Self-Diverting Acid for Effective Carbonate Stimulation Offshore Brazil: A Successful History

Abstract

The stimulation history in offshore Brazil is undergoing into a deep transformation. The requirements of technology, before focused on sandstone reservoirs demand, are being expanded by the need for techniques to stimulate carbonate reservoirs, specially the pre-salt carbonates. In this scenario, a self-diverting acid system based on a viscoelastic surfactant (VES) technology was introduced for carbonate reservoir stimulation. The Self-Diverting VES (SD-VES) promotes viscosity development when the acid comes in contact with the carbonate formation. The mechanism of viscosity development is simple: In concentrated acid, the system presents low viscosity, which results in friction reduction while pumping; however, when the fluid reacts with the formation and the acid concentration decreases, the micelle spherical structures combine, transforming into rod-like micelles that convert to a 3-D structure, which increases the fluid viscosity. The high viscosity generates a temporary barrier across the high-injectivity zones, diverting the subsequent fluid to treat other reservoir zones. Generally the SD-VES is associated with several placement techniques that aid in achieving good treatment distribution through the entire producer interval. Regardless of the placement technique applied, the SD-VES is generally used as the main acid fluid and is bullheaded into the well. Because of its rheological behavior, the SD-VES is pumped as a single fluid during bullheading, aiming to achieve formation stimulation and good treatment distribution throuth the entire productive interval. Since the SD-VES was introduced in 2009 to treat carbonate reservoirs in offshore Brazil, more than 40 wells have been treated using the system in the various acid placement techniques presented in this paper. Three case histories are presented to better illustrate the different scenarios where the SD-VES was applied.

Viscosity-Reducing Agents (Breakers) for Viscoelastic Surfactant Gels for Well Stimulation

“…Overall, they considered the treatments successful. Jardim Neto et al 112 reported the use of a self-diverting acid system with an internal breaker in Brazil. They reported the treatment of three oil wells in carbonate reservoirs.…”

Two-Level Self-Thickening Mechanism of a Novel Acid Thickener with a Hydrophobic-Associated Structure during High-Temperature Acidification Processes

“…However, the application of variable viscosity acid is limited because the crosslinking agent currently used is mainly a metal crosslinking agent and metal ions are more harmful to the reservoir [ 10 , 11 ]. The viscoelastic surfactant variable viscosity acid (VES) obtained by the association between surfactants can also improve the effect of acid fracturing [ 12 , 13 ]. The viscoelastic surfactant variable viscosity acid (VES) obtained by the association between surfactants can also improve the effect of acid fracturing.…”