US2865453A - Well treatment to remove a water block - Google Patents
Well treatment to remove a water block Download PDFInfo
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- US2865453A US2865453A US614988A US61498856A US2865453A US 2865453 A US2865453 A US 2865453A US 614988 A US614988 A US 614988A US 61498856 A US61498856 A US 61498856A US 2865453 A US2865453 A US 2865453A
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- water
- zone
- formation
- water block
- well bore
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- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 title claims description 106
- 239000003208 petroleum Substances 0.000 claims description 66
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 claims description 65
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 claims description 41
- 150000002430 hydrocarbons Chemical class 0.000 claims description 24
- 229930195733 hydrocarbon Natural products 0.000 claims description 23
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 20
- 239000004094 surface-active agent Substances 0.000 claims description 16
- 239000003209 petroleum derivative Substances 0.000 claims description 15
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 10
- 238000002347 injection Methods 0.000 claims description 8
- 239000007924 injection Substances 0.000 claims description 8
- 230000000149 penetrating effect Effects 0.000 claims description 7
- 239000004215 Carbon black (E152) Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 16
- VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N methane Chemical compound C VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 12
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 9
- 239000003921 oil Substances 0.000 description 6
- 230000035699 permeability Effects 0.000 description 6
- -1 alkyl chloro-silanes Chemical class 0.000 description 5
- 239000003345 natural gas Substances 0.000 description 5
- ATUOYWHBWRKTHZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Propane Chemical compound CCC ATUOYWHBWRKTHZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- 239000011148 porous material Substances 0.000 description 4
- 238000005553 drilling Methods 0.000 description 3
- 210000003918 fraction a Anatomy 0.000 description 3
- 230000002209 hydrophobic effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000003915 liquefied petroleum gas Substances 0.000 description 3
- OFBQJSOFQDEBGM-UHFFFAOYSA-N n-pentane Natural products CCCCC OFBQJSOFQDEBGM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 229920006395 saturated elastomer Polymers 0.000 description 3
- PCOQKLFYWUVIRY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 1-propan-2-ylnaphthalene;sodium Chemical compound [Na].C1=CC=C2C(C(C)C)=CC=CC2=C1 PCOQKLFYWUVIRY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N Atomic nitrogen Chemical compound N#N IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon dioxide Chemical compound O=C=O CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000000443 aerosol Substances 0.000 description 2
- MLYBIJPLWRODND-UHFFFAOYSA-L disodium;4-amino-4-oxo-2-sulfobutanoate Chemical compound [Na+].[Na+].NC(=O)CC(C([O-])=O)S(O)(=O)=O.NC(=O)CC(C([O-])=O)S(O)(=O)=O MLYBIJPLWRODND-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 2
- 150000002148 esters Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 150000004668 long chain fatty acids Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 239000001294 propane Substances 0.000 description 2
- BDHFUVZGWQCTTF-UHFFFAOYSA-M sulfonate Chemical compound [O-]S(=O)=O BDHFUVZGWQCTTF-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 2
- CDOUZKKFHVEKRI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 3-bromo-n-[(prop-2-enoylamino)methyl]propanamide Chemical compound BrCCC(=O)NCNC(=O)C=C CDOUZKKFHVEKRI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- XZIIFPSPUDAGJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 6-chloro-2-n,2-n-diethylpyrimidine-2,4-diamine Chemical class CCN(CC)C1=NC(N)=CC(Cl)=N1 XZIIFPSPUDAGJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000005046 Chlorosilane Substances 0.000 description 1
- OTMSDBZUPAUEDD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Ethane Chemical compound CC OTMSDBZUPAUEDD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- IYFATESGLOUGBX-YVNJGZBMSA-N Sorbitan monopalmitate Chemical compound CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC(=O)OC[C@@H](O)[C@H]1OC[C@H](O)[C@H]1O IYFATESGLOUGBX-YVNJGZBMSA-N 0.000 description 1
- PRXRUNOAOLTIEF-ADSICKODSA-N Sorbitan trioleate Chemical compound CCCCCCCC\C=C/CCCCCCCC(=O)OC[C@@H](OC(=O)CCCCCCC\C=C/CCCCCCCC)[C@H]1OC[C@H](O)[C@H]1OC(=O)CCCCCCC\C=C/CCCCCCCC PRXRUNOAOLTIEF-ADSICKODSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000004147 Sorbitan trioleate Substances 0.000 description 1
- IJCWFDPJFXGQBN-RYNSOKOISA-N [(2R)-2-[(2R,3R,4S)-4-hydroxy-3-octadecanoyloxyoxolan-2-yl]-2-octadecanoyloxyethyl] octadecanoate Chemical compound CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC(=O)OC[C@@H](OC(=O)CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC)[C@H]1OC[C@H](O)[C@H]1OC(=O)CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC IJCWFDPJFXGQBN-RYNSOKOISA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000004075 alteration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 125000000129 anionic group Chemical group 0.000 description 1
- 125000003710 aryl alkyl group Chemical group 0.000 description 1
- 125000003118 aryl group Chemical group 0.000 description 1
- 238000009835 boiling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000001273 butane Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000001569 carbon dioxide Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910002092 carbon dioxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 125000002091 cationic group Chemical group 0.000 description 1
- 239000003795 chemical substances by application Substances 0.000 description 1
