IP Library › Granted Patent US 12692427
Granted Patent B2
US 12692427 · App. 19/182,667 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

Systems and methods for scavenging sulfur-containing materials using a precursor scavenger material

Inventors: Paul Barnes (Aberdeen, GB); Alyn Jenkins (Aberdeen, GB); Tore Nordvik (Stavanger, NO); Rolando Perez Pineiro (Nisku, CA); Jody Hoshowski (Nisku, CA)
Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
C09K8/54E21B41/02C09K2208/20
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12692427
App. No.
19/182,667
Granted
Jul 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for applying a scavenger material to a wellbore includes providing a precursor scavenger material to a location within a wellbore extending through an earth formation, the precursor scavenger material comprising an acetal or a hydroxyaldehyde, reacting the precursor scavenger material in the wellbore or the earth formation in-situ to form a scavenger material comprising propenal, and reacting the scavenger material with at least one of hydrogen sulfide or a mercaptan to reduce a concentration of the at least one of hydrogen sulfide or the mercaptan. Related methods and systems for applying the scavenger material to the wellbore are also disclosed.

Claims (26)

1 . A method for applying a scavenger material to a wellbore, the method comprising:

providing a precursor scavenger material to a location within the wellbore, the wellbore extending through an earth formation, the precursor scavenger material comprising at least one of acrolein diethyl acetal, acrolein ethylene glycol acetal, or 3-hydroxypropanal;

reacting the precursor scavenger material in the wellbore or the earth formation in-situ to form the scavenger material, the scavenger material comprising propenal; and

reacting the scavenger material with at least one of hydrogen sulfide or a mercaptan to reduce a concentration of the at least one of hydrogen sulfide or the mercaptan.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein reacting the precursor scavenger material comprises contacting the precursor scavenger material with an acid to react the precursor scavenger material in the wellbore or the earth formation to form the scavenger material.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein contacting the precursor scavenger material with an acid comprises contacting the precursor scavenger material with carbonic acid.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the precursor scavenger material comprises a reaction product of formaldehyde and another aldehyde.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the another aldehyde comprises acetaldehyde.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the precursor scavenger material comprises a reaction product of propenal and an alcohol.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the precursor scavenger material comprises a reaction product of propenal and a diol and comprises a cyclic ring.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

measuring a concentration of the at least one of hydrogen sulfide or the mercaptan in the wellbore; and

providing a concentration of the precursor scavenger material to the wellbore based on the measured concentration.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the scavenger material comprises forming the scavenger material without exposing personnel to the scavenger material.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein a carrier fluid for the precursor scavenger material comprises an alcohol.

11 . A method of applying a scavenger material to a wellbore, the method comprising:

providing a precursor scavenger material to a location within the wellbore, the wellbore extending through an earth formation, the precursor scavenger material comprising at least one of acrolein diethyl acetal, acrolein ethylene glycol acetal, or 3-hydroxypropanal;

responsive to exposure to an acid or water in the wellbore, forming the scavenger material in the wellbore from the precursor scavenger material, the scavenger material comprising propenal;

measuring a concentration of a sulfur-containing species associated with the wellbore; and

adjusting a flowrate of the precursor scavenger material based on the measured concentration of the sulfur-containing species at a downhole location.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein measuring a concentration of a sulfur-containing species associated with the wellbore comprises measuring the concentration of the sulfur-containing species downhole.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein measuring a concentration of a sulfur-containing species associated with the wellbore comprises measuring the concentration of the sulfur-containing species in a produced fluid.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein forming the scavenger material in the wellbore from the precursor scavenger material comprises exposing the precursor scavenger material to carbonic acid in the wellbore.

15 . A system for providing a scavenger material to a wellbore, the system comprising:

an injection pump in fluid communication with a precursor scavenger material, the precursor scavenger material comprising at least one of acrolein diethyl acetal, acrolein ethylene glycol acetal, or 3-hydroxypropanal; and

wellbore piping in fluid communication with the injection pump and configured to provide the precursor scavenger material to a downhole location.