Chevron U.s.a. Inc.

Chevron Oronite Company LLC

Sophany Thach

Varadarajan Dwarakanath

Gregory Arthur Winslow

Dennis Arun Alexis

Sumitra Subrahmanyan

Taimur Malik

Robert George Shong

Robert Matthew Dean

Gayani W Pinnawala

Harold Charles Linnemeyer

Timothy P Theriot

Les Leszek Jackowski

Francesca Cibotti

Do Hoon Kim

Anette Poulsen

Curtis Bay Campbell

Kerry Kennedy Spilker

Dustin Luke Walker

Sujeewa S Palayangoda

Will S Slaughter

Andrew J Howes

Gabriel Prukop

Adam C Jackson

Theresa Ann Denslow

Oya Aysen Karazincir

Tanmay Chaturvedi

Ping Zhao

Varadarajab Dwarakanath

Adam Christopher Jackson

Embodiments of treating fluid comprising hydrocarbons, water, and polymer being produced from a hydrocarbon-bearing formation are provided. One embodiment comprises adding a concentration of a viscosity reducer to the fluid to degrade the polymer present in the fluid and adding a concentration of a neutralizer to the fluid to neutralize the viscosity reducer in the fluid. The addition of the concentration of the viscosity reducer is in a sufficient quantity to allow for complete chemical degradation of the polymer prior to the addition of the concentration of the neutralizer in the fluid such that excess viscosity reducer is present in the fluid. The addition of the concentration of the neutralizer is sufficiently upstream of any surface fluid processing equipment to allow for complete neutralization of the excess viscosity reducer such that excess neutralizer is present in the fluid prior to the fluid reaching any of the surface fluid processing equipment.

Treating fluid comprising hydrocarbons, water, and polymer

Described herein are methods of treating fluid including hydrocarbons, water, and polymer being produced from a hydrocarbon-bearing formation. The methods include adding a concentration of a viscosity reducer to the fluid to degrade the polymer present in the fluid and adding a concentration of a neutralizer to the fluid to neutralize the viscosity reducer in the fluid. The viscosity reducer is buffered at a pH of 7 or less. The addition of the concentration of the viscosity reducer is in a sufficient quantity to allow for complete chemical degradation of the polymer prior to the addition of the concentration of the neutralizer in the fluid such that excess viscosity reducer is present in the fluid.

Ph control in fluid treatment

The present disclosure relates to the use of a multicarboxylate, such as an alkyl alkoxy dicarboxylate, in enhanced oil recovery processes. Embodiments relate to an aqueous stream and the use thereof. The aqueous stream includes a compound having the chemical formula: R—R—R, wherein Rincludes a branched or unbranched, saturated or unsaturated, cyclic or non-cyclic, hydrophobic carbon chain having an oxygen atom linking Rand R; Rincludes an alkoxylated chain comprising ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide, or a combination thereof; and Rincludes a branched or unbranched hydrocarbon chain and 2-5 —COOH or —COOM groups wherein M is a monovalent, divalent, or trivalent cation. Rincludes 2-12 carbon atoms.

Method of using multicarboxylate compositions in enhanced oil recovery

Described herein are methods of treating fluid comprising hydrocarbons, water, and polymer being produced from a hydrocarbon-bearing formation are provided. The method can include adding a concentration of a viscosity reducer to the fluid to degrade the polymer present in the fluid and adding a concentration of a neutralizer to the fluid to neutralize the viscosity reducer in the fluid. The viscosity reducer is buffered at a pH of 7 or less (e.g., at a pH of from 2 to 7, such as at a pH of from 3.5 to 7, or at a pH of from 5 to 7). The addition of the concentration of the viscosity reducer is in a sufficient quantity to allow for complete chemical degradation of the polymer prior to the addition of the concentration of the neutralizer in the fluid such that excess viscosity reducer is present in the fluid. The addition of the concentration of the neutralizer is sufficiently upstream of any surface fluid processing equipment to allow for complete neutralization of the excess viscosity reducer such that excess neutralizer is present in the fluid prior to the fluid reaching any of the surface fluid processing equipment.

PH control in fluid treatment

The present disclosure relates to the use of a multicarboxylate, such as an alkyl alkoxy dicarboxylate, in enhanced oil recovery processes. Embodiments relate to an aqueous stream and the use thereof. The aqueous stream includes a compound having the chemical formula: R-R-R, wherein Rincludes a branched or unbranched, saturated or unsaturated, cyclic or non-cyclic, hydrophobic carbon chain having an oxygen atom linking Rand R; Rincludes an alkoxylated chain comprising ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide, or a combination thereof; and Rincludes a branched or unbranched hydrocarbon chain and 2-5 &#x2014;COOH or &#x2014;COOM groups wherein M is a monovalent, divalent, or trivalent cation. Rincludes 2-12 carbon atoms.

The present disclosure relates to the use of a multicarboxylate, such as an alkyl alkoxy dicarboxylate, in enhanced oil recovery processes. A specific embodiment relates to the use of an aqueous stream including a compound having the chemical formula: R&#x2014;R&#x2014;R, wherein Rcomprises a branched or unbranched, saturated or unsaturated, cyclic or non-cyclic, hydrophobic carbon chain having 7-150 carbon atoms; an oxygen atom linking Rand R; Rcomprises an alkoxylated chain comprising ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide, or a combination thereof; and Rcomprises a branched or unbranched hydrocarbon chain comprising 2-12 carbon atoms and 2-5 &#x2014;COOH or &#x2014;COOM groups wherein M is a monovalent, divalent, or trivalent cation.