- DCFKHNIGBAHNSS-UHFFFAOYSA-N chloro(triethyl)silane Chemical compound CC[Si](Cl)(CC)CC DCFKHNIGBAHNSS-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000000567 combustion gas Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000002485 combustion reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000151 deposition Methods 0.000 description 1
- NJKDOKBDBHYMAH-UHFFFAOYSA-N dibutyl(dichloro)silane Chemical compound CCCC[Si](Cl)(Cl)CCCC NJKDOKBDBHYMAH-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- BYLOHCRAPOSXLY-UHFFFAOYSA-N dichloro(diethyl)silane Chemical compound CC[Si](Cl)(Cl)CC BYLOHCRAPOSXLY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- UOZZKLIPYZQXEP-UHFFFAOYSA-N dichloro(dipropyl)silane Chemical compound CCC[Si](Cl)(Cl)CCC UOZZKLIPYZQXEP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- NWKBSEBOBPHMKL-UHFFFAOYSA-N dichloro(methyl)silane Chemical compound C[SiH](Cl)Cl NWKBSEBOBPHMKL-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- LIKFHECYJZWXFJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N dimethyldichlorosilane Chemical compound C[Si](C)(Cl)Cl LIKFHECYJZWXFJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 235000019329 dioctyl sodium sulphosuccinate Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- JMGZBMRVDHKMKB-UHFFFAOYSA-L disodium;2-sulfobutanedioate Chemical compound [Na+].[Na+].OS(=O)(=O)C(C([O-])=O)CC([O-])=O JMGZBMRVDHKMKB-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 1
- 238000006073 displacement reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000010771 distillate fuel oil Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 1
- ZZUFCTLCJUWOSV-UHFFFAOYSA-N furosemide Chemical compound C1=C(Cl)C(S(=O)(=O)N)=CC(C(O)=O)=C1NCC1=CC=CO1 ZZUFCTLCJUWOSV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000008246 gaseous mixture Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000003502 gasoline Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000003350 kerosene Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000002646 long chain fatty acid esters Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 1
- IJDNQMDRQITEOD-UHFFFAOYSA-N n-butane Chemical compound CCCC IJDNQMDRQITEOD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052757 nitrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229920000136 polysorbate Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 238000009738 saturating Methods 0.000 description 1
- UMEWSJNRBXKWKZ-UHFFFAOYSA-M sodium;1,4-dioxo-1,4-dipentoxybutane-2-sulfonate Chemical compound [Na+].CCCCCOC(=O)CC(S([O-])(=O)=O)C(=O)OCCCCC UMEWSJNRBXKWKZ-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 1
- 235000011071 sorbitan monopalmitate Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000001570 sorbitan monopalmitate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229940031953 sorbitan monopalmitate Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 235000019337 sorbitan trioleate Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 229960000391 sorbitan trioleate Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 235000011078 sorbitan tristearate Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000001589 sorbitan tristearate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229960004129 sorbitan tristearate Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 238000006467 substitution reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011364 vaporized material Substances 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- C09K—MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- C09K8/00—Compositions for drilling of boreholes or wells; Compositions for treating boreholes or wells, e.g. for completion or for remedial operations
- C09K8/52—Compositions for preventing, limiting or eliminating depositions, e.g. for cleaning
- C09K8/528—Compositions for preventing, limiting or eliminating depositions, e.g. for cleaning inorganic depositions, e.g. sulfates or carbonates
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
- E21B43/32—Preventing gas- or water-coning phenomena, i.e. the formation of a conical column of gas or water around wells
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10S507/00—Earth boring, well treating, and oil field chemistry
- Y10S507/935—Enhanced oil recovery
Definitions
- This invention relates to the production of petroleum hydrocarbons from a subsurface reservo-ir. More particularly, this invention relates to the production of petroleum hydrocarbons, normally gaseous and/or normally liquid hydrocarbons, from a subsurface reservoir via a well bore penetrating said reservoir wherein Water is simultaneously produced with said petroleum hydrocarbons. Still more particularly, this invention relates to a method for dispelling or removing a Water block induced in a zone surrounding a well bore penetrating a formation from which petroleum hydrocarbons are produced.
- such a water block is caused by the water column in the production iiow string being allo-wed to fall back, either due to loss of tlow or to shutting in the well temporarily, into the zone of production surrounding the Vwell bore thus displacing oil from the immediate vicinity of the well bore and substantially saturating with water the petroleum producing formatio-n in the immediate vicinity of the well bore thereby drastically reducing the permeability to hydrocarbons of that portion of the petroleum producing formation surrounding the well bore.
- lt is an object of this invention to provide an improved method of well treatment.
- Another object of this invention is to provide a method for dispelling a water block which sometimes arises in a zone surrounding a well bore penetrating a petroleum producing formation when petroleum production from said formation is halted with the result that the column of well unds comprising water within the well bore is dumped or permitted to ow back into the peroleum producing formation with the result that a zone surrounding said well bore within said petroleum producing formation becomes substantially saturated with water, thereby drastically reducing the permeability to hydrocarbons in said zone so that flow of hydrocarbons therethrough is substantially nil.
