Method of Remediating a Well for Long Term Production

A method of remediating a well penetrating a subterranean formation wherein flow of fluids from the formation to the well has been restricted or obstructed by contaminants, accumulated water or accumulated condensate in the well, the method comprising:

• A. pumping surface modified hydroxy containing nanoparticles in a carrier fluid into the well wherein:
• 1. the carrier fluid comprising at least one of the following:
• a. an alcohol selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, propyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, butanol, iso-butanol and mixtures thereof;
• b. a brine consisting selected from the group consisting of sodium chloride, sodium bromide, potassium chloride, potassium bromide, ammonium chloride, ammonium bromide and mixtures thereof, and
• c. a mutual solvent;
• 2. the surface modified hydroxy containing nanoparticles are hydroxy containing nanoparticles surface modified with a surface modifying treatment agent of the structure ZmX(OR)n wherein X is an anchor selected from the group consisting of aluminum, silicon and a transition metal;
• Z is a hydrophobic and/or oleophobic moiety attached to the anchor, each moiety being independently selected from a branched or unbranched C3-C40 alkyl, C3-C40 aryl, C3-C40 fluorinated alkyl, C3-C40 fluorinated aryl, C3-C40 fluorinated ethylenically unsaturated monomer, or perfluoroalkylene ether;
• each R being independently selected from a branched or unbranched C1-C20 alkyl or aryl group;
• m+n is defined by the valence state of the anchor provided neither m nor n are zero;
• and
• B. attaching the surface modified hydroxy containing nanoparticles onto the surface of the formation wherein the hydrophobic and/or oleophobic functional groups are imparted away from the surface of the formation;
• and
• C. removing the blockage and increasing flow of fluids from a subterranean formation penetrated by the well.

A method of restoring or increasing production of a well having flowpaths partially or completely obstructed or blocked by contaminants, accumulated water or accumulated condensate, the method comprising:

• A. pumping nanoparticles in a carrier fluid into the well wherein:
• 1. the carrier fluid comprises at least one of the following:
• a. an alcohol selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, propyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, butanol, iso-butanol and mixtures thereof;
• b. a brine consisting of sodium chloride, sodium bromide, potassium chloride, potassium bromide, ammonium chloride, ammonium bromide and mixture thereof;
• and
• c. a mutual solvent;
• 2. the nanoparticles, onto which one or more hydroxyl groups are attached, are selected from the group consisting of silica, alumina, titania, silicic acid, aluminum oxides, aluminum hydroxides, aluminum hydroxyoxides, aluminosilicates, zirconium oxides, zirconium hydroxides, zirconium hydroxyoxides, tungsten oxide, iron oxide, fullerenes, nanoclays, nanotubes, graphenes like nanographite, nanodots, nanorods, nanodiamonds, polysilsesquioxanes, antimony oxide, vanadium oxide, magnesium oxide, metal or metalloid carbides, and mixtures thereof;
• and
• 3. the nanoparticles have one or more hydroxyl groups and are further surface modified with a surface modifying treatment agent of the structure ZmX(OR)n wherein X is an anchor selected from the group consisting of aluminum, silicon and a transition metal;
• Z is a hydrophobic and/or oleophobic moiety attached to the anchor, each moiety being independently selected from a branched or unbranched C3-C40 alkyl, C3-C40 aryl, C3-C40 fluorinated alkyl, C3-C40 fluorinated aryl, C3-C40 fluorinated ethylenically unsaturated monomer or perfluoroalkylene ether;
• each R being independently selected from a branched or unbranched C1-C20 alkyl or aryl group;
• m+n is defined by the valence state of the anchor provided neither m nor n are zero;
• and
• B. attaching the surface modified hydroxy containing nanoparticles onto a surface of a subterranean formation penetrated by the well, wherein the hydrophobic and/or oleophobic functional groups are imparted away from a surface of a subterranean formation penetrated by the well;
• and
• C. removing the blockage and increasing flow of fluids from the subterranean formation to the well.