Engineered Composite Dissolution for Controlled Well Treatment Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for delivering well treatment agents to subterranean formations often result in reduced conductivity due to insoluble materials left behind after treatment, and require stopping production for treatment, which is time-consuming and costly.
Innovation Solution
A novel method involving an engineered composite of a slightly soluble substrate and well treatment agents, which dissolves at a controlled rate to release agents without leaving residual materials, allowing continuous treatment without impacting conductivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If insoluble absorbents are used to deliver well treatment agents, then treatment agents can be released, but permeability and conductivity within the formation are reduced due to residual materials remaining in the formation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the key parameter of the carrier material from insoluble to water-soluble. The engineered composite uses a soluble substrate that dissolves completely in formation fluids, allowing treatment agents to be released while eliminating residual materials that would otherwise reduce formation conductivity and permeability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs an engineered composite material consisting of a soluble substrate combined with well treatment agents. This composite structure allows the treatment agents to be delivered and released while the soluble substrate dissolves completely, avoiding the conductivity reduction problem caused by insoluble residual materials.
2Reliability
If production is stopped to add treatment agents, then treatment can be applied, but time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-forming the engineered composite with treatment agents embedded in a soluble substrate before injection. This allows the treatment to be delivered continuously as the composite dissolves during production, eliminating the need to stop production for separate treatment applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables continuous treatment action by injecting the engineered composite that dissolves and releases treatment agents continuously over time. This maintains uninterrupted both production and treatment, unlike conventional methods requiring production shutdowns for treatment application.
3Reliability
If large porous particles are used for additive delivery, then agents can permeate through pores, but the system requires complex delivery mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent simplifies the delivery system by changing the fundamental mechanism from porous particle diffusion to soluble substrate dissolution. The engineered composite releases treatment agents through simple dissolution in formation fluids, eliminating the need for complex porous structures and permeation mechanisms.
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
Enables a controlled, sustained release of well treatment agents over an extended period without reducing conductivity, improving well performance and preventing deposit formation, and can be used during any phase of the stimulation or production process without stopping production.
Implementation Method 1
the composite dissolves at a controlled rate over an extended time period, releasing the well treatment agents at a controlled rate without impacting conductivity within the formation
Data Source
AI summary
It is common to require oil-well treating chemicals to be introduced into subterranean geological formations over the well's drilling, stabilization and extraction phases. The timely controlled and uniform release of such chemicals throughout the fluid bed vastly enhances their effectiveness. A method is disclosed for introducing such oil-well treating chemicals throughout the subterranean formation by encapsulating the chemicals within engineered composites, which are introduced into the subterranean formations along with the other fluids. These engineered composites are formed to slowly release the oil-well treating chemicals once they are in the subterranean formations as the engineered composites slowly dissolve.