Unconventional reservoir enhanced or improved oil recovery

Abstract

A method of enhanced oil recovery from an unconventional resource reservoir comprises injecting an enhanced recovery fluid into the unconventional resource reservoir via an injection well and producing hydrocarbons from the unconventional resource reservoir via the injection well or a production well offset from the injection well.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for enhanced or improved hydrocarbon recovery, comprising:
 injecting an enhanced or improved recovery fluid through an injection well into an unconventional resource reservoir at a pressure below the unconventional resource reservoir fracture pressure to mobilize and displace hydrocarbons, wherein the injection well of the unconventional resource reservoir has been previously hydraulically fractured and contains one or more sections of hydraulic fractures, wherein the enhanced or improved recovery fluid comprises an unfractionated hydrocarbon liquid mixture that is a byproduct of a condensed and de-methanized hydrocarbon stream that is miscible with hydrocarbons in the unconventional resource reservoir, wherein the unfractionated hydrocarbon mixture is condensed out of the hydrocarbon stream at a temperature at or below 0 degrees Fahrenheit, wherein the unfractionated hydrocarbon mixture comprises ethane, propane, and butane in an amount of at least 75% by volume, and wherein the unfractionated hydrocarbon mixture comprises pentane plus in an amount less than 25% by volume; 
 alternating slugs of the enhanced or improved recovery fluid into the unconventional resource reservoir with slugs of a gas; 
 injecting a final displacement fluid into the unconventional resource reservoir at the conclusion of the injection of the enhanced or improved recovery fluid and the gas at a pressure below the unconventional resource reservoir fracture pressure to mobilize the enhanced or improved recovery fluid and hydrocarbons in the unconventional resource reservoir; and 
 producing hydrocarbons from the unconventional resource reservoir via the injection well or a production well offset from the injection well, wherein the injection well comprises an array of vertical or horizontal injection wells, and wherein the production well comprises an array of vertical or horizontal production wells offset from the array of injection wells. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the final displacement fluid comprises at least one of a gas, water, and viscosified water. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the enhanced or improved recovery fluid further comprises at least one of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, natural gas, LNG, methane, ethane, water, and viscosified water. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the nitrogen is sourced in liquid form from an air separation plant, stored at the well site in liquid, then vaporized to gaseous form. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the nitrogen is sourced in pressurized form from an air separation plant. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the unconventional resource reservoir is a residual oil zone (ROZ). 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising adding a secondary fluid to the enhanced or improved recovery fluid, wherein the secondary fluid comprises at least one of aromatics, alkanes, and crude oil, and wherein the secondary fluid comprises 10% or less by volume of the enhanced or improved recovery fluid. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the crude oil comprises at least one of residual oil in the unconventional resource reservoir, medium oil, light oil, and condensate. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising adding nanoparticles to the enhanced or improved recovery fluid. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising mixing the unfractionated hydrocarbon mixture with a surfactant and a gas to form a hydrocarbon foam as the enhanced or improved recovery fluid. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the gas comprises at least one of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, methane, ethane, LNG, or natural gas. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the nitrogen is sourced in liquid form from an air separation plant, stored at the well site in liquid form, then vaporized to gaseous form. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the nitrogen is sourced in pressurized form from an air separation plant. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the surfactant comprises at least one of an anionic surfactant and a nonionic surfactant. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the surfactant is a nonionic surfactant, and wherein the nonionic surfactant comprises at least one of a siloxane surfactant, a fluorosurfactant, a fatty acid ester, a glyceride, a silicon emulsifier, and a hydrophobic silica powder, wherein the surfactant comprises a mass concentration of up to 5%. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising adding a secondary fluid to the hydrocarbon foam, wherein the secondary fluid comprises at least one of aromatics, alkanes, and crude oil, and wherein the secondary fluid comprises 10% or less by volume of the hydrocarbon foam. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the crude oil comprises at least one of residual oil in the unconventional resource reservoir, medium oil, light oil, and condensate. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising adding nanoparticles to the hydrocarbon foam. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising mixing the unfractionated hydrocarbon mixture with a surfactant, a gas, and water to form an emulsion based foam as the enhanced or improved recovery fluid. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the surfactant acts as one or both of a foaming agent and an emulsifying agent. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the water is formation water, brine, or seawater and comprises up to 25% of the liquid phase of the emulsion based foam. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the water is potassium chloride water and comprises up to 25% of the liquid phase of the emulsion based foam, and wherein the potassium chloride water comprises up to 4% potassium chloride. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the gas mixed with the unfractionated hydrocarbon mixture, the surfactant, and the water to form the emulsion based foam comprises at least one of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, natural gas, methane, LNG, and ethane. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 23 , wherein the nitrogen is liquid nitrogen sourced from an air separation device configured to separate nitrogen from air and supply the nitrogen to a nitrogen source. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 24 , wherein the air separation device is a modular air separation plant with a liquification unit to create liquid nitrogen. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the surfactant comprises at least one of a nonionic surfactant, an anionic surfactant, and a cationic surfactant, and wherein the surfactant comprises a mass concentration of up to 5%. 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 26 , wherein the nonionic surfactant comprises at least one of a siloxane surfactant, a fluorosurfactant, a fatty acid ester, a glyceride, a silicon emulsifier, and a hydrophobic silica powder. 
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 22 , further comprising adding a secondary fluid to the emulsion based foam, wherein the secondary fluid comprises 10% or less by volume of the emulsion based foam, wherein the secondary fluid comprises at least one of aromatics, alkanes, and crude oil. 
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 28 , wherein the crude oil comprises at least one of residual oil in the unconventional resource reservoir, medium oil, light oil, and condensate. 
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 22 , further comprising adding nanoparticles to the emulsion based foam. 
     
