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

• US 20080035340A1
• 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 8,567,504 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/279
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2208/30 Viscoelastic surfactants [VES]
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/035 Organic additives
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/52 Compositions for preventing, limiting or eliminating depositions, e.g. for cleaning
• 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; at least one component selected from the group consisting of a chelating agent and a scale control agent; at least one component selected from 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; and at least one component selected from the group consisting of a nonemulsifier, a demulsifier, a combination thereof, and a derivative thereof, and introducing the treatment fluid into a subterranean formation.

Claims

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

providing a treatment fluid comprising a carrier fluid;

at least one component selected from the group consisting of a chelating agent and a scale control agent;

at least one component selected from 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; and

at least one component selected from the group consisting of a nonemulsifier, a demulsifier, a combination thereof, and a derivative thereof; and

introducing the treatment fluid into a subterranean formation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the chelating agent comprises at least one 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, a combination thereof, and a derivative thereof.

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

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

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the treatment fluid further comprises a viscoelastic surfactant.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the viscoelastic surfactant comprises from about 0.5% to about 10%, by volume, of the treatment fluid.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the viscoelastic surfactant comprises from about 1% to about 5%, by volume, 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 comprises from about 5% to about 60%, by weight, of the treatment fluid.

9. 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.

10-18. -18. (canceled)