Methods of using novel organic acid compositions in the oil and gas industry

A method for:

• stimulating a formation;
• descaling pipelines or production wells;
• reducing breakdown pressures during downhole pumping operations;
• treating wellbore filter cake post drilling operations;
• assisting with freeing stuck pipe;
• increasing injectivity of injection wells;
• lowering the pH of fluids;
• removing undesirable scale in surface equipment, wellbores and related equipment or facilities;
• fracturing wells;
• completing matrix stimulations;
• conducting annular and bullhead squeezes and soaks;
• pickling tubing, pipe and/or coiled tubing;
• increasing effective permeability of formations;
• reducing or removing wellbore damage;
• cleaning perforations;
• or
• solubilizing limestone, dolomite, calcite and combinations thereof;
• comprising the steps of introducing an organic acid composition into an oil field operation or system, said organic acid composition comprising water in an amount ranging from 30 to 80% by weight of the weight of the composition;
• methanesulphonic acid in an amount ranging from 30 to 70% by weight of the weight of the composition;
• a metal iodide or iodate in an amount of no more than 1% by weight of the weight of the composition;
• and an alcohol or derivative thereof in an amount of no more than 2% by weight of the weight of the composition;
• wherein the organic acid composition has a pH less than 1.0 and a shelf life of greater than 12 months prior to being introduced to the system or operation,
• wherein the oil field operation or system is selected from the group comprising a subterranean formation, a wellbore, an injection well, a product well, oilfield equipment, pipe and tubing.