Surfactant Additives for Stimulating Subterranean Formation During Fracturing Operations

Abstract

The present invention relates to surfactant additives useful for restoring permeability of a subterranean formation and methods of use thereof. One embodiment of the present invention provides a method that includes providing a fracturing fluid having an aqueous fluid, and a microemulsion surfactant, wherein the fracturing fluid is substantially free of an organic solvent; and placing the fracturing fluid into a subterranean formation at a rate sufficient to create or enhance at least one fracture in the subterranean formation.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 providing a fracturing fluid comprising:
 an aqueous fluid, and 
 a microemulsion surfactant, 
 wherein the fracturing fluid is substantially free of an organic solvent; and 
   placing the fracturing fluid into a subterranean formation at a rate sufficient to create or enhance at least one fracture in the subterranean formation.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fracturing fluid further comprises at least one additive selected from the group consisting of: an acid, a biocide, a breaker, a clay stabilizer, a corrosion inhibitor, a friction reducer, a gelling agent, a crosslinking agent, an iron control agent, a scale inhibitor, a surfactant, a proppant, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the microemulsion surfactant is selected from the group consisting of: polymeric surfactant, block copolymer surfactant, di-block polymer surfactant, hydrophobically modified surfactant, fluoro-surfactant, non-ionic surfactant, anionic surfactant, cationic surfactant, zwitterionic surfactant, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the aqueous fluid comprises at least one component selected from the group consisting of: fresh water, salt water, glycol, brine, weighted brine, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the microemulsion surfactant is present in the fracturing fluid in an amount from about 0.01% to about 20% by weight of the fracturing fluid. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising a co-surfactant. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the co-surfactant is selected from the group consisting of: an alcohol, a glycol, a phenol, a thiol, a carboxylate, a ketone, an acrylamide, a sulfonate, a pyrollidone, any derivative thereof, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the microemulsion surfactant is selected from the group consisting of: an arginine methyl ester, an alkanolamine, an alkylenediamide, an alkyl ester sulfonate, an alkyl ether sulfonate, an alkyl ether sulfate, an alkali metal alkyl sulfate, an alkyl or an alkylaryl sulfonate, a sulfosuccinate, an alkyl or alkylaryl disulfonate, an alkyl disulfate, an alcohol polypropoxylated and/or polyethoxylated sulfate, a taurate, an amine oxide, an ethoxylated amide, an alkoxylated fatty acid, an alkoxylated alcohol, an ethoxylated fatty amine, an ethoxylated alkyl amine, a betaine, a modified betaine, an alkylamidobetaine, a quaternary ammonium compound, any derivative thereof, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . A method comprising:
 providing a fracturing fluid comprising:
 an aqueous fluid, 
 a microemulsion surfactant, and 
 a co-surfactant, 
 wherein the fracturing fluid is substantially free of an organic solvent; and 
   placing the fracturing fluid into a subterranean formation at a rate sufficient to create or enhance at least one fracture in the subterranean formation.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the microemulsion surfactant is selected from the group consisting of: an arginine methyl ester, an alkanolamine, an alkylenediamide, an alkyl ester sulfonate, an alkyl ether sulfonate, an alkyl ether sulfate, an alkali metal alkyl sulfate, an alkyl or an alkylaryl sulfonate, a sulfosuccinate, an alkyl or alkylaryl disulfonate, an alkyl disulfate, an alcohol polypropoxylated and/or polyethoxylated sulfate, a taurate, an amine oxide, an ethoxylated amide, an alkoxylated fatty acid, an alkoxylated alcohol, an ethoxylated fatty amine, an ethoxylated alkyl amine, a betaine, a modified betaine, an alkylamidobetaine, a quaternary ammonium compound, any derivative thereof, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the co-surfactant is selected from the group consisting of: an alcohol, a glycol, a phenol, a thiol, a carboxylate, a ketone, an acrylamide, a sulfonate, a pyrollidone, any derivative thereof, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the fracturing fluid further comprises an additive selected from the group consisting of: an acid, a biocide, a breaker, a clay stabilizer, a corrosion inhibitor, a friction reducer, a gelling agent, a crosslinking agent, an iron control agent, a scale inhibitor, a surfactant, a proppant, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the microemulsion surfactant is present in the fracturing fluid in an amount from about 0.01% to about 20% by weight of the fracturing fluid. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the co-surfactant is present in the fracturing fluid in an amount from about 0.001% to about 20% by weight of the fracturing fluid. 
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 providing a composition comprising:
 a microemulsion surfactant, 
 wherein the composition is substantially free of an organic solvent; 
   placing the composition into at least a portion of a fracture in a subterranean formation having a first permeability; and   allowing the composition to remove a water block from the subterranean formation to increase permeability of the subterranean formation to a second permeability.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the microemulsion surfactant is selected from the group consisting of: an arginine methyl ester, an alkanolamine, an alkylenediamide, an alkyl ester sulfonate, an alkyl ether sulfonate, an alkyl ether sulfate, an alkali metal alkyl sulfate, an alkyl or an alkylaryl sulfonate, a sulfosuccinate, an alkyl or alkylaryl disulfonate, an alkyl disulfate, an alcohol polypropoxylated and/or polyethoxylated sulfate, a taurate, an amine oxide, an ethoxylated amide, an alkoxylated fatty acid, an alkoxylated alcohol, an ethoxylated fatty amine, an ethoxylated alkyl amine, a betaine, a modified betaine, an alkylamidobetaine, a quaternary ammonium compound, any derivative thereof, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the increase in permeability of the subterranean formation correlates to a regain permeability of about 50% or greater. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the increase in permeability of the subterranean formation correlates to a regain permeability of about 80% or greater. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the composition further comprises a co-surfactant. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the microemulsion surfactant forms a microemulsion within the subterranean formation.