- a water block within a petroleum producing formation in a zone surrounding a well bore penetrating the same is removed or dispelled by injecting into said water block via said well bore a petroleum fraction, preferably a liquid petroleum fraction having a viscosity substantially the same or about the same as that of water and admixed with a surfactant material which reduces the surface tension of waiter to lower the interfacial tension between water Vand the petroleum hydrocarbons, in an amount sutiicient to dispel the water block and to dissipate the same outwardly from the well bore into the petroleum producing formation.
- a petroleum fraction preferably a liquid petroleum fraction having a viscosity substantially the same or about the same as that of water and admixed with a surfactant material which reduces the surface tension of waiter to lower the interfacial tension between water Vand the petroleum hydrocarbons, in an amount sutiicient to dispel the water block and to dissipate the same outwardly from the well bore into the petroleum producing formation.
- a liquid petroleum distillate fraction such as a naphtha fraction
- a gaseous medium is introduced into said zone at a rate and for a time sufficient to dispel said water block and to drive the water originally present within said water block ⁇ outwardly from said well bore into said petroleum producing formation for a substantial distance thereinto.
- a gaseous medium is introduced into said zone via said well bore an additional amount of a petroleum distillate fraction preferably admixed with a surfactant material which reduces the surface tension of water.
- the amount of additional liquid petroleum fraction thus-introduced is usually a fraction of the liquid petroleum distillate rst introduced into the water block, generally less than one half, frequently in the range one quarter to one twentieth.
- additional gaseous medium there is introduced into said zone additional gaseous medium so as to sweep or otherwise remove or drive the remaining water within the zone thus-treated outwardly into the petroleum producing formation.
- the pores of the petroleum producing formation encompassed by the water block are usually substantially saturated with water, i. e., -100% occupied by water.
- l1 is preferred in the practice of this invention to reduce the water content of the pores of the formation encompassed by the water block to the irreducible minimum.
- the irreducible minimum water content is usually in the range ZOeSOC/'ti of the available pore space.
- liquid petroleum fractions may be employed in the practice of this invention.
- suitable liquid petroleum fractions include liquefied normally gaseous hydro# carbons such as liquid propane, butane and pentane or mixture thereof, i. e., liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), petroleum naphtha, such as hydrocarbons in the gasoline boiling range, kerosenes, diesel oils and light fuel oils.
- LPG liquefied petroleum gas
- petroleum naphtha such as hydrocarbons in the gasoline boiling range, kerosenes, diesel oils and light fuel oils.
- the liquid petroleum fraction introduced into the water block has a viscosity substantially the same as that of water when measured under formation conditions of temperature and pressure.
- a surfactant material which reduces the surface tension of water to lower the interfacial tension between the water present in the water block and the liquid vhydrocarbons thus-introduced into contact therewith.
- gases may comprise the gaseous medium employed in the practice of this invention to dissipate the water block.
- gases include natural gas usually associated with or dissolved in the liquid petroleum within the petroleum producing formation and produced therefrom. Natural gas is usually comprised of a major amount of methane and minor amounts of ethane and propane. Another gas which may be employed in the practice of this invention is air. Still another gas which is suitable Yin the practice of this invention is a gaseous mixture of combustion products such as a ilue gas and the like, usually containing nitrogen, carbon dioxide and other gases in varying amounts.
- Suitable materials for depositing such a film include the halo-silanes containing hydrocarbon groups such as the alkyl chloro-silanes including monomethyl dichloromonosilane, dimethyl dichloromonosilane, diethyl dichloromonosilane, dipropyl dichloromonosilane, dibutyl dichloromonosilane, triethyl monochloromonosilane and the like, which materials readily hydrolyze upon contact with water to form a hydrophobic lm within the interstices of the formation.
- the alkyl chloro-silanes including monomethyl dichloromonosilane, dimethyl dichloromonosilane, diethyl dichloromonosilane, dipropyl dichloromonosilane, dibutyl dichloromonosilane, triethyl monochloromonosilane and the like, which materials readily hydrolyze upon contact with water to form a
- the thus-deposited hydrophobic, preferentially oil-wettable film further reduces the water permeability and increases the oil or hydrocarbon permeability of the formation into which these materials are introduced.
- Other suitable materials also are the aryl and the aralkyl halo-silanes.
- Surfactant materials which may be employed to reduce the surface tension of water in the practice of this invention include any of the well known inorganic and/ or organic surfactant materials, cationic, anionic and nonionic agents. Suitable surfactant materials are readily available and include such materials as Span long chain fatty acid partial esters of hexitol anhydrides, including sorbitans, sorbides, mannitans and mannides sold by Atlas Powder Co., Tween polyoxyalkylene derivatives of hexitol anhydride partial long chain fatty acid esters, e.
- a well bore 11 which penetrates a petroleum or petroleumV distillate producing formation 12.
- the Well bore is lined with casing 14 which is provided with perforations 15 through which petroleum hydrocarbons are produced.
- the well bore 11 is bottomed in the lower portion of producing formation 12, casing 14 being packed off by means of packer 16.
- a water-producing formation 18 which might give rise to the water which is simultaneously produced with the petroleum hydrocarbons from petroleum producing formation 12 by water coning, such as along Water cone 19 the o'utline of which is indicated by dashed lines.
