Hydrocarbon Carrier Fluid Reservoir Flow Restrictions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flow restrictions in oil and gas wells due to solid residues and chemical interactions reduce hydrocarbon production, necessitating a method to transport chemical additives effectively to improve or remediate productivity issues in hydrocarbon bearing reservoirs.
Innovation Solution
A method involving mixing chemical additives with an unfractionated hydrocarbon mixture, such as Y-Grade NGL or L-Grade, to form a treatment fluid, which is then pumped into the reservoir to address flow restrictions and enhance production by using the hydrocarbon mixture as a carrier fluid.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If aqueous-based fluid is injected during well treatments, then chemical treatment can be delivered, but the fluid saturates pore spaces and prevents hydrocarbon migration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of carrier fluid composition from aqueous-based to hydrocarbon-based (unfractionated NGL). This parameter change allows the treatment fluid to be miscible with reservoir hydrocarbons, preventing pore space saturation that blocks hydrocarbon flow while still enabling effective chemical treatment delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses hydrocarbon-based carrier fluid that is homogeneous and miscible with the reservoir hydrocarbons. This homogeneity ensures the treatment fluid integrates seamlessly with the reservoir fluid system, maintaining continuous hydrocarbon flow paths without creating separate aqueous phases that would saturate pore spaces.
2Ease of operation
If conventional carrier fluids are used, then chemical transport is possible, but precise control and effective transport of chemical additives is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the carrier fluid parameters by using unfractionated natural gas liquids with specific gravity and viscosity characteristics that optimize both transport efficiency and chemical additive solubility. These parameter changes enable precise control over treatment fluid behavior and effective distribution of chemical additives throughout the reservoir.
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 unfractionated hydrocarbon mixtures as carrier fluids allows precise control and effective transport of chemical additives, improving hydrocarbon flow by removing paraffin and asphaltene deposits, condensate blockages, and enhancing permeability, thereby increasing reservoir productivity.
Implementation Method 1
carry in suspension and transport chemical compositions
Implementation Method 2
transport the chemical treatment and place it at the appropriate location
Implementation Method 3
solvents are used to remove paraffin and asphaltene deposits
Implementation Method 4
surfactants are used to modify formation wettability, modify capillary forces to increase oil mobility
Implementation Method 5
surfactants are used to modify capillary forces to increase oil mobility, and to eliminate near wellbore condensate blockage
Data Source
AI summary
Y-grade NGL or L-grade is used as a carrier fluid to transport one or more chemical additives into a hydrocarbon bearing reservoir to treat the hydrocarbon bearing reservoir. The Y-grade NGL or L-grade and the chemical additives may be chilled and/or foamed.