Carbonate Precipitate Filter Pack for Fines Migration Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
During well stimulation, completion, and production operations, fine particles such as clays, sand, and other unstable formation materials migrate towards the wellbore, causing equipment wear, plugging, and reduced productivity by clogging flow channels.
Innovation Solution
Introducing a treatment fluid containing a carbonate producing agent, urea, and a cation source into the subterranean formation to form a low-solubility carbonate precipitate, which consolidates particles and forms a fluid-permeable pack that prevents the passage of fines into the wellbore while allowing fluid passage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If formation fines are allowed to migrate toward the wellbore, then natural production flow is maintained, but equipment wear, plugging, and productivity reduction occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a treatment fluid containing carbonate-producing agents (bacteria or enzymes) and cation sources as an intermediary substance. This fluid migrates with the production flow and facilitates in-situ carbonate precipitate formation, which then acts as the actual intermediary that consolidates formation fines and filters them from the production stream, protecting equipment while maintaining flow
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the production environment by introducing carbonate-producing agents and cation sources. These parameter changes trigger carbonate precipitate formation, transforming the physical state of fines from loose and migratory to consolidated and filtered, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining flow and preventing harm
2Reliability
If a filter pack is formed to prevent fines migration, then equipment protection is improved, but fluid flow may be restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a porous carbonate precipitate filter pack that allows fluid flow while blocking fines. The precipitate forms a porous structure with interconnected void spaces that permit production fluids to pass through while capturing and consolidating formation fines, thus protecting equipment without restricting fluid flow
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure combining carbonate precipitate with formation fines and proppant particles. This composite material forms a filter pack that leverages the structural properties of multiple components to achieve both filtration and flow maintenance functions
3Stability of the object's composition
If treatment fluid is introduced to form carbonate precipitate, then fines stabilization is achieved, but additional chemicals and processing steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs self-service mechanisms where carbonate-producing bacteria or enzymes naturally convert introduced carbon sources into carbonate precipitate in-situ. This self-service approach eliminates the need for direct carbonate injection or complex external processing equipment, achieving fines stabilization through biological or enzymatic self-action
Solution Approach 2:
The treatment fluid serves as an intermediary delivery system that introduces carbonate-producing agents and cation sources to the formation. This intermediary approach simplifies the overall process by combining multiple functions (delivery, reaction initiation, and precipitate formation) into a single injectable fluid system
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 method effectively stabilizes fines within the formation, reducing migration and maintaining well productivity by forming a permeable pack that filters out fines from production materials.
Implementation Method 1
allowing a carbonate precipitate to form, the carbonate precipitate comprising a cation from the cation source and having a water solubility of less than about 0.1 g/100 mL at 25° C. and atmospheric pressure
Data Source
AI summary
A method of treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore comprises: introducing into the subterranean formation a treatment fluid comprising a carbonate producing agent, urea, and a cation source; allowing a carbonate precipitate to form, the carbonate precipitate comprising a cation from the cation source and having a water solubility of less than about 0.1 g/100 mL at 25° C. and atmospheric pressure; and reducing or substantially preventing the passage of formation particles from the subterranean formation into the wellbore while allowing passage of formation fluids from the subterranean formation into the wellbore.