Polyhydroxycarboxylic Acid Filtercake Breaker for Gravel Pack
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing filtercake breakers, such as acids, oxidizers, and enzymes, are ineffective in removing acid-soluble and acid-breakable inorganic components, cause compatibility issues with brines, and have reduced activity outside optimal temperature ranges, leading to incomplete filtercake removal and potential well impairment during hydrocarbon production.
Innovation Solution
The use of degradable polyhydroxycarboxylic acid as a filtercake breaker, which slowly hydrolyzes and releases acidic byproducts to dissolve acid-soluble components, allowing for targeted and complete filtercake removal without premature reaction or equipment damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional acid-based breakers are used to remove filtercake, then acid-soluble components can be dissolved, but the filtercake removal is incomplete due to persistence of inorganic components and potential equipment damage
Solution Approach 1:
The filtercake removal process is segmented into multiple stages: initial acid treatment to dissolve acid-soluble components, followed by mechanical removal of inorganic components, and final enzymatic breakdown of organic components. This segmentation allows each method to target specific components without causing excessive damage.
Solution Approach 2:
A water-soluble polymer is used as an intermediary carrier that delivers enzymes to the filtercake interface. The polymer acts as a mediator between the enzyme solution and the filtercake, enabling controlled enzymatic breakdown of organic components without direct contact between strong acids and equipment.
2Reliability
If oxidizers and enzyme breakers are used to remove filtercake, then organic components can be degraded, but they are ineffective against acid-soluble inorganic components
Solution Approach 1:
The filtercake removal system is designed with multi-functionality by combining acid-based breakers for inorganic components, oxidizers for organic components, and enzyme breakers for persistent organic materials. This universal approach ensures all filtercake components can be effectively removed regardless of their chemical composition.
Solution Approach 2:
The filtercake breaker system uses a composite approach by combining multiple chemical agents (acids, oxidizers, enzymes) and physical methods (mechanical removal, water solubility) into a unified treatment protocol. This composite strategy addresses the limitations of single-agent systems.
3Reliability
If breakers are pumped separately after gravel pack setting, then filtercake removal can be achieved, but the operation time is extended and productivity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The water-soluble polymer is incorporated into the gravel pack slurry before the gravel pack setting operation. This preliminary action ensures that the polymer and enzymes are already positioned at the filtercake interface when the gravel pack is set, eliminating the need for separate post-setting breaker pumping operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The filtercake removal function is merged with the gravel pack setting operation by incorporating the water-soluble polymer and enzymes into the gravel pack slurry. This combination allows both gravel pack emplacement and filtercake degradation to occur simultaneously, reducing total operation time.
4Reliability
If acids are delivered to soak the gravel pack sand and filtercake during gravel pack operations, then filtercake can be dissolved, but fluid loss increases and operation fails prematurely
Solution Approach 1:
The water-soluble polymer acts as a protective intermediary layer between the acid-based breakers and the formation. This intermediary prevents direct acid contact with the formation, reducing fluid loss while still enabling effective filtercake dissolution through controlled polymer degradation and enzyme release.
Solution Approach 2:
The system controls the rate of acid release by changing the physical state of the acid carrier (water-soluble polymer). The polymer's controlled degradation parameters allow gradual acid release over time, preventing premature reaction and fluid loss while maintaining effective filtercake dissolution.
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 polyhydroxycarboxylic acid effectively degrades filtercakes at elevated temperatures, ensuring complete removal and reducing formation damage, while being safer and more controlled than traditional acid-based breakers, thus enhancing hydrocarbon production efficiency and wellbore stability.
Implementation Method 1
hydrolyzing the polyhydroxycarboxylic acid to degrade at least a portion of the filtercake
Data Source
AI summary
Methods include drilling at least one interval of a wellbore with a water-based wellbore fluid producing a filtercake in the at least one interval of the wellbore. The methods also include gravel packing an interval of a wellbore traversing a subterranean formation with a gravel pack that comprises polyhydroxycarboxylic acid, and hydrolyzing the polyhydroxycarboxylic acid to degrade at least a portion of the filtercake.