Compositions containing water control treatments and formation damage control additives, and methods for their use

Abstract

The present invention relates to compositions of aqueous compositions comprising relative permeability modifier (RPM) macromolecules and one or more formation damage control additives, for use in treating hydrocarbon-producing wells, formations, and equipment, as well as methods for the use of such compositions. Such compositions, comprising the RPM macromolecule and the one or more formation damage control additive, such as a scale control agent, can result in the formation of a composition wherein the components exhibit a “synergistic” effect, whereby the ability of the formation damage control additive to prevent formation damage is enhanced relative to the use of the same additive separately.

Description

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 601,466 filed Aug. 13, 2004, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The invention relates to treatments of subterranean formations to control water production and inhibit formation damage occurrence, and, more specifically, provides methods and compositions for controlling water production and formation damage occurrence simultaneously with a minimum number of steps. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] When a wellbore is initially drilled in a hydrocarbon-producing field, the hydrocarbon (i.e., oil or gas) extracted is typically dry, being substantially free of aqueous impurities. However, as the hydrocarbon reserves dwindle, or the formation becomes less producing, a progressively greater quantity of aqueous impurities begin to become mixed with the hydrocarbons. Certain locations are more prone to incorporating undesirable amounts of water ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0018] The present invention is directed generally to aqueous compositions comprising a relative permeability modifier (RPM) macromolecule and one or more formation damage control additives, for use in treating hydrocarbon-producing wells, formations, and equipment. Such compositions, comprising the RPM macromolecule and the one or more formation damage control additive, can result in the formation of a composition wherein the components exhibit a “synergistic” effect, whereby the ability of the formation damage control additive to prevent formation damage and to prevent the formation of particulates and deposits on pipes and tubing is enhanced relative to the use of the same additive separately.

Problems solved by technology

However, as the hydrocarbon reserves dwindle, or the formation becomes less producing, a progressively greater quantity of aqueous impurities begin to become mixed with the hydrocarbons.

Certain locations are more prone to incorporating undesirable amounts of water with the produced hydrocarbon product, further raising the post-production costs involved in removing the water and purifying the hydrocarbon product and significantly reducing both the economic return and life of the well.

During this same period of decreasing productivity, changes in physical conditions of the formation can generate both direct and indirect costs to the operator, and the water can simultaneously induce and sustain production changing / reducing formation damage within the hydrocarbon bearing formation.

For example, locations rich in minerals cause the formation of solid deposits in the production tubing and pipes, slowing the production of hydrocarbon product.

Removal of these solid deposits (“scale”) slows production and increases the unit cost of the produced hydrocarbon product.

Such occurrences of formation damage further compound the production problems.

This is especially true in the instance of unwanted water production occurring at the same time, or just prior to, one or more additional formation damage occurrences.

Other types of formation damage or damage to the various parts of the producing systems can also occur, such as hydrate formation, paraffin or wax deposition, and fine migration.

Such operation conditions can lead to hydrate crystals formation which can plug the equipment.

Likewise, oils with high wax content may cause pipeline plugging and deterioration of equipment, resulting in production shutdowns and economic losses.

While there are a number of approaches to these production problems in the patent and journal literature, nearly all of them deal with the problem on an individual basis as they form, which can be costly when numerous problems arise during production.

A further problem with such an approach is the cost off tracking and monitoring such production problems.

However, the overflush process often flushes a significant portion of the control agent chemical from the rock surface, and the remaining control agent is gradually removed from the rock surface as oil production continues.

Images