Oxidizers for carbon dioxide-based fracturing fluids
AssigneeSaudi Arabian Oil Company
InventorsDesmond Schipper, Katherine Leigh Hull, Rajesh Kumar Saini, Younane N. Abousleiman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for treating kerogen in a subterranean zone which includes the use of supercritical carbon dioxide or emulsions of liquid carbon dioxide and an aqueous fluid. The carbon dioxide or emulsions can further include oxidizers. The oxidizers can include inorganic oxidizers or organic oxidizers, for example an oxidizer including an organic cation and an oxidizing anion. Additional additives such as polymers, crosslinkers, clay inhibitors, scale inhibitors and corrosion inhibitors can further enhance the efficiency of the kerogen-treating carbon dioxide or emulsion.
Claims21
A method for treating kerogen or organic matter in a subterranean zone, the method comprising placing a composition in the subterranean zone, the composition comprising:
- supercritical carbon dioxide (CO2);
- and
- a fluid comprising an oxidizer, wherein the fluid is an aqueous fluid, and wherein the composition comprises an emulsion of supercritical carbon dioxide and the aqueous fluid, wherein the supercritical carbon dioxide and the fluid comprising the oxidizer are mixed to form the emulsion before placing the composition in the subterranean zone,
- wherein the oxidizer comprises a cation and an anion, and the cation comprises a fluorinated organic cation.
A method for treating kerogen or organic matter in a subterranean zone, the method comprising placing a composition in the subterranean zone, the composition comprising:
- supercritical carbon dioxide (CO2);
- and
- a fluid comprising an oxidizer, wherein the fluid is an aqueous fluid, and wherein the composition comprises an emulsion of carbon dioxide and the aqueous fluid, wherein an external phase of the emulsion comprises the supercritical CO2 and an internal phase of the emulsion comprises the aqueous fluid, and wherein the supercritical carbon dioxide and the fluid comprising the oxidizer are mixed to form the emulsion before placing the composition in the subterranean zone,
- wherein:
- the oxidizer comprises a cation and an anion;
- the anion comprises at least one of chlorate or bromate;
- the cation comprises a member selected from the group consisting of tetrabutylammonium bromate, tributylammonium bromate, dibutylammonium bromate, butylammonium bromate, tetrabutylammonium chlorate, bis(triphenylphosphine)iminium bromate, pyridinium bromate;
- and
- the cation is made by a double displacement reaction.
A method for treating kerogen or organic matter in a subterranean zone, the method comprising placing a composition in the subterranean zone, the composition comprising:
- supercritical carbon dioxide (CO2);
- and
- a fluid comprising an oxidizer, wherein the fluid is an aqueous fluid, and wherein the composition comprises an emulsion of supercritical carbon dioxide and the aqueous fluid, wherein the supercritical carbon dioxide and the fluid comprising the oxidizer are mixed to form the emulsion before placing the composition in the subterranean zone,
- wherein:
- the oxidizer comprises a cation and an anion;
- the cation comprises a member selected from the group consisting of tetrabutylammonium bromate, tributylammonium bromate, dibutylammonium bromate, butylammonium bromate, tetrabutylammonium chlorate, bis(triphenylphosphine)iminium bromate, pyridinium bromate;
- and
- the cation is made by a double displacement reaction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.