Diluted Microemulsions for Gas Well Water Block Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Diluted microemulsions used in gas wells often have high surface tensions, which hinder their effectiveness in treating gas wells by preventing the flow of hydrocarbon gas due to water blocks in rock formations.
Innovation Solution
Formulating microemulsions with specific solvents such as C6-C10 linear or branched alkane solvents, methylated cyclic alkane solvents, and methyl siloxane solvents that have low surface tensions, allowing for the reduction of capillary pressure and enhancement of hydrocarbon gas flow by injecting a diluted microemulsion with a surface tension of less than 28 mN/m into the wellbore.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If diluted microemulsions are used for treating gas wells, then they can potentially enhance hydrocarbon gas flow, but they have high surface tensions that prevent them from overcoming water blocks in rock formations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the surface tension of the microemulsion through selective solvent composition adjustments. Specifically, the microemulsion is formulated with solvents having low surface tensions (less than 34 mN/m at reservoir conditions) to achieve an overall surface tension less than 28 mN/m, enabling the fluid to overcome capillary pressure and water blocks in the reservoir, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining productivity enhancement and reducing surface tension effects.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional solvents are used in microemulsions, then the formulation is simpler, but the surface tension remains high which reduces effectiveness in gas well treatment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite materials by creating a microemulsion system that combines aqueous phase, surfactant, and specifically selected solvent components (C6-C10 linear or branched alkanes, methylated cyclic alkanes, and/or methyl siloxanes) to achieve synergistic effects. This composite formulation reduces surface tension to less than 28 mN/m while maintaining ease of manufacture through the use of commercially available solvent components that can be combined in a straightforward process.
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 use of these solvents in microemulsions reduces surface tension, allowing for increased hydrocarbon gas production by overcoming water blocks in rock formations, thereby enhancing gas flow and recovery from gas wells.
Implementation Method 1
The diluted microemulsion has a surface tension of less than 28 mN/m... The use of these solvents in microemulsions reduces surface tension
Implementation Method 2
allowing for the reduction of capillary pressure and enhancement of hydrocarbon gas flow
Data Source
AI summary
Compositions relating to microemulsions or diluted microemulsions for treating gas wells having wellbores and methods related to treating gas wells having wellbores using the same are generally provided. In some embodiments, the microemulsions or diluted microemulsions have an especially low surface tension at a gas well bottom hole temperature and pressure.