Method for intervention operations in subsurface hydrocarbon formations

Abstract

Nanoparticles are added to a fluid containing a wetting agent to enhance wetting of solid surfaces in and around the well and removing a water-block from the well. The wetting agent and nanoparticles combine to produce a wetting of the surfaces of the rock that allows recovery of the excess water near the well (water block).

1 . A method for removal of water block around a well, comprising:
 providing an aqueous or hydrocarbon fluid;   adding nanoparticles and a wetting agent to the aqueous or hydrocarbon fluid;   injecting the fluid and additives into the well; and   producing a fluid from the well.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein die wetting agent is an alpha-olefin sulfonate. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the wetting agent is selected from the group consisting of ethoxylated nonyl phenol, sodium stearate, sodium dodecyl sulfate, sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate, lauralamine hydrochloride, trimethyl dodecylammonium chloride, cetyl trimethylammonium chloride, polyoxyethylene alcohol, alkyphenolethoxylate, Polysorbate 80, propylene oxide modified polymethylsiloxane, dodecyl betaine, lauramidopropyl betaine, cocoamido-2-hydroxy-propyl sulfobetaine, alkyl aryl sulfonate, fluorosurfactants and perfluoropolymers and terpolymers, and castor bean adducts. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the alpha-olefin sulfonate has a carbon number in the range from about 10 to about 14. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the nanoparticles are added to a concentration in the range from about 5% to about 20% by weight. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the nanoparticles are in the range of 1-10 nanometers in size. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the nanoparticles have a polydispersity less than 20%.