Electromagnetic wave treatment method and promoter

• US 8,839,856 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2011
• Issued: 09/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Becker, Harold L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bates, Zakiya W
• Application Number:
  US13/088,014
• Publication Number:
  US 20120261129A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,257 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 166/248
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/126 Microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/129 Radiofrequency
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0877 Liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0892 involving catalytically active material
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/524 organic depositions, e.g. paraffins or asphaltenes
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/845 containing inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/882 obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 37/06 using chemical means for preventing or limiting , e.g. eliminating, the deposition of paraffins or like substances
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/25 Methods for stimulating production by vibrating earth formations E21B43/003

Abstract

A method involving exposing a substance to a promoter, the promoter being made from a liquid carrier and a metal salt component, the metal salt component, having at least (i) a magnetic susceptibility above 1000 or (ii) an ionization potential below about 500 volts, or (iii) both (i) and (ii), and applying electromagnetic wave energy to the substance while the substance is in the presence of the promoter, for a period of time and at a frequency and amplification sufficient to promote the modification of at least one physical property of the substance. A related method of treating a well in a subterranean formation, a tank or a pipeline, and the well treatment promoter composition, are also described.

Claims

1. A method comprising exposing a substance to a promoter comprised of a liquid carrier and a metal salt component, the metal salt component having at least (i) a magnetic susceptibility above 1000 (10⁻

6 cgs) or (ii) an ionization potential below about 500 volts, or (iii) both (i) and (ii), and applying electromagnetic wave energy to the substance while the substance is in the presence of the promoter, for a period of time and at a frequency and amplification sufficient to promote the modification of at least one physical property of the substance;

wherein the liquid carrier comprises a polar aprotic solvent selected from the group consisting of N-methyl-2-pyrolidone, dimethylformamide, acetone, dimethylsulfoxide, or a mixture of any two or more of the foregoing.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein metal salt component has a magnetic susceptibility above 1000 (10⁻

6 cgs) and the metal salt component comprises one or more metal salts, each metal having an atomic number in the range of 23-29 inclusive, or in the range of 59-69 inclusive.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the liquid carrier comprises a polar aprotic solvent.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the metal salt component comprises at least two metal salts.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the metal salt component comprises cobalt salt, iron salt and nickel salt.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the molar ratio of cobalt to iron to nickel of the metal salt component is 3:

1;

2.

7. A method according to claim 4, wherein the metal salt component comprises calcium salt and cobalt salt.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the molar ratio of calcium to cobalt is 1:

1.

21. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the electromagnetic wave energy comprises radiowave energy at a frequency in the range of 1 to 900 MHz.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein the electromagnetic wave energy is amplified to no more than about 1000 Watts of total power.

9. A method of treating a well in a subterranean formation, a tank or a pipeline, the method comprising

introducing a promoter to the tank, pipeline, well, or a portion of the formation proximate to the well, wherein the promoter is comprised of a liquid carrier and a metal salt component, the metal salt component having at least (i) a magnetic susceptibility of above 1000 (10⁻

6 cgs) or (ii) an ionization potential below about 500 volts, or (iii) both (i) and (ii), and

applying electromagnetic wave energy to at least the tank, the pipeline, the well, or a portion of the formation proximate to the well, while the tank, pipeline, well or portion of the formation proximate to the well is in the presence of the promoter and for a period of time and at a frequency and amplification sufficient to promote the modification of at least one physical property of a substance within the tank, pipeline, well or formation.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the metal salt component has a magnetic susceptibility above 1000 (10⁻

6 cgs) and the metal salt component comprises one or more metal salts, each metal having an atomic number in the range of 23-29 inclusive, or in the range of 59-69 inclusive.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the liquid carrier comprises a polar aprotic solvent.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the polar aprotic solvent is selected from the group consisting of N-methyl-2-pyrolidone, dimethylformamide, acetone, dimethylsulfoxide, or a mixture of any two or more of the foregoing.

13. A method according to claim 10, wherein the metal salt component comprises at least two metal salts.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the metal salt component comprises cobalt salt, iron salt and nickel salt.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the molar ratio of cobalt to iron to nickel of the metal salt component is 3:

1;

2.

16. A method according to claim 10, wherein the substance comprises a paraffin.

17. A method according to claim 9, wherein the metal salt component at least has an ionization potential below about 500 volts.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the metal salt component comprises calcium salt and cobalt salt.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the molar ratio of calcium to cobalt is 1:

1.

20. A method according to claim 17 wherein the substance comprises asphaltene.