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US 10,871,061 B2Granted
Treatment of kerogen in subterranean zones
AssigneeSaudi Arabian Oil Company
InventorsKatherine Leigh Hull, Younane N. Abousleiman, David Jacobi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Technologies relating to increasing hydraulic fracturing efficiencies in subterranean zones by degrading organic matter, such as kerogen, are described. A method for treating kerogen in a subterranean zone includes placing a composition in the subterranean zone, and the composition includes an oxidizer including sodium bromate and an additive including a tetrasubstituted ammonium salt.
Claims16
A method for treating kerogen in a subterranean zone, the method comprising:
- determining a concentration of oxidizer to include in a composition, wherein determining the concentration of oxidizer comprises:
- determining a weight percent of iron sulfide in the subterranean zone;
- and
- determining the concentration of oxidizer by accounting for an amount of oxidizer needed to degrade the kerogen and for the iron sulfide;
- and
- breaking down the kerogen in the subterranean zone using the composition comprising:
- the determined concentration of the oxidizer, wherein the oxidizer comprises sodium bromate;
- and
- an additive comprising a tetrasubstituted ammonium salt selected from the group consisting of hexadecyltrimethylammonium salt, phenyltrimethylammonium salt, C12-C14-alkylbenzylammonium salt, and benzyltrialkyl ammonium salt, wherein the additive is not oxidized by the oxidizer in the subterranean zone.
6 more elements
A method for fracturing a subterranean zone penetrated by a wellbore, the method comprising:
- determining a concentration of oxidizer to include in a composition, wherein determining the concentration of oxidizer comprises:
- determining a weight percent of iron sulfide in the subterranean zone;
- and
- determining the concentration of oxidizer by accounting for the iron sulfide;
- at least partially degrading kerogen in the subterranean zone with the composition, the composition comprising:
- the determined concentration of the oxidizer, the oxidizer comprising sodium bromate, the concentration of the oxidizer in a range of about 0.1 moles per liter (M) to about 4.00 M;
- and
- an additive comprising a tetrasubstituted ammonium salt selected from the group consisting of hexadecyltrimethylammonium salt, phenyltrimethylammonium salt, C12-C14-alkylbenzylammonium salt, and benzyltrialkyl ammonium salt, wherein the additive is not oxidized by the oxidizer in the subterranean formation;
- and
- fracturing the subterranean zone.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.