Synthetic caustic composition

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11319481-B2
Application number	US-202117141393-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 5, 2021
Priority date	Nov 15, 2017
Publication date	May 3, 2022
Grant date	May 3, 2022

Abstract

An aqueous caustic composition comprising: a caustic component; an additive adapted to provide an extended buffering effect to the caustic composition when such is exposed to acid; and water. Methods of using such compositions are also disclosed.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of fracking a hydrocarbon-bearing formation comprising:
providing a hydrocarbon-bearing formation;
providing a polymer;
providing a cross-linking activator and adding such to the polymer to form a polymer mixture;
adding to the polymer mixture an aqueous caustic composition comprising:
a caustic component;
an additive adapted to provide an extended buffering effect to the aqueous caustic composition when such is exposed to acid; and
water;

adding a proppant to the polymer-aqueous caustic composition mixture to form a polymer-proppant composition; and
injecting the polymer-proppant composition into the hydrocarbon-bearing formation.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the cross-linking activator is a borate ion or a zirconate ion.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the polymer is a guar gum.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the caustic component is selected from the group consisting of: potassium hydroxide; sodium hydroxide; and combinations thereof.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the additive is glycine.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a caustic component is present in a concentration of up to 40 wt% of the aqueous caustic composition.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the caustic component is present in a concentration ranging from 10 wt% to 30 wt% of the composition.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the additive is present in a concentration of between 2% wt% and 25 wt% of the aqueous caustic aqueous caustic composition.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the additive is present in a concentration ranging from 4 wt% to 15 wt% of the aqueous caustic composition.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the caustic component and the additive are present in a molar ratio ranging from 15:1 to 5:1.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the aqueous caustic composition has a freezing point ranging from −30° C. to −40° C.

12. A method of treating an aqueous solution, comprising:
providing an aqueous caustic composition comprising:
a caustic component present in a concentration of up to 40 wt% of the aqueous caustic composition;
glycine present in a concentration of between 2 wt% and 25 wt% of the aqueous caustic composition; and
water,
where the caustic component and glycine are present in a molar ratio ranging from 15:1 to 5:1 and wherein the aqueous caustic composition is minimally damaging to human skin upon contact therewith for a period of up to 30 minutes;

adding the aqueous caustic composition to the aqueous solution to increase a pH of the aqueous solution.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the caustic component is selected from the group consisting of: potassium hydroxide; sodium hydroxide; and combinations thereof.

14. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the caustic component is present in a concentration ranging from 10 wt% to 30 wt% of the aqueous caustic composition.

15. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the additive is present in a concentration ranging from 4 wt% to 15 wt% of the aqueous caustic composition.

16. A method of using an aqueous caustic composition to treat a water requiring treatment, comprising:
providing the aqueous caustic composition comprising:
a caustic component present in a concentration of up to 40 wt% of the aqueous caustic composition;
glycine present in a concentration of between 2 wt% and 25 wt% of the aqueous caustic composition; and
water,
wherein the caustic component and glycine are present in a molar ratio ranging from 15:1 to 5:1 and wherein the aqueous caustic composition is minimally damaging to human skin upon contact therewith for a period of up to 30 minutes;

exposing the water requiring treatment to a pre-determined amount of the aqueous caustic composition for a period of time sufficient to affect the treatment intended.

17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the caustic component is selected from the group consisting of: potassium hydroxide; sodium hydroxide; and combinations thereof.

18. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the caustic component is present in a concentration ranging from 10 wt% to 30 wt% of the aqueous caustic composition.

19. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the additive is present in a concentration ranging from 4 wt% to 15 wt% of the aqueous caustic composition.

Assignees

• Fluid Energy Group Ltd

Inventors

• Purdy Clay
• Weissenberger Markus

Classifications

• C09K8/665 Primary

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

• C10G2300/1033

  Oil well production fluids · CPC title

• C09K8/685

  containing cross-linking agents · CPC title

• C10G19/04

  containing solubilisers, e.g. solutisers · CPC title

• C10G2300/202

  Heteroatoms content, i.e. S, N, O, P · CPC title