- Water might also be simultaneously produced together with the produced hydrocarbons via high permeability sections or stringers, such as stringer 20 which is indicated by dashed lines and which indicates the flow path of water from the water-producing formation 18 upwardly through petroleum producing formation 12 into well bore 11 via perforations 15.
- stringer 20 which is indicated by dashed lines and which indicates the flow path of water from the water-producing formation 18 upwardly through petroleum producing formation 12 into well bore 11 via perforations 15.
- the extent of the water block or the zone surrounding well bore 11 within petroleum producing formation 12 affected or occupied by the water block is indicated by solid line 21.
- the formation is substantially saturated with water and exhibits a low or drastically reduced permeability to hydrocarbons, particularly liquid hydrocarbons.
- the water block 21 within petroleum producing formation 12 in accordance with the practice of this invention is dissipated or dispelled in the following manner.
- a substantial volume such as a volume at least squal to 1t-l/z of the volume of thhe formation 12 encompassed by the water block 21, e. g., barrels of a liquid petroleum fraction such as a naphtha distillate fraction or LPG.
- This liquid petroleum fraction is introduced so as to effect a more thorough displacement of the water from the interstices of the formation within the water block.
- a gaseous medium such as natural gas is introduced into water block 21 via well bore 11 and perforations 15.
- the natural gas injection may be at a rate of about 5,000 MCFD for about 2 days, the previously injected liquid petroleum fraction serving as a cushion between the subsequently introduced gaseous medium and the water occupying the interstices of the zone 21 of the formation 12 surrounding the well bore. Since the previously injected liquid petroleum fraction has a viscosity substantially the sam-e as or approaching the viscosity of water the subsequently introduced gaseous medium better displaces the water from the water block.
- the surfactant material reduces the surface tension of water occupying the interstices of the formation encompassed within water block 21 and permits this water to be more readily displaced outwardly into the formation.
- the initially introduced liquid petroleum fraction might also contain admixed therewith surfactant material so as to more readily displace the water from the water block 21 in the initial treating step.
- a gaseous medium such as natural gas
- the practice of this invention is not only applicable to those wells which have been produced for a substantial length of time and have eventually gone to water, that is, now produce substantially only water or which produce a minor amount of oil, less than 5% by volume, together with a major amount of water due to a water block with the producing formation, but is also applicable as a completion method for newly drilled wells wherein an aqueous drilling mud is employed while drilling through the petroleum producing formation from which the production of petroleum hydrocarbons is desired.
- an aqueous drilling mud as a completion fluid a water block is formed within the pe troleum producing formation. This water block must be removed from within the petroleum producing formation before the production of petroleum hydrocarbons can be commenced therefrom.
- a method of dispelling a water block from a zone surrounding a well bore penetrating a petroleum producing formation which comprises introducing via said well bore into the Zone containing said water block a liquid petroleum distillate fraction in an amount substantially equal to the volume of said formation occupied by said water block, said liquid distillate fraction having a viscosity substantially equal to that of water under the formation conditions of temperature and pressure in said zone of injection, thereafter introducing via said well bore into the zone of injection of said liquid distillate fraction a gaseous medium to distribute the previously injected liquid petroleum distillate fraction within said formation and to dispel said water block outwardly from said zone into the formation, the volume of gaseous medium thus-introduced being at least as great as the zone of said formation occupied by said water block, said volume of gaseous medium being measured under the formation conditions of temperature and pressure, subsequently introducing into the thus-treated zone via said well bore additional said liquid petroleum distillate fraction containing a surfactant material which reduces the surface tension of Water and which reduces the interfacial tension between water
- said surfactant material is N-octodecyl disodium sulfosuccinamate.
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- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
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Description
Dec. 23, 1958 R. H. wiDMYER 2,865,453
WELL TREATMENT TO REMVE A WATER BLOCK Filed oct. 9, 195e 2,865,453 Patented Dec. 23, 1958 WELL TREATMENT T REMOVE A WATER BLOCK Richard H. Widmyer, Bellaire, Tex., assignor to The Terras Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application Qctober 9, 1956, Serial No. 614,938
3 Claims. (Cl. 166-42) This invention relates to the production of petroleum hydrocarbons from a subsurface reservo-ir. More particularly, this invention relates to the production of petroleum hydrocarbons, normally gaseous and/or normally liquid hydrocarbons, from a subsurface reservoir via a well bore penetrating said reservoir wherein Water is simultaneously produced with said petroleum hydrocarbons. Still more particularly, this invention relates to a method for dispelling or removing a Water block induced in a zone surrounding a well bore penetrating a formation from which petroleum hydrocarbons are produced.
