Viscoelastic surfactant fluids and related methods of use
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsManilal S. Dahayanake, Jiang Yang, Joseph H. Y. Niu, Paul-Joel Derian, Ruoxin Li, David Dino
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Viscoelastic surfactant based aqueous fluid systems useful as thickening agents in various applications, e.g. to suspend particles produced during the excavation of geologic formations. The surfactants are zwitterionic/amphoteric surfactants such as dihydroxyl alkyl glycinate, alkyl ampho acetate or propionate, alkyl betaine, alkyl amidopropyl betaine and alkylimino mono- or di-propionates derived from certain waxes, fats and oils. The thickening agent is used in conjunction with an inorganic water-soluble salt or organic additive such as phthalic acid, salicylic acid or their salts.
Claims21
A viscoelastic fluid consisting essentially of:
- (a) an aqueous medium;
- (b) a surfactant selected from the group consisting of amphoteric surfactants, zwitterionic surfactants, and mixtures thereof;
- and
- (c) a member selected from the group consisting of organic acids, organic acid salts, inorganic salts, and combinations of one or more organic acids or organic acid salts with one or more inorganic salts;
- wherein said fluid exhibits the property of viscoelasticity,
- further comprising a particulate proppant suspended therein.
A viscoelastic fluids consisting essentially of:
- (a) an aqueous medium;
- (b) a surfactant selected from the group consisting of amphoteric surfactants, zwitterionic surfactants, and mixtures thereof;
- and
- (c) a member selected from the group consisting of organic acids, organic acid salts, inorganic salts, and combinations of one or more organic acids or organic acid salts with one or more inorganic salts, wherein said fluid exhibits the property of viscoelasticity,
- further comprising an additive selected from the group consisting of corrosion inhibitors and fluid-loss additives and mixtures thereof.
A hydrocarbon reservoir stimulation fluid consisting essentially of:
- an aqueous medium;
- a first component selected from the group consisting of a mixture of an amine oxide and an anionic surfactant having a carbon chain of at least about 14 carbon atoms;
- and
- a second component selected from the group consisting of organic acids, organic acid salts, inorganic salts, and combinations of one or more organic acids or organic acid salts with one or more inorganic salts;
- and
- wherein said fluid exhibits the property of viscoelasticity.
A hydrocarbon reservoir treatment fluid comprising:
- an anionic surfactant containing a carbon chain of at least about 14 carbon atoms;
- and
- an amine oxide surfactant, saidstirfactant having the general chemical formula:
- wherein
- R1 represents alkyl, alkenyl, alkylarylalkylene, alkenylarylalklene;
- alkylaminoalkylene, alkenylaminoalkylene, alkylamidoalkylene, or, alkenylamidoalkylene;
- wherein each of said alkyl groups contains from about 14 to about 24 carbon atoms and are branched or straight-chained, saturated or unsaturated, and wherein said alkylene groups have from about 1 to about 6 carbon atoms;
- and
- wherein R2 and R3 are independent, aliphatic chains having from about 1 to about 30 hydrocarbons.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.