Wettability altering fluids during downhole operations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9863211-B2
Application number	US-201314891887-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 24, 2013
Priority date	Sep 24, 2013
Publication date	Jan 9, 2018
Grant date	Jan 9, 2018

Abstract

A method relating to perforation operations, which comprises introducing a wettability altering fluid into a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation such that the wettability altering fluid seeps into the subterranean formation. Subsequent to introducing the wettability altering fluid, a fluid loss pill is introduced into the wellbore such that seepage of fluid between the wellbore and the subterranean formation is inhibited.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
(a) introducing a water based perforating fluid into the wellbore such that perforations are created in the subterranean formation;
(b) subsequent to step (a), introducing a wettability altering fluid into a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation such that the wettability altering fluid seeps into the subterranean formation through the perforations; and
(c) subsequent to step (b), introducing a fluid loss pill into the wellbore such that seepage of fluid between the wellbore and the subterranean formation is inhibited; and

wherein prior to step (c), no substantial amount of fluid loss agent has been introduced into the wellbore at the subterranean formation location.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein, prior to step (b), the subterranean formation surrounding the wellbore comprises substantially oil-wet rocks and, subsequent to step (b), the subterranean formation comprises substantially water-wet rocks and mixed-wet rocks.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein, prior to step (b), the subterranean formation surrounding the wellbore comprises substantially water-wet rocks and, subsequent to step (b), the subterranean formation comprises substantially oil-wet rocks and mixed-wet rocks.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the wettability altering fluid is of a composition and amount to move the wettability of the subterranean formation toward mixed-wet rocks.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the wettability altering fluid comprises a surfactant.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of alkyl amidopropyl amine betaines, alkyl betaines, alkyl amine oxides and combinations thereof, wherein the alkyl of the surfactant in the group is selected from the group consisting of decyl, cocoyl, lauryl, cetyl and oleyl.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the wettability altering fluid comprises an alcohol co-surfactant.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein
prior to step (b), the subterranean formation surrounding the wellbore comprises substantially oil-wet rocks and, subsequent to step (b), the subterranean formation comprises substantially water-wet rocks and mixed-wet rocks; and
the wettability altering fluid comprises:
a surfactant selected from the group consisting of alkyl amidopropyl amine betaines, alkyl betaines, alkyl amine oxides and combinations thereof, wherein the alkyl of the surfactant in the group is selected from the group consisting of decyl, cocoyl, lauryl, cetyl and oleyl; and
an alcohol co-surfactant.

9. A method for perforating a subterranean formation having a wellbore passing into it, the method comprising:
(a) introducing a water based perforating fluid into the wellbore;
(b) creating perforations in the subterranean formation;
(c) subsequent to step (b), introducing a wettability altering fluid into the wellbore such that the wettability altering fluid seeps into the perforations; and
(d) subsequent to step (c), introducing a fluid loss pill into the wellbore such that seepage of fluid between the wellbore and the subterranean formation is inhibited, wherein, prior to step (d), no substantial amount of fluid loss agent has been introduced into the wellbore at the subterranean formation location.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the wellbore is to be used for hydrocarbon production and the wettability altering fluid is of a composition and amount to enhance the wettability of the subterranean formation for production of hydrocarbons so that prior to step (c), the subterranean formation surrounding the wellbore comprises substantially oil-wet rocks and, subsequent to step (c), the subterranean formation comprises substantially water-wet rocks and mixed-wet rocks.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the wellbore is to be used as an injection well and the wettability altering fluid is of a composition and amount to enhance the wettability of a subterranean formation for the injection of water or steam into an injection well so that prior to step (c), the subterranean formation surrounding the wellbore comprises substantially water-wet rocks and, subsequent to step (c), the subterranean formation comprises substantially oil-wet rocks and mixed-wet rocks.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the wettability altering fluid is of a composition and amount to move the wettability of the subterranean formation toward water-wet rocks.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the wettability altering fluid comprises a surfactant.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of alkyl amidopropyl amine betaines, alkyl betaines, alkyl amine oxides and combinations thereof, wherein the alkyl of the surfactant in the group is selected from the group consisting of decyl, cocoyl, lauryl, cetyl and oleyl.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the wettability altering fluid comprises an alcohol co-surfactant.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein the perforating fluid, wettability altering fluid and fluid loss pill are introduced into the wellbore sequentially such that one immediately follows another.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein:
prior to step (c), the subterranean formation surrounding the wellbore comprises substantially oil-wet rocks and subsequent to step (c) the subterranean formation comprises substantially water-wet rocks and mixed-wet rocks; and
the wettability altering fluid comprises:
a surfactant selected from the group consisting of alkyl amidopropyl amine betaines, alkyl betaines, alkyl amine oxides and combinations thereof, wherein the alkyl of the surfactant in the group is selected from the group consisting of decyl, cocoyl, lauryl, cetyl and oleyl; and
an alcohol co-surfactant.

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Gamage Pubudu H
• Shumway William Walter
• Deville Jay Paul

Classifications

• E21B43/114

  Perforators using direct fluid action {on the wall to be perforated}, e.g. abrasive jets · CPC title

• C09K8/62

  Compositions for forming crevices or fractures · CPC title

• E21B43/26

  by forming crevices or fractures · CPC title

• E21B33/138 Primary

  Plastering the borehole wall; Injecting into the formation · CPC title

• C09K8/602 Primary

  containing surfactants · CPC title