Multiple-purpose solvent and method for treating subterranean formations

Patent · Tue Sep 24 04:00:00 EDT 1968

OSTI ID:5645728

Messenger, J U

A well cleaning solution contains as its essential elements an organic solvent for oil and asphalt and a liquid having mutual solubility for oil and water. Other components such as acid, or surfactant, may be added and the solution will still remain a single-phase solution. The solution is mainly useful as a solvent to remove a wide variety of flow-restricting materials such as damaging water, mud filtrate, emulsions, wax, asphalt, and scale, even when present in layered form. Illustrative of the organic solvent for oil and asphalt are carbon disulfide, benzene, toluene, and xylene. Illustrative of the liquid having mutual solubility for oil and water are ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, isopropyl alcohol, tertiary butyl alcohol, and diethylene glycol monomethyl ether. Illustrative of acids which can be added and still form a single-phase solution are concentrated hydrochloric, hydrofluoric, formic, sulfonic, and acetic. (11 claims)

• Assignee: Mobil Oil Corp.
• Patent Number(s): US 3402770
• OSTI ID: 5645728
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
ACETIC ACID
ALCOHOLS
ALKENES
AROMATICS
ASPHALTS
BENZENE
BITUMENS
CARBON
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CLEANING
COLLOIDS
CONTROL
DEWAXING
DISPERSIONS
DISULFIDES
ELEMENTS
EMULSIONS
ETHERS
ETHYLENE
FORMIC ACID
GLYCOLS
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROCHLORIC ACID
HYDROFLUORIC ACID
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
MONOCARBOXYLIC ACIDS
NONMETALS
OIL WELLS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SCALE CONTROL
SCALING
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLUBILITY
SOLVENTS
SULFONIC ACIDS
SURFACTANTS
TAR
TOLUENE
WATER
WAXES
WELL SERVICING
WELLS
XYLENES