Hydrocarbon recovery

Abstract

In one embodiment, a composition of a treatment fluid used to stabilize shale and clay within a hydrocarbon producing formation is provided which includes water, and potassium formate at a concentration to maintain the treatment fluid with a Zeta potential of about −15 mV or less. In one example, the concentration is within a range from about 1% to about 10% by weight of the treatment fluid and in another example, the concentration is within a range from about 2% to about 6%. The composition may further contain a viscosifying amount of a polygalactomannan compound, such as a guar compound. In one example, the guar compound contains a carboxymethyl hydroxypropyl guar compound or derivatives thereof. The composition may have a Zeta potential of about −18 mV or less, such as about −33 mV or less. The composition may further contain calcium carbonate.

1 . A composition of a treatment fluid used to stabilize shale and clay within a hydrocarbon producing formation, comprising: 
 water; and    potassium formate at a concentration to maintain the treatment fluid with a Zeta potential of about −15 mV or less and the concentration is within a range from about 1% to about 10% by weight of the treatment fluid.    
   
   
       2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the concentration is within a range from about 2% to about 6%.  
   
   
       3 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a viscosifying amount of a polygalactomannan compound.  
   
   
       4 . The composition of  claim 3 , wherein the polygalactomannan compound comprises a guar compound.  
   
   
       5 . The composition of  claim 4 , wherein the guar compound comprises a carboxymethyl hydroxypropyl guar compound or derivatives thereof.  
   
   
       6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the Zeta potential is about −25 mV or less.  
   
   
       7 . The composition of  claim 6 , wherein the Zeta potential is about −33 mV or less.  
   
   
       8 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising calcium carbonate.  
   
   
       9 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising calcium carbonate and a carboxymethyl hydroxypropyl guar compound, wherein the carboxymethyl hydroxypropyl guar compound has a concentration within a range from about 0.1% to about 1% by weight of the treatment fluid.  
   
   
       10 . A composition of a treatment fluid used to stabilize shale and clay within a hydrocarbon producing formation, comprising: 
 water; and    potassium formate at a concentration to maintain the treatment fluid with a Zeta potential of about −15 mV or less and a capillary suction time of about 70 seconds or less.    
   
   
       11 . The composition of  claim 10 , further comprising a viscosifying amount of a guar compound.  
   
   
       12 . The composition of  claim 11 , wherein the guar compound has a concentration by weight of the treatment fluid within a range from about 0.01% to about 1.2%.  
   
   
       13 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein the guar compound comprises a carboxymethyl hydroxypropyl guar compound or derivatives thereof.  
   
   
       14 . The composition of  claim 10 , further comprising calcium carbonate.  
   
   
       15 . The composition of  claim 10 , further comprising a drilling fluid.  
   
   
       16 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein the concentration of the potassium formate is about 1.1% or less, the capillary suction time is about 26.6 seconds or less, and the Zeta potential is about −22 mV or less.  
   
   
       17 . The composition of  claim 16 , wherein the concentration of the potassium formate is about 0.3% or less and the capillary suction time is about 21.1 seconds or less.  
   
   
       18 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein the Zeta potential is about −25 mV or less.  
   
   
       19 . The composition of  claim 18 , wherein the Zeta potential is about −33 mV or less.  
   
   
       20 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein the concentration of the potassium formate is within a range from about 1% to about 10% by weight of the treatment fluid.  
   
   
       21 . The composition of  claim 20 , wherein the concentration is within a range from about 2% to about 6%.  
   
   
       22 . A composition of a treatment fluid used to stabilize shale and clay within a hydrocarbon producing formation, comprising: 
 water and a polygalactomannan compound; and    potassium formate at a concentration of about 10% or less by weight of the treatment fluid and the concentration maintains the treatment fluid with a Zeta potential of about −15 mV or less.    
   
   
       23 . The composition of  claim 22 , wherein the concentration is within a range from about 2% to about 6%.  
   
   
       24 . The composition of  claim 22 , wherein the polygalactomannan comprises a guar compound having a concentration within a range from about 0.1% to about 1% by weight of the treatment fluid.  
   
   
       25 . The composition of  claim 24 , wherein the guar compound comprises a carboxymethyl hydroxypropyl guar compound or derivatives thereof.  
   
   
       26 . The composition of  claim 22 , wherein the Zeta potential is about −25 mV or less.  
   
   
       27 . The composition of  claim 26 , wherein the Zeta potential is about −33 mV or less.  
   
   
       28 . The composition of  claim 22 , further comprising calcium carbonate.  
   
   
       29 . A composition of a treatment fluid used to stabilize shale and clay within a hydrocarbon producing formation, comprising: 
 water and calcium carbonate; and    potassium formate at a concentration of about 10% or less by weight of the treatment fluid and the concentration maintains the treatment fluid with a Zeta potential of about −15 mV or less.    
   
   
       30 . The composition of  claim 29 , wherein the concentration of the potassium formate is about 1.1% or less and the treatment fluid has a capillary suction time of about 26.6 seconds or less.  
   
   
       31 . The composition of  claim 30 , wherein the Zeta potential is about −22 mV or less.  
   
   
       32 . The composition of  claim 31 , wherein the concentration of the potassium formate is about 0.3% or less and the capillary suction time is about 21.1 seconds or less.  
   
   
       33 . The composition of  claim 32 , wherein the Zeta potential is about −27.2 mV or less.  
   
   
       34 . The composition of  claim 29 , further comprising a carboxymethyl hydroxypropyl guar compound at a concentration within a range from about 0.1% to about 1% by weight of the treatment fluid.