     
       31. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising mixing the unfractionated hydrocarbon mixture with an emulsifying agent and water to form an emulsion as the enhanced or improved recovery fluid. 
     
     
       32. The method of  claim 31 , further comprising simultaneously injecting the unfractionated hydrocarbon mixture, the emulsifying agent, and the water into the unconventional resource reservoir. 
     
     
       33. The method of  claim 31 , wherein the water comprises at least one of formation water, brine, and seawater, and comprises up to 25% of the liquid phase of the emulsion. 
     
     
       34. The method of  claim 31 , wherein the water is potassium chloride water and comprises up to 25% of the liquid phase of the emulsion, and wherein the potassium chloride water comprises up to 4% potassium chloride. 
     
     
       35. The method of  claim 31 , wherein the emulsifying agent is a surfactant, and wherein the surfactant comprises at least one of a nonionic surfactant, an anionic surfactant, and a cationic surfactant, and wherein the surfactant comprises a mass concentration of up to 5%. 
     
     
       36. The method of  claim 35 , wherein the surfactant is a nonionic surfactant, and wherein the nonionic surfactant comprises at least one of a siloxane surfactant, a fluorosurfactant, a fatty acid ester, a glyceride, a silicon emulsifier, and a hydrophobic silica powder. 
     
     
       37. The method of  claim 31 , further comprising adding a secondary fluid to the emulsion, wherein the secondary fluid comprises at least one of aromatics, alkanes, and crude oil, and wherein the secondary fluid comprises 10% or less by volume of the emulsion. 
     
     
       38. The method of  claim 37 , wherein the crude oil comprises at least one of residual oil in the unconventional resource reservoir, medium oil, light oil, and condensate. 
     
     
       39. The method of  claim 31 , further comprising adding nanoparticles to the emulsion. 
     
     
       40. The method of  claim 31 , further comprising adding a viscosifier to the emulsion, wherein the viscosifier comprises at least one of a hydrocarbon soluble co-polymer and a water soluble viscosifier, and wherein the water soluble viscosifer comprises at least one of water soluble co-polymers, polysaccarides, guar gum, viscoelastic surfactants, crosslinkers, cellulosic viscosifiers, and hydroxyethyl cellulose. 
     
