Methods of recovering a hydrocarbon material contained within a subterranean formation, and related working fluids

Abstract

A method of recovering a hydrocarbon material from a subterranean formation comprises forming a working fluid comprising substantially solid particles and an at least partially gaseous base material, the substantially solid particles exhibiting a greater heat capacity than the at least partially gaseous base material. The working fluid is introduced into a subterranean formation containing a hydrocarbon material to heat and remove the hydrocarbon material from the subterranean formation. An additional method of recovering a hydrocarbon material from a subterranean formation, and a working fluid are also described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of recovering a hydrocarbon material from a subterranean formation, comprising:
 forming a working fluid comprising substantially solid particles and an at least partially gaseous base material, the substantially solid particles exhibiting a greater heat capacity than the at least partially gaseous base material; and   introducing the working fluid into a subterranean formation containing a hydrocarbon material to heat and remove the hydrocarbon material from the subterranean formation.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein forming a working fluid comprises forming the substantially solid particles to have a heat capacity greater than or equal to about 0.1 kJ/kg-K. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein forming the solid particles comprises forming the substantially solid particles to comprise at least one of graphite, graphene, fullerenes, diamond, nanofibers, clay, inorganic material, an organo-silicon material, and metal. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein forming the solid particles further comprises forming the substantially solid particles to comprise a core of a first material at least partially surrounded by a shell of a second material. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein forming a working fluid comprises forming the substantially solid particles to have a thermal conductivity of greater than or equal to about 50 W/m-K. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein forming a working fluid comprises modifying surfaces of at least some of the substantially solid particles to maintain a substantially stable dispersion of the substantially solid particles within the at least partially gaseous base material. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , Wherein forming a working fluid comprises modifying surfaces of at least some of the substantially solid particles to exhibit surfactant characteristics. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , Wherein forming a working fluid comprises forming the substantially solid particles to be hydrophilic, hydrophobic, amphiphilic, oxophilic, lipophilic, oleophilic, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein forming a working fluid comprises forming the substantially solid particles to exhibit a surface area within a range of from about 300 m 2 /g to about 1800 m 2 /g. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein forming a working fluid comprises forming the working fluid to comprise from about 0.05 percent by weight to about 20.0 percent by weight of the substantially solid particles. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein introducing the working fluid into a subterranean formation comprises introducing the working fluid into the subterranean formation at a temperature of greater than or equal to about 100° C. 
     
     
         12 . A method of recovering a hydrocarbon material from a subterranean formation, comprising:
 forming nanoparticles comprising at least one of graphite, graphene, fullerenes, diamond, nanofibers, clay, inorganic material, an organo-silicon material, and metal;   combining the nanoparticles with an at least partially gaseous base material comprising at least one of steam and carbon dioxide to form a working fluid; and   injecting the working fluid into a subterranean formation at a temperature greater than or equal to about 100° C. to heat and remove a hydrocarbon material contained within the subterranean formation.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein forming nanoparticles comprises formulating the nanoparticles to remain substantially solid up to a temperature of at least about 350° C. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein forming nanoparticles comprises attaching functional groups to surfaces of at least some of the nanoparticles. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein forming nanoparticles comprises forming the nanoparticles to have a heat capacity of greater than or equal to about 0.1 kJ/kg-K, and to have a thermal conductivity of greater than or equal to about 50 W/m-K. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein combining the nanoparticles with a base material further comprises combining the nanoparticles with at least one of a surfactant and a filler material. 
     
     
         17 . A working fluid, comprising:
 an at least partially gaseous base material; and   substantially solid particles dispersed and stabilized within the at least partially gaseous base material, the substantially solid particles each formulated to remain substantially solid up to a temperature of at least about 350° C. and each independently having a heat capacity of greater than or equal to about 0.1 kJ/kg-K.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the at least partially gaseous base material comprises at least one of steam and carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the substantially solid particles each independently have a thermal conductivity of greater than or equal to about 50 W/m-K. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein at least some of the substantially solid particles comprise functional groups attached to surfaces thereof.