X,

where;

m=from about 2 to about 4,

n=from about 6 to about 14, and

X=H, Na, K, NH₄ ion.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said solid surfactant further comprises solid betaine having the following structure:

where

R=coco group typically having a mixture of chain lengths ranging from about 8 to about 16 carbon atoms, and

X=H, Na, K, NH₄ ion.

11. The method of claim 3, wherein said solid surfactant comprises at least one of:

solid alpha olefin sulfonate having at least one of the following structures;

 

CH₃(CH₂)_nCH═

CH(CH₂)_m—

SO₃X,

where;

m=from about 2 to about 4,

n=from about 6 to about 14, and

X=H, Na, K, NH₄ ion;

alcohol ethoxylate having the following structure;

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said organic base fluid comprises diesel.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said solid surfactant suspension comprises from about 50% to about 70% by weight of solid surfactant.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising combining said treatment fluid with an energizing phase to form a foamed treatment fluid prior to introducing said treatment fluid into said well.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising combining said solid surfactant suspension with a polymer prior to combining said solid surfactant suspension with an aqueous carrier fluid, and wherein said solid surfactant suspension comprises from about 50% to about 70% by weight of solid surfactant and from about 5% to about 60% by weight of said polymer.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising combining proppant with said treatment fluid prior to introducing said treatment fluid into said well.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said energizing phase is carbon dioxide, nitrogen, or a mixture thereof.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising combining said solid surfactant suspension with additive particles prior to combining said solid surfactant suspension with an aqueous carrier fluid.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said additive particle comprises a polymer and said treatment fluid is a polymer treatment fluid.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said solid surfactant suspension is combined with said polymer to form a polymer-containing suspension comprising from about 50% to about 70% by weight of solid surfactant and from about 5% to about 60% by weight of said polymer.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising combining a proppant with said treatment fluid prior to introducing said treatment fluid into said well.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein said polymer comprises a polysaccharide, a polyacrylate, or a mixture thereof.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein said polymer is crosslinked.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein said organic base fluid comprises diesel, a refined kerosene, sunflower oil, or a mixture thereof.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein said aqueous fluid comprises at least one of fresh water, brine, acid, cement slurry or a mixture thereof.

26. A method of treating a well comprising:

introducing a treatment fluid into said well;

wherein said treatment fluid comprises a suspension of solid surfactant in an organic base fluid.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said solid surfactant suspension comprises from about 50% to about 70% by weight of solid surfactant and from about 5% to about 60% by weight of additive particles, said additive particles comprising a polymer.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein said treatment fluid further comprises additive particles suspended in said organic base fluid.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein said additive particles comprise polymer particles.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said polymer comprises a polysaccharide, a polyacrylate, or a mixture thereof.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein said polymer is crosslinked.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein said well penetrates a subterranean formation having a saturation of water, and wherein said solid treatment fluid is introduced into said subterranean formation so that at least a portion of said solid surfactant dissolves in said formation water to water wet said formation, to form a foam, or a mixture thereof.

33. The method of claim 26, wherein said solid surfactant comprises at least one of a solid alpha olefin sulfonate, alcohol ethoxylate, alcohol ether sulfate, betaine, sulfosuccinate ester, alkyl sulfate, alkyl aryl sulfonate or a mixture thereof.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said solid surfactant comprises at least one of:

solid alpha olefin sulfonate having at least one of the following structures;

 

CH₃(CH₂)_nCH═

CH—

(CH₂)_m—

SO₃X,

where;

m=from about 2 to about 4,

n=from about 6 to about 14, and

X=H, Na, K, NH₄ ion;

alcohol ethoxylate having the following structure;

35. The method of claim 33, wherein said solid surfactant comprises an alpha-olefin sulfonate.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said solid surfactant comprises alpha olefin sulfonate having at least one of the following structures:

 

CH₃(CH₂)_nCH═

CH—

(CH₂)_m—

SO₃X,

where;

m=from about 2 to about 4,

n=from about 6 to about 14, and

X=H, Na, K, NH₄ ion.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein said solid surfactant further comprises solid betaine having the following structure:

where

R=coco group typically having a mixture of chain lengths ranging from about 8 to about 16 carbon atoms, and

X=H, Na, K, NH₄ ion.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein said alpha-olefin sulfonate is at least one of a sodium, ammonium or potassium alpha-olefin sulfonate, or a mixture thereof.

39. The method of claim 35, wherein said alpha-olefin sulfonate has up to about 20 carbon atoms.

40. The method of claim 35, wherein said solid surfactant further comprises a solid betaine.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein said solid betaine comprises a cocoamidopropyl betaine and wherein said alpha olefin sulfonate has from about 12 to about 14 carbon atoms.

42. The method of claim 26, wherein said organic base fluid comprises diesel, a refined kerosene, sunflower oil, or a mixture thereof.

43. The method of claim 26, wherein said organic base fluid comprises diesel.

44. The method of claim 26, wherein said solid surfactant suspension comprises from about 50% to about 70% by weight of solid surfactant.

45. The method of claim 26, further comprising combining said treatment fluid with an energizing phase.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein said energizing phase is carbon dioxide, nitrogen, or a mixture thereof.

47. The method of claim 26, wherein said treatment fluid further comprises an aqueous fluid comprising at least one of fresh water, brine, acid, cement slurry or a mixture thereof.