In checking the production history of petroleum producing wells which produced water simultaneously with petroleum hydrocarbons it was observed that upon the resumption of petroleum production following the well loading up and dying, the rate of petroleum production therefrom fell off to a fraction of its previous rate. Usually eorts to restore these wells to their original petroleum production rate by conventional means were unsuccessful. It is believed that a zone surrounding the well bore within the petroleum producing formation became water blocked as a result of allowing the water column within the weil bore comprising the water simultaneously produced with the petroleum hydrocarbons to fall back and saturate a zone within the petroleum producing formation in the immediate vicinity of the well bore. As indicated, such a water block is caused by the water column in the production iiow string being allo-wed to fall back, either due to loss of tlow or to shutting in the well temporarily, into the zone of production surrounding the Vwell bore thus displacing oil from the immediate vicinity of the well bore and substantially saturating with water the petroleum producing formatio-n in the immediate vicinity of the well bore thereby drastically reducing the permeability to hydrocarbons of that portion of the petroleum producing formation surrounding the well bore.
lt is an object of this invention to provide an improved method of well treatment.
It is another object of this invention to provide an improved method for the removal of a water block from within a petroleum-producing formation in a zone surrounding a. Well bore penetrating the same.
Still, another object of this invention is to provide a method for dispelling a water block which sometimes arises in a zone surrounding a well bore penetrating a petroleum producing formation when petroleum production from said formation is halted with the result that the column of well unds comprising water within the well bore is dumped or permitted to ow back into the peroleum producing formation with the result that a zone surrounding said well bore within said petroleum producing formation becomes substantially saturated with water, thereby drastically reducing the permeability to hydrocarbons in said zone so that flow of hydrocarbons therethrough is substantially nil.
It is still another object of this invention to provide a method of well completion,
' How these and other objects of this invention are attained will become apparent with reference to the accompanying drawing which schematically illustrates a water block which block may be dissipated in accordance with the practice of this invention.
In accordance with this invention a water block within a petroleum producing formation in a zone surrounding a well bore penetrating the same is removed or dispelled by injecting into said water block via said well bore a petroleum fraction, preferably a liquid petroleum fraction having a viscosity substantially the same or about the same as that of water and admixed with a surfactant material which reduces the surface tension of waiter to lower the interfacial tension between water Vand the petroleum hydrocarbons, in an amount sutiicient to dispel the water block and to dissipate the same outwardly from the well bore into the petroleum producing formation.
In accordance with one embodiment of the practice of this invention for the removal of a water block from a zone surrounding a well bore within a petroleum producing formation there is introduced into said :one via said well bore a liquid petroleum distillate fraction, such as a naphtha fraction, in an amount such that the volume of liquid petroleum fraction thus-introduced is at least substantially the same as the volume of said petroleum producing formation occupied by said water block. Immediately following the injection of said liquid petroleum distillate fraction, which may or may not be admixed with a surfactant material which reduces the surface tension of water, a gaseous medium is introduced into said zone at a rate and for a time sufficient to dispel said water block and to drive the water originally present within said water block` outwardly from said well bore into said petroleum producing formation for a substantial distance thereinto. Following the above described treatment there is introduced into said zone via said well bore an additional amount of a petroleum distillate fraction preferably admixed with a surfactant material which reduces the surface tension of water. The amount of additional liquid petroleum fraction thus-introduced is usually a fraction of the liquid petroleum distillate rst introduced into the water block, generally less than one half, frequently in the range one quarter to one twentieth. Following this second injection of the liquid petroleum distillate fraction there is introduced into said zone additional gaseous medium so as to sweep or otherwise remove or drive the remaining water within the zone thus-treated outwardly into the petroleum producing formation. As a result of the above-indicated treatment the water block originally surrounding the well bore in the zone of petroleum production is substantially completely dispelled or dissipated. When this treatment has been carried out petroleum production can be resumed and original petroleum production rates reestablished.
Initially, the pores of the petroleum producing formation encompassed by the water block are usually substantially saturated with water, i. e., -100% occupied by water. l1: is preferred in the practice of this invention to reduce the water content of the pores of the formation encompassed by the water block to the irreducible minimum. Depending upon the geometric configuration of the pores or interstices of the formation the irreducible minimum water content is usually in the range ZOeSOC/'ti of the available pore space.
Various liquid petroleum fractions may be employed in the practice of this invention. Suitable liquid petroleum fractions include liquefied normally gaseous hydro# carbons such as liquid propane, butane and pentane or mixture thereof, i. e., liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), petroleum naphtha, such as hydrocarbons in the gasoline boiling range, kerosenes, diesel oils and light fuel oils.- As indicated, it is preferred that the liquid petroleum fraction introduced into the water block has a viscosity substantially the same as that of water when measured under formation conditions of temperature and pressure.
Desirably there is added to this liquid petroleum fraction a surfactant material which reduces the surface tension of water to lower the interfacial tension between the water present in the water block and the liquid vhydrocarbons thus-introduced into contact therewith.
