Methods for Increased Hydrocarbon Recovery Through Mineralization Sealing of Hydraulically Fractured Rock Followed by Refracturing

摘要

The invention is a method of increasing hydrocarbon recovery through the biomineralization sealing of fractured geological formations followed by refracturing, including preparing a composition with biochemical components that is delivered into a geological subsurface through a cased well bore. Nutrient solutions are delivered into the geological subsurface through the well bore, thereby metabolizing the nutrient solutions with the biochemical components to create a mineralizing byproduct. Mineralizing solutions are delivered into the geological subsurface, delivering the composition, nutrient solutions and mineralizing solutions to targeted geological formations having existing formation fractures, through casing openings. Mineralizing solutions react with the mineralizing byproduct to produce minerals, which crystallize in the existing formation fractures, sealing and strengthening the existing formation fractures and resulting in sealed fractures. Targeted geological formations are refractured to create new formation fractures outside of the sealed fractures, exposing new areas of trapped hydrocarbons to production, to increase hydrocarbon recovery.

主权项

1. A method, comprising:
preparing a composition including a biochemical component; delivering the composition into a geological subsurface through a cased well bore; delivering nutrient solutions into the geological subsurface through the cased well bore such that metabolization of the nutrient solutions by the biochemical component produces a mineralizing byproduct; delivering mineralizing solutions into the geological subsurface through the cased well bore; and delivering the composition, the nutrient solutions, and the mineralizing solutions to a targeted geological formation having a formation fracture via one or more casing openings such that a crystalized mineral produced at least in part by a reaction between the mineralizing solutions and the mineralizing byproduct seals the formation fracture.