Treatment of hydrocarbon containing reservoirs with electrolyzed water

Abstract

Systems and methods for using one or more electrolyzed aqueous solutions to treat subterranean reservoirs containing hydrocarbons are disclosed herein. In some cases, the methods include using an electrochemical cell to produce electrolyzed acidic water and electrolyzed alkaline water. In such cases, the electrolyzed acidic water or the electrolyzed alkaline water is introduced to the well. While the electrolyzed acidic or alkaline water can be used for a variety of purposes, in some cases, it is used to improve hydraulic fracturing, water flooding, and well stimulation techniques. In some cases, the electrolyzed acidic or alkaline water is mixed with one or more other materials, such as a proppant, a hydraulic fracturing fluid, a polymer, or another additive. Additional implementations are disclosed.

1 . A method for treating a subterranean, hydrocarbon containing reservoir, the method comprising:
 using an electrochemical cell to generate an electrolyzed aqueous solution; and   introducing the electrolyzed aqueous solution into the subterranean, hydrocarbon containing reservoir.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electrolyzed aqueous solution comprises electrolyzed alkaline water. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electrolyzed aqueous solution comprises electrolyzed acidic water. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises a process selected from hydraulic fracturing of the subterranean, hydrocarbon containing reservoir; water flooding the subterranean, hydrocarbon containing reservoir; and improving fluid flow of the subterranean, hydrocarbon containing reservoir, a wellbore of a production well, or an injection well. 
     
     
         5 . A method for the hydraulic fracturing of a subterranean, hydrocarbon containing reservoir, the method comprising:
 using an electrochemical cell to generate an electrolyzed aqueous solution; and   injecting a hydraulic fracturing fluid into the hydrocarbon containing reservoir, wherein the hydraulic fracturing fluid comprises the electrolyzed aqueous solution.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the electrolyzed aqueous solution comprises electrolyzed alkaline water. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the electrolyzed aqueous solution comprises electrolyzed acidic water. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the hydraulic fracturing fluid further comprises a proppant. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the electrolyzed alkaline water has a pH of greater than about 9. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the electrolyzed acidic water has a pH of between about 2 and about 6. 
     
     
         11 . A method for water flooding a subterranean, hydrocarbon containing reservoir to improve recovery of the hydrocarbons from the reservoir, the method comprising:
 using an electrochemical cell to generate an electrolyzed aqueous solution;   injecting the electrolyzed aqueous solution into the subterranean reservoir to drive the hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon containing reservoir to a production well; and   recovering hydrocarbons from the production well.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the electrolyzed aqueous solution comprises electrolyzed alkaline water. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the electrolyzed alkaline water has a pH greater than about 9. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the electrolyzed aqueous solution comprises electrolyzed acidic water. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the electrolyzed acidic water has a pH of between about 2 and about 6. 
     
     
         16 . A method for improving fluid flow within a wellbore of a production well, the method comprising:
 using an electrochemical cell to generate an electrolyzed aqueous solution; and   supplying the electrolyzed aqueous solution to the wellbore such that the electrolyzed aqueous solution reacts with debris in the wellbore.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the electrolyzed aqueous solution comprises electrolyzed alkaline water. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the electrolyzed alkaline water has a pH greater than about 9. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the electrolyzed aqueous solution comprises electrolyzed acidic water. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the electrolyzed acidic water has a pH of between about 2 and about 6.