     
       41. A method for enhanced or improved hydrocarbon recovery, comprising:
 injecting an unfractionated hydrocarbon liquid mixture through an injection well into an unconventional resource reservoir at a pressure below the unconventional resource reservoir fracture pressure to mobilize and displace hydrocarbons, wherein the injection well of the unconventional resource reservoir has been previously hydraulically fractured and contains one or more sections of hydraulic fractures, wherein the unfractionated hydrocarbon liquid mixture is a byproduct of a condensed and demethanized hydrocarbon stream that is miscible with hydrocarbons in the unconventional resource reservoir, wherein the unfractionated hydrocarbon liquid mixture is condensed out of the hydrocarbon stream at a temperature between −30 degrees Fahrenheit and −100 degrees Fahrenheit, wherein the unfractionated hydrocarbon liquid mixture comprises ethane, propane, and butane in an amount of at least 75% by volume on a gas basis, wherein the unfractionated hydrocarbon liquid mixture comprises pentane plus in an amount less than 25% by volume on a gas basis, wherein the unfractionated hydrocarbon liquid mixture comprises ethane in an amount within a range of 3-13 percent by volume on a gas basis, wherein the unfractionated hydrocarbon liquid mixture is sourced and transported from a separate processing facility that is located at a location remote from the unconventional resource reservoir, wherein the separate processing facility comprises at least one of a splitter facility, a gas plant, and a refinery, and wherein the unfractionated hydrocarbon liquid mixture is transported via pressure storage vessels from the separate processing facility to the unconventional resource reservoir;   wherein the injecting of the unfractionated hydrocarbon liquid mixture comprises at least in part one of:
 injecting slugs of the unfractionated hydrocarbon liquid mixture with slugs of a gas, or 
 injecting a final displacement fluid into the unconventional resource reservoir; 
   and wherein the method further comprises:   shutting in the injection well after the injecting of either of the slugs or the final displacement fluid for a period of time to allow the unfractionated hydrocarbon liquid mixture to soak in the unconventional resource reservoir, wherein the period of time is less than 6 months; and   producing hydrocarbons from the unconventional resource reservoir via the injection well, wherein the injection well comprises one or more vertical or horizontal injection wells.    
     
     
       42. The method of  claim 41 , further comprising injecting the final displacement fluid into the unconventional resource reservoir at the conclusion of the injection of the unfractionated hydrocarbon liquid mixture at a pressure below the unconventional resource reservoir fracture pressure to mobilize the unfractionated hydrocarbon liquid mixture and hydrocarbons in the unconventional resource reservoir, wherein the final displacement fluid comprises at least one of gas, water, and viscosified water.  
     
     
       43. The method of  claim 42 , wherein the final displacement fluid is a gas, and wherein the gas comprises natural gas, methane, ethane, vaporized LNG, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or combinations thereof.  
     
     
       44. The method of  claim 41 , wherein the unfractionated hydrocarbon liquid mixture further comprises carbon dioxide, nitrogen, natural gas, LNG, methane, water, viscosified water, or combinations thereof.  
     
     
       45. The method of  claim 41 , wherein the unconventional resource reservoir is a residual oil zone (ROZ).  
     
     
       46. The method of  claim 41 , further comprising adding a secondary fluid to the unfractionated hydrocarbon liquid mixture, wherein the secondary fluid comprises 10% or less by volume of the unfractionated hydrocarbon liquid mixture, and wherein the secondary fluid comprises at least one of aromatics, alkanes, crude oil, and condensate.  
     
     
       47. The method of  claim 41 , further comprising adding nanoparticles to the unfractionated hydrocarbon liquid mixture.  
     
     
       48. The method of  claim 41 , wherein the unfractionated hydrocarbon mixture is configured to solubilize a portion of organic or inorganic material within the unconventional resource reservoir.  
     
     
       49. The method of  claim 41 , further comprising mixing the unfractionated hydrocarbon liquid mixture with a gas and a surfactant to form a hydrocarbon foam prior to injection into the injection well, wherein the gas comprises natural gas, methane, vaporized LNG, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or combinations thereof, and wherein the surfactant comprises a nonionic surfactant, an anionic surfactant, a cationic surfactant, or combinations thereof, and wherein the surfactant comprises a mass concentration of up to 5%.  
     
     
       50. The method of  claim 49 , wherein the surfactant is a nonionic surfactant, and wherein the nonionic surfactant comprises a siloxane surfactant, a fluorosurfactant, a fatty acid ester, a glyceride, a silicon emulsifier, a hydrophobic silica powder, or combinations thereof.  
     
