Cyclodextrin Treatment Fluid for Oil-Based Filter Cake Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for treating formation damage in oil and gas wells, such as micellar dispersions, face challenges due to the use of surfactants, which are toxic and not environmentally friendly, and are not compatible with completion brines, leading to ineffective zonal coverage and potential formation damage remediation issues.
Innovation Solution
A process using a treatment fluid comprising water and cyclodextrin or starch with an enzyme to generate cyclodextrin, which effectively solubilizes non-polar components and dissolves acid-soluble materials in formation damage without requiring surfactants, ensuring compatibility with various brine compositions and reducing environmental impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If micellar dispersions with surfactants are used to treat formation damage, then hydrocarbon solubilisation and filter cake removal effectiveness is improved, but environmental toxicity and incompatibility with completion brines worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the treatment fluid by replacing surfactant-based micellar dispersions with cyclodextrin-based solutions. Cyclodextrins are non-ionic, biodegradable, and compatible with completion brines, thereby eliminating the harmful effects of surfactants while maintaining the ability to solubilize hydrocarbons and remove filter cakes effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
Cyclodextrins act as intermediary molecules that form inclusion complexes with hydrocarbon molecules. The cyclodextrin's hydrophobic cavity accommodates non-polar hydrocarbon components, enabling their solubilization in aqueous environments without requiring harmful surfactants. This intermediary mechanism resolves the contradiction by providing an alternative solubilization pathway that is environmentally benign.
2Reliability
If conventional acidizing formulations with low surfactant concentrations are used, then acid-soluble material dissolution is facilitated, but hydrocarbon coating on acid-soluble materials limits treatment effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the functions of hydrocarbon solubilization and acid-soluble material dissolution into a single treatment fluid system. The cyclodextrin-based solution simultaneously addresses hydrocarbon coating removal through inclusion complex formation and facilitates subsequent acid action on acid-soluble materials, eliminating the need for separate treatment stages and improving overall effectiveness.
3Quantity of substance
If surfactants are used in treatment fluids to solubilise hydrocarbons, then micellar dispersion effectiveness is improved, but compatibility with completion brines and environmental acceptability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs cyclodextrins that are biodegradable and environmentally benign, replacing persistent and toxic surfactants. Cyclodextrins can be effectively used and then naturally degrade in the environment, eliminating long-term environmental contamination issues associated with conventional surfactants while maintaining their hydrocarbon solubilization function.
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 process effectively disrupts and removes oil-based drill-in fluid filter cakes and other formation damage, increasing production or injection rates by improving permeability without the need for surfactants, thus being environmentally friendly and cost-effective.
Implementation Method 1
cyclodextrin for solubilising the non-polar components of formation damage
Implementation Method 2
dissolving the acid-soluble materials in the formation damage
Implementation Method 3
starch and an enzyme capable of generating a cyclodextrin from the starch
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a process for treating formation damage in an underground formation, including damage in the form of an oil-based drill-in fluid filter cake. The process makes use of a treatment fluid that contains a cyclodextrin or a starch and an enzyme capable of generating a cyclodextrin from the starch.