The present invention provides a method for the treatment of a subterranean formation which contains sand particles, said method comprising contacting said formation with a material capable of increasing the residual matrix strength of said particulate fine whereby to reduce or prevent their migration while minimizing any decrease in their permeability. Preferred materials include organosilanes and enzyme systems.
1. A method for the treatment of a subterranean formation which contains sand particles, the method comprising contacting the formation with a compound capable of increasing the residual matrix strength of the sand particles in order to reduce or prevent their migration while minimizing any decrease in the permeability of the formation, wherein the compound has the formula III:
(RO) 3 Si—(CH 2 ) x -A-(CH 2 ) y —Si(OR) 3 (III)
wherein
each R is independently a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms or a —COR 13 group wherein R 13 is a substituted or unsubstituted C 1-18 alkyl;
A is an organic linking group or a group comprising an atom having a lone pair of electrons;
x is 0 or a positive integer; and
y is 0 or a positive integer; and
wherein the compound is applied as a dispersion or solution in a hydrocarbon carrier that contains less than 2% water; and
wherein upon contacting, the compound increases the residual matrix strength of the sand particles.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon carrier contains less than 0.5% water.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon carrier contains less than 0.1% water.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dispersion or solution consists essentially of the hydrocarbon carrier and the compound capable of increasing the residual matrix strength of the sand particles.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein in formula III each R is independently a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein in formula III A is an N, P, or S atom.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein in formula III x is 1 to 4.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein in formula III y is 1 to 4.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises contacting the formation with at least one other compound capable of increasing the residual matrix strength of the sand particles in order to reduce or prevent their migration while minimizing any decrease in the permeability of the formation, wherein the at least one other compound is trimethoxyoctylsilane, triethoxyoctylsilane, 4,4,15,15-tetraethoxy-3,16-dioxa-8,9,10,11-tetrathia-4,15-disilaoctadecane, or has the formula IV, or a combination thereof:
R 9 a (RO) 3-a Si—(CH 2 ) z —NR 7 R 8 (IV)
wherein R 7 and R 8 are independently hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms;
z is a positive integer;
a is zero or a positive integer from 1 to 3;
R 9 is a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; and
each R is independently a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms or a —COR 13 wherein R 13 is a substituted or unsubstituted C 1-18 alkyl group
wherein the at least one other compound is applied with the dispersion or solution in the hydrocarbon carrier that contains less than 2% water; and
wherein upon contacting, the at least one other compound increases the residual matrix strength of the sand particles.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the at least one other compound of formula (IV) is selected from the group consisting of 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane and 3-(diethoxymethylsilyl)propylamine, or a combination thereof.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein in formula IV z is 1 to 8.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein in formula IV a is zero.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound of formula (III) is bis(triethoxysilylpropyl)amine.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound is capable of imparting a residual matrix strength to the sand particles in the range of 0.1 to 500 bar.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound, on contact with the formation, effects a reduction in permeability of the formation of less than 40%.
16. The method of in claim 1 , wherein the compound is capable of increasing the residual matrix strength of the sand particles by 20 to 1,000%, without decreasing the permeability of the formation by more than 50 to 1%.
17. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, prior to contacting, pre-flushing the formation whereby to remove substantially all water from the pore space or voids of the formation.
18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising after-flushing the formation.
19. A method of manufacturing hydrocarbon well treatment compositions comprising combining a carrier liquid with a compound of formula III:
(RO) 3 Si—(CH 2 ) x -A-(CH 2 ) y —Si(OR) 3 (III)
wherein
each R is independently a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms or a —COR 13 group wherein R 13 is a substituted or unsubstituted C 1-18 alkyl;
A is an organic linking group or a group comprising an atom having a lone pair of electrons;
x is 0 or a positive integer; and
y is 0 or a positive integer, and
wherein the carrier liquid contains less than 2% water.
20. A hydrocarbon well treatment composition comprising a carrier liquid containing a compound capable of increasing the residual matrix strength of sand particles contained within a subterranean formation in order to reduce or prevent their migration whilst minimizing any decrease in the permeability of the formation wherein the compound has the formula III:
(RO) 3 Si—(CH 2 ) x -A-(CH 2 ) y —Si(OR) 3 (III)
wherein
each R is independently a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms or a —COR 13 group wherein R 13 is a substituted or unsubstituted C 1-18 alkyl;
A is an organic linking group or a group comprising an atom having a lone pair of electrons;
x is 0 or a positive integer; and
y is 0 or a positive integer, and
wherein the carrier liquid contains less than 2% water.