     
       51. A method for enhanced or improved hydrocarbon recovery, comprising:
 mixing an unfractionated hydrocarbon liquid mixture with a gelling agent to form a gelled enhanced or improved recovery fluid, wherein the unfractionated hydrocarbon liquid mixture is a byproduct of a condensed and de-methanized hydrocarbon stream that is miscible with hydrocarbons, wherein the unfractionated hydrocarbon liquid mixture is condensed out of the hydrocarbon stream at a temperature between −30 degrees Fahrenheit and −100 degrees Fahrenheit, wherein the unfractionated hydrocarbon liquid mixture comprises ethane, propane, and butane in an amount of at least 75% by volume on a gas basis, wherein the unfractionated hydrocarbon liquid mixture comprises pentane plus in an amount less than 25% by volume on a gas basis, wherein the unfractionated hydrocarbon liquid mixture comprises ethane in an amount within a range of 3-13 percent by volume on a gas basis, wherein the unfractionated hydrocarbon liquid mixture is sourced and transported from a separate processing facility that is located at a location remote from an unconventional resource reservoir, wherein the separate processing facility comprises at least one of a splitter facility, a gas plant, and a refinery, and wherein the unfractionated hydrocarbon liquid mixture is transported via pressure storage vessels from the separate processing facility to the unconventional resource reservoir;   injecting the gelled enhanced or improved recovery fluid through an injection well into the unconventional resource reservoir at a pressure below the unconventional resource reservoir fracture pressure to mobilize and displace hydrocarbons, wherein the injection well of the unconventional resource reservoir has been previously hydraulically fractured and contains one or more sections of hydraulic fractures;   wherein the injecting of the gelled enhanced or improved recovery fluid comprises at least in part one of:
 injecting slugs of the gelled enhanced or improved recovery fluid with slugs of a gas, or 
 injecting a final displacement fluid into the unconventional resource reservoir; 
   and wherein the method further comprises:   shutting in the injection well after the injecting of either of the slugs or the final displacement fluid for a period of time to allow the gelled enhanced or improved recovery fluid to soak in the unconventional resource reservoir, wherein the period of time is less than 6 months; and   producing hydrocarbons from the unconventional resource reservoir via the injection well, wherein the injection well comprises one or more vertical or horizontal injection wells.    
     
     
       52. The method of  claim 51 , further comprising injecting the final displacement fluid into the unconventional resource reservoir at the conclusion of the injection of the gelled enhanced or improved recovery fluid at a pressure below the unconventional resource reservoir fracture pressure to mobilize the gelled enhanced or improved recovery fluid and hydrocarbons in the unconventional resource reservoir, wherein the final displacement fluid comprises at least one of natural gas, methane, ethane, vaporized LNG, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, water, and viscosified water.  
     
     
       53. The method of  claim 51 , further comprising alternating the slugs of the gelled enhanced or improved recovery fluid into the unconventional resource reservoir with the slugs of the gas at a pressure below the unconventional resource reservoir fracture pressure to mobilize the gelled enhanced or improved recovery fluid and hydrocarbons in the unconventional resource reservoir, wherein the slugs of gas comprise natural gas, methane, ethane, vaporized LNG, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or combinations thereof.  
     
     
       54. The method of  claim 51 , wherein the gelling agent comprises at least one of a hydrocarbon soluble copolymers, phosphate esters, organo-metallic complex cross-linkers, amine carbamates, aluminum soaps, cocoamine (C12-C14), sebacoyl chloride, oley (C18) amine, toulen-2, 4-diisocyanate, tolune-2, 6-diisolcyanate.  
     
     
       55. The method of  claim 51 , further comprising adding a secondary fluid to the gelled enhanced or improved recovery fluid, wherein the secondary fluid comprises 10% or less by volume of the gelled enhanced or improved recovery fluid, and wherein the secondary fluid comprises at least one of aromatics, alkanes, crude oil, and condensate.  
     
     
       56. The method of  claim 51 , further comprising adding nanoparticles to the gelled enhanced or improved recovery fluid.  
     
     
       57. The method of  claim 51 , wherein the gelled enhanced or improved recovery fluid is configured to solubilize a portion of organic or inorganic material within the unconventional resource reservoir.  
     
