Foamed Well Treatment Composition Annular Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for addressing unwanted contaminants in oil and gas wells, such as scales, salts, and bacteria, are inefficient and costly due to the need for frequent treatments and incomplete surface contact, leading to high consumption of well treatment agents.
Innovation Solution
A foamed well treatment composition containing a gas, a foaming agent, and a liquid well treatment agent is introduced into the annular space between the tubing and casing, allowing for a high foam quality and self-supporting foam that completely packs the area, leaving a lasting thin film of treatment agent on surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional liquid treatment methods are used to address contaminants, then complete surface contact can be achieved, but large quantities of treatment agent are required and hydrostatic loading increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the treatment agent from liquid to foam form, changing its physical state parameters. This foamification allows the treatment agent to expand and contact surfaces more effectively while using significantly smaller volumes of the actual treatment chemical, thus reducing both quantity required and hydrostatic loading.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes foam (a gas-liquid mixture) as the delivery medium for the treatment agent. The gaseous component provides expansion and surface contact capability, while the liquid component delivers the treatment chemistry. This pneumatic-hydraulic approach allows complete surface coverage with minimal liquid treatment agent.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If conventional liquid treatment methods are used, then treatment can be applied, but frequent re-treatment is required due to gradual removal of agent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs foam as an intermediate phase between liquid and gas. The foam structure provides a reservoir effect where the treatment agent is released gradually over time, extending the duration of action. As the foam breaks down, it leaves behind a film of treatment agent that continues to function, reducing the frequency of re-treatment needed.
3Area of stationary object
If large quantities of treatment agent are used to ensure complete coverage, then surface contact is improved, but cost and environmental impact increase
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the physical state of the treatment delivery system from liquid to foam, the patent achieves dramatically improved surface coverage area with minimal treatment agent volume. The foam expansion ratio allows a small amount of liquid treatment agent to be distributed over large surface areas within the annulus.
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
This method reduces the volume of well treatment agents required, lowers hydrostatic loading, and provides a sustained treatment that inhibits or removes contaminants, reducing the frequency of treatments and operational costs while ensuring complete surface contact.
Implementation Method 1
A foamed well treatment composition which contains a gas, a foaming agent and a liquid well treatment agent
Implementation Method 2
the foam breaks leaving behind a thin film of the concentrated well treatment agent on the external surfaces of the tubing, inside the casing
Data Source
AI summary
The annular surface between the tubing and casing of an oil or gas well may be contacted with a foamed well treatment composition containing a gas, a foaming agent and a liquid well treatment agent, such as a scale inhibitor, corrosion inhibitor, salt inhibitor, scale remover or biocide. The foam, upon destabilization, renders a thin film of concentrated well treatment agent on the external surfaces of the tubing, inside the casing and in the perforations.