Biodegradable Chelating Fluids for HF Formation Damage Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydrofluoric acid treatments in subterranean formations often result in precipitation damage due to interactions with siliceous minerals, leading to reduced permeability and flow potential, and existing chelating agents are either non-biodegradable or exacerbate precipitation issues.
Innovation Solution
The use of biodegradable chelating agents, such as glutamic acid diacetic acid (GLDA) or its derivatives, in conjunction with hydrofluoric acid treatments to prevent or remediate precipitation damage by sequestering metal ions and maintaining stability over a wide pH range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hydrofluoric acid is used to treat siliceous formations, then the acid reacts with aluminosilicates and silicates to remove damage, but precipitation of aluminum and silicon complexes occurs causing formation damage and reduced permeability
Solution Approach 1:
A chelating agent is introduced as an intermediary substance that binds to metal ions (aluminum, silicon, calcium, magnesium) in solution, preventing them from precipitating out and causing formation damage. The chelating agent mediates between the hydrofluoric acid treatment and the formation by sequestering reactive metal ions, allowing the acid to effectively remove damage without creating precipitates that would clog pore spaces and reduce permeability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the chemical parameters of the treatment fluid by adding a chelating agent that alters the solubility and reactivity of metal ions. This parameter change prevents the formation of insoluble precipitates while maintaining the acid's ability to dissolve aluminosilicates and silicates, thus resolving the contradiction between damage removal and precipitation prevention.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If conventional chelating agents are used to prevent precipitation, then metal ion sequestration is achieved, but the agents are non-biodegradable or exacerbate precipitation issues
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical structure and properties of the chelating agent to be biodegradable while maintaining effective metal ion sequestration capabilities. This parameter change in the chelating agent's molecular structure allows it to break down naturally in the environment, resolving the contradiction between effective precipitation prevention and environmental compatibility.
3Reliability
If multi-stage treatment operations are used to address precipitation damage, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but operational complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the damage removal function and precipitation prevention function into a single treatment stage by combining hydrofluoric acid with a chelating agent in one fluid system. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate multi-stage operations, reducing operational complexity and treatment time while maintaining or improving overall treatment effectiveness through the synergistic action of the acid and chelating agent.
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 biodegradable chelating agents effectively prevent or remove precipitates, maintaining formation permeability and reducing damage from hydrofluoric acid interactions, allowing for single-stage treatment operations in sandstone formations with carbonates.
Implementation Method 1
The use of biodegradable chelating agents, such as glutamic acid diacetic acid (GLDA) or its derivatives, in conjunction with hydrofluoric acid treatments to prevent or remediate precipitation damage by sequestering metal ions
Data Source
AI summary
Of the many methods provided herein, an example is a method including: providing a treatment fluid that comprises: an aqueous base fluid; a hydrofluoric acid source selected from the group consisting of hydrofluoric acid, a hydrofluoric acid generating compound, and a combination thereof; and a biodegradable chelating agent comprising one of the following selected from the group consisting of: glutamic acid diacetic acid, a glutamic acid diacetic acid salt, a derivative thereof, and a combination thereof; and introducing the treatment fluid into at least a portion of a subterranean formation.