Stimulation of producing wells

Patent · Tue Mar 23 04:00:00 EST 1971

OSTI ID:5518338

Kinney, W L; Kirk, Jr, W B

The stimulation of producing wells can be improved by preceding the injection of a slug of micellar solution with a slug of an acid effective to chemically attack deposits of scale on the well bore, undesirable waxes, etc. Examples of useful amounts of acid include from about 1 to about 500 gal of the acid per vertical foot of formation. Examples of micellar solution include from about 1 to about 500 gal of the micellar solution per vertical foot of formation. Thereafter, there is injected a drive fluid, to displace the acid and micellar dispersion out into the formation. Where the formation is oil-wet, substantially hydrocarbon drive fluid can be used. A substantially aqueous drive fluid is useful where the formation is water-wet. Preferably, the acid slug is followed by sufficient amounts of water to insulate it from the micellar dispersion, e.g. 0.1 to 10 vol of water per vol of acid. (24 claims)

• Assignee: Marathon Oil Co.
• Patent Number(s): US 3572416
• OSTI ID: 5518338
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
CLEANING
DESCALING
DEWAXING
DISPERSIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUID INJECTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROCARBONS
INJECTION
INTAKE
MICELLAR SYSTEMS
MICROEMULSION FLOODING
MISCIBLE-PHASE DISPLACEMENT
MIXTURES
OIL WELLS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
PRODUCTION
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLUTIONS
STIMULATION
SURFACE CLEANING
SURFACE FINISHING
WELL COMPLETION
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS