Oxidizer-Enhanced Solvent Emulsion for Tar Deposit Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for dissolving tar deposits in hydrocarbon reservoirs are inefficient, costly, and environmentally harmful, with issues such as high heat loss, environmental pollution, and redeposition of dissolved tar, leading to reduced production efficiency and sweep efficiency in secondary recovery processes.
Innovation Solution
A treatment fluid comprising an emulsion of solvent-in-water with an oxidizer in the water phase is used to dissolve tar, enhancing dissolution efficiency and reducing flash risk, with oxidizers like bromate or chlorite salts and solvents like xylene or toluene, along with surfactants to stabilize the emulsion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If steam injection is used to reduce tar viscosity, then tar mobility increases, but heat loss to formation rocks and high water requirement worsen
Solution Approach 1:
Chemicals are introduced as intermediaries that generate heat in-situ through exothermic reactions, replacing steam as the heat source. This eliminates heat loss to formation rocks while maintaining tar mobility improvement
Solution Approach 2:
The treatment system uses self-generated heat from chemical reactions within the reservoir to accomplish tar mitigation, eliminating the need for external steam generation and injection infrastructure
2Reliability
If conventional solvents are used to dissolve tar, then dissolution effectiveness improves, but flash point safety issues and redeposition worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the physical and chemical parameters of the treatment fluid by using aqueous-based solutions with controlled solvent concentrations, raising the flash point while maintaining dissolution effectiveness through optimized chemical composition
3Reliability
If solvents are injected to dissolve tar, then tar dissolution improves, but sweep efficiency and production efficiency worsen due to redeposition
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses composite chemical formulations combining multiple active ingredients (solvents, surfactants, stabilizers) that work synergistically to dissolve tar while preventing redeposition, improving both dissolution effectiveness and sweep efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The treatment system incorporates mechanisms to monitor and maintain optimal chemical concentrations and pH levels to prevent tar redeposition, ensuring sustained production efficiency
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 emulsified solvent-in-water system with oxidizers effectively breaks down tar deposits, improving production efficiency by preventing redeposition and enhancing tar removal in various reservoir types, including sandstone and oil sands, with increased dissolution rates up to 18.86% compared to standalone solvents.
Implementation Method 1
The treatment fluid includes an emulsion of solvent-in-water, and an oxidizer in the water phase
Implementation Method 2
Other low boiling point solvents have also been used
Implementation Method 3
along with surfactants to stabilize the emulsion
Data Source
AI summary
A system and methods for dissolving tar for removal are provided. An exemplary system provides a treatment fluid for dissolving tar for removal. The treatment fluid includes an emulsion of solvent-in-water, and an oxidizer in the water phase. The emulsion can include a surfactant as a stabilizer. The treatment fluid can be used for hydrocarbon recovery from oil sands, or for removing tar deposits from oil reservoirs in sandstone rock or carbonate rock, among others.