IP Library Granted Patent US 12,669,046
Granted Patent B2
US 12,669,046 · App. 17/929,551 · Granted Jun 30, 2026

Systems and methods to increase the durability of carbonate reservoir acidizing

Inventors: Mohammadreza Safariforoshani (Houston, TX); Francisco Fragachan (Al Khobar, SA)
Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
E21B43/28C09K8/72E21B43/16
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,669,046
App. No.
17/929,551
Filed
Sep 2, 2022
Granted
Jun 30, 2026
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3674
USPC
166/250.1
Abstract

Systems and methods for predicting and optimizing the effects of acidizing treatment of carbonate rock are disclosed. The disclosed methods predict the conflicting effects of increased production (i.e., wormhole creation) and reduced rock compressive strength due to acid rock reactions. The mechanical stability of stimulated wellbores, such as horizontal wellbores, can be determined under different acidizing conditions, such as acid type and volume. The acidizing conditions can be optimized to maximize short and long-term production.

Claims (20)

1 . A method of stimulating hydrocarbon production in a formation traversed by a wellbore, the method comprising:

determining an optimized stimulation treatment, and

providing the optimized stimulation treatment to the formation, wherein

determining the optimized stimulation treatment comprises:

providing a set of stimulation parameters,

determining one or more mechanical parameters indicative of weakening of the formation within a region of the wellbore caused by one or more stimulation parameters of the set of stimulation parameters,

predicting a damage to the formation due to formation stress during hydrocarbon production based on the one or more mechanical parameters,

predicting an amount of hydrocarbon produced during hydrocarbon production based, at least in part, on the damage, and

adjusting the set of stimulation parameters to maximize the amount of hydrocarbon produced during hydrocarbon production.

2 . The method of claim 1 , where at least one stimulation parameter of the set of stimulation parameters comprises diversion parameters.

3 . The method of claim 1 , where at least one stimulation parameter of the set of stimulation parameters comprises acidizing parameters.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the acidizing parameters comprise one or more parameters selected from the group consisting of an acid strength, an acid concentration, an acid volume, and an acid injection rate.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining one or more mechanical parameters of the formation comprises determining one or more mechanical parameters selected from the group consisting of Young's modulus, bulk modulus, shear modulus, cohesion, internal friction angle, and pore-collapse pressure.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein predicting damage to the formation during hydrocarbon production comprises determining one or more of shear failure and compressive failure within the formation.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the one or more of shear failure and compressive failure within the formation is determined based on porosity of the formation.

8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein predicting damage to the formation during hydrocarbon production comprises determining one or more of shear failure and compressive failure that extends beyond a wormhole penetration radius from the wellbore.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein predicting an amount of hydrocarbon produced during hydrocarbon production comprises predicting an amount of hydrocarbon produced during a time period following providing the optimized stimulation treatment to the formation.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the time period is for a period of at least six months.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the time period is for a period of at least eighteen months.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein predicting an amount of hydrocarbon produced during hydrocarbon production comprises predicting an amount of hydrocarbon produced over a predefined time period.

Assignments (2)
SUPPLEMENT NO. 2 TO CONFIRMATORY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN UNITED STATES PATENTS Recorded Jan 13, 2023
From: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC; WEATHERFORD NETHERLANDS B.V.; WEATHERFORD U.K. LIMITED
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 062389/0239 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 2, 2022
From: SAFARIFOROSHANI, MOHAMMADREZA; FRAGACHAN, FRANCISCO
To: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 060983/0733 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 17287014
Related Publication 20220412202A1 · Dec 29, 2022
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