Methods of using novel organic acid compositions in the oil and gas industry

1. A method for:

stimulating a formation;

descaling pipelines or production wells;

reducing breakdown pressures during downhole pumping operations;

treating wellbore filter cake post drilling operations;

assisting with freeing stuck pipe;

increasing injectivity of injection wells;

lowering the pH of fluids;

removing undesirable scale in surface equipment, wellbores and related equipment or facilities;

fracturing wells;

completing matrix stimulations;

conducting annular and bullhead squeezes and soaks;

pickling tubing, pipe and/or coiled tubing;

increasing effective permeability of formations;

reducing or removing wellbore damage;

cleaning perforations; or

solubilizing limestone, dolomite, calcite and combinations thereof;

comprising the steps of introducing an organic acid composition into an oil field operation or system, said organic acid composition comprising water in an amount ranging from 30 to 80% by weight of the weight of the composition;

methanesulphonic acid in an amount ranging from 30 to 70% by weight of the weight of the composition; a metal iodide or iodate in an amount of no more than 1% by weight of the weight of the composition; and an alcohol or derivative thereof in an amount of no more than 2% by weight of the weight of the composition; wherein the organic acid composition has a pH less than 1.0 and a shelf life of greater than 12 months prior to being introduced to the system or operation,

wherein the oil field operation or system is selected from the group comprising a subterranean formation, a wellbore, an injection well, a product well, oilfield equipment, pipe and tubing.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the metal iodide or iodate is selected from the group consisting of: cuprous iodide; potassium iodide; sodium iodide and lithium iodide.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the metal iodide or iodate is potassium iodide.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the alcohol or derivative thereof is an alkynyl alcohol or derivative thereof.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the alkynyl alcohol or derivative thereof is propargyl alcohol or a derivative thereof.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the alkynyl alcohol or derivative thereof is present in a concentration ranging from 0.05 to 2.0% w/w.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the alkynyl alcohol or derivative thereof is present in a concentration ranging from 0.05 to 1.0% w/w.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the alkynyl alcohol or derivative thereof is present in a concentration of 0.25% w/w.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the metal iodide is present in a concentration ranging from 100 to 10000 ppm.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the metal iodide is present in a concentration ranging from 100 to 5000 ppm.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the metal iodide is present in a concentration of 1000 ppm.