Systems and methods to monitor the characteristics of stimulated subterranean hydrocarbon resources utilizing electrochemical reactions with metals

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018128090-A1
Application number	US-201615553068-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 23, 2016
Priority date	Feb 23, 2015
Publication date	May 10, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

Methods and systems for characterizing a wellbore extending into a geologic structure comprising a reservoir of subterranean hydrocarbons comprising: providing a first fluid composition comprising a base metal into the first wellbore; wherein corrosion of the base metal in the first wellbore results in electrochemical oxidation of the base metal and electrochemical reduction of a reducible species that generates a gaseous product; providing at least one sensor in proximity to the first wellbore; and receiving a signal detected by the sensor at a monitoring unit, wherein the sensor senses a signal resulting from corrosion of the base metal; wherein the signal is used to determine information relating to the characteristics of the first wellbore and extraction of hydrocarbons therefrom.

First claim

1 . A method for characterizing a first wellbore extending into a geologic structure comprising a reservoir of subterranean hydrocarbons, the method comprising:
providing a first fluid composition comprising a base metal into the first wellbore; wherein corrosion of the base metal in the first wellbore results in electrochemical oxidation of the base metal and electrochemical reduction of a reducible species that generates a gaseous product; providing at least one sensor in proximity to the first wellbore; and receiving a signal detected by the sensor at a monitoring unit, wherein the sensor senses a signal resulting from corrosion of the base metal; wherein the signal is used to determine information relating to characteristics of at least one item selected from the group consisting of: the first wellbore, extraction of hydrocarbons from the first wellbore, and the electrochemical reduction.

2 . A method for characterizing a first wellbore extending into a geologic structure comprising a reservoir of subterranean hydrocarbons, the method comprising:
receiving a signal from each of one or more sensors, each signal indicative of a parameter related to electrochemical oxidation of a base metal and electrochemical reduction of a reducible species that generates a gaseous product in the wellbore, at least some of the reducible species introduced into the wellbore in a first fluid composition; and deriving, from at least the signal, information about characteristics of at least one item selected from the group consisting of: the first wellbore, extraction of hydrocarbons from the first wellbore, and the electrochemical reduction; where each sensor is disposed in a position selected from the group consisting of: a first wellbore, in a second wellbore close enough to the first wellbore that the sensor can detect its respective parameter, or at the ground surface of the geologic structure.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the reducible species is water and the gaseous product is hydrogen gas.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the derived information is selected from the group consisting of: a reservoir dimension/geometry, a fracture dimension/geometry, a wellbore dimension/geometry, an azimuth, ground deformation data, seismic activity data, concentration of connate water, concentration of base metal particles, a corrosion rate, reservoir drainage volume, stimulated fracture planes generated by a hydraulic fracturing process, stimulated reservoir volume (SRV) generated by a hydraulic fracturing process, a characteristic transport rates, a characteristic relaxation time period, a derivative thereof, and/or a combination thereof.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein each sensor senses energy resulting from the corroding metal, the energy being in the form of acoustic energy, electromagnetic energy, seismic energy, a derivative or a combination thereof.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein each sensor provides information relating to changes in subsurface electrical properties, mechanical properties, or a combination thereof.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprise an accelerometer, a microphone, a geophone for converting ground movement into a voltage signal, a chemistry sensor, a pressure sensor, or a combination thereof.

8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor is provided at the ground surface of the geologic structure, in a second wellbore proximal to the first wellbore, in the first wellbore or a combination thereof.

9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the sensing occurs simultaneously with a hydraulic fracturing process in the first wellbore.

10 . The method according to any of claims 1 , wherein the sensing occurs subsequent to a hydraulic fracturing process in the first wellbore.

11 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising adjusting the electrochemical reduction.

12 . The method according to claim 11 , where adjusting the chemical reduction comprises changing at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of: pH of fluid in the first wellbore, concentration of the base metal in the fluid in the first wellbore, concentration of the reducible species in fluid in the first wellbore.

13 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of injecting a second fluid composition differing from the first fluid composition.

14 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the second fluid composition is selected to adjust the electrochemical reduction.

15 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the second fluid composition initiates a second electrochemical reduction.

16 . The method according to claim 2 , further comprising the step of injecting a fluid composition comprising a metal differing from that of the first fluid composition, thereby providing a galvanic corrosion couple upon contact of the differing metals.

17 . The method according to claim 2 , further comprising the steps of sequentially injecting alternate stages of fluid compositions into the first wellbore, the stages being selected from the group comprising:
injecting a fluid composition comprising base metal particles into the wellbore for a first predetermined time period; injecting a second fluid composition comprising an activating additive into the wellbore for a second predetermined time period; wherein the activating additive activates the corrosion process; and injecting a third fluid composition comprising a deactivating additive for a third predetermined time period, wherein the deactivating additive deactivates the corrosion process; wherein an alternating signal resulting from the alternating stages provides a characteristic frequency detected by a sensor; and wherein the signal is used to determine information relating to the characteristics of the first wellbore and extraction of hydrocarbons therefrom

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising adjusting the second fluid composition based on the derived information.

19 . The method of claim 18 , where adjusting the second fluid composition comprises adjusting a concentration of the activating agent or adjusting the length of the second predetermined time period.

20 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein the second fluid composition and the third fluid composition are injected in an alternating sequence to produce an electrochemical reaction alternating in a frequency related to the second predetermined time period and the third predetermined time period.

21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the sequence is terminated based on the derived information.

22 . The method according to claim 17 , further comprising an idle stage wherein the corrosion process proceeds in the absence of reservoir stimulation until reaching a predetermined time period, a predetermined pressure, a predetermined signal characteristic, a user command or a combination thereof.

Assignees

• Univ Arizona State

Inventors

• Friesen Cody
• Switzer Elise
• Lorzel Heath

Classifications

• E21B47/00

  Survey of boreholes or wells (monitoring pressure or flow of drilling fluid E21B21/08) · CPC title

• E21B43/26 Primary

  by forming crevices or fractures · CPC title

• E21B47/006 Primary

  Detection of corrosion or deposition of substances · CPC title