Emulsion System for Deep Water Blockage Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Deep water blockage in hydrocarbon zones surrounding producing wells reduces hydrocarbon production, as existing treatments often push damage deeper and fail to effectively improve flowback or productivity.
Innovation Solution
An emulsion system is developed where two aqueous phases, emulsified in separate organic phases, are flowed into a subterranean formation to delay their mixing until reaching the blockage, generating nitrogen and heat upon mixing to lift and remove water blockage, with emulsifiers and surfactants enhancing penetration and surface tension reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If water-based surfactant fluid treatments are pumped into hydraulically fractured gas wells to remove water blockage, then water blockage removal is achieved, but the damage is pushed deeper to the tighter areas making flow back or productivity improvement difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The treatment fluid is segmented into two separate aqueous phases (sodium nitrite brine and ammonium chloride brine) that are emulsified in separate organic phases. These phases are injected separately and only mix at the target zone, preventing premature reaction in the wellbore and avoiding pushing damage deeper while still achieving effective water blockage removal through in-situ nitrogen generation and heat release.
Solution Approach 2:
Organic phases (diesel, toluene, or xylene) are used as intermediaries to emulsify and transport the two aqueous phases separately through the wellbore and into the formation. The emulsifiers enable the aqueous phases to be carried without premature mixing, allowing the treatment to reach deep water blockages without causing harmful effects in the wellbore or near-wellbore region.
2Reliability
If two aqueous phases are mixed to release nitrogen and heat for removing water blockage, then water blockage removal effectiveness is improved, but premature mixing before reaching the blockage reduces treatment efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The reactive aqueous phases are segmented and kept separate until reaching the target zone. Each phase is emulsified in its own organic phase, preventing premature contact and energy release. The segmentation ensures that the nitrogen and heat are generated exactly where needed (at the water blockage), maximizing treatment efficiency and avoiding energy loss from premature reaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The organic phases serve as intermediaries that physically separate the two aqueous phases during injection and transport. The emulsifiers in the organic phases stabilize the separation, allowing the reactive components to reach the deep blockage zone without mixing prematurely, thus preserving the chemical energy for effective use at the treatment site.
3Quantity of substance
If deep water blockage is treated with conventional methods, then some water removal is achieved, but the treatment cannot effectively improve flowback or productivity due to pushed damage
Solution Approach 1:
The treatment system is self-activating at the target zone. When the two emulsified aqueous phases mix at the water blockage, they automatically generate nitrogen gas and heat through exothermic reaction. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for external energy input or complex equipment at the wellsite, while effectively removing deep water blockage and improving flowback and productivity without pushing damage deeper.
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 system effectively revives dead wells and enhances productivity by deeply penetrating and removing water blockage, overcoming limitations of existing treatments by instantaneously generating nitrogen and heat at the blockage site, thereby improving well performance.
Implementation Method 1
The first aqueous phase and the second aqueous phase, when mixed, react to release nitrogen
Implementation Method 2
The first aqueous phase and the second aqueous phase, when mixed, react to release nitrogen and heat
Implementation Method 3
The first organic phase can further include an emulsifier... Surfactants can be mixed in the aqueous phase of the emulsions before pumping it to the portion of the subterranean formation experiencing water blockage
Implementation Method 4
the generated heat can reduce the surface tension which can further enhance the lifting and removal of water blockage
Data Source
AI summary
Some examples of an emulsion system for treating deep water blockage can be prepared by emulsifying a first aqueous phase in a first organic phase to prepare a first emulsion. A second aqueous phase can be emulsified in a second organic phase to prepare a second emulsion. The first emulsion and the second emulsion can be flowed into a subterranean formation. The first aqueous phase and the second aqueous phase, when mixed, can react to release nitrogen and heat.