Methods and compositions for stimulating the production of hydrocarbons from subterranean formations

• US 9,068,108 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 06/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flotek Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CESI Chemical, Inc. (Flotek Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hill, Randal M., Champagne, Lakia M., Lett, Nathan L., Green, Maria Elizabeth
• Primary Examiner(s): Chung, Susannah
• Assistant Examiner(s): ADMASU, ATNAF S
• Application Number:
  US13/829,434
• Publication Number:
  US 20140274817A1
• Time in Patent Office: 838 Days
• Field of Search: 507/211, 507/262
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/602 containing surfactants
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/68 containing organic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/86 containing organic compounds

Abstract

Methods and compositions for stimulating of the production of hydrocarbons (e.g., formation crude oil and/or formation gas) from subterranean formations are provided. In some embodiments, the compositions are emulsions or microemulsions, which may include water, a terpene, and a surfactant. In some embodiments, methods of selecting a composition for treating an oil or gas well are provided.

Claims

1. An emulsion or a microemulsion for stimulating an oil or gas well, comprising:

an aqueous phase;

a surfactant, wherein the surfactant is present in an amount between about 15 wt % and about 55 wt % versus the total composition;

a freezing point depression agent, wherein the freezing point depression agent is present in an amount between about 5 wt % and 40 wt % versus the total composition; and

an oil continuous phase being a terpene, wherein the terpene is nopol and wherein the nopol is present in an amount between about 5 wt % and about 40 wt % versus the total composition, and wherein the ratio of water to terpene is between about 3;

1 and about 1;

2.

3. The emulsion or the microemulsion of claim 1, wherein the ratio of water to terpene is between about 3:

1 and about 1;

2.

4. The emulsion or the microemulsion of claim 1, wherein the ratio of water to terpene is between about 10:

1 and about 3;

1.

5. The emulsion or the microemulsion of claim 1, wherein the emulsion or the microemulsion comprises a first type of freezing point depression agent and a second type of freezing point depression agent.

6. The emulsion or the microemulsion of claim 1, wherein the freezing point depression agent comprises an alkylene glycol, an alcohol, and/or a salt.

7. The emulsion or the microemulsion of claim 1, wherein the freezing point depression agent is present in an amount between about 5 wt % and about 40 wt %.

8. The emulsion or the microemulsion of claim 1, wherein the emulsion or the microemulsion comprises a first type of surfactant and a second type of surfactant.

9. The emulsion or the microemulsion of claim 1, wherein the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of alkyl polyglycol or alkyl polyglucoside nonionic surfactants, or mixtures of said nonionic surfactants with an ionic surfactant comprising anionic, cationic, or zwitterionic surfactants.

10. The emulsion or the microemulsion of claim 1, wherein the surfactant is present in an amount between about 15 wt % and 55 wt %.

11. A composition for injecting into a wellbore, comprising:

an aqueous carrier fluid; and

an emulsion or a microemulsion as in claim 1, wherein the emulsion or the microemulsion is present in an amount between about 0.1 wt % and about 2 wt % versus the total composition.

2. An emulsion or a microemulsion for stimulating an oil or gas well, comprising:

an aqueous phase;

a surfactant, wherein the surfactant is present in an amount between about 15 wt % and about 55 wt % versus the total composition;

a freezing point depression agent, wherein the freezing point depression agent is present in an amount between about 5 wt % and 40 wt % versus the total composition; and

an oil continuous phase being a terpene, wherein the terpene is eucalyptol, and wherein the eucalyptol is present in an amount between about 5 wt % and about 40 wt % versus the total composition, and wherein the ratio of water to terpene is between about 3;

1 and about 1;

2.

12. The emulsion or the microemulsion of claim 2, wherein the emulsion or the microemulsion comprises a first type of freezing point depression agent and a second type of freezing point depression agent.

13. The emulsion or the microemulsion of claim 2, wherein the freezing point depression agent comprises an alkylene glycol, an alcohol, and/or a salt.

14. The emulsion or the microemulsion of claim 2, wherein the emulsion or the microemulsion comprises a first type of surfactant and a second type of surfactant.

15. The emulsion or the microemulsion of claim 2, wherein the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of alkyl polyglycol or alkyl polyglucoside nonionic surfactants, or mixtures of said nonionic surfactants with an ionic surfactant comprising anionic, cationic, or zwitterionic surfactants.

16. A composition for injecting into a wellbore, comprising:

an aqueous carrier fluid; and

an emulsion or a microemulsion as in claim 2, wherein the emulsion or the microemulsion is present in an amount between about 0.1 wt % and about 2 wt % versus the total composition.