Nanobubbles to stabilize scale solvents

Abstract

Scale can accumulate in oil and gas wells on pipe strings, downhole tools, wellbore walls, or in the near-wellbore region. A variety of treatment fluids used in oil and gas operations may include a scale solvent. The scale solvent can be incompatible with other additives, for example, when the scale control additive has a different loading than the other additives. In such cases, the scale solvent must be present at a much higher concentration to dissolve the scale. Adding nanobubbles to the treatment fluid can stabilize the fluid and make the scale solvent more effective, even at lower concentrations, at dissolving scale, while also minimizing the amount of hydrogen sulfide gas produced during dissolution.