US 4,359,391 A · Well treatment with emulsion dispersions

Abstract

In a method of treating a subterranean formation, a well treatment composition comprising a dispersion of a water-in-oil emulsion in an aqueous medium is injected into the formation. The water-in-oil emulsion has an internal aqueous phase and an external phase containing a liquid hydrocarbon and a surfactant soluble in the hydrocarbon. The compositions can be designed to perform various well treatment applications including hydraulic fracturing and acidizing and can also be used to encapsulate or to transport well treatment materials and chemicals into the wellbore or formation. Treatment methods may also employ dispersions of a reactive simple or multiple emulsion. The distinct phases of the compositions may be selected to form treatment solutions upon mixing. Thus, improved acidizing may be achieved through an in situ reaction format.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A method for acidizing a subterranean formation surrounding a well which comprises:

(a) contacting the formation with a dispersion of a reactive multiple emulsion which comprises a dispersing solution, a liquid hydrocarbon external phase, comprising a blend of a liquid hydrocarbon and an oil soluble surfactant, and more than one solution internal phase wherein at least two solutions comprising the dispersing solution and the solution internal phases are capable of forming an acidizing solution upon mixing with one another;
and
(b) causing the solutions to mix in situ to form the acidizing solution and to treat the formation.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Well treatment with emulsion dispersions

Life of this patent

Well treatment with emulsion dispersions

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13