Methods and compositions for use in oil and/or gas wells

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9505970-B2
Application number	US-201514712521-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 14, 2015
Priority date	May 14, 2014
Publication date	Nov 29, 2016
Grant date	Nov 29, 2016

Abstract

Methods and compositions (e.g., comprising an emulsion or a microemulsion) for use in various aspects of the life cycle of an oil and/or gas well are provided. In some embodiments, an emulsion or the microemulsion comprises water, a solvent, and a surfactant, and optionally, one or more additives. In some embodiments, a concentrate is provided which may be used to form an emulsion or microemulsion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of treating a well having a wellbore, comprising:
injecting a thermodynamically unstable emulsion into the wellbore, wherein the emulsion comprises: a concentrate comprising:
a first type of surfactant, wherein the first type of surfactant is a nonionic surfactant;
a second type of surfactant, wherein the second type of surfactant is selected from the group consisting of polyamines, polyimines, polyesters, and resins; and
a first type of solvent comprising a terpene;
wherein the ratio of the first type of surfactant and the second type of surfactant is between about 1:4 and about 4:1;

and a dilution fluid comprising a second type of solvent and an acid.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first type of surfactant comprises a linear alcohol ethoxylate.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first type of surfactant is selected from the group consisting of castor oil ethoxylates, coco fatty acid ethoxylates, tridecyl alcohol ethoxylates, guerbet alcohol ethoxylates, sorbitan esters and polyoxyethylene sorbitan esters.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second type of surfactant is selected from the group consisting of alkoxylated polyamines and alkoxylated polyimines.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first type of solvent is d-limonene.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the acid is hydrochloric acid.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the acid is an organic acid.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the acid is an inorganic acid.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the acid is selected from the group consisting of hydrochloric acid, hydrofluoric acid, acetic acid, citric acid, formic acid, lactic acid, mud acid and methane sulfonic acid.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second type of surfactant is an alkoxylated polyamine.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first type of solvent is d-limonene and the second type of surfactant is selected from the group consisting of alkoxylated polyamines and alkoxylated polyimines.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the acid is selected from the group consisting of hydrochloric acid, hydrofluoric acid, acetic acid, citric acid, formic acid, lactic acid, mud acid and methane sulfonic acid.

13. A method of treating a well having a wellbore, comprising:
injecting a thermodynamically unstable emulsion into the wellbore, wherein the emulsion comprises:
a concentrate comprising:
a first type of surfactant, wherein the first type of surfactant is a nonionic surfactant;
a second type of surfactant, wherein the second type of surfactant is selected from the group consisting of polyamines, polyimines, polyesters, and resins; and
a first type of solvent selected from the group consisting of methyl esters of plant-derived fatty acids; de-aromatized aliphatic hydrocarbon solvents; di-butyl ether; di-hexyl ether; and glutaric acid, 2-methyl-, dimethyl ester;
wherein the ratio of the first type of surfactant and the second type of surfactant is between about 1:4 and about 4:1; and

a dilution fluid comprising a second type of solvent and an acid.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first type of solvent is a methyl ester of a plant-derived fatty acid, wherein the plant-derived fatty acid is derived from a plant selected from the group consisting of soy, canola, palm and coconut.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first type of solvent is a methyl ester of a plant-derived fatty acid and is a metathesis reaction product of the plant-derived fatty acid.

Assignees

• Flotek Chemistry Llc

Inventors

• Vaughn Derek
• Champagne Lakia M
• Silas James

Classifications

• C09K8/584

  characterised by the use of specific surfactants · CPC title

• C09K8/602

  containing surfactants · CPC title

• C09K8/42

  Compositions for cementing, e.g. for cementing casings into boreholes; Compositions for plugging, e.g. for killing wells (compositions for plastering C09K8/50) · CPC title

• C09K8/40

  Spacer compositions, e.g. compositions used to separate well-drilling from cementing masses · CPC title

• C09K8/035 Primary

  Organic additives · CPC title