Urea-Amylase Formation Stabilization to Reduce Sand Production
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Sand production during oil and gas extraction leads to erosion of equipment, reduced productivity, and increased maintenance costs due to the movement of sand particles from reservoirs to the wellbore, posing significant challenges in subterranean formations.
Innovation Solution
Introduce urea and amylase into subterranean formations containing sand and calcium salts, allowing the amylase to hydrolyze urea, forming calcium carbonate precipitates that stabilize the formation and reduce sand production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sand production control technologies are implemented, then equipment erosion and plugging are reduced, but the cost and complexity of the solution increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical parameters of the subterranean formation by introducing urea and amylase enzyme, which react to form calcium carbonate precipitates. This chemical transformation stabilizes the formation and prevents sand production without requiring complex mechanical sand control equipment, thus improving reliability while avoiding increased device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces mechanical sand control systems (such as sand screens, gravel packs, or mechanical stabilizers) with a chemical-biological approach using amylase enzyme to catalyze urea hydrolysis and form calcium carbonate. This substitution eliminates the need for complex mechanical devices while achieving sand production control and equipment protection
2Reliability
If conventional sand control methods are used, then sand production is mitigated, but productivity and production costs are negatively affected
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs amylase enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of urea to form calcium carbonate precipitates in situ within the subterranean formation. This self-service mechanism allows the formation to stabilize itself through biochemical reactions, preventing sand production while maintaining pore space and permeability for hydrocarbon flow, thus preserving productivity without requiring external intervention or complex equipment
Solution Approach 2:
The amylase enzyme acts as a biochemical intermediary that facilitates the conversion of urea to ammonium carbonate, which then reacts with calcium ions to form calcium carbonate. This intermediary process creates formation stabilizes through a controlled chemical pathway that does not block flow paths, unlike conventional mechanical methods, thereby maintaining oil and gas productivity while achieving formation stabilization
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 formation of calcium carbonate precipitates enhances the stiffness and strength of loose sand, reducing sand production and equipment damage, thereby increasing oil and gas production and minimizing pipeline erosion.
Implementation Method 1
the amylase hydrolyzes the urea to form ammonium carbonate
Implementation Method 2
calcium in the calcium salt reacts with carbonate in the ammonium carbonate to form a calcium carbonate precipitate
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein are methods for stabilizing a subterranean formation. The method may include introducing urea into a subterranean formation, wherein the subterranean formation includes sand, and wherein the subterranean formation includes a calcium salt, and introducing an amylase into the subterranean formation, wherein the amylase hydrolyzes the urea to form ammonium carbonate, and calcium in the calcium salt reacts with carbonate in the ammonium carbonate to form a calcium carbonate precipitate.