Various gases may comprise the gaseous medium employed in the practice of this invention to dissipate the water block. Suitable gases include natural gas usually associated with or dissolved in the liquid petroleum within the petroleum producing formation and produced therefrom. Natural gas is usually comprised of a major amount of methane and minor amounts of ethane and propane. Another gas which may be employed in the practice of this invention is air. Still another gas which is suitable Yin the practice of this invention is a gaseous mixture of combustion products such as a ilue gas and the like, usually containing nitrogen, carbon dioxide and other gases in varying amounts. If desired, it is possible in the practice of this invention to reduce the water content of the zone undergoing treatment to a value below the so-called irreducible minimum by injecting thereinto a hot gas, such as hot combustion gases, so as to dry the formation into which this hot gas is injected. In. accordance with another aspect of this invention there is added to the injected gas a small amount of a vaporized material which deposits Within the thus-treated formation a film which is preferentially wettable by oil, i. e., a
hydrophobic film. Suitable materials for depositing such a film include the halo-silanes containing hydrocarbon groups such as the alkyl chloro-silanes including monomethyl dichloromonosilane, dimethyl dichloromonosilane, diethyl dichloromonosilane, dipropyl dichloromonosilane, dibutyl dichloromonosilane, triethyl monochloromonosilane and the like, which materials readily hydrolyze upon contact with water to form a hydrophobic lm within the interstices of the formation. The thus-deposited hydrophobic, preferentially oil-wettable film further reduces the water permeability and increases the oil or hydrocarbon permeability of the formation into which these materials are introduced. Other suitable materials also are the aryl and the aralkyl halo-silanes.
Surfactant materials which may be employed to reduce the surface tension of water in the practice of this invention include any of the well known inorganic and/ or organic surfactant materials, cationic, anionic and nonionic agents. Suitable surfactant materials are readily available and include such materials as Span long chain fatty acid partial esters of hexitol anhydrides, including sorbitans, sorbides, mannitans and mannides sold by Atlas Powder Co., Tween polyoxyalkylene derivatives of hexitol anhydride partial long chain fatty acid esters, e. g., polyoxyalkylene derivatives of sorbitan monolaurate, sorbitan trioleate, sorbitan tristearate, sorbitan monopalmitate sold by Atlas Powder Co., Aerosol such as N-octodecyl disodium sulfosuccinamate, isopropyl naphthalene sodium sulfonate, diamyl sodium sulfosuccinate, dibutyl sodium sulfosuccinate, isopropyl naphthalene sodium sulfonate and dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate sold by American Cyanamid Co. and F1-ello sold by Dowell Inc. Other well known surfactant materials which reduce the surface tension of water are known and may be employed in the practice of this invention. Y
Referring now to the drawing which schematically illustrates a water block of the type which may be dispelled by employing the practice of this invention, there is indicated therein a well bore 11 which penetrates a petroleum or petroleumV distillate producing formation 12. The Well bore is lined with casing 14 which is provided with perforations 15 through which petroleum hydrocarbons are produced. The well bore 11 is bottomed in the lower portion of producing formation 12, casing 14 being packed off by means of packer 16. Immediately beneath and adjacent petroleum producing formation 12' may be a water-producing formation 18 which might give rise to the water which is simultaneously produced with the petroleum hydrocarbons from petroleum producing formation 12 by water coning, such as along Water cone 19 the o'utline of which is indicated by dashed lines. Water might also be simultaneously produced together with the produced hydrocarbons via high permeability sections or stringers, such as stringer 20 which is indicated by dashed lines and which indicates the flow path of water from the water-producing formation 18 upwardly through petroleum producing formation 12 into well bore 11 via perforations 15. The extent of the water block or the zone surrounding well bore 11 within petroleum producing formation 12 affected or occupied by the water block is indicated by solid line 21. Within the zone encompassed by water block 21 the formation is substantially saturated with water and exhibits a low or drastically reduced permeability to hydrocarbons, particularly liquid hydrocarbons.
. The water block 21 within petroleum producing formation 12 in accordance with the practice of this invention is dissipated or dispelled in the following manner. There is injected via casing 14 and perforations 15 into water block 21 a substantial volume, such as a volume at least squal to 1t-l/z of the volume of thhe formation 12 encompassed by the water block 21, e. g., barrels of a liquid petroleum fraction such as a naphtha distillate fraction or LPG. This liquid petroleum fraction is introduced so as to effect a more thorough displacement of the water from the interstices of the formation within the water block. After the introduction of the liquid petroleum fraction a gaseous medium such as natural gas is introduced into water block 21 via well bore 11 and perforations 15. For example, the natural gas injection may be at a rate of about 5,000 MCFD for about 2 days, the previously injected liquid petroleum fraction serving as a cushion between the subsequently introduced gaseous medium and the water occupying the interstices of the zone 21 of the formation 12 surrounding the well bore. Since the previously injected liquid petroleum fraction has a viscosity substantially the sam-e as or approaching the viscosity of water the subsequently introduced gaseous medium better displaces the water from the water block. After the gaseous medium has been injected for a sufficient length of time so as to substantially completely dispel the main body of water originally occupying water block 21 outwardly into petroleum producing formation 12 there is introduced via casing 14 and perforations 15 an additional amount of a liquid petroleum fraction containing admixed or dissolved therein a suitable surfactant material which reduces the surface tension of water. For example, there may be then introduced into the zone undergoing treatment about 5 barrels of a liquid petroleum fraction such as naphtha or kerosene containing about 50 lbs. of a suitable surfactant such as Aerosol. The surfactant material reduces the surface tension of water occupying the interstices of the formation encompassed within water block 21 and permits this water to be more readily displaced outwardly into the formation. As heretofore indicated, the initially introduced liquid petroleum fraction might also contain admixed therewith surfactant material so as to more readily displace the water from the water block 21 in the initial treating step. Following the second introduction of liquid petroleum fraction the y injection of a gaseous medium, such as natural gas, is
continued at substantially the same rate as before for an additional period of time, such as about 1 or 2 days so as to insure the substantially complete anticipation of the water block 21.
