Pipeline treatment composites

Abstract

Solid, slowly dispersible well treatment composites are provided which have a sufficiently high melting point to prevent melting of the composite in hot weather. The composites have a low solubility and high specific gravity compared to prior art treatment agents; thus the composites readily sink in well and pipeline fluids and slowly release treatment ingredients over time, depending on the downhole and pipeline conditions. The composites include a compound selected from the group consisting of nonylphenol ethoxylates having at least about 50 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of nonylphenol, fatty acid amides having from 14-20 carbon atoms, and mixtures thereof. Preferably, the composites further include a weighting agent and active ingredients selected from the group consisting of corrosion inhibitors, scale inhibitors, bactericides, scale converters, foaming agents, and mixtures thereof. In one embodiment, the composites are spherical in shape and are passed through pipelines for maintenance and treatment of the pipelines.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.