Development of a Hydrophobically Modified Water-Soluble Polymer as a Selective Bullhead System for Water-Production Problems

Eoff, Larry; Dalrymple, Dwyann; Reddy, B.R.; Morgan, Jessica; Frampton, H.

doi:10.2118/80206-ms

Cited by 72 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Also, water production can lead to other problems such as corrosion of surface equipment, need for more separator capacity, and other disposal and handling concerns. [1][2][3] Several techniques have been developed to overcome this problem. The most popular involve injection of polymer 1-3, 6-9 or gel 4,5 into the production wells.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Foams for Controlling Water Production

Bhide¹,

Hirasaki²,

Miller³

et al. 2005

Proceedings of SPE International Symposium on Oilfield Chemistry

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TX 75083-3836, U.S.A., fax 01-972-952-9435. AbstractThere is a great interest in the oil production industry in relative permeability modifiers (RPM) that can preferentially reduce water production without significantly affecting oil production. Various hydrophilic polymers have been studied for their RPM properties. This paper shows the potential of foam as RPM. Foams stable for a long time in presence of flowing water were developed using polymeric surfactants. Scale-up calculations show foam lifetimes long enough in field geometries for the process to be practicable. Foam tolerance to residual oil in water producing zones was produced by adding anionic surfactant to a nonionic polymeric surfactant. Resistance to flowing oil was, however, found to be unexpectedly high due to stable emulsion generation in porous medium. A process modification is shown to reduce the severity of this problem.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Foams for Controlling Water Production

Bhide¹,

Hirasaki²,

Miller³

et al. 2005

Proceedings of SPE International Symposium on Oilfield Chemistry

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“…1. As previously published (Eoff et al 2003(Eoff et al , 2004, numerous laboratory tests have demonstrated the capability of the SFFL system to reduce water-effective permeability with little or no effect on hydrocarbon-effective permeability. In many of the early tests, when this system was injected into cores, a rapid pressure increase was observed.…”

Section: Description Of the Sffl Systemmentioning

confidence: 91%

Successful Field Implementation of a Novel Solids-Free System to Control Fluid Loss During Overbalanced Workover Operations in Southern Argentina

et al. 2013

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During workover and completion operations, even a small overbalanced hydrostatic pressure can result in a significant loss of fluid to the formation, especially in high-permeability formations. This situation becomes even more drastic in depleted reservoirs, horizontal wells, or in zones that have been previously fractured and packed. Controlling fluid loss into the formation is of critical importance during overbalanced workover operations to minimize near-wellbore (NWB) damage invasion by the completion fluid, which can yield problems associated with poor wellbore cleanout and loss of hydrocarbon reserves. In addition, fluid loss can increase costs associated with rig time and treatments devoted to restore the initial condition of the formation. In many hydrocarbon fields in southern Argentina, controlling fluid loss before NWB cleanout treatments is challenging because it can cause pressure differential sticking of the coiled tubing (CT) and/or inability to pump the treatment into the desired interval. This paper presents the successful field application of a novel solids-free fluid-loss (SFFL) system during wellbore cleanouts in the Cerro Dragon oilfield, which is located on the west side of San Jorge Gulf (SJG) basin in the Chubut Province of Argentina.The SFFL system relies on water-soluble polymer that decreases matrix permeability to aqueous fluids, limiting leakoff into treated zones. This polymer immediately adsorbs to the surface of the rock, eliminating the need to shut the well in. In addition, this system does not require the use of breakers or a cleanup stage to reestablish hydrocarbon production once the workover operation has been performed. Laboratory test data show the capability of the material to control fluid leakoff and achieve high levels of regained permeability to hydrocarbons. Traditional techniques to minimize fluid loss use solids or viscous pills, although it has been amply documented that these systems can damage the formation if not properly removed after the treatment.To date, about 200 treatments have been performed with this novel SFFL system. The paper discusses field results from the application of this system during overbalanced workover operations in Argentina, including the job design and posttreatment results. This system has been proposed for returning partial and total loss to full circulation in overbalanced operations, such as (1) lost-circulation events occurring during cementing, fracturing and drilling, (2) well intervention cleanouts by CT and hydraulic workover (HWO), (3) gravel packing, (4) replacement of artificial lift equipment (i.e., electrical submersible pumps), and (5) overbalanced tubing-conveyed perforating (UTCP).

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“…10 This system was shown to provide significant permeability reduction in relatively lowpermeability sandstone cores at 100% water saturation, as well as, at residual oil saturation. The hydrophobically modified, water-soluble polymer described in that paper was found to provide a minimum of 80% brine permeability reduction in sandstone cores in a broad range of permeabilities, while showing minimal effect on oil permeability.…”

Section: Rpm Technologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Technology and Methods Used To Reduce Water Production in the Lower Delaware Sands of Southeastern New Mexico and West Texas

Shahan

Briney

Reyes

et al. 2005

Proceedings of SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition

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TX 75083-3836, U.S.A., fax 01-972-952-9435. AbstractProducing hydrocarbons from the lower Delaware formation in SE New Mexico and West Texas is often associated with high water production. In the Matthews Field in West Texas (Reeves County), an operator was encountering water production of over 600 BWPD (bbl of water per day) from wells that had been treated. The stimulation techniques and processes were modified in an attempt to improve the production results. Multiple stage treatments using coiled tubing (CT) with selective placement controls and reduced rates were performed to lower the fracture height growth. This method included using conventional fracturing fluids, specialized coiled tubing perforating and controlled fracturing placement, and a relative permeability modifier (RPM) capable of reducing the potential for water production by coating the formation rock. This paper will detail how these operations were performed.

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Development of a Hydrophobically Modified Water-Soluble Polymer as a Selective Bullhead System for Water-Production Problems

Cited by 72 publications

References 13 publications

Foams for Controlling Water Production

Foams for Controlling Water Production

Successful Field Implementation of a Novel Solids-Free System to Control Fluid Loss During Overbalanced Workover Operations in Southern Argentina

Technology and Methods Used To Reduce Water Production in the Lower Delaware Sands of Southeastern New Mexico and West Texas

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