Compositions and methods for gas well treatment

• US 7,886,824 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2008
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Lubrizol Corporation (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Clearwater International, L.L.C (Weatherford International PLC)
• Inventors: Garza, Tina, Zamora, Frank, Kakadjian, Sarkis R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bates; Zakiya W.
• Application Number:
  US12/237,130
• Publication Number:
  US 20090200027A1
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 166/300
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 23/017 Mixtures of compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/524 organic depositions, e.g. paraffins or asphaltenes
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/584 characterised by the use of specific surfactants
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/68 containing organic compounds

Abstract

A microemulsion system is disclosed which comprises a solvent subsystem, a co-solvent subsystem and a surfactant subsystem comprises at least one monoalkyl branched propoxy sulfate anionic surfactant, where the microemulsion system are useful in drilling, producing, remediation, and fracturing application to reduce water blocks and water blocking in formation of a producing formation.

Claims

1. A microemulsion system for treating hydrocarbon producing wells comprising:

a surfactant subsystem including at least one monoalkyl branched propoxy sulfate anionic surfactant,

a solvent subsystem including from about 0.1 wt. % and about 50 wt. % of an organic solvent and from about 20 wt. % to about 75 wt. % water, where the organic solvent comprises;

(a) benzene, an alkarene, or mixtures thereof, (b) a terpene or a mixture of terpenes, or (c) d-limonene or a mixture of d-limonene and dipentene, and

a co-solvent subsystem including a mixture of alcohols and at least one polypropylene glycol,

where the system increase hydrocarbon production and where the hydrocarbon comprises crude oil or gas and crude oil.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the surfactant subsystem further includes at least one ethoxylated alcohol and at least one ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block copolymer having an HLB value between about 7 and about 15.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the surfactant subsystem further includes at least one ethoxylated alcohol, at least one ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block copolymer having an HLB value between about 7 and about 15 and at least one alkyl ether sulfate anionic surfactant.

4. The composition of claim 1, wherein the mixture of alcohols includes at least one short chain alcohol having between about 1 and about 4 carbon atoms and at least one longer chain alcohol having between about 6 and about 10 carbon atoms.

5. The composition of claim 1, wherein the mixture of alcohols includes at least one short chain alcohol having between about 2 and about 4 carbon atoms and at least one longer chain alcohol having between about 7 and about 9 carbon atoms.

6. The composition of claim 1, wherein the mixture of alcohols includes isopropyl alcohol and 1-octanol.

7. The composition of claim 1, wherein the organic solvent includes an alkarene or a mixture of alkarenes.

8. The composition of claim 1, wherein the organic solvent includes a terpene or a mixture of terpenes.

9. The composition of claim 1, wherein the organic solvent is d-limonene or dipentene or a mixture of d-limonene and dipentene.

10. The composition of claim 1, wherein:

the surfactant subsystem includes;

one monoalkyl branched propoxy sulfate or a plurality of monoalkyl branched propoxy sulfates,

at least one low foam generating ethoxylated alcohol, and

at least one low foam generating block copolymer or plurality of block copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide having an HLB value between about 7 and about 15;

the co-solvent subsystem includes;

at least one low molecular weight alcohol,

at least one higher molecular weight alcohol, and

at least one polypropylene glycol; and

the solvent subsystem includes;

an alkarene and a mixture of alkarenes, and

water.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the surfactant subsystem further includes at least one alkyl ether sulfate anionic surfactant.

12. The composition of claim 10, wherein the at least one low molecular weight alcohol has between about 1 and about 4 carbon atoms and the at least one higher molecular weight alcohol has between about 6 and about 10 carbon atoms.

13. The composition of claim 10, wherein the at least one low molecular weight alcohol has between about 2 and about 4 carbon atoms and the at least one higher molecular weight alcohol has between about 7 and about 9 carbon atoms.

14. The composition of claim 10, wherein the low molecular weight alcohol is isopropyl alcohol and higher molecular weight alcohol is 1-octanol.

15. The composition of claim 1, wherein the organic solvent includes an alkarene or a mixture of alkarenes, where the alkarenes include toluene, xylenes, ethylbenzene, or mixtures of combinations thereof.

