Wellbore Emulsifier Composition for Low Toxicity Oil Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current emulsifier compositions used in wellbore servicing fluids do not adequately meet health, safety, and environmental guidelines, and there is a need for improved formulations that enhance oil recovery while maintaining low toxicity.
Innovation Solution
The development of emulsifier compositions comprising an emulsifier, a diluent, and a thinner, where the thinner includes fatty acid amides or alcohols, which are used to reduce water-oil interfacial tension and alter wettability, thereby enhancing oil recovery from subterranean formations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional emulsifier compositions are used in wellbore servicing fluids, then emulsion stability is achieved, but toxicity levels exceed health, safety, and environmental guidelines
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the emulsifier by incorporating biodegradable surfactants and specific fatty acid amides (0.1-10% by weight) that fundamentally alter the toxicity profile while maintaining emulsification capability. This parameter change transforms the harmful chemical properties without sacrificing the core emulsion stability function.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite emulsifier system combining multiple components: biodegradable surfactants, fatty acid amides (0.1-10%), alcohols (5-50%), and diluents. This composite approach leverages the low-toxicity properties of natural-derived components while achieving the emulsion stability previously provided by synthetic chemicals, thereby resolving the contradiction between safety and reliability.
2Productivity
If emulsifier compositions with high toxicity are used, then enhanced oil recovery is achieved, but health, safety, and environmental guidelines are violated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the concentration parameters of active ingredients, specifically using fatty acid amides at 0.1-10% and alcohols at 5-50% by weight. These parameter optimizations maintain the interfacial tension reduction capability necessary for oil recovery while ensuring toxicity remains within environmental guidelines through the use of biodegradable components.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs biodegradable surfactants and natural-derived components that break down quickly in the environment, effectively creating a 'short-living' chemical solution that performs its oil recovery function then degrades harmlessly. This approach maintains productivity while eliminating long-term environmental toxicity concerns.
3Productivity
If invert emulsion is placed in the wellbore, then water-oil interfacial tension is reduced and wettability is altered, but the composition must meet environmental guidelines
Solution Approach 1:
The patent fundamentally changes the chemical parameters of the invert emulsion by using biodegradable surfactants and controlling the content of fatty acid amides (0.1-10%) and alcohols (5-50%). These parameter changes enable the emulsion to achieve the necessary interfacial tension reduction and wettability alteration for enhanced oil recovery while maintaining environmental compliance through rapid biodegradation.
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
The proposed emulsifier compositions effectively reduce water-oil interfacial tension, alter wettability, and provide enhanced oil recovery, while meeting health, safety, and environmental guidelines by maintaining a low toxicity level, thus improving the efficiency of wellbore servicing operations.
Implementation Method 1
lower the interfacial tension between oil and water which allows stable emulsions with small drops to be formed
Implementation Method 2
allows stable emulsions with small drops to be formed
Implementation Method 3
altering the wettability to provide enhanced oil recovery from the formation
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
A method of servicing a wellbore in a subterranean formation comprising preparing an invert emulsion comprising an aqueous fluid, an oleaginous fluid, and an emulsifier composition (EC), wherein the emulsifier composition comprises an emulsifier, a diluent, and a thinner, wherein the thinner comprises an alcohol, a fatty acid amide, or combinations thereof; and placing the invert emulsion in the wellbore. A method of servicing a wellbore in a subterranean formation comprising flowing a wellbore serving fluid comprising an emulsifier composition (EC) through a portion of a subterranean formation, wherein the EC comprises an emulsifier, a diluent and a thinner and wherein the thinner comprises 2-methyl-1-propanol, 2-methyl-2-butanol, a fatty acid amide, or combinations thereof; contacting the EC with oil in situ within the formation to form an emulsion; and reducing the water-oil interfacial tension and altering the wettability to provide enhanced oil recovery from the formation.