EDTA removes formation damage at Prudhoe Bay

Journal Article · Sat Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1983 · J. Pet. Technol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2118/11188-PA· OSTI ID:5254585

Shaughnessy, C M; Kline, W E

Formation damage has been observed in some wells of the Prudhoe Bay field. Laboratory and field testing confirmed that the primary cause of damage was the buildup of calcium carbonate scale either in the perforation tunnels or in the formation sandstone near the wellbore. Conventional acid treatments could dissolve this scale, but scale reprecipitation from the spent acid caused rapid productivity decline. A scale-removal treatment with Na/sub 2/H/sub 2/ ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) has been developed that can effectively dissolve scale and chelate the dissolved metal ions. Chelation of the dissolved scale prevents scale reprecipitation. Of the 25 Prudhoe Bay wells acidized with EDTA through June 1982, 19 responded with significant productivity increases. In 17 of these wells, productivity has been sustained after treatment.

• Research Organization: Exxon Production Research Co.
• OSTI ID: 5254585
• Journal Information: J. Pet. Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Pet. Technol.; (United States) Vol. 35:10; ISSN JPTJA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
ACIDIZATION
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
AMINO ACIDS
ARCTIC OCEAN
BAYS
BEAUFORT SEA
BENCH-SCALE EXPERIMENTS
CALCIUM CARBONATES
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBONATES
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHELATING AGENTS
DATA
DESCALING
EDTA
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FIELD TESTS
FORMATION DAMAGE
INFORMATION
NATURAL GAS WELLS
NUMERICAL DATA
OIL WELLS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PRUDHOE BAY
SCALING
SEAS
SURFACE FINISHING
SURFACE WATERS
TESTING
WELLS