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US 2020/0369949 A1Published application
3 in 1 foam formulation for enhanced oil recovery including conformance control, ultra-low interfacial tension, and wettability alteration
AssigneeSaudi Arabian Oil Company
InventorsAyrat GIZZATOV, Shehab ALZOBAIDI, Amr ABDEL-FATTAH
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Abstract
Embodiments of the disclosure provide compositions and methods suitable for injection of a nanosurfactant-based foam composition into a hydrocarbon-bearing formation for enhanced recovery operations. The nanosurfactant-based foam composition includes a gaseous component and nanoassemblies. The nanoassemblies contain a petroleum sulfonate surfactant, mineral oil, and a zwitterionic co-surfactant.
Claims21
A method of producing hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon-bearing formation, the method comprising the steps of:
- preparing a nanosurfactant composition, the nanosurfactant composition formed by the steps of:
- combining a sulfonate surfactant, an oil, and fresh water to form a first mixture;
- combining a zwitterionic co-surfactant and the fresh water to form a second mixture;
- combining the first mixture and the second mixture to form a third mixture;
- and
- combining the third mixture and saline water to form the nanosurfactant composition, the saline water comprising divalent cations, the nanosurfactant composition comprising a nanoassembly,
- wherein the nanoassembly has a hydrophobic interior and a hydrophilic exterior, the hydrophobic interior comprising the sulfonate surfactant, a hydrophobic portion of the zwitterionic co-surfactant, and the oil, the hydrophilic exterior comprising a hydrophilic portion of the zwitterionic co-surfactant,
- wherein the hydrophilic portion of the zwitterionic co-surfactant stabilizes the nanoassembly by interacting with the divalent cations present in the saline water,
- wherein the oil facilitates containment of the sulfonate surfactant in the hydrophobic interior of the nanoassembly;
- and
- introducing the nanosurfactant composition and a gaseous component into the hydrocarbon-bearing formation such that a nanosurfactant-based foam is generated to displace the hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon-bearing formation, wherein the nanosurfactant-based foam reduces interfacial tension between the hydrocarbons and the saline water.
8 more elements
A nanosurfactant-based foam composition suitable for injection into a hydrocarbon-bearing formation for enhanced oil recovery operations, the nanosurfactant-based foam composition comprising:
- a gaseous component;
- and
- a nanosurfactant composition, the nanosurfactant composition comprising:
- a nanoassembly, the nanoassembly comprising:
- a hydrophobic interior, the hydrophobic interior comprising:
- petroleum sulfonate;
- a hydrophobic portion of a zwitterionic co-surfactant;
- and
- mineral oil;
- and
- a hydrophilic exterior, the hydrophilic exterior comprising a hydrophilic portion of the zwitterionic co-surfactant;
- and
- an aqueous environment, the aqueous environment comprising divalent cations,
- wherein the hydrophilic portion of the zwitterionic co-surfactant is configured to stabilize the nanoassembly by interacting with the divalent cations present in the aqueous environment,
- wherein the mineral oil is configured to facilitate containment of the petroleum sulfonate in the hydrophobic interior of the nanoassembly.
12 more elements
A method of enhanced oil recovery, the method comprising the steps of:
- preparing a nanosurfactant composition, the nanosurfactant composition formed by the steps of:
- combining petroleum sulfonate, mineral oil, and fresh water to form a first mixture;
- combining cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine and the fresh water to form a second mixture;
- combining the first mixture and the second mixture to form a third mixture;
- and
- combining the third mixture and saline water to form the nanosurfactant composition, the saline water comprising divalent cations, the nanosurfactant composition comprising a nanoassembly,
- wherein the nanoassembly has a hydrophobic interior and a hydrophilic exterior, the hydrophobic interior comprising the petroleum sulfonate, a hydrophobic portion of the cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine, and the mineral oil, the hydrophilic exterior comprising a hydrophilic portion of the cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine,
- wherein the hydrophilic portion of the cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine stabilizes the nanoassembly by interacting with the divalent cations present in the saline water,
- wherein the mineral oil facilitates containment of the petroleum sulfonate in the hydrophobic interior of the nanoassembly;
- and
- introducing the nanosurfactant composition and nitrogen gas into a hydrocarbon-bearing formation such that a nanosurfactant-based foam is generated to displace hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon-bearing formation, wherein the nanosurfactant-based foam reduces interfacial tension between the hydrocarbons and the saline water.
8 more elements
A method of enhanced oil recovery, the method comprising the steps of:
- preparing a nanosurfactant composition, the nanosurfactant composition formed by the steps of:
- combining petroleum sulfonate, mineral oil, and fresh water to form a first mixture;
- combining lauryl betaine and the fresh water to form a second mixture;
- combining the first mixture and the second mixture to form a third mixture;
- and
- combining the third mixture and saline water to form the nanosurfactant composition, the saline water comprising divalent cations, the nanosurfactant composition comprising a nanoassembly,
- wherein the nanoassembly has a hydrophobic interior and a hydrophilic exterior, the hydrophobic interior comprising the petroleum sulfonate, a hydrophobic portion of the lauryl betaine, and the mineral oil, the hydrophilic exterior comprising a hydrophilic portion of the lauryl betaine,
- wherein the hydrophilic portion of the lauryl betaine stabilizes the nanoassembly by interacting with the divalent cations present in the saline water,
- wherein the mineral oil facilitates containment of the petroleum sulfonate in the hydrophobic interior of the nanoassembly;
- and
- introducing the nanosurfactant composition and nitrogen gas into a hydrocarbon-bearing formation such that a nanosurfactant-based foam is generated to displace hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon-bearing formation, wherein the nanosurfactant-based foam reduces interfacial tension between the hydrocarbons and the saline water.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.