Method and apparatus to increase recovery of hydrocarbons

Abstract

Methods for enhancing the extraction of fluids from subterranean formation through wells using hydrogen produced in-situ. Certain embodiments produce hydrogen in-situ through reactions of a hydride. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the produced hydrogen is retained in the well bore for a sufficient amount of time to allow hydrogen to migrate into the subterranean formation. In certain embodiments, in absorbing the hydrogen, the subterranean formation desorbs and releases certain organic material for production through a well bore. In other embodiments, the subterranean formation is placed under pressure to drive the hydrogen further into the formation and into the molecular structure of the formations and substances contained therein. When pressure is released, the hydrogen creates additional fractures or cracks in the formation through explosive compression, thereby increasing permeability of the formation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for the extraction of at least one substance from a subterranean formation comprising:
 (a) injecting a first fluid system into a subterranean formation through a wellbore at a pressure sufficient to create at least one fracture in said subterranean formation, wherein said subterranean formation is in fluid communication with said wellbore;   (b) injecting a second fluid system into said subterranean formation through said wellbore, said second fluid system comprising a hydride substance;   (c) mixing, in said wellbore, at least a portion of said first fluid system with at least a portion of the hydride material of said second fluid system to produce hydrogen;   (d) retaining at least a portion of the produced hydrogen in said subterranean formation for a period of time of at least 10 hours; and   (e) after said period of time of retention, producing at least one substance from said subterranean formation to the surface.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the hydride substance preferably comprises a metal hydride substance. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first fluid system and second fluid system are injected into said wellbore simultaneously. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said at least one substance is produced to surface through a wellbore. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said wellbore is the wellbore used for the injection of said first fluid system and said second fluid system. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said first fluid system is injected into said wellbore using a first conduit and said second fluid system is injected into said wellbore using a second conduit separate from said first conduit. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein said second conduit is disposed in said first conduit through at least a portion of said wellbore. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said first conduit comprises a well casing and said second conduit comprises a coiled tubing disposed in said well casing. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the first fluid system and second fluid system has a pH less than about 7. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said second fluid system has a pH of about 7 or greater. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising heating the first fluid system to a temperature greater than the surface ambient temperature prior to injecting it into the wellbore. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first fluid system comprises at least one of the following: steam, carbon dioxide, water, nitrogen, a hydride catalyst, a hydride retarder, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the hydride catalyst comprises cobalt. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the hydride retarder comprises a substance configured to coat the hydride upon contact with said hydride substance. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the second fluid system has a pH of about 7 or greater, said second fluid system comprises at least one of the following: an ammoniated fluid, ammonia hydroxide, and any combination thereof 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second fluid system comprises a hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the second fluid system comprises a hydride reaction stabilizer. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first fluid system and second fluid system are alternatively injected into the wellbore. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first fluid system comprises a previously recovered subterranean fluid produced from the subterranean formation. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the previously recovered fluid comprises at least one of the following: carbon dioxide, water, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at least one of said first fluid system and second fluid system contains at least one of the following: a propping agent, a fluid viscosity modifier, a surface tension reducing agent, a micro-emulsion, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein said viscosity modifier is a gelling agent. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said gelling agent comprises a pH less than 7. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the respective fluid comprising the propping agent has a pH less than about 7. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the second fluid system comprises an alcohol. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of retaining a portion of said hydrogen comprises retaining a portion of said hydrogen in said formation under pressure. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein said pressure is held from the surface. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26  wherein said pressure is held from below surface. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26  further comprising the step of releasing at least a portion of the pressure from said formation. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  further comprises explosive decompression of said formation in response to said releasing pressure step. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the hydrogen of said hydride reaction is produced to surface. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the hydride comprises at least one of the following: sodium borohydride, potassium borohydride, and lithium borohydride. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the hydride comprises a solid substance. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the hydride fluid comprises a solution. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the hydride comprises a blend of different hydrides. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the production of hydrogen is further assisted by geothermal energy from said formation. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of
 absorbing by said formation at least a portion of said retained hydrogen; and 
 in response to said absorption, desorbing at least one substance from said formation. 
 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one subterranean substance is produced through a second well bore separate from the well bore provided for injection of said first and second fluid systems. 
     
