Method for using and transporting a non-emulsified organic peroxide-containing composition

Abstract

A method of using an organic peroxide containing composition as a gel breaker and a method of transporting the composition is disclosed, wherein the composition has a freeze point less than or equal to −10° C. and a diluent which contains water and an organic solvent selected from ethylene glycol, methanol, ethanol and 1-propanol. During shipment, the amount of available oxygen in the composition is less than or equal to 1 weight percent.

1 . A method of degrading a gel in a subterranean formation which comprises introducing into the formation a non-emulsified well treating composition comprising an organic peroxide and an organic solvent selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, acetone, methanol, ethanol and 1-propanol, wherein the well treating composition has a freeze point less than or equal to −10° C. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the well treating composition has a freeze point less than or equal to −20° C. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the organic peroxide is t-butyl hydroperoxide. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the organic solvent is ethylene glycol. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the amount of ethylene glycol in the well treating composition is between from about 10 to about 95 volume percent. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of organic solvent in the breaker composition is between from about 10 to about 95 volume percent. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the amount of organic solvent in the breaker composition is between from about 30 to about 70 volume percent. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition has a self accelerating decomposition temperature greater than or equal to 55° C. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of available oxygen in the composition is less than or equal to 1 weight percent. 
     
     
         10 . A method of fracturing a subterranean formation surrounding a wellbore which comprises the steps of:
 (a) introducing into the formation a fracturing fluid of an aqueous fluid, a hydratable polymer and a breaker;   (b) pumping the fracturing fluid to a desired location within the wellbore under pressure sufficient to fracture the surrounding subterranean formation; and   (c) allowing the breaker to degrade the polymer and produce a pumpable fluid wherein the breaker is a composition comprising an organic peroxide which exhibits substantial solubility in water and a diluent selected from the group consisting of water, ethylene glycol, acetone, methanol, ethanol and 1-propanol.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the organic peroxide is t-butyl hydroperoxide. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the organic solvent is ethylene glycol. 
     
     
         13 . A method of transporting an organic peroxide which exhibits substantial solubility in water, the method comprising:
 (a) preparing a dilute non-emulsified peroxide solution by mixing an organic peroxide with a sufficient amount of diluent in order to render a available oxygen content in the dilute peroxide solution in an amount less than or equal to 1 weight percent, wherein the diluent is a mixture of water and an organic solvent selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, acetone, methanol, ethanol and 1-propanol; and   (b) transporting a receptacle containing the dilute peroxide solution to a desired location.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the activity of the peroxide will not deteriorate by less than 20% over a storage period of three months. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the freeze point of the dilute peroxide solution is less than or equal to −10° C. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the freeze point of the dilute peroxide solution is less than or equal to −20° C. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the freeze point of the dilute peroxide solution is less than or equal to −40° C. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the organic peroxide is t-butyl hydroperoxide. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the organic solvent is ethylene glycol. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the amount of organic solvent in the dilute peroxide solution is between from about 10 to about 95 volume percent. 
     
     
         21 . In a method of transporting an aqueous organic peroxide solution in a shipping container, the improvement comprising shipping a dilute non-emulsified organic peroxide solution wherein the amount of available oxygen in the dilute organic peroxide solution is less than or equal to 1 volume percent, the diluent being water and an organic solvent selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, acetone, methanol, ethanol and 1-propanol. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the freeze point of the dilute organic peroxide solution is less than or equal to −20° C.