Multi-Functional Compositions Comprising Concentrated Acids for Enhanced Oil and Gas Recovery

Abstract

The subject invention provides multi-functional biochemical compositions, as well as their use in enhancing oil recovery by, for example, enhancing traditional acid treatments. Advantageously, the compositions and methods of the subject invention are operationally-friendly, cost-effective, and environmentally-friendly approaches to enhancing oil recovery. More specifically, in preferred embodiments, the subject invention provides a multi-functional composition for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) comprising one or more concentrated acids that work in synergy with a combination of one or more surfactants, one or more chelating agents, and one or more solvents to stimulate the flow of oil from a formation.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A composition for enhancing oil recovery from an oil-bearing formation, the composition comprising an acid, a biosurfactant, a chelating agent, and a solvent. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , comprising an acid selected from hydrochloric acid, hydrofluoric acid, and organic acids. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , comprising a biosurfactant selected from glycolipids, cellobiose lipids, lipopeptides, fatty acid ester compounds, flavolipids, phospholipids, high-molecular-weight biopolymers, lipoproteins, lipopolysaccharide-protein complexes, and polysaccharide-protein-fatty acid complexes. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 3 , comprising a sophorolipid. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , comprising a chelating agent selected from dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA), 2,3-dimercaptopropanesulfonic acid (DMPS), alpha lipoic acid (ALA), thiamine tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide (TTFD), penicillamine, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), sodium acetate, sodium citrate and citric acid. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 5 , wherein the chelating agents comprise a mixture of EDTA, sodium citrate and citric acid. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , comprising a solvent selected from alcohols, and ionic and/or semi-ionic liquids. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 7 , comprising an alcohol selected from ethanol, butanol, propanol, and isopropyl alcohol. 
     
     
         9 . A composition for enhancing oil recovery from an oil well, the composition comprising
 water,   hydrochloric acid,   a biosurfactant,   isopropyl alcohol, and   a mixture of EDTA, sodium citrate and citric acid.   
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 9 , comprising a biosurfactant selected from mannosylerythritol lipids and sophorolipids. 
     
     
         11 . A method for enhancing oil recovery from an oil-bearing formation, the method comprising introducing a composition of  claim 1  into the formation, and/or into an oil well and/or wellbore associated with the formation. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the flow of oil from the subterranean formation is stimulated. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein scale and/or paraffin deposits that have plugged rock pore throats in the formation are dissolved and/or dispersed. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein asphaltene agglomeration in oil is prevented and/or reduced, and/or deposition of asphaltene on surfaces of equipment associated with the formation is prevented and/or reduced. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the mobility of oil is increased during recovery. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the wettability of the formation rock is increased. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein, in addition to enhancing oil recovery, the method improves the quality of recovered oil. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein oil quality is improved by reduction and/or prevention of asphaltene agglomerates in the oil. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising introducing water and a composition comprising
 1% to 20% v/v hydrochloric acid,   5 to 10 ml/L glycolipid surfactant,   2 to 4 ml/L isopropyl alcohol, and   a mixture comprising 5 to 10 g/L sodium citrate, 5 to 10 g/L citric acid, and 5 to 10 g/L EDTA,   into the formation, oil well and/or wellbore.