Silica substrates for slow release asphaltene control chemical squeeze treatments
The present disclosure provides methods and compositions for controlling asphaltenes in a subterranean formation. The compositions may include silica, a polymer, and optionally a charged surfactant. The compositions may also include a solvent or other additives. The methods may include injecting the compositions into subterranean formations and inhibiting asphaltene precipitation.
1. A method of controlling asphaltenes, comprising:
adding an asphaltene inhibitor to a hydrocarbon in a subterranean formation, wherein the asphaltene inhibitor comprises:
silica, wherein the silica is at least partially water-soluble;
a charged surfactant, wherein the charged surfactant comprises an imidazoline or an imidazolinium; and
a polymer, wherein the polymer is a polyisobutylene succinic anhydride pentaerythritol ester polymer, a dinonylphenol-formaldehyde-nonylphenol polymer, or a 4-nonylphenol-formaldehyde-diethylenetriamine polymer.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the charged surfactant comprises a weight average molecular weight ranging from about 100 Da to about 1,000 Da.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the charged surfactant comprises a member selected from the group consisting of diethylene triamine (DETA)/tall oil fatty acid (TOFA)-imidazoline, DETA/TOFA-imidazoline acrylate, DETA/TOFA-imidazolinium, DETA/TOFA-imidazolinium acrylate, and any combination thereof.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the charged surfactant comprises a member selected from the group consisting of
and any combination thereof.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the charged surfactant is nonpolymeric.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polymer comprises a weight average molecular weight ranging from about 500 Da to about 500,000 Da.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polymer comprises about 10 mole % to about 90 mole % of a nonylphenol and about 10 mole % to about 90 mole % of formaldehyde.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the silica is at least 0.01% water-soluble to about 40% water-soluble.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the silica comprises a surface area of about 200 m 2 /g to about 600 m 2 /g.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the asphaltene inhibitor comprises from about 1 wt. % to about 95 wt. % of the polymer, from about 1 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of the charged surfactant, and from about 1 wt. % to about 95 wt. % of the silica.
11. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the silica is about 0.5% water-soluble to about 40% water-soluble.
12. A method of controlling asphaltenes in a subterranean formation, comprising:
preflushing the subterranean formation with an aqueous solution,
delivering an asphaltene inhibitor to a wellbore of the subterranean formation, wherein the asphaltene inhibitor comprises:
silica, wherein the silica is at least partially water-soluble;
a charged surfactant, wherein the charged surfactant comprises an imidazoline or an imidazolinium; and
a polymer, wherein the polymer is a polyisobutylene succinic anhydride pentaerythritol ester polymer, a dinonylphenol-formaldehyde-nonylphenol polymer, or a 4-nonylphenol-formaldehyde-diethylenetriamine polymer,
transporting the asphaltene inhibitor to a surface within the subterranean formation, and
controlling asphaltenes in the subterranean formation.
13. The composition of claim 12 , wherein the silica is about 0.5% water-soluble to about 40% water-soluble.
14. A composition, comprising:
(a) silica, wherein the silica is at least partially water-soluble,
(b) a charged surfactant, wherein the charged surfactant comprises an imidazoline or an imidazolinium, and
(c) a polymer, wherein the polymer is a polyisobutylene succinic anhydride pentaerythritol ester polymer, a dinonylphenol-formaldehyde-nonylphenol polymer, or a 4-nonylphenol-formaldehyde-diethylenetriamine polymer.
15. The composition of claim 14 , wherein the charged surfactant comprises a member selected from the group consisting of
and any combination thereof.
16. The composition of claim 14 , wherein the silica comprises a surface area of about 200 m 2 /g to about 600 m 2 /g.
17. The composition of claim 14 , wherein the charged surfactant comprises a member selected from the group consisting of diethylene triamine (DETA)/tall oil fatty acid (TOFA)-imidazoline, DETA/TOFA-imidazoline acrylate, DETA/TOFA-imidazolinium, DETA/TOFA-imidazolinium acrylate, and any combination thereof.
18. The composition of claim 14 , wherein the silica is about 0.5% water-soluble to about 40% water-soluble.