Methods and systems for sequestering carbon dioxide in a subterranean formation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9688900-B2
Application number	US-201314366384-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 20, 2013
Priority date	Aug 20, 2013
Publication date	Jun 27, 2017
Grant date	Jun 27, 2017

Abstract

Carbon dioxide generation in a subterranean formation can be problematic for a number of reasons. Accordingly, it can be desirable to sequester at least a portion of the carbon dioxide that may be present in a subterranean formation, thereby decreasing a quantity of free carbon dioxide. Methods for sequestering carbon dioxide can comprise: providing a CO 2 -sequestering polymer, the CO 2 -sequestering polymer sequestering carbon dioxide more readily than it does nitrogen; introducing the CO 2 -sequestering polymer into a subterranean formation that contains carbon dioxide; and interacting the CO 2 -sequestering polymer with the carbon dioxide in the subterranean formation, so as to decrease a quantity of free carbon dioxide that is present in the subterranean formation.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
providing a CO 2 -sequestering polymer, the CO 2 -sequestering polymer sequestering carbon dioxide more selectively than it does nitrogen;
introducing the CO 2 -sequestering polymer into a subterranean formation that contains carbon dioxide; and
interacting the CO 2 -sequestering polymer with the carbon dioxide in the subterranean formation, so as to decrease a quantity of free carbon dioxide that is present in the subterranean formation by sequestering the free carbon dioxide with the CO 2 -sequestering polymer,
producing the CO 2 -sequestering polymer from the subterranean formation, after interacting the CO 2 -sequestering polymer with the carbon dioxide, and
releasing at least a portion of the carbon dioxide from the CO 2 -sequestering polymer, after producing the CO 2 -sequestering polymer from the subterranean formation.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the CO 2 -sequestering polymer has a carbon dioxide to nitrogen sequestration selectivity ratio of at least about 20:1 within a temperature range of about −10° C. to about 50° C.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subterranean formation contains a carbonate material, the carbon dioxide being formed by introducing an acid to the subterranean formation and reacting the acid with the carbonate material.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the subterranean formation also contains a siliceous material.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the carbonate material comprises a carbonate scale.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the CO 2 -sequestering polymer comprises an azo-linked aromatic polymer.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the CO 2 -sequestering polymer has a structure of

wherein A is a linker moiety selected from the group consisting of —N═N—, —C(═O)NH—, —C(═O)O—, —CH═CH—, —C≡C—, —OCH 2 —, —NHCH 2 —, —N═CH—, and 1,2-phenylene;
wherein R is an aromatic group; and
wherein n is a whole number greater than or equal to 1.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein A is —N═N— and R is selected from the group consisting of

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the CO 2 -sequestering polymer is introduced into the subterranean formation in a foamed fluid.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the foamed fluid is foamed with nitrogen.

11. A method comprising:
providing a CO 2 -sequestering polymer that comprises an azo-linked aromatic polymer;
introducing a fluid phase comprising the CO 2 -sequestering polymer into a subterranean formation that contains a carbonate material;
introducing an acid into the subterranean formation;
reacting the acid with the carbonate material to form carbon dioxide in the subterranean formation; and
interacting the CO 2 -sequestering polymer with the carbon dioxide in the subterranean formation, so as to decrease a quantity of free carbon dioxide that is present in the subterranean formation by sequestering the free carbon dioxide with the CO 2 -sequestering polymer,
producing the CO 2 -sequestering polymer from the subterranean formation, after interacting the CO 2 -sequestering polymer with the carbon dioxide, and
releasing at least a portion of the carbon dioxide from the CO 2 -sequestering polymer, after producing the CO 2 -sequestering polymer from the subterranean formation.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the CO 2 -sequestering polymer has a structure of

wherein A is —N═N—;
wherein R is an aromatic group; and
wherein n is a whole number greater than or equal to 1.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein R is selected from the group consisting of:

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the acid and the CO 2 -sequestering polymer are introduced into the subterranean formation at the same time.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the acid is present in the fluid phase.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the CO 2 -sequestering polymer is introduced into the subterranean formation before the acid.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the CO 2 -sequestering polymer has a carbon dioxide to nitrogen sequestration selectivity ratio of at least about 20:1 within a temperature range of about −10° C. to about 50° C.

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Beuterbaugh Aaron Michael
• Reyes Enrique Antonio
• Smith Alyssa Lynn

Classifications

• C09K8/94

  Foams · CPC title

• C09K8/703

  Foams · CPC title

• C09K8/74

  combined with additives added for specific purposes · CPC title

• C09K8/518

  Foams · CPC title

• E21B43/16

  Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons · CPC title