     
         39 . A method to enhance the recovery of at least one subterranean substance by decompressing at least a portion of a subterranean formation comprising
 a) injecting at least one fluid system comprising a hydride substance into a subterranean formation through a wellbore, wherein said subterranean formation is in fluid communication with said wellbore;   b) producing hydrogen in-situ from a chemical reaction of at least a portion of the hydride substance;   c) retaining at least a portion of said produced hydrogen in the subterranean formation for at least 10 hours;   d) increasing pressure of said formation at least through said hydrogen production and retention;   e) releasing at least a portion of pressure from said subterranean formation; and   f) recovering to surface at least one subterranean substance from said subterranean formation through a wellbore.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the at least one fluid system comprises at least one of the following: carbon dioxide, steam, nitrogen, carbon monoxide, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 39  further comprising injecting an additional fluid system into the wellbore prior to the step of injecting the at least one fluid system. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41  wherein said additional fluid system is injected at a pressure above hydraulic fracture pressure. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 39  further comprising injecting an additional fluid system into the wellbore after the step of injecting said at least one fluid system, wherein said additional fluid system is injected at a pressure below hydraulic fracture pressure. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43  wherein the additional fluid system comprises at least one of the following: an acid, carbon dioxide, an ammoniated fluid, steam, a hydride retarder, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44  wherein at least one of the at least one fluid system and additional fluid system comprises a hydride catalyst. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 39  wherein said pressure is released from the well allowing at least a portion of the in-situ generated hydrogen to flow out of said subterranean formation. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 39  wherein said pressure release is done rapidly from surface to force explosive decompression of at least a portion of hydrogen in said subterranean formation. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 39  further comprising the step of placing a packer in said wellbore at a position near where said at least one fluid system is introduced to said subterranean formation, said packer is configured to release at least a portion of pressure in said subterranean formation. 
     
     
         49 . A method of recovering at least one subterranean substance from a subterranean formation with hydrogen comprising;
 a) injecting, through at least one conduit disposed in a first wellbore, at least a portion of one fluid system from surface into a subterranean formation in fluid communication with said wellbore;   b) injecting at least one additional fluid system into said subterranean formation, said at least one additional fluid system comprising a hydride;   c) releasing hydrogen in said at least one additional fluid system by mixing said at least one fluid system with said at least one additional fluid system in-situ;   d) allowing at least a portion of said hydrogen to enter said subterranean formation; and   e) recovering at least one substance contained in said subterranean formation to the surface through a second wellbore.   
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49  wherein at least one fluid system comprises at least one of the following: carbon dioxide, a hydride catalyst, a reactive substance configured to liberate hydrogen from said hydride substance, and water. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 49  wherein said fluid systems are injected in alternating stages; 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 49  wherein said at least one fluid system has a pH of about 7 or less. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 49  wherein said at least one additional fluid system comprising hydride has a pH of about 7 or greater. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 49  wherein recovering back to surface said subterranean substances comprises removing at least a portion of said subterranean formation and transferring said portion to surface. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 49  wherein said at least one substance contained in said subterranean formation comprises hydrocarbons. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 49  wherein said at least one substance contained in said subterranean formation comprises at least one rare earth substance. 
     
     
         57 . A method for the extraction of at least one substance from a subterranean formation comprising:
 (a) injecting at least one fluid systems from the surface of the earth through at least one conduit disposed in a first wellbore into a subterranean formation at a pressure sufficient to hydraulically fracture said subterranean formation;   (b) injecting at least one additional fluid system comprising hydrogen;   (c) exposing said subterranean formation to at least a portion of said hydrogen by retaining at least a portion of said hydrogen in said subterranean formation for more than 10 hours;   (d) releasing at least a portion of pressure in said subterranean reservoir; and   (e) recovering back to surface at least one substance disposed in said subterranean formation.   
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57  wherein said retaining at least a portion of said hydrogen comprises holding at least a portion of said subterranean reservoir under hydrostatic pressure. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 57  wherein said recovering step to surface is performed through at least one well bore. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 57  wherein said recovering step is performed through removal of at least a portion of said subterranean formation containing said at least one substance. 
     
     
         61 . A method of transforming in-situ at least one substance in a subterranean formation with hydrogen comprising;
 a) injecting at least one fluid system through at least one conduit disposed in a first wellbore into a subterranean formation in fluid communication with at least said first wellbore;   b) injecting at least one additional fluid system into said subterranean formation, said at least one additional fluid system comprising a hydride;   c) creating a reaction with said hydride to release hydrogen contained in at least a portion of said hydride;   d) retaining at least a portion of said released hydrogen in said subterranean formation for at least 10 hours;   e) allowing at least a portion of said hydrogen to transform at least a portion of a substance contained in said subterranean formation; and   f) producing to surface at least a portion of said transformed substance contained in said subterranean formation.   
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein said producing step occurs through a second wellbore.