16. The composition of claim 1, wherein the organic solvent comprises d-limonene or dipentene.

17. The composition of claim 1, wherein:

the surfactant subsystem includes;

between about 0.1 weight percent and about 10 weight percent of monoalkyl branched propoxy sulfate or a plurality of monoalkyl branched propoxy sulfates,

between about 0.1 weight percent and about 30 weight percent of a low foam generating ethoxylated alcohol comprising a reaction product of an alcohol having between about 8 and about 10 carbon atoms and an average of about 7 ethylene oxide groups per alcohol molecule, and

between about 0.1 weight percent and about 30 weight percent of a low foam generating block copolymer or plurality of block copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide having a HLB value between about 7 and 15;

the co-solvent subsystem includes;

between about 0.1 weight percent and about 20 weight percent of isopropyl alcohol (IPA),

between about 0.1 weight percent and about 5 weight percent of 1-octanol, and

between about 0.1 weight percent and about 15 weight percent of a polypropylene glycol; and

the solvent subsystem includes;

between about 2 weight percent and about 25 weight percent of d-limonene or dipentene, and

between about 20 weight percent and about 75 weight percent of water.

18. The composition of claim 1, wherein:

the surfactant subsystem includes;

from about 0.5 wt. % to about 30 wt. % at least one ethoxylated alcohol,

from about 0.5 wt. % to about 30 wt. % at least one ethylene oxide (EO)/propylene oxide (PO) copolymer, and

from about 0.1 wt. % to about 10 wt. % at least one monoalkyl branched propoxy sulfate;

the co-solvent system includes;

from about 0.1 wt. % to about 15 wt. % at least one short chain linear alcohol,

from about 0.5 wt. % to about 10 wt. % at least one longer chain linear alcohol, and

from about 0.5 wt. % to about 15 wt. % at least one polypropylene glycol;

the solvent system includes;

from about 0.1 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of at least one terpene and

from about 20 wt. % to about 75 wt. % water.

19. A composition for fracturing a subterranean formation containing crude oil or gas and crude oil and penetrated by a wellbore, the composition comprising:

a fracturing fluid including;

a surfactant subsystem including at least one monoalkyl branched propoxy sulfate anionic surfactant,

a solvent subsystem including from about 0.1 wt. % and about 50 wt. % of an organic solvent and from about 20 wt. % to about 75 wt. % water, where the organic solvent comprises;

(a) benzene, an alkarene, or mixtures thereof, (b) a terpene or a mixture of terpenes, or (c) d-limonene or a mixture of d-limonene and dipentene, and

a co-solvent subsystem including a mixture of alcohols and at least one polypropylene glycol,

where the composition increases crude oil or gas and crude oil production.

20. A composition for drilling into a subterranean formation containing crude oil or gas and crude oil, the composition comprising:

a drilling fluid including;

a surfactant subsystem including at least one monoalkyl branched propoxy sulfate anionic surfactant,

a solvent subsystem including from about 0.1 wt. % and about 50 wt. % of an organic solvent and from about 20 wt. % to about 75 wt. % water, where the organic solvent comprises;

(a) benzene, an alkarene, or mixtures thereof, (b) a terpene or a mixture of terpenes, or (c) d-limonene or a mixture of d-limonene and dipentene, and

a co-solvent subsystem including a mixture of alcohols and at least one polypropylene glycol.

21. A composition for removing bound water from a producing subterranean formation containing crude oil or gas and crude oil and penetrated by a wellbore, the composition comprising:

a producing fluid including;

a surfactant subsystem including at least one monoalkyl branched propoxy sulfate anionic surfactant,

a solvent subsystem including from about 0.1 wt. % and about 50 wt. % of an organic solvent and from about 20 wt. % to about 75 wt. % water, where the organic solvent comprises;

(a) benzene, an alkarene, or mixtures thereof, (b) a terpene or a mixture of terpenes, or (c) d-limonene or a mixture of d-limonene and dipentene, and

a co-solvent subsystem including a mixture of alcohols and at least one polypropylene glycol,

where the composition increases crude oil or gas and crude oil production.

22. A composition for removing bound water from a producing subterranean formation containing crude oil or gas and crude oil and penetrated by a wellbore, the composition comprising:

a surfactant subsystem including at least one monoalkyl branched propoxy sulfate anionic surfactant,

a solvent subsystem including from about 0.1 wt. % and about 50 wt. % of an organic solvent and from about 20 wt. % to about 75 wt. % water, where the organic solvent comprises;

(a) benzene, an alkarene, or mixtures thereof, (b) a terpene or a mixture of terpenes, or (c) d-limonene or a mixture of d-limonene and dipentene, and

a co-solvent subsystem including a mixture of alcohols and at least one polypropylene glycol, where the composition increases crude oil or gas and crude oil production.

