IP Library Granted Patent US 7,989,404
Granted Patent B2
US 7,989,404 · App. 12/029,335 · Granted Aug 2, 2011

Compositions and methods for gas well treatment

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,989,404
App. No.
12/029,335
Granted
Aug 2, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A microemulsion system is disclosed which comprises a solvent subsystem, a co-solvent subsystem and a surfactant subsystem comprises at least one monoalkyl branched propoxy sulfate anionic surfactant, where the microemulsion system are useful in drilling, producing, remediation, and fracturing application to reduce water blocks and water blocking in formation of a producing formation.

Claims (85)

1. A microemulsion system for treating gas wells comprising:

a surfactant subsystem including:

between about 0.1 weight percent and about 10 weight percent of monoalkyl branched propoxy sulfate or a plurality of monoalkyl branched propoxy sulfates,

between about 0.1 weight percent and about 30 weight percent of a low foam generating ethoxylated alcohol comprising a reaction product of an alcohol having between about 8 and about 10 carbon atoms and having an average of about 7 ethylene oxide groups per alcohol molecule, and

between about 0.1 weight percent and about 30 weight percent of a low foam generating block copolymer or plurality of block copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide having a HLB value between about 7 and 15;

a co-solvent subsystem including:

between about 0.1 weight percent and about 20 weight percent of isopropyl alcohol (IPA),

between about 0.1 weight percent and about 5 weight percent of 1-octanol, and

between about 0.1 weight percent and about 15 weight percent of a polypropylene glycol; and

a solvent subsystem including:

between about 2 weight percent and about 25 weight percent of d-limonene or dipentene, and

between about 20 weight percent and about 75 weight percent of water,

where the microemulsion system is adapted to treat gas wells.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the surfactant subsystem further includes at least one alkyl ether sulfate anionic surfactant.

3. A microemulsion system for treating gas wells comprising:

a surfactant subsystem including:

from about 0.5 wt. % to about 30 wt. % at least one ethoxylated alcohol,

from about 0.5 wt. % to about 30 wt. % at least one ethylene oxide (EO)/propylene oxide (PO) copolymer, and

from about 0.1 wt. % to about 10 wt. % at least one monoalkyl branched propoxy sulfate;

a solvent system including:

from about 0.1 wt. % to about 15 wt. % at least one short chain linear alcohol,

from about 0.5 wt. % to about 10 wt. % at least one longer chain linear alcohol, and

from about 0.5 wt. % to about 15 wt. % at least one polypropylene glycol; and

a co-solvent system including:

from about 0.1 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of at least one terpene and

from about 20 wt. % to about 75 wt. % water,

where the microemulsion system is adapted to treat gas wells.

4. The composition of claim 3 , wherein the at least one short chain alcohol have between about 1 and about 4 carbon atoms and at least one longer chain linear alcohol have between about 6 and about 10 carbon atoms.

5. The composition of claim 3 , wherein the at least one short chain alcohol have between about 2 and about 4 carbon atoms and at least one longer chain linear alcohol have between about 7 and about 9 carbon atoms.

6. The composition of claim 3 , wherein the at least one short chain alcohol comprises isopropyl alcohol and the at least one longer chain linear alcohol comprises 1-octanol.

7. A composition for fracturing a subterranean formation containing gas and penetrated by a wellbore, the composition comprising:

a fracturing fluid including:

a surfactant subsystem comprising:

from about 0.5 wt. % to about 30 wt. % at least one ethoxylated alcohol,

from about 0.5 wt. % to about 30 wt. % at least one ethylene oxide (EO)/propylene oxide (PO) copolymer, and

from about 0.1 wt. % to about 10 wt. % at least one monoalkyl branched propoxy sulfate;

a solvent subsystem comprising:

from about 0.1 wt. % to about 15 wt. % at least one short chain linear alcohol,

from about 0.5 wt. % to about 10 wt. % at least one longer chain linear alcohol, and

from about 0.5 wt. % to about 15 wt. % at least one polypropylene glycol; and

a co-solvent subsystem comprising:

from about 0.1 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of at least one terpene and

from about 20 wt. % to about 75 wt. % water,

where the microemulsion system is adapted to treat gas wells.

8. A composition for drilling into a subterranean formation containing gas, the composition comprising:

a drilling fluid including:

a surfactant subsystem comprising:

from about 0.5 wt. % to about 30 wt. % at least one ethoxylated alcohol,

from about 0.5 wt. % to about 30 wt. % at least one ethylene oxide (EO)/propylene oxide (PO) copolymer, and

from about 0.1 wt. % to about 10 wt. % at least one monoalkyl branched propoxy sulfate;

a solvent subsystem comprising:

from about 0.1 wt. % to about 15 wt. % at least one short chain linear alcohol,

from about 0.5 wt. % to about 10 wt. % at least one longer chain linear alcohol, and

from about 0.5 wt. % to about 15 wt. % at least one polypropylene glycol; and

a co-solvent subsystem comprising:

from about 0.1 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of at least one terpene and

from about 20 wt. % to about 75 wt. % water,

where the microemulsion system is adapted to treat gas wells.

9. A composition for removing bound water from a producing subterranean formation containing gas and penetrated by a wellbore, the composition comprising:

a producing fluid including:

a surfactant subsystem comprising:

from about 0.5 wt. % to about 30 wt. % at least one ethoxylated alcohol,

from about 0.5 wt. % to about 30 wt. % at least one ethylene oxide (EO)/propylene oxide (PO) copolymer, and

from about 0.1 wt. % to about 10 wt. % at least one monoalkyl branched propoxy sulfate;

a solvent subsystem comprising:

from about 0.1 wt. % to about 15 wt. % at least one short chain linear alcohol,

from about 0.5 wt. % to about 10 wt. % at least one longer chain linear alcohol, and

from about 0.5 wt. % to about 15 wt. % at least one polypropylene glycol; and

a co-solvent subsystem comprising:

from about 0.1 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of at least one terpene and

from about 20 wt. % to about 75 wt. % water,

where the microemulsion system is adapted to treat gas wells.

10. A composition for removing bound water from a producing subterranean formation containing gas and penetrated by a wellbore, the composition comprising:

a surfactant subsystem comprising:

from about 0.5 wt. % to about 30 wt. % at least one ethoxylated alcohol,

from about 0.5 wt. % to about 30 wt. % at least one ethylene oxide (EO)/propylene oxide (PO) copolymer, and

from about 0.1 wt. % to about 10 wt. % at least one monoalkyl branched propoxy sulfate;

a solvent subsystem comprising:

from about 0.1 wt. % to about 15 wt. % at least one short chain linear alcohol,

from about 0.5 wt. % to about 10 wt. % at least one longer chain linear alcohol, and

from about 0.5 wt. % to about 15 wt. % at least one polypropylene glycol; and

a co-solvent subsystem comprising:

from about 0.1 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of at least one terpene and

from about 20 wt. % to about 75 wt. % water,

where the microemulsion system is adapted to treat gas wells.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 18, 2018
From: LUBRIZOL OILFIELD SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: THE LUBRIZOL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 044655/0922 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 9, 2015
From: CLEARWATER INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.
To: LUBRIZOL OILFIELD SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 036822/0379 →