Methods of increasing permeability in carbonatic rock formations with alkanesulfonic acids

1. A method of increasing permeability in a carbonatic rock formation, the method comprising: providing an alkanesulfonic acid; and introducing the alkanesulfonic acid into the carbonatic rock formation.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein introducing the alkanesulfonic acid into the carbonatic rock formation comprises forcing the alkanesulfonic acid though at least one well into the carbonatic rock formation.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one well comprises a production well.

4. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one well comprises an injection well.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein an area of the carbonatic rock formation into which the alkanesulfonic acid is introduced is at least 100° C.

6. The method according to claim 2 , wherein an area of the carbonatic rock formation into which the alkanesulfonic acid is introduced is at least 100° C.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the alkanesulfonic acid is introduced into the carbonatic rock formation as an aqueous solution wherein the content of the alkanesulfonic acid in the solution is at least 20% by weight.

8. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the alkanesulfonic acid is introduced into the carbonatic rock formation as an aqueous solution wherein the content of the alkanesulfonic acid in the solution is at least 20% by weight.

9. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the alkanesulfonic acid is introduced into the carbonatic rock formation as an aqueous solution wherein the content of the alkanesulfonic acid in the solution is at least 20% by weight.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the alkanesulfonic acid is introduced into the carbonatic rock formation as a mixture with at least one corrosion inhibitor.

11. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the alkanesulfonic acid is introduced into the carbonatic rock formation as a mixture with at least one corrosion inhibitor.

12. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the corrosion inhibitor comprises an alkoxylated alkyne derivative selected from the group consisting of compounds of the general formula (I), compounds of the general formula (II), and mixtures thereof,

HC≡C—CH 2 —O(—CH 2 —CHR 2 —O—) n H  (I)

H(—O—CHR 2 —CH 2 —) n —O—CH 2 —C≡C—CH 2 —O(—CH 2 —CHR 2 —O—) n′ H  (II)

wherein each R 2 independently represents H or methyl; and wherein n and n′ each independently represents a number of 1 to 10.

13. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the corrosion inhibitor comprises at least one homo- or copolymer which comprises at least 50% by weight of (meth)acrylic acid units.

14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the alkanesulfonic acid is introduced into the carbonatic rock formation as a mixture with amidosulfonie acid.

15. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the alkanesulfonic acid is introduced into the carbonatic rock formation as a mixture with amidosulfonic acid.

16. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the alkanesulfonic acid is introduced into the carbonatic rock formation as a mixture wit amidosulfonic acid.

17. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the alkanesulfonic acid comprises methanesulfonic acid.

18. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the alkanesulfonic acid comprises methanesulfonic acid.

19. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the alkanesulfonic acid comprises methanesulfonic acid.

20. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the alkanesulfonic acid comprises methanesulfonic acid.