Aspects of the invention relate to compositions and methods that are used for the remediation of near-wellbore damage in regions of formations near injection wells in communication with subterranean reservoirs. The damage is caused by previous injection of a polymer emulsion into the injection well. A specific aspect is a method of injecting into the subterranean reservoir a composition containing an olefin sulfonate, a sulfosuccinate, and a chemical selected from an alcohol alkoxylated sulfate, an alcohol alkoxylated carboxylate, or a combination thereof. The polymer emulsion is thereby dissolved, cleaned and/or flushed away from the region near the injection well.

Method for remediation of damage in regions of formations near injection wells

The present disclosure generally relates to a multicarboxylate, such as an alkyl alkoxy dicarboxylate a method of making the multicarboxylate, and methods to use the multicarboxylate. A specific embodiment of the disclosure is a compound comprising the chemical formula: R-R-R, wherein Rcomprises a branched or unbranched, saturated or unsaturated, cyclic or non-cyclic, hydrophobic carbon chain having 7-150 carbon atoms; an oxygen atom linking Rand R; Rcomprises an alkoxylated chain comprising ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide, or a combination thereof; and Rcomprises a branched or unbranched hydrocarbon chain comprising 2-12 carbon atoms and 2-5 &#x2014;COOH or &#x2014;COOM groups wherein M is a monovalent, divalent, or trivalent cation. The composition has a variety of uses but in some embodiments may be used in enhanced oil recovery processes.

Multicarboxylate compositions and method of making the same

Embodiments of a polymer composition are disclosed for use in enhancing the production of oil from a formation. In one embodiment, the composition includes a powder polymer having an average molecular weight of 0.5 to 30 Million Daltons suspended in a water soluble solvent having an HLB of greater than or equal to 8 and selected from the group of surfactants, glycol ethers, alcohols, co-solvents, and mixtures thereof, at a weight ratio of powder polymer to water soluble solvent ranging from 20:80 to 80:20. The polymer composition is substantially anhydrous. The polymer composition is hydrated in an aqueous fluid for an injection solution in less than or equal to 4 hours containing a polymer concentration ranging from 100 ppm to 50,000 ppm and having a filter ratio of less than or equal to 1.5 at 15 psi using a 1.2 &#x3bc;m filter.

Polymer compositions

A method for making a polymer suspension for use in enhancing the production of oil from a formation is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises mixing a powder polymer having an average molecular weight of 0.5 to 30 Million Daltons into a water soluble solvent having an HLB of greater than or equal to 8 for less than or equal to 24 hours. The water soluble solvent is selected from a group, at a weight ratio from 20:80 to 80:20. The polymer suspension is stable, pumpable, and substantially anhydrous; and it is hydrated for an injection solution in less than or equal to 4 hours, containing a polymer concentration ranging from 100 ppm to 50,000 ppm and having a filter ratio of less than or equal to 1.5 at 15 psi using a 1.2 &#x3bc;m filter, by mixing a sufficient amount of the polymer suspension in an aqueous fluid.

An injection solution for injecting into a subterranean reservoir to enhance production and recovery of oil from the reservoir is disclosed. In one embodiment, the injection solution is prepared by mixing a sufficient amount of a pumpable, stable and substantially anhydrous polymer suspension in an aqueous fluid for the polymer to be hydrated in less than or equal to 4 hours, resulting in the injection solution containing a polymer concentration ranging from 100 ppm to 50,000 ppm. The injection solution has a filter ratio of less than or equal to 1.5 at 15 psi using a 1.2 &#x3bc;m filter. The polymer suspension comprises a powder polymer having an average molecular weight of 0.5 to 30 Million Daltons suspended in a water soluble solvent having an HLB of greater than or equal to 8 and selected from a group, at a weight ratio from 20:80 to 80:20.

A method of enhancing oil recovery in a subterranean reservoir is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises providing a wellbore and a polymer suspension. The polymer suspension comprises a powder polymer having an average molecular weight of 0.5 to 30 Million Daltons suspended in a water soluble solvent having an HLB of greater than or equal to 8 and selected from a group, at a weight ratio of 20:80 to 80:20. The method comprises providing an aqueous fluid, mixing a sufficient amount of the polymer suspension in the aqueous fluid for the polymer to be hydrated resulting an injection solution in less than or equal to 4 hours, and injecting the injection solution into the wellbore. The injection solution contains a polymer concentration ranging from 100 ppm to 50,000 ppm and has a filter ratio of less than 1.5 at 15 psi using a 1.2 &#x3bc;m filter.

Aspects of the invention relate to compositions and methods that are used for remediation of near-wellbore damage. A specific aspect is a composition comprising an olefin sulfonate, a sulfosuccinate, and a chemical selected from the group consisting of an alcohol alkoxylated sulfate, an alcohol alkoxylated carboxylate, or a combination thereof.

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

Sophany Thach