23. A method for removing bound water from crude oil or gas and crude oil bearing subterranean formations comprising:

injecting into a formation an effective amount of a microemulsion system comprising a surfactant subsystem including at least one monoalkyl branched propoxy sulfate anionic surfactant, a solvent subsystem including from about 0.1 wt. % and about 50 wt. % of an organic solvent and from about 20 wt. % to about 75 wt. % water, where the organic solvent comprises;

(a) benzene, an alkarene, or mixtures thereof, (b) a terpene or a mixture of terpenes, or (c) d-limonene or a mixture of d-limonene and dipentene, and a co-solvent subsystem including a mixture of alcohols and at least one polypropylene glycol,

where the effective amount being sufficient to remove water blocks and to enhance formation production.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

maintaining the system in the formation for a time from about 8 to about 96 hours.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

producing fluids from the formation including the microemulsion system.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

maintaining the system in the accessible portions for a time from about 8 to about 96 hours.

27. A method for fracturing a formation containing crude oil or gas and crude oil comprising:

pumping, into a producing formation at a pressure sufficient to fracture the formation and to enhance productivity, a fracturing fluid comprising;

a proppant and

a microemulsion system including a surfactant subsystem including at least one monoalkyl branched propoxy sulfate anionic surfactant, a solvent subsystem including from about 0.1 wt. % and about 50 wt. % of an organic solvent and from about 20 wt. % to about 75 wt. % water, where the organic solvent comprises;

(a) benzene, an alkarene, or mixtures thereof, (b) a terpene or a mixture of terpenes, or (c) d-limonene or a mixture of d-limonene and dipentene, and a co-solvent subsystem including a mixture of alcohols and at least one polypropylene glycol,

where the proppant props open the formation after fracturing, and

where the microemulsion system reduces water blocks and water blocking in the formation.

28. A method for fracturing a formation containing crude oil or gas and crude oil comprising the step of:

pumping a fracturing fluid into a producing formation at a pressure sufficient to fracture the formation and to enhance productivity,

pumping in a proppant fluid including;

a proppant and

a microemulsion system comprising a surfactant subsystem including at least one monoalkyl branched propoxy sulfate anionic surfactant, a solvent subsystem including from about 0.1 wt. % and about 50 wt. % of an organic solvent and from about 20 wt. % to about 75 wt. % water, where the organic solvent comprises;

(a) benzene, an alkarene, or mixtures thereof, (b) a terpene or a mixture of terpenes, or (c) d-limonene or a mixture of d-limonene and dipentene, and a co-solvent subsystem including a mixture of alcohols and at least one polypropylene glycol,

where the proppant props open the formation after fracturing, and

where the microemulsion system reduces water blocks and water blocking in the formation.

29. A method for fracturing a formation containing crude oil or gas and crude oil comprising the step of:

pumping a fracturing fluid into a producing formation at a pressure sufficient to fracture the formation and to enhance productivity,

pumping in a proppant fluid including a proppant, where the proppant props open the formation after fracturing and

pumping a microemulsion system comprising a surfactant subsystem including at least one monoalkyl branched propoxy sulfate anionic surfactant, a solvent subsystem including from about 0.1 wt. % and about 50 wt. % of an organic solvent and from about 20 wt. % to about 75 wt. % water, where the organic solvent comprises;

(a) benzene, an alkarene, or mixtures thereof, (b) a terpene or a mixture of terpenes, or (c) d-limonene or a mixture of d-limonene and dipentene, and a co-solvent subsystem including a mixture of alcohols and at least one polypropylene glycol, where the microemulsion system reduces water blocks and water blocking in the formation.

30. A method for producing a formation containing crude oil or gas and crude oil comprising:

circulating and/or pumping into a well on production a fluid including a microemulsion system comprising a surfactant subsystem including at least one monoalkyl branched propoxy sulfate anionic surfactant, a solvent subsystem including from about 0.1 wt. % and about 50 wt. % of an organic solvent and from about 20 wt. % to about 75 wt. % water, where the organic solvent comprises;

(a) benzene, an alkarene, or mixtures thereof, (b) a terpene or a mixture of terpenes, or (c) d-limonene or a mixture of d-limonene and dipentene, and a co-solvent subsystem including a mixture of alcohols and at least one polypropylene glycol,

where the microemulsion system reduces water blocks and water blocking in the formation.

31. A method for drilling a formation containing crude oil or gas and crude oil comprising:

circulating and/or pumping into a well during drilling a fluid including a microemulsion system comprising a surfactant subsystem including at least one monoalkyl branched propoxy sulfate anionic surfactant, a solvent subsystem including from about 0.1 wt. % and about 50 wt. % of an organic solvent and from about 20 wt. % to about 75 wt. % water, where the organic solvent comprises;

(a) benzene, an alkarene, or mixtures thereof, (b) a terpene or a mixture of terpenes, or (c) d-limonene or a mixture of d-limonene and dipentene, and a co-solvent subsystem including a mixture of alcohols and at least one polypropylene glycol,

where the microemulsion system reduces fines and debris in the borehole during drilling.