Basaltic Particle Plugging for Subterranean Wellbore Fractures
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Waterflooding and carbon capture and storage processes face challenges due to injectant diversion and leaks from permeable zones and fractures, leading to reduced oil recovery and environmental concerns, especially in water-bearing formations.
Innovation Solution
Introducing basaltic particles and a carbonated mixture into subterranean wellbores, where the particles dissolve and react with carbonate anions to form carbonate minerals, which are deposited in fractures to plug leakage paths, using stimuli like infrasonic or ultrasonic waves to enhance the process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If waterflooding is used to maintain reservoir pressure and drive hydrocarbons to production wells, then oil recovery is improved, but injectant is diverted in permeable zones or fractures leading to unproductive oil recovery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by injecting basaltic particles into the reservoir before waterflooding operations. These particles dissolve and react with carbonate anions to form carbonate minerals that plug permeable zones and fractures in advance, preventing injectant diversion before it occurs. This preparatory plugging action ensures that subsequent water injection is directed toward productive zones rather than being lost to high-permeability pathways.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses carbonate minerals as an intermediary substance formed through the reaction between dissolved basaltic particles and carbonate anions in the injection fluid. This intermediary precipitate acts as a natural plug to seal off permeable zones and fractures, mediating between the injection fluid and the reservoir rock to prevent harmful divertion while allowing productive flow paths to remain open.
2Loss of energy
If plugging materials are introduced to plug permeable zones and fractures, then injectant diversion is reduced, but hydrocarbon production is contaminated and formation damage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by utilizing the chemical reactivity and solubility characteristics of basaltic particles. The particles are designed to dissolve under specific reservoir conditions and react with carbonate anions to form precipitates in situ. This parameter-based approach allows the plugging material to transform from a soluble state during injection to an insoluble plugging state at the target location, avoiding the formation damage associated with traditional insoluble plugging materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs basaltic particles as temporary, dissolvable plugging materials that serve their purpose and then dissolve or react away. These particles are inexpensive and designed to be consumed in the plugging process, forming carbonate minerals that can be later dissolved or removed if needed. This disposable approach avoids long-term formation damage while effectively preventing injectant diversion during the critical waterflooding period.
3Quantity of substance
If carbon dioxide is injected into depleted reservoirs for carbon capture and storage, then carbon storage is achieved, but carbon dioxide is lost via leakage through depleted zones, fractures, or zones of reduced pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-plugging depleted zones, fractures, and pressure gradient zones with carbonate minerals before carbon dioxide injection. The basaltic particles are introduced and react to form sealing barriers that prevent carbon dioxide leakage pathways from forming, ensuring that the carbon storage function is protected from the outset rather than attempting to remediate leakage after it occurs.
4Loss of energy
If basaltic particles are dissolved with carbonated mixture to release divalent cations and react to produce carbonate minerals, then permeable zones and fractures are plugged, but process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by utilizing the natural chemical reactions that occur when basaltic particles contact carbonate-rich injection fluids under reservoir conditions. The system uses the existing carbonate anions in the formation water or injection fluid to react with dissolved basaltic particles, eliminating the need for external chemicals or complex injection systems. The reservoir environment itself provides the reactants needed for plugging, simplifying the overall process despite the chemical transformation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method effectively plugs permeable zones and fractures, improving oil recovery and carbon storage efficiency while minimizing environmental impact by sealing leakage paths and maintaining reservoir pressure.
Implementation Method 1
dissolving at least a part of the basaltic particles with the carbonated mixture to release divalent cations including calcium cations, magnesium cations and ferrous cations
Implementation Method 2
reacting, in the target zone of the subterranean wellbore, the divalent cations with the carbonate anions in the carbonated mixture to produce carbonate minerals
Implementation Method 3
reacting, in the target zone of the subterranean wellbore, the divalent cations with the carbonate anions in the carbonated mixture to produce carbonate minerals
Implementation Method 4
the carbonate anions are formed by dissolving carbon dioxide in water
Implementation Method 5
the stimulus comprises at least one of infrasonic wave, acoustic wave, ultrasonic wave, and microwave
Implementation Method 6
the stimulus comprises at least one of infrasonic wave, acoustic wave, ultrasonic wave, and microwave
Data Source
AI summary
Methods of enhancing productivity of a subterranean wellbore may include introducing a carbonated mixture comprising water and carbonate anions to a target zone of the subterranean wellbore; introducing basaltic particles to the target zone of the subterranean wellbore; contacting the basaltic particles with the carbonated mixture; dissolving at least a part of the basaltic particles with the carbonated mixture to release divalent cations including calcium cations, magnesium cations and ferrous cations; reacting, in the target zone of the subterranean wellbore, the divalent cations with the carbonate anions in the carbonated mixture to produce carbonate minerals; providing stimulus to the basaltic particles and the carbonated mixture to promote the dissolving and the reacting; depositing at least a part of the carbonate minerals to fractures of the target zone; and monitoring the reacting of the divalent cations with the carbonated anions and depositing.