Treatment of kerogen in subterranean formations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10351758-B2
Application number	US-201615254173-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 1, 2016
Priority date	Sep 3, 2015
Publication date	Jul 16, 2019
Grant date	Jul 16, 2019

Abstract

Provided in this disclosure, in part, are methods, compositions, and systems for degrading organic matter, such as kerogen, in a subterranean formation. Further, these methods, compositions, and systems allow for increased hydraulic fracturing efficiencies in subterranean formations, such as unconventional rock reservoirs. Also provided in this disclosure is a method of treating kerogen in a subterranean formation including placing in the subterranean formation a composition that includes a first oxidizer including a persulfate and a second oxidizer including a bromate.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
specifying a concentration of an oxidizer in a composition based at least in part on an amount of kerogen to be treated in a subterranean formation and on an amount of an iron sulfide in the subterranean formation; and
treating the kerogen in the subterranean formation comprising placing in the subterranean formation the composition comprising the oxidizer having the specified concentration.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein specifying the concentration further comprises specifying the concentration of the oxidizer in the composition based at least in part on an amount of fluid downhole in a wellbore in the subterranean formation, and wherein the oxidizer is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, an inorganic peroxide, a bromate, a persulfate, a permanganate, a chlorate, an iodate, a perchlorate, a periodate, a perborate, and combinations thereof.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein specifying the concentration further comprises specifying the concentration of the oxidizer in the composition based at least in part on a type of the kerogen, and wherein the oxidizer has a concentration of about 0.00005 M to about 4.00 M.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein treating the kerogen comprises dissolving the kerogen, and wherein the composition further comprises an aqueous liquid.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a salt.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the salt is an ammonium salt.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the ammonium salt is selected from the group consisting of ammonium chloride, ammonium bromide, ammonium iodide, and combinations thereof.

Assignees

• Saudi Arabian Oil Co

Inventors

• Hull Katherine Leigh
• Al-Muntasheri Ghaithan A
• Abousleiman Younane N
• Jacobi David

Classifications

• C09K8/805

  Coated proppants · CPC title

• C09K8/665

  containing inorganic compounds (proppants C09K8/80) · CPC title

• C09K8/032 Primary

  Inorganic additives · CPC title

• C09K2208/26

  Gel breakers other than bacteria or enzymes · CPC title

• C09K8/58 Primary

  Compositions for enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons, i.e. for improving the mobility of the oil, e.g. displacing fluids · CPC title