     
       58. The method of  claim 51 , wherein the unconventional resource reservoir is a residual oil zone (ROZ).  
     
     
       59. A method for enhanced or improved hydrocarbon recovery, comprising:
 mixing an unfractionated hydrocarbon liquid mixture with an emulsifying agent and water to form an emulsified enhanced or improved recovery fluid, wherein the unfractionated hydrocarbon liquid mixture is a byproduct of a condensed and demethanized hydrocarbon stream that is miscible with hydrocarbons, wherein the unfractionated hydrocarbon liquid mixture is condensed out of the hydrocarbon stream at a temperature between −30 degrees Fahrenheit and −100 degrees Fahrenheit, wherein the unfractionated hydrocarbon liquid mixture comprises ethane, propane, and butane in an amount of at least 75% by volume on a gas basis, wherein the unfractionated hydrocarbon liquid mixture comprises pentane plus in an amount less than 25% by volume on a gas basis, wherein the unfractionated hydrocarbon liquid mixture comprises ethane in an amount within a range of 3-13 percent by volume on a gas basis, wherein the unfractionated hydrocarbon liquid mixture is sourced and transported from a separate processing facility that is located at a location remote from an unconventional resource reservoir, wherein the separate processing facility comprises at least one of a splitter facility, a gas plant, and a refinery, and wherein the unfractionated hydrocarbon liquid mixture is transported via pressure storage vessels from the separate processing facility to the unconventional resource reservoir;   injecting the emulsified enhanced or improved recovery fluid through an injection well into the unconventional resource reservoir at a pressure below the unconventional resource reservoir fracture pressure to mobilize and displace hydrocarbons, wherein the injection well of the unconventional resource reservoir has been previously hydraulically fractured and contains one or more sections of hydraulic fractures;   wherein the injecting of the emulsified enhanced or improved recovery fluid comprises at least in part one of:
 injecting slugs of the emulsified enhanced or improved recovery fluid with slugs of a gas, or 
 injecting a final displacement fluid into the unconventional resource reservoir; 
   and wherein the method further comprises:   shutting in the injection well after the injecting of either of the slugs or the final displacement fluid for a period of time to allow the emulsified enhanced or improved recovery fluid to soak in the unconventional resource reservoir, wherein the period of time is less than 6 months; and   producing hydrocarbons from the unconventional resource reservoir via the injection well, wherein the injection well comprises one or more vertical or horizontal injection wells.    
     
     
       60. The method of  claim 59 , further comprising injecting the final displacement fluid into the unconventional resource reservoir at the conclusion of the injection of the emulsified enhanced or improved recovery fluid at a pressure below the unconventional resource reservoir fracture pressure to mobilize the emulsified enhanced or improved recovery fluid and hydrocarbons in the unconventional resource reservoir, wherein the final displacement fluid comprises at least one of natural gas, methane, ethane, vaporized LNG, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, water, and viscosified water.  
     
     
       61. The method of  claim 59 , further comprising alternating the slugs of the emulsified enhanced or improved recovery fluid into the unconventional resource reservoir with the slugs of the gas at a pressure below the unconventional resource reservoir fracture pressure to mobilize the emulsified enhanced or improved recovery fluid and hydrocarbons in the unconventional resource reservoir, wherein the slugs of gas comprise natural gas, methane, ethane, vaporized LNG, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or combinations thereof.  
     
     
       62. The method of  claim 59 , further comprising adding a viscosifier to the emulsified enhanced or improved recovery fluid, wherein the viscosifier comprises at least one of a hydrocarbon soluble co-polymer and a water soluble viscosifier, and wherein the water soluble viscosifer comprises at least one of water soluble copolymers, polysaccarides, guar gum, viscoelastic surfactants, crosslinkers, cellulosic viscosifiers, and hydroxyethyl cellulose.  
     
     
       63. The method of  claim 59 , further comprising adding a secondary fluid to the emulsified enhanced or improved recovery fluid, wherein the secondary fluid comprises 10% or less by volume of the emulsified enhanced or improved recovery fluid, and wherein the secondary fluid comprises at least one of aromatics, alkanes, crude oil, and condensate.  
     
     
       64. The method of  claim 59 , further comprising adding nanoparticles to the emulsified enhanced or improved recovery fluid.  
     
     
       65. The method of  claim 59 , wherein the emulsified enhanced or improved recovery fluid is configured to solubilize a portion of organic or inorganic material within the unconventional resource reservoir.  
     
     
       66. The method of  claim 59 , wherein the unconventional resource reservoir is a residual oil zone (ROZ).  
     
     
       67. The method of  claim 59 , wherein the water comprises at least one of formation water, brine, and seawater, and comprises up to 25% of the liquid phase of the emulsified enhanced or improved recovery fluid.  
     
     
       68. The method of  claim 59 , wherein the water is potassium chloride water and comprises up to 25% of the liquid phase of the emulsified enhanced or improved recovery fluid, and wherein the potassium chloride water comprises up to 4% potassium chloride.  
     
     
       69. The method of  claim 59 , wherein the emulsifying agent is a surfactant, and wherein the surfactant comprises a nonionic surfactant, an anionic surfactant, a cationic surfactant, or combinations thereof, and wherein the surfactant comprises a mass concentration of up to 5%.  
     
     
       70. The method of  claim 69 , wherein the surfactant is a nonionic surfactant, and wherein the nonionic surfactant comprises a siloxane surfactant, a fluorosurfactant, a fatty acid ester, a glyceride, a silicon emulsifier, a hydrophobic silica powder, or combinations thereof.