Method for preventing wellbore damage due to fines migration
This patent describes a method for treating a hydrocarbonaceous formation or reservoir to control the migration of formation or reservoir fines. The formation or reservoir has a certain critical salinity rate and critical fluid flow velocity, where in combination the critical salinity rate is determined, the salinity reduction varied and the critical fluid flow velocity is changed resulting in the minimization of the plugging of pores and channels near the wellbore. The method consists of: (a) determining the critical salinity rate and the critical fluid flow velocity of the formation or reservoir surrounding the wellbore; (b) injecting a saline solution into the formation or reservoir at a velocity exceeding the critical fluid flow velocity and at a saline concentration rate decrease below the determined critical salinity rate which combination is sufficient to cause the fines or particles to be transferred and fixed deep within the formation or reservoir without plugging the formation or wellbore; and (c) producing a hydrocarbonaceous fluid from the formation or reservoir at a velocity such that the critical flow velocity is not exceeded deep the formation or reservoir which causes the fines or particles to remain fixed deep within the formation or reservoir which results in a minimization of the plugging of the pores and channels.
- Assignee:
- Mobil Oil Corp., New York, NY
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4570710
- OSTI ID:
- 5912203
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: Filed date 20 Jun 1984
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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