IP Library Granted Patent US 12,024,674
Granted Patent B2
US 12,024,674 · App. 17/569,227 · Granted Jul 2, 2024

Methods and compositions for squeeze life enhancement

Inventors: Manojkumar Ramnikalal Bhandari (Sugar Land, TX); Renaldo Christmas (Richmond, TX); Ian Littlehales (Missouri City, TX)
Assignee: ChampionX LLC
C09K8/528C09K8/536C09K2208/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,024,674
App. No.
17/569,227
Granted
Jul 2, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure provides methods for inhibiting scale formation in subterranean reservoirs. The methods may include depositing silica-based nanoparticles on a surface of the subterranean reservoir and transporting a scale inhibitor to the surface of the subterranean reservoir. The scale inhibitor may adhere to the silica-based nanoparticles through a chemical interaction. The silica-based nanoparticles may adhere to one or more surfaces within the subterranean reservoir.

Claims (32)

1. A method of inhibiting scale formation in a subterranean reservoir, comprising:

depositing silica-based nanoparticles on a surface of the subterranean reservoir,

transporting a scale inhibitor to the surface of the subterranean reservoir,

adhering the scale inhibitor to the silica-based nanoparticles through a chemical interaction,

inhibiting scale formation in the subterranean reservoir, and

excluding a step of adding an organosilane to the subterranean reservoir,

wherein the silica-based nanoparticles and the scale inhibitor are added to the subterranean reservoir separately.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the chemical interaction comprises forming a bond between the scale inhibitor and the silica-based nanoparticles.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the bond is selected from the group consisting an ionic bond, a covalent bond, a metallic bond, a hydrogen bond, a dipole-dipole interaction, a van der Waals bond, and any combination thereof.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adhering the silica-based nanoparticles to the surface of the subterranean reservoir through a second chemical interaction.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the second chemical interaction comprises forming a bond between the surface of the subterranean reservoir and the silica-based nanoparticles.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subterranean reservoir comprises a hydrocarbon.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the silica-based nanoparticles comprise a particle size from about 0.1 nm to about 1,000 nm.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the silica-based nanoparticles are deposited on the surface of the subterranean reservoir in a first step and the scale inhibitor is transported to the surface of the subterranean reservoir in a second step.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the second step further comprises depositing additional silica-based nanoparticles on the surface of the subterranean reservoir.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein a carrier fluid comprises the silica-based nanoparticles.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the carrier fluid comprises from about 0.1 wt. % to about 70 wt. % of the silica-based nanoparticles.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein a second carrier fluid comprises the scale inhibitor.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the second carrier fluid comprises from about 0.1 wt. % to about 70 wt. % of the scale inhibitor.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the scale inhibitor comprises a member selected from the group consisting of a phosphonate, a sulfonate, a phosphate ester, a polymeric scale inhibitor, and any combination thereof.

15. The method of claim 1 , excluding a step of adding a carbon-based nanomaterial or a clay mineral to the subterranean reservoir.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the silica-based nanoparticles are colloidal silica-based nanoparticles or functionalized silica-based nanoparticles.

17. A method of inhibiting scale formation in a subterranean reservoir, comprising:

preflushing the subterranean reservoir with an aqueous solution comprising silica-based nanoparticles,

delivering a scale inhibitor to a wellbore of the subterranean reservoir,

transporting the scale inhibitor to a surface within the subterranean reservoir,

adhering the scale inhibitor to the silica-based nanoparticles through a chemical interaction,

inhibiting scale formation in the subterranean reservoir, and

excluding a step of adding an organosilane to the subterranean reservoir,

wherein the silica-based nanoparticles and the scale inhibitor are added to the subterranean reservoir separately.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein additional silica-based nanoparticles are added to the subterranean reservoir during the delivering and/or transporting steps.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the aqueous solution comprises greater than 10 wt. % to about 70 wt. % of the silica-based nanoparticles.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 7, 2023
From: CHAMPIONX USA INC.
To: CHAMPIONX LLC
Reel/Frame 065799/0403 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 6, 2022
From: BHANDARI, MANOJKUMAR RAMNIKALAL; CHRISTMAS, RENALDO; LITTLEHALES, IAN
To: CHAMPIONX USA INC.
Reel/Frame 058586/0358 →