Enzyme enhanced oil recovery (EEOR) for cyclic steam injection

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to the release or recovery of subterranean hydrocarbon deposits and, more specifically, to a system for enhanced oil recovery (EOR), by utilizing enzymatic fluid and cyclic injection of steam or heated fluid into subterranean formations.

1 . An enzymatic fluid for enhanced recovery of oil or other hydrocarbon deposits in a subterranean formation, wherein said deposits are releasable by initially adding said enzymatic fluid directly to a pump for pumping said fluid into said formation followed by a period of time allowing said fluid to soak said formation, followed by injection of either water or steam or both into said formation, followed by an additional period of time allowing water, steam, and enzymatic fluid to soak within said formation, followed by recovery of said deposits by pumping or other means. 
   
   
       2 . The enzymatic fluid of  claim 1 , wherein said fluid is GREENZYME® and wherein said deposits include crude oil. 
   
   
       3 . The enzymatic fluid of  claim 1 , wherein the method for injecting said enzymatic fluid includes a process referred to as cyclic steam stimulation (CSS). 
   
   
       4 . The enzymatic fluid of  claim 1 , wherein said fluid is used for pre-treatment and treatment between steam injection cycles or treatment of the subterranean formation during a steam injection cycle wherein said enzymatic fluid is injected as a heated liquid into said formation. 
   
   
       5 . The enzymatic fluid of  claim 1 , wherein said enzymatic fluid is heated to at least 80 degrees Celsius before injection into a well thereby minimizing heat loss downhole and allowing maximize penetration of injected steam. 
   
   
       6 . The enzymatic fluid of  claim 1 , wherein said fluid is diluted with water in a range of 0.01 to 99 percent and more specifically is diluted within a working range of 3 to 10 percent of enzymatic fluid in water. 
   
   
       7 . The enzymatic fluid of  claim 1 , wherein said fluid is incrementally diluted to stimulate wells that are at an unacceptable level of production prior to restarting a cyclic steam injection process. 
   
   
       8 . The enzymatic fluid of  claim 1 , wherein said fluid is used for pre-treatment or treatment of said formation during enhanced oil recovery such that said fluid is injected and intermixed with water which is sent into said formation and wherein said formation is a well that is subsequently not used for a period of time allowing for soaking of said well prior to another phase of enhanced oil recovery including, but not limited to pumping and use of steam for one or more cycles during said recovery. 
   
   
       9 . The enzymatic fluid of  claim 1 , wherein said fluid is injected into pipelines to clean plugged or restricted flow areas and to prevent crude oil from plugging said pipelines. 
   
   
       10 . The enzymatic fluid of  claim 1 , wherein said fluid reduces asphaltenes and waxes at an injection wellbore prior to steam injection as well as minimizing wellbore build up during production that occurs at an end of an enhanced oil recovery cycle, wherein said cycle includes a cyclic steam cycle. 
   
   
       11 . The enzymatic fluid of  claim 1 , wherein during cyclic steam operations said fluid does not affect the normal heat transfer provided by the steam to surrounding well formations or to said deposits, wherein said deposits include crude oil. 
   
   
       12 . The enzymatic fluid of  claim 1 ,wherein said enzymatic fluid including GREENZYME®, is introduced into cyclic steam operations so that reduction of steamload is accomplished to impart a favorable impact to the steam-to-oil ratio thereby increasing crude oil recovery from a new or existing formation. 
   
   
       13 . The enzymatic fluid of  claim 1 , wherein said enzymatic fluid including GREENZYME®, is introduced into cyclic steam operations so that the same steamload as otherwise would be used during enhanced oil recovery imparts a favorable impact to the steam-to-oil ratio, thereby increasing crude oil recovery from a new or existing formation. 
   
   
       14 . A method for enhanced recovery of oil or other hydrocarbon deposits in a subterranean formation using an enzymatic fluid, wherein said deposits are releasable by initially adding said enzymatic fluid directly to a pump for pumping said fluid into said formation followed by a period of time allowing said fluid to soak said formation, next injecting either water or steam or both into said formation, next allowing an additional period of time for soaking by water, steam, and enzymatic fluid within said formation, followed by recovery of said deposits by pumping or other means. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said fluid is initially diluted or heated or both prior to adding said fluid to said formation. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein adding said fluid after initial steam injection or cycling of said steam is accomplished. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said fluid is GREENZYME® and wherein said deposits include crude oil. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the method for injecting said enzymatic fluid includes a process referred to as cyclic steam stimulation (CSS). 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein using said fluid for pre-treatment and treatment between steam injection cycles or treatment of said subterranean formation during a steam injection cycle wherein said enzymatic fluid is injected as a heated liquid into said formation, is accomplished. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said enzymatic fluid is heated to at least 80 degrees Celsius before injecting into a well, thereby minimizing heat loss downhole and allowing maximize penetration of injected steam. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein diluting said fluid with water in a range of 0.01 to 99 percent and more specifically diluting within a working range of 3 to 10 percent of enzymatic fluid in water is acceptable. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said fluid is incrementally diluted to stimulate wells that are at an unacceptable level of production prior to restarting a cyclic steam injection process. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein using said fluid for pre-treatment or treatment of said formation during enhanced oil recovery such that injecting said fluid and intermixing with water is accomplished and said fluid and water are sent into said formation and wherein said formation is a well that is subsequently not used for a period of time allowing for soaking of said well prior to another phase of enhanced oil recovery including, but not limited to pumping and using steam for one or more cycles during said recovery. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said injecting fluid into pipelines to clean plugged or restricted flow areas and to prevent crude oil from plugging said pipelines is accomplished. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said fluid provides a means for reducing asphaltenes and waxes at an injection wellbore prior to steam injection as well as minimizing wellbore build up during production occurring at an end of an enhanced oil recovery cycle, wherein said cycle includes a cyclic steam cycle. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 15 , such that during cyclic steam operations said fluid does not affect the normal heat transfer accomplished by providing steam to surrounding well formations or to said deposits, wherein said deposits include crude oil. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 1   5 ,wherein introducing said enzymatic fluid including GREENZYME®, into cyclic steam operations reduces steamload to impart a favorable impact to the steam-to-oil ratio thereby increasing crude oil recovery from a new or existing formation. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein introducing said enzymatic fluid including GREENZYME®, into cyclic steam operations so that the same steamload as otherwise would be used during enhanced oil recovery imparts a favorable impact to the steam-to-oil ratio, thereby increasing crude oil recovery from a new or existing formation. 
   
   
       29 . A system for enhanced recovery of oil or other hydrocarbon deposits in a subterranean formation using an enzymatic fluid, wherein said deposits are releasable by initially adding said enzymatic fluid directly to a pump for pumping said fluid into said formation followed by a period of time allowing said fluid to soak said formation, next injecting either water or steam or both into said formation, next allowing an additional period of time for soaking by water, steam, and enzymatic fluid within said formation, followed by recovery of said deposits by pumping or other means and wherein said fluid is initially diluted or heated or both prior to adding said fluid to said formation, and wherein adding said fluid after initial steam injection or cycling of said steam is accomplished. 
   
   
       30 . The system of claim  31 , wherein said fluid is GREENZYME® and wherein said deposits include crude oil.