Method and System for Treating Hydrocarbon Formations

Abstract

The present invention includes compositions and methods for treating a hydrocarbon-bearing formation having brine and at least one temperature, wherein the brine has at least one first composition by obtaining first compatibility information for a first model brine and a first treatment composition at a model temperature, wherein the first model brine has a composition selected at least partially based on the first brine composition, wherein the model temperature is selected at least partially based on the formation temperature, and wherein the first treatment composition comprises at least one first surfactant and at least one first solvent; based at least partially on the first compatibility information, selecting a treatment method for the hydrocarbon-bearing formation, and treating the hydrocarbon-bearing formation with the selected treatment method.

1 . A method of treating a hydrocarbon-bearing formation having brine and at least one temperature, wherein the brine has at least one first composition, the method comprising:
 obtaining first compatibility information for a first model brine and a first treatment composition at a model temperature, wherein the first model brine has a composition selected at least partially based on the first brine composition, wherein the model temperature is selected at least partially based on the formation temperature, and wherein the first treatment composition comprises at least one first surfactant and at least one first solvent;   based at least partially on the first compatibility information, selecting a treatment method for the hydrocarbon-bearing formation, wherein the treatment method is Method I or Method II,
 wherein Method I comprises:
 contacting the hydrocarbon-bearing formation with a fluid, wherein the fluid at least one of at least partially solubilizes or at least partially displaces the brine in the hydrocarbon-bearing formation; and 
 subsequently contacting the hydrocarbon-bearing formation with the first treatment composition; 
 
 and wherein Method II comprises:
 contacting the hydrocarbon-bearing formation with a second treatment composition, the second treatment composition comprising at least one second surfactant and at least one second solvent, with the proviso that after obtaining the first compatibility information, the hydrocarbon-bearing formation is not contacted with a fluid that at least one of at least partially solubilizes or at least partially displaces the brine in the hydrocarbon-bearing formation prior to contacting the hydrocarbon-bearing formation with the second treatment composition; and 
 
   treating the hydrocarbon-bearing formation with the selected treatment method.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first compatibility information indicates that the first model brine and the first treatment composition are at least partially incompatible. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first compatibility information indicates that the first model brine and the first treatment composition are compatible, and wherein the second treatment composition has the same composition as the first treatment composition. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first compatibility information comprises information concerning the phase stability of a mixture of the first model brine and the first treatment composition, or wherein the compatibility information comprises information concerning salt precipitation from a mixture of the first model brine and the first treatment composition. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first surfactant or the second surfactant is a nonionic fluorinated polymeric surfactant. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the nonionic fluorinated polymeric surfactant comprises:
 at least one divalent unit represented by formula:   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       and
 at least one divalent unit represented by formula: 
 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein
 R f  represents a perfluoroalkyl group having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms; 
 R, R 1 , and R 2  are each independently hydrogen or alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms; 
 n is an integer from 2 to 10; 
 EO represents —CH 2 CH 2 O—; 
 each PO independently represents —CH(CH 3 )CH 2 O— or —CH 2 CH(CH 3 )O—; 
 each p is independently an integer of from 1 to about 128; and 
 each q is independently an integer of from 0 to about 55. 
 
       
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid is essentially free of surfactant. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid comprises at least one of toluene, diesel, heptane, octane, or condensate, or wherein the fluid comprises at least one of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or methane. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid comprises at least one of a polyol or polyol ether, and wherein the polyol and polyol ether independently have from 2 to 25 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid further comprises water or at least one monohydroxy alcohol, ether, or ketone independently having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         13 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first solvent or the second solvent comprises at least one of a polyol or polyol ether, wherein the polyol and polyol ether independently have from 2 to 25 carbon atoms; and wherein at least one of the first solvent or the second solvent comprises at least one of a monohydroxy alcohol, ether, or ketone independently having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first compatibility information is represented in a contour map. 
     
     
         17 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein after the fluid contacts the hydrocarbon-bearing formation and before the first treatment composition contacts the hydrocarbon-bearing formation, the formation has a second brine composition, and wherein Method I further comprises:
 obtaining second compatibility information for a second model brine and the first treatment composition at the model temperature, wherein the second model brine has a composition selected at least partially based on the second brine composition, and wherein the second compatibility information indicates that the first treatment composition and the second model brine are compatible.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the formation is fractured. 
     
     
         21 . A method of treating a hydrocarbon-bearing formation having brine and at least one temperature, wherein the brine has at least one first composition, the method comprising:
 obtaining first compatibility information for a first model brine and a treatment composition at a model temperature, wherein the first model brine has a composition selected at least partially based on the first brine composition, wherein the model temperature is selected at least partially based on the formation temperature, wherein the treatment composition comprises at least one surfactant and at least one solvent, and wherein the first compatibility information indicates that the treatment composition and the first model brine are at least partially incompatible;   contacting the hydrocarbon-bearing formation with a fluid, wherein the fluid at least one of at least partially solubilizes or at least partially displaces the brine in the hydrocarbon-bearing formation, and wherein after the fluid contacts the hydrocarbon-bearing formation, the formation has a second brine composition;   obtaining second compatibility information for a second model brine and the treatment composition at the model temperature, wherein the second model brine has a composition selected at least partially based on the second brine composition, and wherein the second compatibility information indicates that the treatment composition and the second model brine are compatible; and   after obtaining the second compatibility information, contacting the hydrocarbon-bearing formation with the treatment composition.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one surfactant is a nonionic fluorinated polymeric surfactant, comprising:
 at least one divalent unit represented by formula:   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       and
 at least one divalent unit represented by formula: 
 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         
           wherein
 R f  represents a perfluoroalkyl group having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms; 
 R, R 1 , and R 2  are each independently hydrogen or alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms; 
 n is an integer from 2 to 10; 
 EO represents —CH 2 CH 2 O—; 
 each PO independently represents —CH(CH 3 )CH 2 O— or —CH 2 CH(CH 3 )O—; 
 each p is independently an integer of from 1 to about 128; and 
 each q is independently an integer of from 0 to about 55. 
 
         
       
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the fluid is essentially free of surfactant. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the fluid comprises at least one of toluene, diesel, heptane, octane, or condensate; wherein the fluid comprises at least one of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or methane; or wherein the fluid comprises at least one of a polyol or polyol ether, and wherein the polyol and polyol ether independently have from 2 to 25 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         25 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the fluid further comprises water or at least one monohydroxy alcohol, ether, or ketone independently having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         28 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one solvent comprises at least one of a polyol or polyol ether, wherein the polyol and polyol ether independently have from 2 to 25 carbon atoms; and wherein the at least one solvent comprises at least one of monohydroxy alcohol, ether, or ketone independently having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms.