# US 2019/0169969 A1 · Hydrogen production by downhole electrolysis of reservoir brine for enhanced oil recovery > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0169969 A1 - Document ID: US20190169969A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/829,515 - Filed: 2017-12-01 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-01 - Assignees: Saudi Arabian Oil Company - Applicants: Saudi Arabian Oil Company - Inventors: Abdulrahman Abdulaziz Al-Mulhem; Mohammed A. Al-Daous; Hussam A. Bahlouli - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190169969A1 ## CPC - E21B 43/20: Displacing by water - C25B 1/04: by electrolysis of water - C25B 11/00: Electrodes; Manufacture thereof not otherwise provided for - E21B 43/16: Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons - E21B 43/2401: {by means of electricity} - E21B 43/305: {comprising at least one inclined or horizontal well} - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - C25B: ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR (anodic or cathodic protection C23F13/00; single-crystal growth C30B) ## Abstract Systems and methods of enhancing oil recovery with an electrochemical apparatus include introducing the electrochemical apparatus into an injection well bore. The electrochemical apparatus includes an anode, a cathode and an interior wall, the interior wall defining an interior that contains both the anode and the cathode. The electrochemical apparatus is operated such that injection water of the injection well bore is introduced into the interior of the electrochemical apparatus. Electrical power is introduced to the electrochemical apparatus such that a portion of the injection water is converted into a product gas, the product gas including hydrogen gas and oxygen gas. The electrochemical apparatus is operated such that the product gas forms product gas bubbles and the product gas bubbles travel into a formation, where the product gas bubbles react with a reservoir hydrocarbon of the formation to form a production fluid that is produced through a production well bore. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of enhancing oil recovery with an electrochemical apparatus, the method including: introducing the electrochemical apparatus into an injection well bore, where the electrochemical apparatus includes an anode, a cathode and an interior wall, where the interior wall defines an interior that contains both the anode and the cathode; operating the electrochemical apparatus such that injection water of the injection well bore is introduced into the interior of the electrochemical apparatus; introducing electrical power to the electrochemical apparatus such that a portion of the injection water is converted into a product gas, where the product gas includes hydrogen gas and oxygen gas; and operating the electrochemical apparatus such that the product gas forms product gas bubbles and the product gas bubbles travel into a formation, where the product gas bubbles react with a reservoir hydrocarbon of the formation to form a production fluid that is produced through a production well bore. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, where the production well bore is spaced apart from and closer to an earth's surface than the injection well bore. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, where a viscosity of the production fluid is less than the viscosity of the reservoir hydrocarbon. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, where a boiling point of the production fluid is less than the boiling point of the reservoir hydrocarbon. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further including altering a wettability of the formation with the product gas bubbles. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further including providing energy to the reservoir hydrocarbon with a pressure of the product gas bubbles. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further including providing the electrical power from a solar photovoltaic panel. ### Claim 8 A method of enhancing oil recovery with an electrochemical apparatus, the method including: introducing the electrochemical apparatus into an injection well bore such that the electrochemical apparatus is located in a water bearing formation, where a fluid within the water bearing formation includes injection water, and where the electrochemical apparatus includes an anode, a cathode and an interior wall, where the interior wall defines an interior that contains both the anode and the cathode; operating the electrochemical apparatus such that the injection water is introduced into the interior of the electrochemical apparatus; introducing electrical power from a solar photovoltaic panel to the electrochemical apparatus such that a portion of the injection water is converted into a product gas, where the product gas includes hydrogen gas and oxygen gas; and operating the electrochemical apparatus such that the product gas forms product gas bubbles and the product gas bubbles travel into a formation, where the product gas bubbles react with a reservoir hydrocarbon of the formation to form a production fluid that is produced through a production well bore, where the production well bore is spaced apart from and closer to an earth's surface than the injection well bore. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, where a viscosity of the production fluid is less than the viscosity of the reservoir hydrocarbon. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, where a boiling point of the production fluid is less than the boiling point of the reservoir hydrocarbon. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further including altering a wettability of the formation with the product gas bubbles. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further including providing energy to the reservoir hydrocarbon with a pressure of the product gas bubbles. ### Claim 13 A system for enhancing oil recovery with an electrochemical apparatus, the system having: the electrochemical apparatus located in an injection well bore such that the electrochemical apparatus is located in a water bearing formation of the injection well bore, where a fluid within the water bearing formation includes injection water, and where the electrochemical apparatus includes an anode, a cathode and an interior wall, where the interior wall defines an interior that contains both the anode and the cathode; a fluid flow path from the injection well bore into the interior of the electrochemical apparatus; an electrical power source operable to provide electrical power to the electrochemical apparatus such that a portion of the injection water is converted into a product gas that forms product gas bubbles, where the product gas includes hydrogen gas and oxygen gas; and a production well bore having a production fluid formed from the product gas bubbles reacted with a reservoir hydrocarbon of a formation that is located in a path of the product gas bubbles. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, where the production well bore is spaced apart from and closer to an earth's surface than the injection well bore. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, where a viscosity of the production fluid is less than the viscosity of the reservoir hydrocarbon. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, where a boiling point of the production fluid is less than the boiling point of the reservoir hydrocarbon. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, where the electrical power source is a solar photovoltaic panel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, where the interior wall includes an electrically resistant coating. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, where the electrochemical apparatus further includes an ion exchange membrane in the interior that separates the fluid between the anode and the cathode. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, where the ion exchange membrane is a cation exchange membrane.