Single Fluid Acidizing Formulation Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional acidizing formulations are unstable and require on-site mixing, leading to waste and increased costs due to instability and phase separation, which reduces their effectiveness and increases the risk of formation damage.
Innovation Solution
A single fluid acidizing formulation comprising a high concentration of mineral or organic acid, a miscibility solvent, and a surfactant, which is stable for extended periods, allowing for pre-mixing and storage, preventing phase separation and enhancing additive dispersion and acid functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If conventional acidizing formulations are prepared in advance and shipped to wellsites, then logistics and cost efficiency are improved, but the formulations become unstable and phase separate, reducing effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a miscibility solvent (such as ethylene glycol monobutyl ether or other glycol ethers) as an intermediary substance that mediates between the aqueous acid phase and organic additives. This solvent prevents phase separation by acting as a bridge that maintains miscibility of all formulation components during storage and transport, thereby resolving the contradiction between advance preparation and formulation stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the acidizing formulation by incorporating specific miscibility solvents and adjusting concentrations of additives. These parameter changes enable the formulation to maintain stability over extended periods and at various temperatures, allowing advance preparation without phase separation or precipitation.
2Stability of the object's composition
If separate ingredients are shipped to wellsite and mixed on-site, then formulation stability is maintained, but preparation time and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate ingredients (aqueous acid, miscibility solvent, corrosion inhibitors, iron-control additives, and other additives) into a single pre-mixed formulation. This merging eliminates the need for complex on-site mixing operations while maintaining formulation stability through the inclusion of miscibility solvents that prevent phase separation during storage and transport.
3Adaptability or versatility
If mutual solvents are added to aqueous acid solutions, then hydrocarbon stripping capability is improved, but phase separation occurs reducing treatment effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses miscibility solvents (such as ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, propylene glycol monobutyl ether, or other glycol ethers) as intermediary substances that enable the aqueous acid solution to effectively interact with and strip hydrocarbons from formation surfaces. These solvents act as mediators that prevent phase separation while maintaining the hydrocarbon-stripping capability, thereby resolving the contradiction between adaptability and solution homogeneity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The formulation maintains stability and effectiveness at both ambient and elevated temperatures, reducing waste and costs, and allows for efficient acidizing without dilution, ensuring full-strength acid delivery and improved hydrocarbon production.
Implementation Method 1
a miscibility solvent being from about 40 volume % to about 65 volume % of the formulation for forming a substantially stable single fluid
Implementation Method 2
The surfactant is added to the formulation to assist in maintaining a stable dispersion of the additives therein
Implementation Method 3
an effective amount of aromatics to strip oils and hydrocarbons from surfaces to be acidized
Implementation Method 4
an effective amount of a blend of alcohols to ensure miscibility of the aromatics and additional additives in the aqueous acid solution
Data Source
AI summary
An acidizing formulation for use in the stimulation of hydrocarbon production is stable when packaged and stored as a single fluid for periods exceeding one year. The formulation contains a miscibility solvent which substantially prevents any phase separation between the constituents and lack of dispersion of the additives in the fluid.