What foam is and how it's used
Stable preformed foam replaces mud, oil, water, air, etc., as a circulating medium in well completion and remedial operations. Foam is easy to circulate and relatively inexpensive to produce. Stable foam consists of a detergent, fresh water, and compressed gas. Additives may be included in the mixture for special purposes. To be used effectively as a circulating medium, foam must be preformed. That is, it must be generated out of contact with the solid and liquid contaminants naturally encountered in a well. The foam is circulated only once, so that materials recovered from the well are never reinjected. The steps in mixing foam are illustrated. Typical mixing equipment required to produce foam includes a source of gas; blender for water, detergent and additives (tanks or proportioning pumps); meters to measure injection rates of gas and detergent solution; 20 gpm capacity positive- displacement pump for injecting detergent solution into the gas stream; foam generator; and an injection manifold which will allow normal or reverse cirulation and provide a means for blowing down pressurized lines before making a connection. The advantages of stable foam circulating are listed. Basic information is given for foam workovers.
- OSTI ID:
- 6985308
- Journal Information:
- World Oil; (United States), Journal Name: World Oil; (United States) Vol. 169:6; ISSN WOOIA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
ADDITIVES
CIRCULATING SYSTEMS
COLLOIDS
COMPRESSED GASES
DETERGENTS
DISPERSIONS
EMULSIFIERS
FLUIDS
FOAMS
FRESH WATER
GASES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MIXTURES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PRODUCTION
PUMPS
SOLUTIONS
SURFACTANTS
WATER
WELL COMPLETION
WELL SERVICING
WETTING AGENTS