Signa Chemistry, Inc.

Saskatchewan Research Council

Kelvin Dean Knorr

Michael Lefenfeld

Paul H Krumrine

Gregory Arthur Romney

Muhammad Imran

Michael John Crabtree

Petro Nakutnyy

Peng Luo

Ralph George Jonasson

Methods of stimulating enhanced oil recovery from a post-cold heavy oil production with sand ('CHOPS') oil-bearing formation are disclosed. The invention relates to a method of stimulating oil recovery from a post-cold heavy oil production with sand (CHOPS) oil-bearing formation. The method optionally flushes a wellbore in a post-CHOPS oil-bearing formation having at least one worm hole to expel water from the wellbore and near wellbore region; then injects a alkali metal silicide into the post-oil-bearing formation via a wellbore to introduce the alkali metal silicide into at least one worm hole within the post-oil-bearing formation. The injection step is followed by reacting the injected alkali metal silicide to stimulate oil flow within the post-CHOPS oil-bearing formation; and recovering oil from the post-CHOPS oil-bearing formation. The alkali metal silicide dispersion can also be injected into the formation in a cyclic mode of alternating injection, soak, and production periods.

Use of alkali metal silicides in post-chops oilfield recovery operations

A process for altering a wettability characteristic of a carbonate formation to stimulate oil production includes selecting an oil bearing carbonate formation, injecting a silicide dispersion into the carbonate formation, and reacting the injected silicide dispersion with water. The reaction alters the wettability characteristic of the carbonate formation toward water wettability. The silicide dispersion can include an alkali metal silicide, such as sodium silicide. The reaction generates hydrogen, silicate, and heat that pressurizes the carbonate formation with the generated hydrogen, heats the carbonate formation with the generated heat, and reduces the viscosity of the hydrocarbons in the carbonate formation with the generated silicate. The reaction re-mineralizes the surfaces in the carbonate formation and alters the wettability characteristics of the carbonate formation as a calcium-silicon phase is formed. The hydrocarbons are recovered from the carbonate formation with a production well.

Alkali metal silicides for high temperature wettability improvement in carbonate reservoirs

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Regina, Canada

Kelvin Dean Knorr