After the above-indicated treatment the production of petroleum hydrocarbons from petroleum producing formation 12 Via perforations 15 and casing 14 is again resumed at a controlled rate approaching the previous production rates.
The practice of this invention is not only applicable to those wells which have been produced for a substantial length of time and have eventually gone to water, that is, now produce substantially only water or which produce a minor amount of oil, less than 5% by volume, together with a major amount of water due to a water block with the producing formation, but is also applicable as a completion method for newly drilled wells wherein an aqueous drilling mud is employed while drilling through the petroleum producing formation from which the production of petroleum hydrocarbons is desired. In some instances when employing an aqueous drilling mud as a completion fluid a water block is formed within the pe troleum producing formation. This water block must be removed from within the petroleum producing formation before the production of petroleum hydrocarbons can be commenced therefrom.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art many substitutions and alterations are possible without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention.
I claim:
1. A method of dispelling a water block from a zone surrounding a well bore penetrating a petroleum producing formation which comprises introducing via said well bore into the Zone containing said water block a liquid petroleum distillate fraction in an amount substantially equal to the volume of said formation occupied by said water block, said liquid distillate fraction having a viscosity substantially equal to that of water under the formation conditions of temperature and pressure in said zone of injection, thereafter introducing via said well bore into the zone of injection of said liquid distillate fraction a gaseous medium to distribute the previously injected liquid petroleum distillate fraction within said formation and to dispel said water block outwardly from said zone into the formation, the volume of gaseous medium thus-introduced being at least as great as the zone of said formation occupied by said water block, said volume of gaseous medium being measured under the formation conditions of temperature and pressure, subsequently introducing into the thus-treated zone via said well bore additional said liquid petroleum distillate fraction containing a surfactant material which reduces the surface tension of Water and which reduces the interfacial tension between water and oil or other hydrocarbon liquids contained within the zone of the formation undergoing treatment, the volume of said additional liquid petroleum distillate fraction being in the range %0-V2 the volume of said liquid petroleum distillate fraction first introduced into the zone of said formation containing said water block, and thereafter injecting additional gaseous medium into the thus-treated zone via said well borey so as to substantially completely dispel said water block from said zone outwardly into said formation.
2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said surfactant material is N-octodecyl disodium sulfosuccinamate.
3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said surfactant material is a long chain fatty acid partial ester of a hexitol anhydride.
References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,377,529 Stephenson June 5, 1945 2,614,635 Williams et al Oct. 2l, 1952 2,776,714 Stanclift et al. Jan. 8, 1957 2,779,418 Garst Jan. 29, 1957 2,792,894 Graham et al. May 21, 1957
Claims (1)
1. A METHOD OF DISPELLING A WATER BLOCK FROM A ZONE SURROUNDING A WELL BORE PENETRATING A PETROLEUM PRODUCING FORMATION WHICH COMPRISES INTRODUCING VIA SAIDD WELL BORE INTO THE ZONE CONTAINING SAID WATER BLOCK A LIQUID PETROLEUM DISTILLATE FRACTION IN AN AMOUNT SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE VOLUME OF SAID FORMATION OCCUPIED BY SAID WATER BLOCK, SAID LIQUID DISTILLATE FRACTION HAVING A VISCOSITY SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THAT OF WATER UNDER THE FORMATION CONDITIONS OF TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE IN SAID ZONE OF INJECTION, THEREAFTER INTRODUCING VIA SAID WELL BORE INTO THE ZONE OF INJECTION OF SAID LIQUID DISTILLATE FRACTION A GASEOUS MEDIUM TO DISTRIBUTE THE PREVIOUSLY INJECTED LIQUID PETROLEUM DISTILLATE FRACTION WITHIN SAID FORMATION AND TO DISPEL SAID WATER BLOCK OUTWARDLY FROM SAID ZONE INTO THE FORMATION, THE VOLUME OF GASEOUS MEDIUM THUS-INTRODUCED BEING AT LEAST AS GREAT AS THE ZONE OF SAID FORMATION OCCUPIED BY SAID WATER BLOCK, SAID VOLUME OF GASEOUS MEDIUM BEING MEASURE UNDER THE FORMATION CONDITIONS OF TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE, SUBSEQUENTLY INTRODUCING INTO THE THUS-TREATED ZONE VIA SAID WELL BORE ADDITIONAL SAID LIQUID PETROLEUM DISTILLATE FRACTION CONTAINING A SURFACTANT MATERIAL WHICH REDUCES THE SURFACE TENSION OF WATER AND WHICH REDUCES THE INTERFACIAL TENSION BETWEEN WATER AND OIL OR OTHER HYDROCARBON LIQUIDS CONTAINED WITHIN THE ZONE OF THE FORMATION UNDERGOING TREATMENT, THE VOLUME OF SAID ADDITIONAL LIQUID PETROLEUM DISTILLATE FRACTION BEING THE RANGE 1/20-1/2 THE VOLUME OF SAID LIQUID PETROLEUM DISTILLATE FRACTION FIRST INTRODUCED INTO THE ZONE OF SAID FORMATION CONTAINING SAID WATER BLOCK, AND THEREAFTER INJECTING ADDITIONAL GASEOUS MEDIUM INTO THE THUS-TREATED ZONE VIA SAID WELL BORE SO AS TO SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETELY DISPEL SAID WATER BLOCK FROM SAID ZONE OUTWARDLY INTO SAID FORMATION.