Enhanced Subterranean Resource Recovery

Abstract

Methods of resource recovery include reagents placed in a subterranean formation. The reagents generate heat, hydrogen gas and alkalinity which changes fluid flow characteristics. The forces of the reactions create fractures and cracks far from the well bore. These cracks and fractures are sealed if water is being transmitted through or near the reactions. As a result, the targeted fluids more efficiently flow to the well, along with decreased amounts of water waste, while stimulating generation of biogenic gases in the subterranean formations.

1 . A method of removing indigenous water and increasing hydrocarbon recovery from a well having a top surface structure, a wellbore with or without casing and an opening in the wellbore into a subterranean geological formation comprising:
 a) providing a mixture of transport fluid that is not reactive with water at the wellbore surface conditions and at least one reagent that when reacted with water produces heat and hydroxide compound(s);   b) injecting for a time the mixture into the wellbore in sufficient quantity and at a sufficient flow rate to cause the mixture to move into the geological formation through a wellbore opening and result in measurable reaction of the at least one reagent with indigenous mineral-containing water.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least one reagent is selected from the group consisting of: alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, alkali metal hydrides, alkaline earth metal hydrides, metal hydrides, complex hydrides of alkali metals and aluminum, complex hydrides of alkaline earth metal and aluminum, complex hydrides of alkali metal and lithium, hydrides of alkaline metal and lithium, hydrides of alkali metal and boron, hydrides of alkaline metal and boron, alkali metal oxide, alkaline earth metal oxide, alkali metal hydroxide, alkaline earth metal hydroxide and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the transport fluid is not reactive with the reagents at the conditions existing at the wellbore surface and is selected from the group consisting of water, gelled water, hydrocarbon-in-water emulsions, water-in-hydrocarbon emulsions, gelled hydrocarbons, high viscosity hydrocarbon liquids, diesel, carbon dioxide foam, nitrogen foam, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  also comprising injecting into the wellbore a displacement fluid that is not reactive with the at least one reagent following injection of the mixture of transport carrier fluid and at least one reagent. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the mixture of transport carrier fluid and at least one reagent is injected into the wellbore in a conduit separate from the casing. 
     
     
         6 . A method of removing indigenous water and increasing hydrocarbon recovery from a well having a top surface structure, a wellbore with or without casing and an opening in the wellbore into a subterranean geological formation comprising:
 a) providing a mixture of water or water based transport fluid and at least one reagent that is not reactive with water at wellbore surface conditions but is reactive at conditions existing in the subsurface of the subterranean geological formation and that when reacted with water produces heat and hydroxide compound(s);   b) injecting for a time the mixture into the wellbore in sufficient quantity and at a sufficient flow rate to cause the mixture to move into the geological formation from the wellbore opening and result in measurable reaction of the at least one reagent with indigenous mineral-containing water.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the at least one reagent is magnesium metal, aluminum metal or a combination of magnesium metal and aluminum metal. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  also comprising injecting into the wellbore a displacement fluid that is not reactive with the at least one reagent following injection of the mixture of transport carrier fluid and at least one reagent. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the mixture of transport carrier fluid and magnesium metal or aluminum metal is injected into the wellbore in a conduit separate from the casing. 
     
     
         10 . A method of removing indigenous water and increasing hydrocarbon recovery from a well having a top surface structure, a wellbore with or without casing and an opening in the wellbore into a subterranean geological formation comprising:
 a.) injecting spacer or initiator fluid into the well in sufficient volume and at sufficient pressure to produce fractures in the geological formation;   b) providing a mixture of a transport fluid and at least one reagent that when reacted with water produces heat and hydroxide compound(s);   c) injecting for a time the mixture into the wellbore in sufficient quantity and at a sufficient flow rate to cause the mixture to move into the geological formation through the wellbore opening and result in measurable reaction of the at least one reagent with indigenous mineral-containing water.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the at least one reagent is selected from the group consisting of: alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, alkali metal hydrides, alkaline earth metal hydrides, metal hydrides, complex hydrides of alkali metals and aluminum, complex hydrides of alkaline earth metal and aluminum, complex hydrides of alkali metal and lithium, hydrides of alkaline metal and lithium, hydrides of alkali metal and boron, hydrides of alkaline metal and boron, alkali metal oxide, alkaline earth metal oxide, alkali metal hydroxide, alkaline earth metal hydroxide and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the transport fluid is not reactive with the reagents at the conditions existing at the wellbore surface structure and is selected from the group consisting of water, gelled water, hydrocarbon-in-water emulsions, water-in-hydrocarbon emulsions, gelled hydrocarbons, high viscosity hydrocarbon liquids, diesel, carbon dioxide foam, nitrogen foam, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the spacer or initiator fluid of step a) also contains proppants. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the spacer or initiator fluid of step a) also contains a mixture of a transport fluid and at least one reagent that when reacted with water produces heat and hydroxide compound(s). 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the mixture of transport carrier fluid and at least one reagent is injected into the wellbore in a conduit separate from the casing. 
     
