Iron control as part of a well treatment using time-released agents
AssigneeFlex-Chem Holding Company, LLC
InventorsAndrew Bryce Conway, Scott Bailey
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a well in a subterranean formation, treatment fluids for time-released iron control are utilized. These treatment fluids contain a time-released form of a complexing agent or reducing agent, wherein the agent forms a soluble product with iron. The time-released form prevents loss of the agent prior to delivery to the desired site and at the desired time(s). Methods for controlling iron in a well in a subterranean formation utilize these treatment fluids containing a time-released form of a complexing agent or reducing agent and these methods create soluble products when the agent interacts with the iron to control the iron from the formation and/or well.
Claims26
A treatment fluid for time-released iron control in a well in a subterranean formation comprising water and a time-released form of a complexing agent consisting of oxalic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, phosphonic acids, adipic acid, or mixtures thereof encapsulated within a coating, wherein the time-released form of the agent is present in the treatment fluid in an amount of about 0.01 pound per thousand gallons of the fluid to about 50 pounds per thousand gallons of the fluid and the agent forms a soluble product with iron.
A treatment fluid for time-released iron control in a well in a subterranean formation comprising water and a time-released form of two or more complexing agents selected from the group consisting of citric acid, formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, lactic acid, gluconic acid, glucoheptonic acid, oxalic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, adipic acid, and phosphonic acids encapsulated within a coating, wherein the time-released form of the agents are present in the treatment fluid in an amount of about 0.01 pound per thousand gallons of the fluid to about 50 pounds per thousand gallons of the fluid and the agents form a soluble product with iron.
A method for controlling iron in a well in a subterranean formation comprising:
- providing a treatment fluid comprising water and a time-released form of two or more complexing agents selected from the group consisting of citric acid, formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, lactic acid, gluconic acid, glucoheptonic acid, oxalic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, adipic acid, and phosphonic acids encapsulated within a coating, wherein the time-released form of the complexing agents are present in the treatment fluid in an amount of about 0.01 pound per thousand gallons of the fluid to about 50 pounds per thousand gallons of the fluid and the agents form a soluble product with iron;
- injecting the treatment fluid into the well of the formation until at least some of the treatment fluid contacts the formation and iron, wherein the iron includes iron originating from well equipment;
- and
- maintaining the treatment fluid in contact with iron within the formation, thereby allowing the agents to release and interact with iron to form a soluble product.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.