MSA-PMIDA Treatment Fluid for Deep Subterranean Stimulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing subterranean formation treatment fluids, particularly in hydraulic fracturing and acidizing, often become spent before effectively reaching far-field regions, limiting the creation of conductive channels and stimulation potential.
Innovation Solution
A treatment fluid comprising methanesulfonic acid (MSA) as a transport medium for N-(phosphonomethyl iminodiacetic acid (PMIDA) is used, where MSA initially reacts with acid-soluble materials in the near-wellbore region, allowing PMIDA to pass and react with these materials in the far-field region after MSA is spent, creating conductive channels and preventing scale buildup.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional acidic treatment fluids are used in acidizing operations, then near-wellbore acid-soluble materials are removed effectively, but the fluid becomes spent before reaching far-field regions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the treatment fluid by using a two-acid system (hydrochloric acid and methanesulfonic acid) with different strengths and reactivity rates. The weaker methanesulfonic acid allows the fluid to maintain effectiveness deeper into the formation, extending penetration depth while the stronger hydrochloric acid provides aggressive near-wellbore cleaning.
Solution Approach 2:
The treatment fluid is formulated as a composite system combining two different acids (hydrochloric acid and methanesulfonic acid) with complementary properties. This composite approach allows the fluid to exhibit both strong initial reactivity for near-wellbore material removal and sustained weakness for deep far-field penetration, resolving the contradiction between removal effectiveness and penetration depth.
2Productivity
If strong acids are used to remove acid-soluble materials rapidly, then productivity increases, but corrosion and health safety issues worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the acidity parameters by incorporating methanesulfonic acid, a weaker acid compared to traditional strong acids like hydrofluoric or nitric acid. This parameter change maintains sufficient reactivity for effective material removal while significantly reducing corrosion rates and improving health and safety profiles during handling and operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The treatment fluid is designed as a disposable system where the acids are consumed during the acidizing operation. By using a combination of relatively inexpensive acids (hydrochloric and methanesulfonic), the system achieves effective material removal without requiring expensive, highly hazardous alternatives, accepting that the fluid will be spent after use.
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 MSA and PMIDA treatment fluid effectively increases the pH to trigger PMIDA reactivity in deeper regions, enhancing far-field stimulation, reducing scale formation, and maintaining low health, safety, and environmental impact while being biodegradable and less corrosive compared to traditional acids.
Implementation Method 1
MSA first reacts with acid-soluble material in the near-wellbore region
Implementation Method 2
the spent MSA causes the treatment fluid to increase in pH (become more basic) to the point of deprotonation of the PMIDA or beyond... such that it becomes reactive with the acid-soluble materials
Implementation Method 3
PMIDA is at least partially solubilized in the MSA
Data Source
AI summary
Treatment fluids comprising methane sulfonic acid (MSA) and fully protonated N-(phosphonomethyl)iminodiacetic acid (PMIDA) solubilized in the MSA. Methods including introducing the treatment fluids into a wellbore in a subterranean formation comprising acid-soluble material at a first treatment interval, and reacting the MSA and the PMIDA in the treatment fluid with the acid-soluble material at a temperature in the range of about 65° C. to about 210° C., wherein the reacting removes the acid-soluble material, thereby forming conductive channels in the subterranean formation.