# US 2014/0196896 A1 · Enhanced crude oil recovery using metal silicides

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- Number: US 2014/0196896 A1
- Document ID: US20140196896A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/126,187
- Filed: 2012-06-14
- Published: 2014-07-17
- Earliest claimed: 2011-06-14
- Assignees: Signa Chemistry, Inc.
- Inventors: Paul H. Krumrine; James S. Falcone; Michael Lefenfeld
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196896A1

## CPC

- E21B 33/14: for cementing casings into boreholes
- C04B 7/02: Portland cement
- C09K 8/46: containing inorganic binders, e.g. Portland cement
- C09K 8/58: Compositions for enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons, i.e. for improving the mobility of the oil, e.g. displacing fluids
- E02D 3/12: Consolidating by placing solidifying or pore-filling substances in the soil (making piles E02D5/46; soil-conditioning or soil-stabilising materials C09K17/00; consolidation of ground around boreholes or wells E21B43/025)
- E21B 33/138: Plastering the borehole wall; Injecting into the formation
- E21B 43/24: using heat, e.g. steam injection
- E21B 43/2408: {SAGD in combination with other methods}
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- C04B: LIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE {(roofing granules E04D7/005)}; CERAMICS (devitrified glass-ceramics C03C10/00); REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE
- C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- E02D: FOUNDATIONS; EXCAVATIONS; EMBANKMENTS (specially adapted for hydraulic engineering E02B); UNDERGROUND OR UNDERWATER STRUCTURES {(tunnels, tunnelling, mining E21)}

## Abstract

Enhanced oil recovery techniques include introduction of alkali metal silicides into subterranean reservoirs to generate hydrogen gas, heat, and alkali metal silicate solutions in situ upon contact with water. The alkali metal silicides, such as sodium silicide, are used to recover hydrocarbons, including heavier crudes where viscosity and low reservoir pressure are limiting factors. Hydrogen, which is miscible with the crude oil and can beneficiate the heavier fractions into lighter fractions naturally or with addition of catalytic materials, is generated in-situ. It. Heat is also generated at the reaction site to reduce viscosity and promote crude beneficiation. The resulting alkaline silicate solution saponifies acidic crude components to form surfactants which emulsify the crude to improve mobility toward a production well. The silicate promotes profile modification passively via consumptive reactions or actively via addition of acidic gelling agents.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of recovering hydrocarbon or bituminous material from a subterranean reservoir comprising:
depositing an alkali metal silicide or a mixture of alkali metal silicides in the reservoir; and
reacting the alkali metal silicide or the mixture of alkali metal silicides with water to generate hydrogen gas, heat, and an alkali metal silicate that collectively enhance recovery of the hydrocarbon or bituminous material.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the alkali metal silicide is a sodium silicide.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the alkali metal silicide is a lithium silicide, a potassium silicide, or mixtures thereof.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the alkali metal silicide is Na4Si4.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the alkali metal silicide is K4Si4.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising:
recovering the hydrocarbon or bituminous material with a well.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising:
coating the alkali metal silicide to prevent a premature reaction with the water.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7 further comprising:
degrading the coating of the alkali metal silicide to allow the alkali metal silicide or mixture of alkali metal silicides to react with water in the reservoir.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein degrading the coating of the alkali silicide or mixture of alkali metal silicides is promoted by at least one of heat, dissolution, or microbial reaction.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the degrading occurs in the reservoir.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein depositing the alkali metal silicide or mixture of alkali metal silicides includes depositing the alkali metal silicide or mixture of alkali metal silicides into a desired location in the reservoir with a non-reactive hydrocarbon carrier fluid.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein depositing the alkali metal silicide or mixture of alkali metal silicides includes depositing the alkali metal silicide or mixture of alkali metal silicides into a desired location in the reservoir with hydrocarbon spacer fluids.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein depositing the alkali metal silicide or mixture of alkali metal silicides includes depositing the alkali metal silicide or mixture of alkali metal silicides in the reservoir on a continuous basis.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein depositing the alkali metal silicide or mixture of alkali metal silicides includes depositing the alkali metal silicide or mixture of alkali metal silicides in the reservoir through a series of alternating slugs.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11, 12)

The method of claim 11 or 12 further comprising:
recovering the hydrocarbon or bituminous material to a producing well.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
depositing the alkali metal silicide or mixture of alkali metal silicides in the hydrocarbon or bituminous material includes depositing the alkali metal silicide or mixture of alkali metal silicides into the reservoir along with injected steam prior to a well shut;
dissipating the heat from the steam and the alkali metal silicide-water reaction in the reservoir; and
heating the hydrocarbon or bituminous material with the dissipated heat.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16 further comprising:
recovering the hydrocarbon or bituminous material back through the same well.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising:
depositing at least one of Na and Al metals into the reservoir to generate additional heat and hydrogen to supplement the alkali metal silicide or mixture of alkali metal silicides; and
creating zeolitic material precursors within the reservoir to facilitate hydrovisbreaking reactions.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising:
applying a catalytic material to the alkali metal silicide or mixture of alkali metal silicides to promote hydrogenation of the hydrocarbon or bituminous material in situ.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the application of the catalytic material to the alkali metal silicide or mixture of alkali metal silicides is performed prior to recovering the hydrocarbon or bituminous material with a well.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising:
applying at least one of a surfactant or polymer to promote flow of the hydrocarbon or bituminous material toward a production well for recovery.

### Claim 22

A method of recovering hydrocarbon or bituminous material from a subterranean reservoir comprising:
depositing a metal silicide or a mixture of metal silicides in the reservoir; and
reacting the metal silicide or mixture of metal silicides with water to generate hydrogen gas, heat, and a metal silicate that collectively enhance recovery of the hydrocarbon or bituminous material.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The method of recovering hydrocarbon or bituminous material from a reservoir formation of claim 22, wherein the metal silicide is a calcium silicide.

### Claim 24

A system for recovering hydrocarbon or bituminous material from a subterranean reservoir comprising:
a silicide injection pump for depositing a metal silicide or mixture of metal silicides in the reservoir; and
an injection well for reacting the metal silicide with water to generate hydrogen gas, heat, and a metal silicate that collectively enhance recovery of the hydrocarbon or bituminous material.

### Claim 25

A system for recovering hydrocarbon or bituminous material from a subterranean reservoir comprising:
an alkali silicide injection pump for depositing an alkali metal silicide or mixture of metal silicides in the reservoir; and
an injection well for reacting the alkali metal silicide or mixture of metal silicides with water to generate hydrogen gas, heat, and an alkali metal silicate that collectively enhance recovery of the hydrocarbon or bituminous material.