Hydrocarbon reservoir treatment method with hydrocarbons

Abstract

A hydrocarbon well treatment fluid is made recyclable by introducing a laminar flow enhancer into the fluid, resulting in a formulation called Slick Oil™ hydrocarbon fluid. A method of using a fluid in the treatment of a hydrocarbon reservoir is disclosed. A hydrocarbon fluid is injected into the hydrocarbon reservoir, the hydrocarbon fluid comprising hydrocarbons and a hydrophobic laminar flow enhancer. The hydrocarbon fluid is recovered from the hydrocarbon reservoir. The recovered hydrocarbon fluid is then cleaned by removing contaminants from the recovered hydrocarbon fluid that have been introduced into the hydrocarbon fluid from the hydrocarbon reservoir. The hydrocarbon fluid is then re-used by injecting the cleaned and recovered hydrocarbon fluid into at least one subsequent hydrocarbon reservoir. Proppant carrying abilities of a hydrocarbon fracturing fluid are enhanced by introducing a laminar flow enhancer into the fluid, resulting in a formulation called Slick Oil™ hydrocarbon fluid.

1 . A method of using a fluid in the treatment of a hydrocarbon reservoir, the method comprising:
 injecting a hydrocarbon fluid into the hydrocarbon reservoir, the hydrocarbon fluid comprising hydrocarbons and a hydrophobic laminar flow enhancer;   recovering the hydrocarbon fluid from the hydrocarbon reservoir;   cleaning the recovered hydrocarbon fluid by removing contaminants from the recovered hydrocarbon fluid that have been introduced into the hydrocarbon fluid from the hydrocarbon reservoir; and   re-using the hydrocarbon fluid by injecting the cleaned and recovered hydrocarbon fluid into at least one subsequent hydrocarbon reservoir.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  in which the at least one subsequent hydrocarbon reservoir comprises the hydrocarbon reservoir. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  in which the at least one subsequent hydrocarbon reservoir comprises a second hydrocarbon reservoir. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising applying pressure to the hydrocarbon fluid injected into the hydrocarbon reservoir. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  in which the pressure is sufficient to cause fracturing of the hydrocarbon reservoir. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  in which re-using further comprises applying pressure to the cleaned and recovered hydrocarbon fluid injected into the subsequent hydrocarbon reservoir. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  in which the pressure applied to the cleaned and recovered hydrocarbon fluid injected into the subsequent hydrocarbon reservoir is sufficient to cause fracturing of the subsequent hydrocarbon reservoir. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  in which removing contaminants comprises removing solid particles. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  in which removing solid particles comprises filtering. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  in which filtering of the recovered hydrocarbon fluid comprises removing particles greater than 1 μm in diameter. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1  in which removing contaminants comprises heating the recovered hydrocarbon fluid to remove volatile components. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  in which sufficient volatile components are removed to cause the recovered hydrocarbon fluid to have a flash point greater than 10° C. and a Reid vapour pressure of at least 2 psi. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1  in which removing contaminants comprises applying a vacuum to the recovered hydrocarbon fluid to remove volatile components. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1  in which removing contaminants comprises removing water from the recovered hydrocarbon fluid. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  in which removing water comprises one or more of decanting, centrifuging, skimming, and drying. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1  in which the hydrophobic laminar flow enhancer comprises a polymerized hydrocarbon. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1  in which the hydrocarbon fluid is initially injected into the hydrocarbon reservoir with proppant. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1  in which the hydrophobic laminar flow enhancer is present in an amount of less than 1% by weight of the hydrocarbon fluid. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 1  in which the hydrocarbon fluid is injected into the hydrocarbon reservoir along with a drive fluid. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  in which the drive fluid comprises carbon dioxide, liquefied petroleum gas, or nitrogen. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 1  in which hydrophobic laminar flow enhancer is added to the recovered and cleaned hydrocarbon fluid before or during re-use of the recovered and cleaned hydrocarbon fluid. 
   
   
       22 - 29 . (canceled) 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 1  in which the hydrocarbon fluid excludes a is free of gelling agent. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 1  in which the hydrocarbon fluid excludes is free of liquefied petroleum gas. 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 1  in which the hydrocarbon fluid comprises liquefied petroleum gas. 
   
   
       33 - 36 . (canceled) 
   
   
       37 . A method of using a fluid in the treatment of a hydrocarbon reservoir, the method comprising:
 injecting a hydrocarbon fluid into the hydrocarbon reservoir, the hydrocarbon fluid comprising liquefied petroleum gas and a laminar flow enhancer; and   applying pressure to the hydrocarbon fluid injected into the hydrocarbon reservoir.   
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 37  in which the pressure applied to the hydrocarbon fluid is sufficient to cause fracturing of the hydrocarbon reservoir. 
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 37  in which the hydrocarbon fluid further comprises C6+ hydrocarbon fluid. 
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 39  in which the C6+ hydrocarbon fluid is combined with laminar flow enhancer and then mixed with liquefied petroleum gas prior to injection into the well. 
   
   
       41 - 48 . (canceled) 
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 1  in which the hydrocarbons comprise liquefied petroleum gas.