     
         16 . A method of increasing hydrocarbon recovery from a well having a top surface structure, a wellbore with or without casing and an opening in the wellbore into a subterranean geological formation:
 a) providing a mixture of a transport fluid and at least one reagent that when reacted with water produces heat, hydroxide compound(s) and hydrogen;   b) injecting for a time the mixture into the wellbore in sufficient quantity and at a sufficient flow rate to cause the mixture to move into the geological formation through the wellbore opening and result in measurable reaction of the at least one reagent with indigenous mineral-containing water,;   d) stopping injection of fluid for a period of time sufficient for microbial activity to generate measurable quantities of hydrocarbon gas; and   recovering hydrocarbon gas from the well.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the at least one reagent is selected from the group consisting of: alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, alkali metal hydrides, alkaline earth metal hydrides, metal hydrides, complex hydrides of alkali metals and aluminum, complex hydrides of alkaline earth metal and aluminum, complex hydrides of alkali metal and lithium, hydrides of alkaline metal and lithium, hydrides of alkali metal and boron, hydrides of alkaline metal and boron, alkali metal oxide, alkaline earth metal oxide, alkali metal hydroxide, alkaline earth metal hydroxide and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  comprising injecting CO 2  into the wellbore in step b). 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the mixture of transport carrier fluid and at least one reagent is injected into the wellbore in a conduit separate from the casing. 
     
     
         20 . A method of tailoring the stimulation of hydrocarbon recovery from a well having a top surface structure, a wellbore with or without casing and an opening in the wellbore into a subterranean geological comprising:
 a) providing a 3D simulation program designed to simulate the conditions in a well for hydrocarbon recovery;   b) simulating the results of providing a mixture of a transport fluid and at least one reagent that when reacted with water produces heat and hydroxide compound(s) if it were injected for a time into the wellbore in sufficient quantity and at a sufficient flow rate to cause the mixture to move into the geological formation through the wellbore opening and result in measurable reaction of the at least one reagent with indigenous mineral-containing water;   c) analyzing the results of the injection and determining a preferred method of further well stimulation based upon the results of the simulation;   d) provide a mixture consistent with the simulation results and analysis of c) of a transport fluid and at least one reagent that when reacted with water produces heat, hydroxide compound(s) and hydrogen and injecting the mixture into the well for a time in sufficient quantity and at a sufficient flow rate cause the mixture to move into the geological formation through the wellbore opening and result in measurable reaction of the at least one reagent with indigenous mineral-containing water;   d) compare the actual results obtained with the simulation results.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the at least one reagent is selected from the group consisting of: alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, alkali metal hydrides, alkaline earth metal hydrides, metal hydrides, complex hydrides of alkali metals and aluminum, complex hydrides of alkaline earth metal and aluminum, complex hydrides of alkali metal and lithium, hydrides of alkaline metal and lithium, hydrides of alkali metal and boron, hydrides of alkaline metal and boron, alkali metal oxide, alkaline earth metal oxide, alkali metal hydroxide, alkaline earth metal hydroxide and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the transport fluid is not reactive with the reagents at the conditions existing at the e wellbore surface structure and is selected from the group consisting of water, gelled water, hydrocarbon-in-water emulsions, water-in-hydrocarbon emulsions, gelled hydrocarbons, high viscosity hydrocarbon liquids, diesel, carbon dioxide foam, nitrogen foam, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the at least one reagent is calcium metal. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the at least one reagent is a calcium oxide/water slurry. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the actual result of step c) is determined based upon the change of pressure in the well after ceasing the injection outlined in step d).