IP Library Granted Patent US 12,571,110
Granted Patent B2
US 12,571,110 · App. 18/241,021 · Granted Mar 10, 2026

Metal sulfide scale dissolver for oilfield application

Inventors: Alex Yi-Tsung Lu (Houston, TX); Zhiwei Yue (Houston, TX)
Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
C23G1/088C23G1/061C23G1/066
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,571,110
App. No.
18/241,021
Granted
Mar 10, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method may include providing a treatment fluid comprising a metal sulfide dissolver and a base fluid. The metal sulfide dissolver includes a chelating agent, a boosting agent, and a dispersing agent. The treatment fluid is then injected to contact a metal sulfide scale, which dissolves at least partially. The treatment fluid may be injected into a wellbore as a standalone treatment or as an additive.

Claims (38)

1 . A method comprising:

providing a treatment fluid comprising:

a metal sulfide dissolver comprising a chelating agent, a boosting agent, and a dispersing agent,

wherein the chelating agent comprises tetrakis (hydroxymethyl) phosphonium sulfate (THPS), salts thereof, or combinations thereof in an amount of about 0.025 wt % to about 0.1 wt % by weight of the treatment fluid,

wherein the boosting agent comprises citric acid in an amount of about 0.02 wt % to about 0.07 wt % by weight of the treatment fluid,

wherein the dispersing agent comprises polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride (polyDADMAC) in an amount of about 20 ppm to about 200 ppm by weight of the treatment fluid; and

a base fluid;

contacting a metal sulfide scale with the treatment fluid; and

dissolving from 55% to 95% of the metal sulfide scale with the treatment fluid.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the chelating agent further comprises at least one chelating selected from the group consisting of, tetrakis (hydroxymethyl) phosphonium chloride ethylene diamine (THPC), salts thereof, and combinations thereof.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the boosting agent further comprises at least one boosting agent selected from the group consisting of ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), hydroxyethyl ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (HEDTA), hydroxyethyl iminodiacetic acid (HIDA), glutamic acid N, N-diacetic acid (GLDA), diethylene triamine penta acetic acid (DTPA), nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), methylglycinediacetic acid (MGDA), formic acid, acetic acid, oxalic acid, lactic acid, uric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, glycolic acid, and combination thereof.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the dispersing agent comprises polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride (polyDADMAC) in an amount of about 40 ppm to about 100 ppm by weight of the treatment fluid.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the dispersing agent further comprises a non-poly cationic quaternary amine.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the dispersing agent further comprises at least one dispersing agent selected from the group consisting of poly(methacrylamido-4,4,8,8-tetramethyl-4,8-diaza-6-hydroxyl-nonamethylene dichloride) (PMDTHD), poly(vinylbenzyl trimethyl ammonium chloride) (PVBTMAC), and polyethyleneimine (PEI).

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the chelating agent is present in an amount of about 0.04 wt % to 0.1 wt % by weight of the treatment fluid.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the boosting agent is present in an amount of about 0.04 wt % to 0.07 wt % by weight of the treatment fluid.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the dispersing agent is present in an amount of about 40 ppm to 200 ppm by weight of the treatment fluid.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the base fluid comprises an aqueous fluid with a pH of about 6 to about 7.

11 . A method comprising:

preparing a treatment fluid comprising:

a metal sulfide dissolver comprising a chelating agent, a boosting agent, and polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride (polyDADMAC),

wherein the chelating agent comprises tetrakis (hydroxymethyl) phosphonium sulfate (THPS), salts thereof, or combinations thereof in an amount of about 0.025 wt % to about 0.1 wt % by weight of the treatment fluid,

wherein the boosting agent comprises citric acid in an amount of about 0.02 wt % to about 0.07 wt % by weight of the treatment fluid,

wherein the polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride (polyDADMAC) is present in an amount of about 20 ppm to about 200 ppm by weight of the treatment fluid; and

a base fluid;

introducing the treatment fluid into a wellbore; and

contacting scale with the treatment fluid to dissolve from 55% to 95% of the scale.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the chelating agent further comprises at least one chelating agent selected from the group consisting of tetrakis (hydroxymethyl) phosphonium chloride ethylene diamine (THPC), salts thereof, and combinations thereof.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the boosting agent further comprises at least one boosting agent selected from the group consisting of ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), hydroxyethyl ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (HEDTA), hydroxyethyl iminodiacetic acid (HIDA), glutamic acid N, N-diacetic acid (GLDA), diethylene triamine penta acetic acid (DTPA), nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), methylglycinediacetic acid (MGDA), formic acid, acetic acid, oxalic acid, lactic acid, uric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, and combination thereof.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride (polyDADMAC) is present in an amount of about 40 ppm to 200 ppm by weight of the treatment fluid.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the chelating agent is present in an amount of about 0.04 wt % to 0.1 wt % by weight of the treatment fluid.

16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the boosting agent is present in an amount of about 0.04 wt % to 0.07 wt % by weight of the treatment fluid.

17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the base fluid comprises an aqueous fluid with a pH of about 6 to about 7.

18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the base fluid comprises an aqueous fluid with a pH of about 6.8 to about 7.

19 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the boosting agent further comprises ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA).

20 . A treatment fluid comprising:

an iron sulfide dissolver comprising from about 0.025 wt % to about 0.1 wt % tetrakis (hydroxymethyl) phosphonium sulfate (THPS), from about 0.02 wt % to about 0.07 wt % by weight of citric acid, and from about 20 ppm to about 200 ppm by weight of polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride (polyDADMAC); and

a base fluid comprising an aqueous fluid with a pH of about 6 to about 7, wherein the treatment fluid dissolves from 55% to 95% of a scale in a subterranean operation.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 8, 2026
From: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
To: STERLING SPECIALTY CHEMICALS HOLDING UK LIMITED
Reel/Frame 075930/0903 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 15, 2023
From: YUE, ZHIWEI; LU, ALEX YI-TSUNG
To: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 064914/0976 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250075338A1 · Mar 6, 2025
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