Fracturing fluids based on viscoelastic surfactants

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11746279-B2
Application number	US-202117454719-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 12, 2021
Priority date	Nov 12, 2021
Publication date	Sep 5, 2023
Grant date	Sep 5, 2023

Abstract

A fracturing fluid may include a first surfactant and a second surfactant. The first surfactant may have a structure represented by formula (I):wherein m is an integer ranging from 2 to 3, and n, o, and k are each, independently, integers ranging from 2 to 10. The second surfactant having a structure represented by Formula (II):wherein R2 is a C15-C27 hydrocarbon group or a C15-C29 substituted hydrocarbon group, R3 is a C1-C10 hydrocarbon group, and p and q are each, independently, an integer ranging from 1 to 4. Methods of treating a hydrocarbon-bearing formation include injecting the fracturing fluid in the hydrocarbon-bearing formation, the fracturing fluid being configured to transport a proppant in fractures of the hydrocarbon-bearing formation.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A method of treating a hydrocarbon-bearing formation comprising:
injecting a fracturing fluid in the hydrocarbon-bearing formation, the fracturing fluid comprising:
a first surfactant having a structure represented by Formula (I):

where m is an integer ranging from 2 to 3, and n, o, and k are each, independently, integers ranging from 2 to 10,
a second surfactant having a structure represented by Formula (II):

wherein R 2 is a C 15 -C 27 hydrocarbon group or a C 15 -C 29 substituted hydrocarbon group, R 3 is a C 1 -C 10 hydrocarbon group, and p and q are each, independently, an integer ranging from 1 to 4, and
an alkaline activator,
wherein the fracturing fluid is configured to transport a proppant into the hydrocarbon-bearing formation.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first surfactant has a structure represented by Formula (III):

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second surfactant has a structure represented by Formula (IV):

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the fracturing fluid comprises 1 to 15 wt. % of the second surfactant.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the fracturing fluid comprises 1 to 15 wt. % of the second surfactant.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the fracturing fluid comprises 5 to 30 wt. % of the alkaline activator.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the alkaline activator and the surfactants are in a weight ratio of 30:1 to 1:3.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the proppant is selected from the group consisting of gravel, sand, bauxite, and glass beads.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the fracturing fluid has a viscosity of at least about 300 cp at 90° C.

10. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising injecting a stimulation fluid.

11. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising recovering hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon-bearing formation.

Assignees

• Saudi Arabian Oil Co
• Univ King Fahd Pet & Minerals

Inventors

• Kalgaonkar Rajendra Arunkumar
• Alali Eyad
• Bataweel Mohammed Abudullah
• Ullah Nisar
• MANSHA Muhammad

Classifications

• C09K8/62 Primary

  Compositions for forming crevices or fractures · CPC title

• C09K8/80

  Compositions for reinforcing fractures, e.g. compositions of proppants used to keep the fractures open · CPC title

• C09K2208/30

  Viscoelastic surfactants [VES] · CPC title

• C09K8/602 Primary

  containing surfactants · CPC title

• C09K8/68

  containing organic compounds · CPC title