Biocide Blend for Wellbore Microbial Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Biocide blends used in wellbore treatment operations often lack specific desired properties, are cost-prohibitive, and have reduced effectiveness due to only one biocide possessing crucial properties, requiring frequent retreatment for microbial growth control.

Innovation Solution

A biocide blend comprising a formaldehyde-releasing biocide, such as a triazine compound, and a quaternary ammonium compound (QAC) is introduced, where both biocides possess shared and distinct properties like thermal stability and persistence, ensuring extended biocidal activity in high salinity and ammonia environments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a single biocide is used to treat wellbores, then the treatment is simpler and less costly, but the biocidal activity is reduced and retreatment is required more frequently

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebiocidal activity effectivenessVSAvoidbiocide blend composition

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple biocides (formaldehyde-releasing biocide and quaternary ammonium compound) into a single blend formulation. This merging allows the composition to achieve enhanced biocidal activity and extended persistence in wellbore environments, resolving the contradiction between effectiveness and simplicity by providing a unified multi-functional product that delivers superior performance without requiring multiple separate treatments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a composite biocide system where different biocidal agents are combined in specific concentrations (formaldehyde-releasing biocide at 50-200 ppm and quaternary ammonium compound at 100-500 ppm). This composite approach leverages the complementary properties of each biocide to achieve synergistic effects, maintaining biocidal activity under high salinity and temperature conditions while extending the duration of protection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If biocides are selected for high biocidal performance in high total dissolved solids, then microbial growth control is improved, but thermal stability and persistence may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebiocidal performance in high TDSVSAvoidbiocidal persistence

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the concentration parameters of each biocide component to achieve the desired balance. By specifying formaldehyde-releasing biocide at 50-200 ppm and quaternary ammonium compound at 100-500 ppm, the formulation achieves both high biocidal performance in high TDS environments and extended thermal stability. The parameter optimization ensures that each component contributes to both immediate efficacy and long-term persistence

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The composite biocide blend combines the rapid-acting formaldehyde-releasing biocide with the thermally stable quaternary ammonium compound. This composite structure allows the formulation to maintain biocidal activity in high salinity conditions while the quaternary ammonium component provides extended thermal stability and persistence, resolving the trade-off between immediate performance and duration of action

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If a biocide blend is formulated to achieve all desired properties, then biocidal performance is improved, but the cost becomes prohibitive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomprehensive biocidal propertiesVSAvoidcost of biocide blend

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent establishes specific concentration ranges for each biocide component that optimize performance while controlling cost. By setting formaldehyde-releasing biocide at 50-200 ppm and quaternary ammonium compound at 100-500 ppm, the formulation achieves comprehensive biocidal properties (activity in high TDS, thermal stability, persistence) at economically viable concentrations, avoiding the need for excessive amounts of expensive biocidal agents

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 biocide blend maintains biocidal activity for extended periods, effectively controlling microbial growth in wellbore environments with high salinity and temperature stability, reducing the need for frequent retreatment and addressing the limitations of single biocides.

Implementation Method 1

a first biocide, wherein the first biocide is a formaldehyde-releasing biocide

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChemical decomposition: Decomposition (biological)

Data Source

PatentUS11566168B1Biocide blend for treating wellbores

Publication Date: 2023.01.31 HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES INC

AI summary

A biocide blend can be used in an oil or gas operation. The biocide blend can include a first biocide of a formaldehyde-releasing biocide and a second biocide of a quaternary ammonium compound. The formaldehyde-releasing biocide can release formaldehyde after introduction into a wellbore. The first and second biocide can possess at least one property that is the same. The first biocide and/or the second biocide can maintain biocidal activity for extended periods of time in high salinity wellbore fluids, be thermally stable, and less expensive than other biocides.