Method for stimulation of liquid flow in a well

• US 5,394,942 A
• Filed: 11/02/1993
• Issued: 03/07/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aqua Freed Of New York, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Aqua Freed Of New York, Inc.
• Inventors: Catania, Steven M., Catania, Christopher L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Suchfield, George A.
• Application Number:
  US08/147,146
• Time in Patent Office: 490 Days
• Field of Search: 166/302, 166/307, 166/308, 166/311, 166/312
• US Class Current: 166/302
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 36/001 Cooling arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/255 including the injection of a gaseous medium as treatment fluid into the formation

Abstract

A method of stimulating a flow of water into a well from water pools in strata surrounding the well. The well is sealed in a manner such that pressurization of the well can be accomplished. Liquified carbon dioxide is introduced into the well at a down hole pressure such that the liquified carbon dioxide solidifies within the well forming solid carbon dioxide and introduction of the solid carbon dioxide is continued into the well until a desired level of filling of the well is attained. The sealed well containing solid carbon dioxide is allowed to stand for a time sufficient to sublime the solid carbon dioxide contained in the sealed well and the residual pressure is released in the sealed well and the seal removed from the well.

Claims

1. A method of stimulating a flow of water into a well from water pools in strata surrounding the well comprising the steps of:

sealing the well in a manner such that pressurization of the well can be accomplished, introducing liquified carbon dioxide into the well at a down hole pressure such that the liquified carbon dioxide solidifies within the well forming solid carbon dioxide, continuing introduction of the liquid carbon dioxide into the well until a desired level of filling of the well with solid carbon dioxide is attained, allowing the sealed well containing solid carbon dioxide to stand for a time sufficient to sublime the solid carbon dioxide contained in the sealed well, releasing residual pressure in the sealed well and releasing the seal from the well.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein sealing of the well comprises placing a sealing means on a casing of the well or in the well and securing the scalling means thereto.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising purging the sealed well with gaseous carbon dioxide prior to introduction of the liquid carbon dioxide.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the steps of the method are repeated a plurality of times in order to obtain the desired flow of water.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the down hole pressure is regulated so as to be within the range of between about 0 to 70 PSI.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising controlling or killing bacterial growth within the well.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising removing scale contained within the well.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein sublimation of the solid CO₂ within the sealed well generates pressure within the sealed well and time releases carbonic acid into strata of the well.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the down hole pressure is sufficient to assure freezing of the water within the formation and surrounding strata.