Enzyme enhanced oil recovery (EEOR) for water alternating gas (WAG) systems

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to the release or recovery of subterranean hydrocarbon deposits and, more specifically, to a system and method for enhanced oil recovery (EOR), by utilizing enzyme compositions and water-alternating-gas (WAG) methods for injecting water compositions, followed by miscible, near miscible or immiscible gas into subterranean formations for oil recovery operations.

1 . An enzymatic fluid for enhanced recovery of oil or other hydrocarbon deposits in a subterranean formation, wherein said deposits are releasable by initially adding said enzymatic fluid directly to a pump for pumping said fluid, combined with water forming a water composition, into said oil formation through an injection well followed by an additional period of time allowing said fluid and said water composition to soak said formation by said composition moving from said injection well to one or more producing wells followed by injection of gas into said formation, followed by recovery of said deposits by pumping or other means. 
   
   
       2 . The enzymatic fluid of  claim 1 , wherein said pumping of said fluid independently or as said water composition injection followed by soak time moving from injection well to one or more producing wells, followed by injection of gas and subsequent recovery of said deposits, is known as a water-alternating-gas (WAG) and enzyme system and may be sequential and repeated as required. 
   
   
       3 . The enzymatic fluid of  claim 1 , wherein said water composition may contain any substance or combination of substances useful for enhanced oil recovery. 
   
   
       4 . The enzymatic fluid of  claim 1 , wherein said gas is miscible, partially miscible, or fully immiscible with either said enzymatic fluid, said hydrocarbon deposits, and/or said subterranean formation. 
   
   
       5 . The enzymatic fluid of  claim 1 , wherein said fluid is GREENZYME® and wherein said deposits include crude oil. 
   
   
       6 . The enzymatic fluid of  claim 1 , wherein said fluid is used for treatment of the subterranean formation during water injection wherein said enzymatic fluid is injected as a cold, heated or ambient liquid in any combination into said formation. 
   
   
       7 . The enzymatic fluid of  claim 1 , wherein said enzymatic fluid can be heated to at least  80  degrees Celsius before injection into an injection well thereby minimizing problems associated with pour point and maximized penetration of gas injected. 
   
   
       8 . The enzymatic fluid of  claim 1 , wherein said fluid is diluted with water in a range of 0.01 to 99 percent and more specifically is diluted within a working range of 3 to 10 percent of enzymatic fluid in water. 
   
   
       9 . The enzymatic fluid of  claim 1 , wherein said fluid is incrementally diluted to stimulate wells that are at an unacceptable level of production prior to restarting a water-alternating-gas (WAG) and enzyme injection process. 
   
   
       10 . The enzymatic fluid of  claim 1 , wherein said fluid is used for pre-treatment or treatment of said formation during enhanced oil recovery such that said fluid is injected and intermixed with water which is sent into said formation and wherein said formation is a well that is subsequently not used for a period of time allowing for soaking of said well prior to another phase of enhanced oil recovery including, but not limited to pumping and use of water and gas for one or more cycles during said recovery. 
   
   
       11 . The enzymatic fluid of  claim 1 , wherein said fluid is injected into pipelines to prevent crude oil from plugging said pipelines. 
   
   
       12 . The enzymatic fluid of  claim 1 , wherein said fluid reduces asphaltines and waxes at an injection wellbore prior to injection as well as minimizing wellbore build up during production that occurs at an end of an enhanced oil recovery cycle, wherein said cycle includes a water-alternating-gas (WAG) and enzyme system. 
   
   
       13 . The enzymatic fluid of  claim 1 , wherein during water-alternating-gas operations said fluid does not affect the normal heat transfer provided by the steam to surrounding well formations or to said deposits, wherein said deposits include crude oil. 
   
   
       14 . A method for enhanced recovery of oil or other hydrocarbon deposits in a subterranean formation using an enzymatic fluid, wherein said deposits are releasable by initially independently adding said enzymatic fluid directly to a pump for pumping said fluid into said oil formation followed by a water composition injection, followed by an optional period of idle process time allowing said fluid and said water composition to soak said formation, followed by injection of gas into said formation, followed by recovery of said deposits by pumping or other means. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said fluid is initially diluted for cold, heated or ambient injection in any combination prior to adding said fluid to said formation. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein adding said fluid after initial water-alternating-gas of said gas is accomplished. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said fluid is GREENZYME® and wherein said deposits include crude oil. 
   
   
       18 . The enzymatic fluid of  claim 14 , wherein said gas is miscible, partially miscible, or fully immiscible with either said enzymatic fluid, said hydrocarbon deposits, and/or said subterranean formation. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the method for injecting said enzymatic fluid includes a process referred to as water-alternating-gas (WAG). 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein using said fluid for pre-treatment on injection well or treatment of said subterranean formation during a water injection cycle wherein said enzymatic fluid is injected as cold, heated, or ambient liquid in any combination, into said formation, is accomplished. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said enzymatic fluid has heat stability for optionally heating to at least 80 degrees Celsius before injecting into a well, thereby minimizing pour point problems that may exist and maximizing injection of gas injections. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein diluting said fluid with water in a range of 0.01 to 99 percent and more specifically diluting within a working range of 3 to 10 percent of enzymatic fluid in water prior to adding to the total injection water. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said fluid is incrementally diluted to stimulate wells that are at an unacceptable level of production prior to restarting a WAG injection process. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein using said fluid for pre-treatment or treatment of said formation during enhanced oil recovery such that injecting said fluid and intermixing with water is accomplished and said fluid and water are sent into said formation and wherein said formation is a well that is subsequently not used for a period of time allowing for soaking of said well prior to another phase of enhanced oil recovery including, but not limited to pumping and using water for one or more cycles during said recovery. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said injecting of said fluid into pipelines to prevent crude oil from plugging said pipelines is accomplished. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said fluid provides a means for reducing asphaltines and waxes at an injection wellbore prior to injection as well as minimizing wellbore build up during production occurring at an end of an enhanced oil recovery cycle, wherein said cycle includes a WAG cycle. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 14 , such that during WAG operations said fluid does not affect the normal heat transfer accomplished by providing steam to surrounding well formations or to said deposits, wherein said deposits include crude oil. 
   
   
       28 . A system for enhanced recovery of oil or other hydrocarbon deposits in a subterranean formation using an enzymatic fluid, said deposits are releasable by initially adding said enzymatic fluid directly to a pump for pumping said fluid, combined with water forming a water composition, into said oil formation through an injection well followed by an additional period of time allowing said fluid and said water composition to soak said formation by said composition moving from said injection well to one or more producing wells followed by injection of gas into said formation, followed by recovery of said deposits by pumping or other means. 
   
   
       29 . The system of claim  34 , wherein said fluid is GREENZYME® and wherein said deposits include crude oil.