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US614988A US2865453A (en) | 1956-10-09 | 1956-10-09 | Well treatment to remove a water block |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US614988A US2865453A (en) | 1956-10-09 | 1956-10-09 | Well treatment to remove a water block |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| US2865453A true US2865453A (en) | 1958-12-23 |
Family
ID=24463541
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| US614988A Expired - Lifetime US2865453A (en) | 1956-10-09 | 1956-10-09 | Well treatment to remove a water block |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US2865453A (en) |
Cited By (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3065791A (en) * | 1959-01-16 | 1962-11-27 | Pan American Petroleum Corp | Process for drilling wells with a gas |
| US3093192A (en) * | 1958-07-14 | 1963-06-11 | Texaco Inc | Oil well treatment to overcome water coning |
| US3285341A (en) * | 1963-12-02 | 1966-11-15 | Phillips Petroleum Co | Removal of water blocks from oil and gas wells |
| US3289764A (en) * | 1963-12-31 | 1966-12-06 | Phillips Petroleum Co | Removal of water blocks from oil and gas wells |
| US3364994A (en) * | 1966-02-25 | 1968-01-23 | Eugene L. Sterrett | Oil well treating method |
| US4560003A (en) * | 1982-09-20 | 1985-12-24 | Mobil Oil Corporation | Solvent stimulation in heavy oil wells producing a large fraction of water |
| FR2625547A1 (en) * | 1987-12-30 | 1989-07-07 | Inst Francais Du Petrole | PROCESS FOR DELAYING THE FORMATION AND / OR REDUCING THE TREND IN THE AGGLOMERATION OF HYDRATES |
| US5981816A (en) * | 1996-05-15 | 1999-11-09 | Institut Francais Du Petrole | Method for inhibiting or retarding hydrate formation or agglomeration in a production effluent |
Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2377529A (en) * | 1943-11-08 | 1945-06-05 | Univ Kansas Res Foundation | Method of treating oil wells |
| US2614635A (en) * | 1946-04-04 | 1952-10-21 | Standard Oil Dev Co | Preventing water encroachment in oil wells |
| US2776714A (en) * | 1954-08-03 | 1957-01-08 | Exxon Research Engineering Co | Process for overcoming water blocking of a petroleum producing well |
| US2779418A (en) * | 1954-05-10 | 1957-01-29 | Stanolind Oil & Gas Co | Method of increasing production from wells |
| US2792894A (en) * | 1953-09-03 | 1957-05-21 | Exxon Research Engineering Co | Method of increasing oil production |
-
1956
- 1956-10-09 US US614988A patent/US2865453A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2377529A (en) * | 1943-11-08 | 1945-06-05 | Univ Kansas Res Foundation | Method of treating oil wells |
| US2614635A (en) * | 1946-04-04 | 1952-10-21 | Standard Oil Dev Co | Preventing water encroachment in oil wells |
| US2792894A (en) * | 1953-09-03 | 1957-05-21 | Exxon Research Engineering Co | Method of increasing oil production |
| US2779418A (en) * | 1954-05-10 | 1957-01-29 | Stanolind Oil & Gas Co | Method of increasing production from wells |
| US2776714A (en) * | 1954-08-03 | 1957-01-08 | Exxon Research Engineering Co | Process for overcoming water blocking of a petroleum producing well |
Cited By (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3093192A (en) * | 1958-07-14 | 1963-06-11 | Texaco Inc | Oil well treatment to overcome water coning |
| US3065791A (en) * | 1959-01-16 | 1962-11-27 | Pan American Petroleum Corp | Process for drilling wells with a gas |
| US3285341A (en) * | 1963-12-02 | 1966-11-15 | Phillips Petroleum Co | Removal of water blocks from oil and gas wells |
| US3289764A (en) * | 1963-12-31 | 1966-12-06 | Phillips Petroleum Co | Removal of water blocks from oil and gas wells |
| US3364994A (en) * | 1966-02-25 | 1968-01-23 | Eugene L. Sterrett | Oil well treating method |
| US4560003A (en) * | 1982-09-20 | 1985-12-24 | Mobil Oil Corporation | Solvent stimulation in heavy oil wells producing a large fraction of water |
| FR2625547A1 (en) * | 1987-12-30 | 1989-07-07 | Inst Francais Du Petrole | PROCESS FOR DELAYING THE FORMATION AND / OR REDUCING THE TREND IN THE AGGLOMERATION OF HYDRATES |
| EP0323774A1 (en) * | 1987-12-30 | 1989-07-12 | Institut Francais Du Petrole | Process to delay the formation and/or to reduce the tendency to agglomerate of hydrates |
| US5981816A (en) * | 1996-05-15 | 1999-11-09 | Institut Francais Du Petrole | Method for inhibiting or retarding hydrate formation or agglomeration in a production effluent |
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