# US 2018/0022989 A1 · Treatment fluids comprising anhydrous ammonia for use in subterranean formation operations

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- Number: US 2018/0022989 A1
- Document ID: US20180022989A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/549,119
- Filed: 2015-03-10
- Published: 2018-01-25
- Earliest claimed: 2015-03-10
- Assignees: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
- Applicants: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
- Inventors: Corneliu STANCIU; Jim D. WEAVER; Samuel James MAGUIRE-BOYLE; Dipti SINGH; Jeremy A. HOLTSCLAW; Michael A. MCCABE
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180022989A1

## CPC

- C09K 8/845: {containing inorganic compounds}
- C09K 8/16: characterised by the inorganic compounds other than clay
- C09K 8/52: Compositions for preventing, limiting or eliminating depositions, e.g. for cleaning
- C09K 8/528: inorganic depositions, e.g. sulfates or carbonates
- C09K 8/536: characterised by their form or by the form of their components, e.g. encapsulated material
- C09K 8/572: {containing inorganic compounds}
- C09K 8/58: Compositions for enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons, i.e. for improving the mobility of the oil, e.g. displacing fluids
- C09K 8/594: Compositions used in combination with injected gas {, e.g. CO2 orcarbonated gas}(C09K8/592 takes precedence)
- C09K 8/665: {containing inorganic compounds (proppants C09K8/80)}
- C09K 8/72: Eroding chemicals, e.g. acids
- C09K 8/92: characterised by their form or by the form of their components, e.g. encapsulated material (C09K8/70 takes precedence)
- E21B 43/27: by use of eroding chemicals, e.g. acids
- C09K 2208/22: Hydrates inhibition by using well treatment fluids containing inhibitors of hydrate formers
- E21B 33/13: Methods or devices for cementing, for plugging holes, crevices or the like
- E21B 43/04: Gravelling of wells
- E21B 43/16: Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons
- E21B 43/25: Methods for stimulating production {(by vibrating earth formations E21B43/003)}
- E21B 43/267: reinforcing fractures by propping
- Y02P 20/54: using solvents, e.g. supercritical solvents or ionic liquids
- C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

Methods including preparing a treatment fluid comprising a bulk amount of anhydrous ammonia, wherein the anhydrous ammonia is present in an amount greater than about 10% by weight of a liquid portion of the treatment fluid, and wherein the anhydrous ammonia is in a phase selected from the group consisting of a liquid phase, a gaseous phase, supercritical phase, and any combination thereof; and introducing the treatment fluid into a subterranean formation.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising:
preparing a treatment fluid comprising a bulk amount of anhydrous ammonia,
wherein the anhydrous ammonia is present in an amount greater than about 10% by weight of a liquid portion of the treatment fluid, and
wherein the anhydrous ammonia is in a phase selected from the group consisting of a liquid phase, a gaseous phase, supercritical phase, and any combination thereof; and
introducing the treatment fluid into a subterranean formation.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the anhydrous ammonia is in the liquid phase or the supercritical phase, and wherein the treatment fluid further comprises a gelling agent, thereby forming gelled anhydrous ammonia treatment fluid.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the gelling agent is a colloidal clay.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising introducing the treatment fluid into the subterranean formation at a rate and pressure sufficient to create or enhance at least one fracture therein.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising performing a subterranean formation operation selected from the group consisting of a drilling operation, a stimulation operation, an acidizing operation, an acid-fracturing operation, a sand control operation, a fracturing operation, a frac-packing operation, a gravel-packing operation, a production operation, a remedial operation, a gas hydrate removal operation, an enhanced oil recovery operation, an injection operation, a pipeline operation, a remedial operation, a formation damage reduction operation, a cementing operation, and any combination thereof.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the subterranean formation has a temperature greater than 132.4° C. and pressure greater than 112.8 bar, such that the anhydrous ammonia is a supercritical fluid in the subterranean formation.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the subterranean formation comprises a carbonate selected from the group consisting of an alkali carbonate, an alkai-earth carbonate, a transition metal carbonate, and any combination thereof, and further comprising at least partially solubilizing the carbonate with the anhydrous ammonia.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the subterranean formation comprises a heavy aromatic compound, and further comprising at least partially ammonolyzing the heavy aromatic compound with the anhydrous ammonia, thereby forming at least one wormhole in the subterranean formation.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the subterranean formation comprises connate water, and further comprising contacting the anhydrous ammonia with the connate water to increase a temperature of the subterranean formation.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising etching microfractures in the subterranean formation with the anhydrous ammonia.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising recovering at least a portion of the treatment fluid from the subterranean formation, and recycling the anhydrous ammonia recovered from the subterranean formation.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising at least partially inhibiting formation of a gas hydrate in the subterranean formation.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising a tubular extending into a wellbore in the subterranean formation, and a pump fluidly coupled to the tubular, wherein the step of introducing the treatment fluid into the subterranean formation comprises introducing the treatment fluid through the tubular.

### Claim 14

A method comprising:
pre-treating a pipeline conduit with a treatment fluid, the treatment fluid comprising a bulk amount of anhydrous ammonia,
wherein the anhydrous ammonia is present in an amount greater than about 10% by weight of a liquid portion of the treatment fluid, and
wherein the anhydrous ammonia in a phase selected from the group consisting of a liquid phase, a gaseous phase, supercritical phase, and any combination thereof; and
flowing a hydrocarbon through the pre-treated pipeline conduit.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the anhydrous ammonia is a supercritical fluid.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, further comprising at least partially inhibiting the formation of a gas hydrate by pre-treating the pipeline conduit with the treatment fluid.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the anhydrous ammonia is in the liquid phase or the supercritical phase, and wherein the treatment fluid further comprises a gelling agent, thereby forming gelled anhydrous ammonia treatment fluid.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the gelling agent is a colloidal clay.

### Claim 19

A treatment fluid comprising:
anhydrous ammonia,
wherein the anhydrous ammonia is present in an amount greater than about 10% by weight of a liquid portion of the treatment fluid, and
wherein the anhydrous ammonia in a phase selected from the group consisting of a liquid phase, a gaseous phase, and any combination thereof; and
an oilfield additive selected from the group consisting of a gelling agent, a salt, a weighting agent, an inert solid, a fluid loss control agent, an emulsifier, a dispersion aid, a corrosion inhibitor, an emulsion thinner, an emulsion thickener, a surfactant, a particulate, a proppant, a gravel particulate, a lost circulation material, a foaming agent, a gas, a pH control additive, a breaker, a biocide, a crosslinker, a stabilizer, a chelating agent, a scale inhibitor, a gas hydrate inhibitor, a mutual solvent, an oxidizer, a reducer, a friction reducer, a clay stabilizing agent, a defoaming agent, and any combination thereof.

### Claim 20

The treatment fluid of 19, wherein the anhydrous ammonia is in the liquid phase or the supercritical phase, and wherein the gelling agent is a colloidal clay, thereby forming gelled anhydrous ammonia treatment fluid.

### Claim 21

(canceled)

### Claim 22

(canceled)