Method for Generating CO2 In Situ for Oilfield Applications Using Propylene Carbonate
AssigneeBaker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC
InventorsFrances Debenedictis, Naima Bestaoui-Spurr
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Abstract
A method for generating CO2 gas in situ involves introducing propylene carbonate into a target zone, where the propylene carbonate decomposes to produce the CO2 gas. The CO2 gas is subsequently used for a treatment objective or chemical reaction, such as an enhanced oil recovery operation, a condensate blocking treatment, or a gas lift operation. The method may also involve introducing a catalyst to decompose the propylene carbonate that would otherwise be stable within the target zone and/or introducing a diverting system that fully or partially obstructs a zone of higher permeability than the target zone.
Claims20
A method of generating CO2 gas in situ, the method comprising the steps of
- introducing propylene carbonate into a target zone, wherein the propylene carbonate decomposes at the target zone to produce the CO2 gas;
- and
- conducting a treatment objective selected from the group consisting of an enhanced oil recovery operation, a condensate blocking treatment, and a gas lift operation at the target zone with the CO2 gas.
A method of generating CO2 gas in situ, the method comprising the steps of:
- introducing propylene carbonate and a catalyst into a target zone, wherein the propylene carbonate would be stable within the target zone absent the catalyst and wherein the catalyst decomposes the propylene carbonate to produce the CO2 gas;
- and
- conducting a treatment objective selected from the group consisting of an enhanced oil recovery operation, a condensate blocking treatment, and a gas lift operation at the target zone with the CO2 gas.
A method of generating CO2 gas in situ, the method comprising the steps of:
- introducing a diverting system to fully or partially obstruct a zone of higher permeability than a target zone;
- introducing propylene carbonate into the target zone;
- maintaining the propylene carbonate within the target zone for a pre-determined decomposition period during which the propylene carbonate decomposes to produce the CO2 gas;
- and
- conducting a treatment objective selected from the group consisting of an enhanced oil recovery operation, a condensate blocking treatment, and a gas lift operation at the target zone with the CO2 gas.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.