Additives to suppress silica scale build-up and methods of use thereof

• US 8,881,811 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2010
• Issued: 11/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Reyes, Enrique A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bates, Zakiya W
• Assistant Examiner(s): RUNYAN, SILVANA C
• Application Number:
  US12/917,167
• Publication Number:
  US 20110079392A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,471 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 166/279
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/528 inorganic depositions, e.g. sulfates or carbonates
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/76 for preventing or reducing fluid loss
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/78 for preventing sealing
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/88 macromolecular compounds
• 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

Treatments and compounds for use in subterranean formations where surfaces may be subject to silica scale build-up. Certain embodiments pertain to utilizing silica scale control additives with remediation and stimulation treatments. One example of a suitable method of treatment includes providing an acidic treatment fluid comprising: a base fluid, an acid, and a silica scale control additive; contacting at least a portion of a subterranean formation with the acidic treatment fluid; and allowing the acidic treatment fluid to interact with silica scale buildup in the subterranean formation so that at least a portion of the silica scale buildup is removed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing an acidic treatment fluid comprising;

a base fluid,

an acid, and

a silica scale control additive;

wherein the silica scale control additive comprises at least one substance selected from the group consisting of a polyaminoamide dendrimer, a polyethyleneimine, a carboxymethylinulin, a polyacrylate, a polyallylamine, a copolymer of polyacrylamide, a polyallyldimethylammonium chloride, any combination thereof, and any derivative thereof;

contacting at least a portion of a subterranean formation with the acidic treatment fluid in a remedial operation; and

allowing the acidic treatment fluid to interact with silica scale buildup in the subterranean formation so that at least a portion of the silica scale buildup is removed and a concentration of soluble silica in the treatment fluid is about 500 mg/L or more by weight after interacting with the silica scale buildup, whereby precipitation of new silica scale buildup from the treatment fluid is suppressed by the silica scale control additive.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the acidic treatment fluid comprises at least one acid selected from the group consisting of hydrochloric acid, hydrofluoric acid, acetic acid, formic acid, citric acid, lactic acid, glycolic acid, sulfamic acid, tartaric acid, methanesulfonic acid, trichloroacetic acid, dichloroacetic acid, chloroacetic acid, fluoroboric acid, fluorophosphoric acid, hexafluorotitanic acid, phosphoric acid, any combinations thereof, and any derivatives thereof.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the base fluid comprises at least one substance selected from the group consisting of an aqueous-based fluid, a hydrocarbon-based fluid, an emulsion, a gel, and derivatives thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the silica scale control additive has a concentration in the base fluid ranging between about 0.01% and about 15% by weight.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the base fluid has a pH of less than or equal to about 4.5.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the base fluid has a pH above 0 and less than 4.

7. A method comprising:

providing a treatment fluid comprising a base fluid and a silica scale control additive;

wherein the silica scale control additive has a concentration in the base fluid ranging between about 0.1% to about 5% by weight and comprises at least one substance selected from the group consisting of a polyaminoamide dendrimer, a polyethyleneimine, a carboxymethylinulin, a polyacrylate, a polyallylamine, a copolymer of polyacrylamide, a polyallyldimethylammonium chloride, any combination thereof, and any derivative thereof;

introducing the treatment fluid into at least a portion of a subterranean formation in a remedial operation; and

suppressing precipitation of silica scale in the subterranean formation with the silica scale control additive at a soluble silicon concentration of about 500 mg/L or above.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the base fluid has a pH of less than or equal to about 4.5.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the base fluid has a pH above 0 and less than 4.0.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the base fluid comprises at least one substance selected from the group consisting of an aqueous-based fluid, a hydrocarbon-based fluid, an emulsion, a gel, a foamed fluid and derivatives thereof.

11. A method for reducing silica scale buildup in a subterranean formation, the method comprising:

placing an acidic treatment fluid comprising a base fluid and a silica scale control additive in the subterranean formation;

wherein the silica scale control additive comprises at least one substance selected from the group consisting of a polyaminoamide dendrimer, a polyethyleneimine, a carboxymethylinulin, a polyacrylate, a polyallylamine, a copolymer of polyacrylamide, a polyallyldimethylammonium chloride, any combination thereof, and any derivative thereof; and

forming soluble silica in the subterranean formation in a remedial operation;

wherein a concentration of soluble silica in the treatment fluid is about 500 mg/L or more by weight after forming the soluble silica, and precipitation of new silica scale buildup from the treatment fluid is suppressed by the silica scale control additive.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the base fluid has a pH of less than or equal to about 4.5.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the base fluid has a pH above 0 and less than 4.