Composition and method relating to the prevention and remediation of surfactant gel damage

• US 20080035339A1
• Filed: 08/04/2006
• Published: 02/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Welton, Thomas D., Bryant, Jason E., McMechan, David E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,567,503 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/279
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/524 organic depositions, e.g. paraffins or asphaltenes
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/68 containing organic compounds

Abstract

Among many things, compositions and methods relating to the prevention and remediation of surfactant gel damage are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a treatment fluid comprising a carrier fluid and at least one component selected from the group consisting of a chelating agent and a scale control agent, and introducing the treatment fluid into a subterranean formation that has been treated with a viscoelastic surfactant fluid.

Claims

1. A method of remediating a subterranean formation, comprising:

providing a treatment fluid comprising a carrier fluid and at least one component selected from the group consisting of a chelating agent and a scale control agent, and wherein the treatment fluid does not comprise a substantial amount of a cosurfactant; and

introducing the treatment fluid into a subterranean formation after treating the subterranean formation with a viscoelastic surfactant fluid.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the chelating agent comprises at least one chelating agent selected from the group consisting of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, hydroxyethylethylenediaminetriacetic acid, dicarboxymethyl glutamic acid tetrasodium salt, diethylenetriaminepentancetic acid, propylenediaminetetraacetic acid, ethylenediaminedi(o-hydroxyphenylacetic) acid, glucoheptonic acid, gluconic acid, a combination thereof, and a derivative thereof.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the scale control agent comprises at least one scale control agent selected from the group consisting of a phosphorous compound, a polyaspartic acid, a synthetic polymer, a polysaccharide polymer, any combination thereof, and any derivative thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the treatment fluid further comprises at least one component selected the group consisting of an alcohol, a glycol, a pH modifier, a hydrocarbon, a mutual solvent, an oxidizer, a reducer, an enzyme, a transition metal, a combination thereof, and a derivative thereof.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the treatment fluid further comprises at least one component selected from the group consisting of a nonemulsifier, a demulsifier, a combination thereof, and a derivative thereof.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the carrier fluid comprises at least one treatment fluid selected from the group consisting of fresh water, salt water, brine, glycol, a combination thereof, and a derivative thereof.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one component selected from the group consisting of a chelating agent and a scale control agent comprises from about 5% to about 60%, by weight, of the treatment fluid.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one component selected from the group consisting of a chelating agent and a scale control agent is present in the treatment fluid in an amount from about 1 to about 100 pounds per gallon of the treatment fluid.

9. A method of pretreating a subterranean formation, comprising:

providing a treatment fluid comprising a carrier fluid and at least one component selected from the group consisting of a chelating agent and a scale control agent, and wherein the treatment fluid does not comprise a substantial amount of a cosurfactant; and

introducing the treatment fluid into a subterranean formation prior to treating the subterranean formation with a viscoelastic surfactant fluid.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the chelating agent comprises at least one chelating agent selected from the group consisting of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, hydroxyethylethylenediaminetriacetic acid, dicarboxymethyl glutamic acid tetrasodium salt, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, propylenediaminetetraacetic acid, ethylenediaminedi(o-hydroxyphenylacetic) acid, glucoheptonic acid, gluconic acid, any combination thereof, and any derivative thereof.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the scale control agent is comprises at least one scale control agent selected from the group consisting of a phosphorous compound, a polyaspartic acid, a synthetic polymer, a polysaccharide polymer, any combination thereof, and any derivative thereof.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the treatment fluid further comprises at least one component selected the group consisting of an alcohol, a glycol, a pH modifier, a hydrocarbon, a mutual solvent, an oxidizer, a reducer, an enzyme, a transition metal, a combination thereof, and a derivative thereof.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the treatment fluid further comprises at least one component selected from the group consisting of a nonemulsifier, a demulsifier, a combination thereof, and a derivative thereof.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the carrier fluid comprises at least one carrier fluid selected from the group consisting of fresh water, salt water, brine, glycol, any combination thereof, and any derivative thereof.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one component selected from the group consisting of a chelating agent and a scale control agent comprises from about 5% to about 60%, by weight, of the treatment fluid.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one component selected from the group consisting of a chelating agent and a scale control agent is present in the treatment fluid in an amount from about 1 to about 100 pounds per gallon of the treatment fluid.