Biocide Composition for Reservoir Souring Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

There is a continuous demand for effective and cost-efficient biocides to control the proliferation of undesired bacteria in oil and gas applications, particularly in hydraulic fracturing and oil field reservoir treatments to prevent reservoir souring.

Innovation Solution

A well treatment biocide composition comprising a tetrakis(hydroxyorgano)phosphonium salt (THP salt) and 1,3-dimethylol-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, which provides a fast kill and long-term preservation of the treated area, while also enhancing biofilm control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional biocides are used to control bacterial proliferation, then bacterial growth is inhibited, but the treatment lacks long-term preservation and effective biofilm control

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebiocidal effectivenessVSAvoidlong-term preservation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines two distinct biocidal mechanisms into a single composition: a phosphonium salt for immediate bacterial cell destruction and a hydantoin compound for sustained slow-release biocidal activity. This merging allows the composition to achieve both rapid initial kill and long-term preservation, resolving the contradiction between immediate effectiveness and duration of action.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a composite biocide system where the phosphonium salt and hydantoin compound work synergistically. The phosphonium salt provides rapid contact killing while the hydantoin offers prolonged residual protection, creating a composite effect that simultaneously addresses both short-term and long-term biocidal needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Speed

If conventional biocides are applied to achieve fast kill, then immediate bacterial death is achieved, but biofilm control and reservoir souring prevention are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefast kill rateVSAvoidbiofilm control
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The composition merges the fast-acting phosphonium salt with the biofilm-penetrating hydantoin compound. The phosphonium salt delivers rapid kill of planktonic bacteria while the hydantoin component maintains effective concentrations within biofilms over time, achieving both speed and reliability in biofilm control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If single-component biocides are used to simplify treatment, then application is easier, but effectiveness against diverse bacteria and biofilms is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreatment simplicityVSAvoidbacterial control effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The biocide composition is designed with multi-functionality: the phosphonium salt component targets a broad spectrum of bacteria including Gram-positive and Gram-negative species, while the hydantoin compound provides additional spectrum coverage and biofilm penetration capabilities. This universal approach allows a single composition to effectively treat diverse bacterial challenges without requiring multiple separate treatments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 composition achieves a fast kill and long-term preservation of the treated area, effectively controlling bacterial growth and preventing reservoir souring, with enhanced biofilm control.

Implementation Method 1

Biocides are used to treat water and destroy bacteria or a substantial amount of bacteria during a biocide treatment

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBiocidal action:

Implementation Method 2

enhanced biofilm control to prevent or mitigate reservoir souring

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBiofilm control:

Data Source

PatentEP3387088B1Well-treatment fluids composition
Publication Date: 2025.03.05 ENERGY SOLUTIONS US LLC
  • EP3387088B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3387088B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3387088B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A well treatment fluid composition that includes a tetrakis(hydroxyorgano)phosphonium salt and 1,3-dimethylol-5,5-dimethylhydantoin. Methods for preparing a well treatment fluid composition and treating a subterranean formation are also presented.