Non-flammable, non-aqueous group IVB metal alkoxide crosslinkers and fracturing fluid compositions incorporating same
View Patent ↗A non-aqueous, non-flammable Group IVB metal alkoxide crosslinker composition includes a non-aqueous, non-flammable Group IVB metal alkoxide, wherein the metal is chemically bonded to a glycol containing 4 or more carbons, to an alkoxy group containing 6 or more carbons, or a mixture of both. A fracturing fluid employed in the hydraulic fracturing of subterranean formations is formulated through mixture of the non-aqueous, non-flammable Group IVB metal alkoxide crosslinker composition with a polymer solution.
1. A crosslinker composition comprising a non-aqueous Group IVB metal alkoxide with alcohol distilled therefrom thereby rendering the Group IVB metal alkoxide non-flammable, wherein the metal is chemically bonded to a glycol containing 4 or more carbons, to an alkoxy group containing 6 or more carbons, or a mixture of both.
2. The crosslinker composition of claim 1 further comprising an alkanolamine.
3. The crosslinker composition of claim 2 wherein the alkanolamine is selected from the group comprising monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, diisopropanolamine, triisopropanolamine, and mixtures thereof.
4. The crosslinker composition of claim 2 wherein the molar ratio of the metal to alkanolamine is from 1:0.5 to 1:20.
5. The crosslinker composition of claim 2 wherein the crosslinker has a flashpoint greater than about 140° F.
6. The crosslinker composition of claim 1 wherein the metal is titanium and the molecular weight of the titanium alkoxide is greater than about 450.
7. The crosslinker composition of claim 1 wherein the metal is zirconium and the molecular weight of the zirconium alkoxide is greater than about 500.
8. The crosslinker composition of claim 1 wherein the metal is hafnium and the molecular weight of the hafnium alkoxide is greater than about 600.
9. The crosslinker composition of claim 1 wherein the crosslinker has a flashpoint greater than about 140° F.
10. A fracturing fluid, comprising:
a crosslinker composition comprising a non-aqueous Group IVB metal alkoxide with alcohol distilled therefrom thereby rendering the Group IVB metal alkoxide non-flammable; and
a crosslinkable polymer solution.
11. The fracturing fluid of claim 10 wherein the polymer in the polymer solution is a polysaccharide.
12. The fracturing fluid of claim 11 wherein the polysaccharide is selected from the group comprising guar, hydroxyalkyl guar, carboxyalkyl guar, carboxyalkyl hydroxyalkyl guar, or mixtures thereof.
13. The fracturing fluid of claim 12 wherein the hydroxyalkyl guar is hydroxypropyl guar.
14. The fracturing fluid of claim 12 wherein the carboxyalkyl guar is carboxymethyl guar.
15. The fracturing fluid of claim 12 wherein the carboxyalkyl hydroxyalkyl guar is carboxymethyl hydroxypropyl guar.
16. The fracturing fluid of claim 10 wherein the Group IVB metal alkoxide crosslinker composition is represented by the form M(OR) 4 , where R contains 4 or more carbons, and described as —C—C(—O—C—C—) n OH, where n=1, 2, 3 or more.
17. The fracturing fluid of claim 16 wherein the Group IVB metal alkoxide crosslinker composition is represented by the form M(OR) 4 , where R is an alkyl radical containing 6 or more carbons.
18. The fracturing fluid of claim 17 wherein the alkyl radical is an alkyl radical of 2-ethyl hexanol.
19. The fracturing fluid of claim 16 wherein the R group is diethylene glycol.
20. The fracturing fluid of claim 10 wherein the polymer solution comprises:
water; and
polymer from about 0.1% by weight to about 2% by weight of the total weight in water.
21. The fracturing fluid of claim 20 wherein the water is freshwater or saltwater or mixtures thereof.
22. The fracturing fluid of claim 10 wherein the Group IVB metal alkoxide crosslinker composition comprises an alkanolamine.
23. The fracturing fluid of claim 22 wherein the alkanolamine is selected from the group comprising monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, diisopropanolamine, triisopropanolamine, and mixtures thereof.
24. The fracturing fluid of claim 10 wherein the polymer solution comprises:
water; and
a polymer selected from the group comprising hydroxylpropyl guar, carboxymethyl guar, and carboxymethyl hydroxypropyl guar.
25. The fracturing fluid of claim 24 wherein the Group IVB metal alkoxide crosslinker composition comprises a non-aqueous, non-flammable titanium alkoxide crosslinker.
26. The fracturing fluid of claim 24 wherein the Group IVB metal alkoxide crosslinker composition comprises a non-aqueous zirconium alkoxide, a non-aqueous hafnium alkoxide, or mixtures thereof wherein the crosslinker composition has a flashpoint greater than about 140° F.
27. The fracturing fluid of claim 24 wherein the Group IVB metal alkoxide crosslinker composition comprises a non-aqueous zirconium alkoxide, a non-aqueous hafnium alkoxide, or mixtures thereof wherein the crosslinker composition has a flashpoint greater than about 200° F.
28. The fracturing fluid of claim 10 wherein the metal in the Group IVB metal alkoxide crosslinker composition is titanium, zirconium, hafnium, or mixtures thereof.
29. The fracturing fluid of claim 10 wherein the Group IVB metal alkoxide crosslinker composition is represented by the form M(OR) 4 , where R is a glycol radical, an alkyl radical, or mixtures thereof, where M is titanium, and where the molecular weight of the metal alkoxide is greater than about 450.
30. The fracturing fluid of claim 10 wherein the Group IVB metal alkoxide crosslinker composition is represented by the form M(OR) 4 , where R is a glycol radical, an alkyl radical, or mixtures thereof, where M is zirconium, and where the molecular weight of the metal alkoxide is greater than about 500.
31. The fracturing fluid of claim 10 wherein the Group IVB metal alkoxide crosslinker composition is represented by the form M(OR) 4 , where R is a glycol radical, an alkyl radical, or mixtures thereof, where M is hafnium, and where the molecular weight of the metal alkoxide is greater than about 600.
32. The fracturing fluid of claim 10 wherein the Group IVB metal alkoxide crosslinker composition has a flashpoint greater than about 140° F.
33. The fracturing fluid of claim 10 wherein the Group IVB metal alkoxide crosslinker composition has a flashpoint greater than about 200° F.
34. The fracturing fluid of claim 10 wherein the metal in the Group IVB metal alkoxide crosslinker composition is chemically bonded to a glycol containing 4 or more carbons, to an alkyl group containing 6 or more carbons, or a mixture of both.