Composition and method for improving the production of petroleum hydrocarbons
A novel surfactant composition that comprises of two surfactant components, a solvent, and water. The surfactant composition is added to a fracturing fluid, which is then pumped downhole into a subterranean formation where the novel characteristics of the fracturing fluid lend to improved oil production over the fracturing fluid without the surfactant composition.
1 . A surfactant solution for use as an additive in a fracturing fluid, comprising:
a first surfactant comprising an anionic surfactant;
a second surfactant comprising a nonionic surfactant;
a solvent; and
water;
wherein a weight percentage ratio between the first surfactant to the second surfactant is about 0.30 to about 0.44, and wherein the second surfactant is an alkyl alkoxylated nonionic surfactant having the formula R 4 O(R 2 O) m (R 3 O) n H where R 4 is a linear or branched alkyl group having 5 to 30 carbon atoms, m is an integer from 5 to 30, and n is an integer from 1 to 20.
2 . The surfactant solution of claim 1 , wherein the surfactant solution is mixed with the fracturing fluid to a concentration of about 0.02 to about 50 gallons per thousand gallons of the fracturing fluid.
3 . The surfactant solution of claim 1 , wherein the fracturing fluid further comprises a gelling agent, a proppant, a biocide, a scale inhibitor, a clay stabilizer, a friction reducer, a crosslinking agent, a breaker, a thermal stabilizer, a pH adjuster, a corrosion inhibitor, an iron control agent, or any combination thereof.
4 . The surfactant solution of claim 1 , wherein the fracturing fluid further comprises a gelling agent, and wherein the gelling agent comprises hydroxyethyl guar, carboxymethyl guar, hydroxypropyl guar, carboxymethylhydroxypropyl guar, carboxymethylhydroxyethyl guar, carboxyethylcellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, carboxymethylhydroxyethylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, xanthan, diutan, or any combination thereof.
5 . The surfactant solution of claim 1 , wherein the surfactant solution acts as a wettability altering agent to increase production of a subterranean formation.
6 . The surfactant solution of claim 1 , wherein the surfactant solution is thermally stable in a subterranean formation.
7 . The surfactant solution of claim 1 , wherein the surfactant solution is hydrolytically stable in a subterranean formation.
8 . The surfactant solution of claim 1 , wherein the first surfactant is an ether sulfonate having the formula: R 1 O(R 2 O) x (R 3 O) y CH 2 CH(OH)CH 2 SO 3 M, wherein R 1 is a linear or branched alkyl group having 5 to 30 carbon atoms, R 2 is —CH 2 CH 2 —, R 3 is —CH(CH 3 )CH 2 —, x is an integer from 2 to 30, y is an integer from 0 to 20, and Mis a monovalent cation.
9 . The surfactant solution of claim 1 , wherein the solvent is methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, 1-propanol, butanol, acetone, ethyl lactate, glycerol, ethylene glycol, ethylene glycol butyl ether, butyl acetate, acetic acid, or any combination thereof.
10 . The surfactant solution of claim 1 , wherein a concentration of the first surfactant in the surfactant solution is from about 1 wt. % to about 65 wt. %.
11 . The surfactant solution of claim 1 , wherein the concentration of the first surfactant in the surfactant solution is from about 10 wt. % to about 45 wt. %.
12 . The surfactant solution of claim 1 , wherein a concentration of the second surfactant in the surfactant solution is from about 1 wt. % to about 80 wt. %.
13 . The surfactant solution of claim 1 , wherein the concentration of the second surfactant in the surfactant solution is from about 30 wt. % to about 50 wt. %.
14 . The surfactant solution of claim 1 , wherein a concentration of the solvent in the surfactant solution is from about 1 wt. % to about 90 wt. %.
15 . The surfactant solution of claim 1 , wherein the concentration of the solvent in the surfactant solution is from about 10 wt. % to about 35 wt. %.
16 . The surfactant solution of claim 1 , wherein a concentration of water in the surfactant solution is from about 1 wt. % to about 90 wt. %.
17 . The surfactant solution of claim 1 , wherein the concentration of water in the surfactant solution is from about 30 wt. % to about 45 wt. %.
18 . The surfactant solution of claim 1 , wherein the water comprises sodium chloride and calcium chloride and a concentration of sodium chloride in the water is up to about 25.0 wt. % and a concentration of calcium chloride in the water is up to about 5.0 wt. %.