A New Technology That Delivers Long-Term Chemical Treatment During Well Stimulation: Organic Deposits, Inorganic Scales, and Corrosion Control

Abstract

A new technique of delivering long-lasting treatment for damaging well conditions, such as scales, corrosion, or organic deposits, has been achieved using a novel technology. This new technology involves a viscoelastic, biopolymer-hydrogel as the matrix to incorporate and transport chemicals into the formation. When placed in the fracture length, the porous matrix controls the release of the treatment agent over a long period of time. The system is environmentally safe and cost-effective, and designed to be pumped with stimulation fluids during proppant transport. This technology has proven to provide a more efficient delivery, placement, and long-term protection compared to other existing technologies, where maximum loading of the product is somewhat restricted. Solid and liquid chemicals can be embedded within this viscoelastic biodegradable polymer-scaffold and placed in the formation during well stimulation without requiring any additional mechanical tools or equipment. The polymeric material is inert in nature and remains unchanged at varied range of pH, temperature, pressure and other wellbore conditions. This crush-resistant matrix can withstand high amount of closure stress and extends the effective treatment life of the inhibition process without causing any adverse effect to the proppant-pack conductivity. Additionally, unlike other existing technologies where the liquid treatment agents are surface-adsorbed resulting in large initial release of the products during placement, this new technology enables the chemicals to be embedded inside the hydrogel. Consequently the release of chemicals is significantly slower resulting in longer lasting well treatment. The development and efficacy of several products for scale, paraffin, asphaltene, and downhole corrosion control using this new delivery method have been studied in detail. These systems are compatible with all types of stimulation and completion fluids and their additives, and found to be effective in a wide range of downhole conditions. This technology not only provides operational simplicity but also reduces costly well interventions for the operators especially in deepwater or remote locations for long period of time. This paper discusses some of the applications of this new technology and also updates on the recent field trials offshore.