Permeability of subterranean reservoirs using acid diversion
AssigneeEcolab USA Inc.
InventorsKin-Tai Chang, Eldon Dwyann Dalrymple
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Abstract
Methods for acid diversion in a hydrocarbon-containing subterranean formation are disclosed. The methods include injecting an acid diversion agent comprising a water-soluble or dispersible branched polyhydroxyetheramine and injecting an acidic solution into a well which is in contact with the hydrocarbon-containing subterranean formation. Preferably, the acid solution is diverted toward a zone of the formation that has a lower permeability to fluid than an adjacent zone. This process improves the permeability of the hydrocarbon-containing subterranean formation to hydrocarbons, while decreasing the permeability of the formation to water or brine.
Claims22
A method for increasing recovery of crude oil from a subterranean hydrocarbon-containing formation, the method comprising:
- injecting a composition comprising a water-soluble or dispersible branched polyhydroxyetheramine into a well which is in contact with the subterranean hydrocarbon-containing formation at a concentration of from about 500 ppm to about 50,000 ppm based on the total amount of fluid injected into the well;
- injecting an acid solution into the well at a concentration of from about 5 wt. % to about 28 wt. % acid based on the total amount of fluid injected into the well.
The method of 1, wherein the acid solution comprises a strong acid, a weak acid, or a combination thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.