SPE 38348 Oil Well Stimulation with Hydrogen Peroxide Jack H. Bayless, SPE, Innovated Research and Engineering Co., Houston opr 107, ety Pan Engen ne “Tape vas pte passion at 507 SE Rosey outa Regal Mowry hs Clap rng 17 oy 08 “Ti apa we ste for pnataton by 2 SE Popa Cones flog tee ‘Movrafonsouanes an sous same bye ara Cones oe pee ‘esa hare nt eon wnat hr Sty Perley Sop de eo ‘Senn byte pana) That apm cos net raceme roy pnt ‘bm Say of besonur Caper, te oar, ce marten Papen peered 2 SE ‘tecngr nsec tm pun verb Eats Cores ae Se) of Perce ‘Engrs Gece reaucen stabes or tapecl yard epee ferret puns wnow ne wen eraen fe Savy of Persea Engreeten gronotes Bormaon te procice pit renee i an sara tre man Seo wes ‘owe raya be ope he satan moneanan rpeann sapere se ‘ndvyawomita pow nes eriag thts bwan SAC PO Soc SSE Honan 1 Abstract Studies have indicated resources of 4.6 trillion barrels! of heavy oil, and some have expressed a need of novel methods to recover some of this oil? Thermal methods were the vogue twenty years ago, with only one method, steam injection, surviving 10 a significant extent. This paper describes economic uses of hydrogen peroxide, which is similar to steam injection but with some advantages. Hydrogen peroxide can generate 100% quality steam insitu in concentrations above 25-30% Lesser concentrations can generate or propagate steam banks and hot water banks. Two uses of hydrogen peroxide are economic-short term stimulation in selected reservoirs, and formation damage repair. Other uses involving heat bank flooding await cost reductions that may occur due to more use and technical advances in the manufacture of hydrogen peroxide. Introduction Hydrogen peroxide is a relatively stable combination of hydrogen and oxygen, made by a chemical process discovered 50 years ago. Physical properties are lisied in Table 1. A ‘small amount of hydrogen is required to manufacture 50% concentration, ie. about 3% by weight, The main uses of hydrogen peroxide are in chemical processes and paper ‘manufacture. Hydrogen peroxide can be decomposed very rapidly over a platinum screen giving off heat, oxygen, and water. Thus if hydrogen peroxide is injected into a reservoir sand, it will decompose slowly giving off heat and oxygen, then the oxygen will react with residual oil to generate more heat and carbon dioxide. Decomposition is exponential with temperature and pH increase. This process has been reported con in a paper by Moss, etal’ Thirty per cent concentration 17 will generate 1200 BTU/ID (100%t quality steam) with about 1/3 of the heat coming from decomposition and 2/3 coming from reaction with oil. Thus hydrogen peroxide can be used in a variety of ways to recover cil. In addition itis well known that steam stimulation can result in formation clean-up in the vicinity of the well Thus 50% hydrogen peroxide can ‘Benerate up to 2000 °F. which can repair formation damage Economic Uses Stimulation. injection of hydrogen peroxide can be economic if the heat is kept near the wel-bore. The heat content of a barrel of 50% peroxide can heat up to 48 barrels of oil to 100, “°F. above the reservoir temperature. Thus small treatments can be effective if allowing a long soak time to moderate the temperature. A study by Niko and Troost* has shown that near well bore heating is effective in depletion reservoirs. Oil recovery was independent of soak time and small slugs were superior for early production. The paper by Briggs, et.al. shows that production from steam stimulation in gravity drainage reservoirs does not decline with each successive cycle as much as massive treatments do in other reservoirs. Thus small treatments will be more effective in heat utilization than massive treatments where much ofthe oil is forced away from the well, and much ofthe heat injected is lost Formation Damage Repair. As mentioned previously, steam stimulation can clean up 2 well. This may be due to wax and asphalt deposits being melted. In addition to these effects, 50% peroxide can generate up to 2000 °F, a foot or so away from the well. Thus after treatment, heat conduction wall treat the entire well bore vicinity to at least 1000 °F This {temperature can cause clay to shrink, destroy carbonates, and vaporize emulsions. Peroxide treatment can be more effective than other treatments such as with acids and solvents, since these liquids can finger through. Peroxide decomposition causes a finger resistant foam of oxygen bubbles in hot water, and heat conduction to untreated areas gives 100% zonal coverage. Gas wells can be treated with pre-injection of a fuel oil Flooding with Hydrogen Peroxide ‘As with steam, a variety of heat floods can be achieved with hydrogen peroxide. The chief advantages are that gravity over- nide is eliminated and fingering is reduced with hydrogen2 Jack H Bavless peroxide (Fig. 1). With heat scavenge and volatile pH control (Carbon dioxide), as little as 3 t0 5% peroxide can be effective {in maintaining a heat bank, depending on size of the bank and injection rate. Characteristics ofa self-generating heat bank are beyond the scope of this paper A detailed mimerical study ‘would be required to fully grasp this use of hydrogen peroxide Existing computer programs for wet combustion may be easly modified to investigate all parameters of hydrogen peroxide flooding At the present cost of peroxide, no flooding appears to be economic. Cost reductions may be forthcoming with additional use (economy of scale) and new technology described in recent patent literature. No doubt, a 50 year old technology can be improved considerably. Conclusions L. Minimum treatment, optimum soak maximizes profits ‘when stimulating in selected heavy oil reservoirs. 2. Formation damage repair appears competitive with other types of treatment, and merits field use. SPE 38348 3. More study of both the manufacturing process and use of hydrogen peroxide for flooding seems reasonable. 4. Unique propertics of hydrogen peroxide such as sub- zero freezing, pumpability at ambient temperature may be useful in some areas References LBriggs, PJ., Baron, RP., Fulleylove, RJ, Wright, MS. "Development of Heavy Oil Reservoirs.” JPT (Feb. 1988) 206-214, 2°Big Heavy Oil Recovery Seen in US," O&GI (July 4, 1988) 16-17. 3.Moss, 1T. Jr. and Moss, Jon T:: "Enhanced Oil Recovery Using Hydrogen Peroxide Injection,” NIPER/DOE Symposium on IN-SITU Combustion, April 21-22, 1994, Tulsa OK. . 4.Van Pollen, H.K., and Associates: "Fundamentals of Enhanced Oil Recovery,” 3-55, PennWell Publishing Co, 1980. S.Niko, H., Troost, P.J.P.M. “Experimental Investigation of Steam Soaking’ in a Depletion-Type Reservoir,” JPT (Aug. 1971) 1006-14 ‘Table 1 — Physical Properties of Hydrogen Peroxide (H202) “Typical Properties: ‘Concentrations % 50% 70% Specific Gravity @ 20°C, g/mi 113 120 129 Density, Ib/gal 94 100 108 Freezing Point °C/°F “33/27 52/462 -40/-40 Boiling Point °C°F 108/226 1147237 1257259 Sooo oe oe pe i al Fo sedan Rascbrannciageg ena haaas asec bx a Fig. 1 — Comparison of thermal recovery methods showing advantages of hydrogen peroxide instu heat flooding in both sweep and thermal efficiency. ne