Disulfide–Lactate Solvent Mixtures for Regenerable Well Sulfur Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solvents for elemental sulfur removal in hydrocarbon wells, such as diaryl disulfide (DADS) and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS), face challenges including unavailability, malodor issues, and potential formation permeability damage, necessitating improved solvent mixtures that are effective, odorless, and maintain formation permeability.
Innovation Solution
A solvent mixture comprising an elemental sulfur solvent fraction with disulfide compounds and an odorant fraction of lactate ester solvents is used, which dissolves sulfur deposits, collected, and regenerated by sparging with an oxidizer to produce disulfide compounds, maintaining formation permeability and reducing odor intensity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If DMDS-based solvents are used to dissolve elemental sulfur, then sulfur removal effectiveness is improved, but odor intensity increases to unacceptable levels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines DMDS (effective sulfur solvent) with lactate ester (odor masking agent) in a blended solvent system. The lactate ester masks the malodorous properties of DMDS while maintaining sulfur dissolution effectiveness, thereby resolving the contradiction between sulfur removal performance and odor intensity.
Solution Approach 2:
The lactate ester acts as an intermediary substance that modifies the sensory properties of the solvent mixture. It does not directly participate in sulfur dissolution but masks the unpleasant odor of DMDS, allowing the effective sulfur removal agent to function without generating harmful olfactory effects.
2Reliability
If solvents are used to dissolve elemental sulfur downhole, then sulfur deposition is reduced, but formation permeability may be adversely affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the solvent by blending DMDS with lactate ester in specific proportions. This parameter change creates a solvent system that maintains sulfur dissolution capability while reducing potential formation damage, thereby preventing sulfur deposition without compromising formation permeability.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If DADS-based solvents are used for sulfur removal, then odor issues are minimized, but availability and ease of utilization decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs lactate ester, a readily available and cost-effective odor masking agent, to replace the difficult-to-obtain DADS. This substitution maintains acceptable odor levels while significantly improving solvent availability and ease of manufacture, effectively resolving the contradiction between odor control and manufacturing accessibility.
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 solvent mixture effectively removes elemental sulfur from well components while minimizing malodor and preserving formation permeability, enabling efficient recycling and reuse.
Implementation Method 1
the elemental sulfur solvent fraction of the solvent mixture dissolves elemental sulfur deposited on well components
Implementation Method 2
sparging the spent solvent mixture with oxidizer within the spent solvent separator to allow for oxidation of the thiols to produce the at least one disulfide compound
Data Source
AI summary
Methods for utilizing and regenerating solvent mixtures for dissolving elemental sulfur within hydrocarbon wells are described herein. One method includes providing a solvent mixture including an elemental sulfur solvent fraction including disulfide compound(s), as well as an odorant fraction including a lactate ester solvent. The method also includes injecting the solvent mixture into a hydrocarbon well such that the elemental sulfur solvent fraction dissolves elemental sulfur deposited on well components, as well as collecting the resulting spent solvent mixture, which includes thiols and residual lactate ester solvent, within a spent solvent separator. The method further includes sparging the spent solvent mixture with oxidizer within the spent solvent separator to allow for oxidation of the thiols to produce the disulfide compound(s) using the residual lactate ester solvent (and, optionally, additional lactate ester solvent), as well as regenerating the solvent mixture using at least a portion of the produced disulfide compound(s).