Methods of extracting hydrocarbons from subterranean formations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016348488-A1
Application number	US-201514721846-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 26, 2015
Priority date	May 26, 2015
Publication date	Dec 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method of extracting hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation comprises introducing a solution comprising a silicon-containing compound into the subterranean formation. The silicon-containing compound may comprise a terminal group comprising one of an alkanoate group, a fluoroalkanoate group, and a perfluoroalkanoate group, and one or more of an alkoxy group and a chlorine atom bonded to the silicon atom. The method comprises attaching the silicon-containing compound to one or more of formation surfaces of the subterranean formation to form an oleophilic surface on the one or more of the formation surfaces and the surfaces of proppant particles.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of extracting a hydrocarbon material from a subterranean formation, the method comprising:
introducing a solution comprising a silicon-containing compound into a subterranean formation, the silicon-containing compound comprising:
a terminal group comprising one of an alkanoate group, a fluoroalkanoate group, and a perfluoroalkanoate group; and
one or more of an alkoxy group and a chlorine atom bonded to a silicon atom; and
attaching the silicon-containing compound to one or more of formation surfaces of the subterranean formation and surfaces of proppant particles within fractures of the subterranean formation to form an oleophilic surface on the one or more of the formation surfaces and the surfaces of proppant particles.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein introducing a solution comprising a silicon-containing compound into a subterranean formation comprises introducing a solution comprising a silicon-containing compound having the following structure:

into the subterranean formation, wherein R′ comprises a chlorine atom.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein introducing a solution comprising a silicon-containing compound into a subterranean formation comprises introducing a solution comprising a silicon-containing compound including at least one fluorine atom into the subterranean formation.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein introducing a solution comprising a silicon-containing compound into a subterranean formation comprises introducing a solution comprising a silicon-containing compound having the following structure:

into the subterranean formation, wherein at least one of the R′ groups comprises an alkoxy group, R″ comprises an alkyl group, and R′″ comprises one of an alkyl group, a fluorinated alkyl group, and a perfluorinated alkyl group.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein attaching the silicon-containing compound to one or more of formation surfaces of the subterranean formation and surfaces of proppant particles comprises reacting the one or more of an alkoxy group and the chlorine atom with an exposed hydroxyl group of one or more of the formation surfaces and the surfaces of the proppant particles.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising forming a hydrophilic surface on one or more of the formation surfaces and the surfaces of the proppant particles after the silicon-containing compound is attached to one or more of the formation surfaces and the surfaces of the proppant particles.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein forming a hydrophilic surface comprises hydrolyzing the alkanoate group.

8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising performing one or more of water flooding, polymer flooding, alkaline surfactant polymer flooding, carbon dioxide foam flooding, steam assisted gravity drainage, steam flooding, and cyclic steam stimulation after hydrolyzing the alkanoate group.

9 . A method of extracting hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation, the method comprising:
introducing into a subterranean formation a solution comprising a silicon-containing compound having the following structure:

wherein each R′ group comprises one of an alkoxy group, a hydroxyl group, an alkyl group, and a hydrogen atom, R″ comprises one of an alkyl group and a functionalized alkyl group, and R′″ comprises one of an alkyl group, a fluorinated alkyl group, and a perfluoroalkyl group; and
extracting hydrocarbons from the subterranean formation.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein introducing into a subterranean formation a solution comprises introducing a solution comprising a silicon-containing compound wherein the R′″ group comprises an alkyl group.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein introducing into a subterranean formation a solution comprises introducing a solution comprising a silicon-containing compound wherein the R′″ group comprises a fluorinated alkyl group.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein introducing into a subterranean formation a solution comprises introducing a solution comprising a silicon-containing compound wherein the R′″ group comprises a perfluoroalkyl group.

13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein introducing into a subterranean formation a solution comprises introducing a solution comprising a silicon-containing compound wherein at least one of the R′ groups comprises an alkyl group.

14 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising introducing into the subterranean formation proppant particles suspended within the solution and having the following compound structure on surfaces thereof:

wherein the silicon atom of the compound structure is bonded to the proppant particle.

15 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising reacting the silicon-containing compound with exposed hydroxyl groups on formation surfaces of the subterranean formation to form an oleophilic surface comprising exposed R′″ groups on the formation surfaces.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising hydrolyzing the exposed R″ groups and forming a compound having the following structure:

attached to the formation surfaces.

17 . A method of extracting a hydrocarbon from a subterranean formation, the method comprising:
forming an oleophilic surface on one or more of formation surfaces of a subterranean formation and surfaces of proppant particles within the subterranean formation; removing hydrocarbons from the subterranean formation while the oleophilic surface is on one or more of the formation surfaces and the surfaces of the proppant particles; hydrolyzing the oleophilic surface and forming a hydrophilic surface on one or more of the formation surfaces and the surfaces of the proppant particles; and removing additional hydrocarbons from the subterranean formation while the hydrophilic surface is on one or more of the formation surfaces and the surfaces of the proppant particles.

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising removing at least one of a drilling fluid, a completion fluid, a workover fluids, and a hydraulic fracturing fluid from the subterranean formation while the oleophilic surface is on one or more of the formation surfaces and the surfaces of the proppant particles.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein hydrolyzing the oleophilic surface comprises forming an exposed carboxyl group on one or more of the formation surfaces and the surfaces of the proppant particles.

20 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising contacting the hydrophilic surface on one or more of the formation surfaces and the surfaces of the proppant particles with one or more of water, brine, and steam to remove hydrocarbons from the subterranean formation.

Assignees

• Baker Hughes Inc

Inventors

• Mazyar Oleg A
• Khabashesku Valery N
• Kuznetsov Oleksandr V
• Johnson Michael H

Classifications

• C09K8/68

  containing organic compounds · CPC title

• C09K8/805 Primary

  Coated proppants · CPC title

• C09K8/80

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

• C09K8/58

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

• C09K8/524

  organic depositions, e.g. paraffins or asphaltenes · CPC title