IP Library Granted Patent US 8,695,707
Granted Patent B2
US 8,695,707 · App. 12/813,163 · Granted Apr 15, 2014

Asphaltene removal composition and methods

Inventors: Jack Li (Sugar Land, TX); Syed A. Ali (Sugar Land, TX); Oscar Bustos (Trophy Club, TX); Matthew J. Miller (Katy, TX)
Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,695,707
App. No.
12/813,163
Granted
Apr 15, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

This invention relates to compositions and methods of removing an organic deposit including introducing a fluid, wherein the fluid comprises at least two non-polar organic solvents and at least two polar organic solvents; allowing the fluid to dissolve at least a portion of the organic deposit; and removing at least a portion of the fluid. This invention relates to compositions and methods of removing an organic deposit including introducing a fluid, wherein the fluid comprises at least two non-polar organic solvents and at least two polar organic solvents, wherein the non-polar organic solvents comprise aromatic naphtha, terpenes, kerosene, and combination thereof, and wherein the polar solvents comprise heavy aromatic naphtha, cyclohexanone, N-2-methyl pyrrolidone, N-ethyl-2-pyrrolidone, and combination thereof, allowing the fluid to dissolve at least a portion of the organic deposit, and removing at least a portion of the fluid.

Claims (42)

1. A method of removing an organic deposit, comprising:

introducing a fluid, wherein the fluid comprises at least one non-polar organic solvent and at least two polar organic solvents, and wherein the fluid does not contain water;

allowing the fluid to dissolve at least a portion of the organic deposit; and

removing at least a portion of the fluid.

2. A method of removing an organic deposit, comprising:

introducing a fluid, wherein the fluid comprises at least two non-polar organic solvents and at least two polar organic solvents, and wherein the fluid does not contain water;

allowing the fluid to dissolve at least a portion of the organic deposit; and

removing at least a portion of the fluid.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the fluid further comprises an asphaltene inhibitor.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the asphaltene inhibitor comprises a high molecular weight polymeric dispersant formulated in a high flash aromatic solvent.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the asphaltene inhibitor comprises sulfonated alkyl phenol formaldehyde resin, alkyl phenol formaldehyde resin, high molecular weight polyolefin ester, α-olefin/maleic anhydrite copolymer, polyalkylenesuccinimide copolymer, lauryl methacrylate/hydroxyethylmethacrylate copolymer, 4-alkylphenylmethacrylate polymer, 1-vinyl-4-alkyl-2-pyrrolidone polymer, polyvinylalkyl carbamates, polyesteramides, lignosulfonate polymers and/or a combination thereof.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the deposit comprises asphaltene, paraffin, or both.

7. The method of claim 2 , wherein the non-polar organic solvents comprise aromatic naphtha, terpenes, kerosene, and combination thereof.

8. The method of claim 2 , wherein the polar organic solvents enhances the solubility of asphaltenes in the organic solvent blend relative to the solubility of the asphaltenes in non-polar organic solvents.

9. The method of claim 2 , wherein the polar solvents comprise heavy aromatic naphtha, cyclohexanone, N-2-methylpyrrolidone, N-ethyl-2-pyrrolidone, or combination thereof.

10. The method of claim 2 , wherein the fluid comprises 10 to 70 weight percent kerosene 0.5 to 20 weight percent cyclohexanone, 10 to 70 weight percent D-limonene, and 0.5 to 20 weight percent N-ethyl-2-pyrrolidone.

11. A method of removing an organic deposit, comprising:

introducing a fluid, wherein the fluid comprises at least two non-polar organic solvents and at least two polar organic solvents,

wherein the fluid does not contain water,

wherein the non-polar organic solvents comprise aromatic naphtha, terpenes, kerosene, and combination thereof, and

wherein the polar solvents comprise heavy aromatic naphtha, cyclohexanone, N-2-methylpyrrolidone, N-ethyl-2-pyrrolidone, or combination thereof;

allowing the fluid to dissolve at least a portion of the organic deposit; and

removing at least a portion of the fluid.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein removing at least a portion of the fluid comprises flowing back the fluid to a surface of a subterranean formation through a wellbore.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein introducing a fluid comprises placing coiled tubing with a downhole nozzle in a wellbore and flowing the fluid through the coiled tubing.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein introducing the fluid further comprises a high pressure bottom hole assembly.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein introducing the fluid comprises injecting the fluid below the fracturing gradient of a subterranean formation.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising injecting an acid at matrix rates.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein introducing the fluid comprises injecting the fluid above the fracturing gradient of a subterranean formation.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein introducing the fluid comprises injecting the fluid continuously through a micro-coiled tubing that is installed in a wellbore.

19. A method of removing an organic deposit from a wellbore, comprising:

introducing a fluid to the wellbore, wherein the fluid comprises at least two non-polar organic solvents and at least two polar organic solvents,

wherein the fluid does not contain water,

wherein the non-polar organic solvents comprise aromatic naphtha, terpenes, kerosene, and combination thereof, and

wherein the polar solvents comprise heavy aromatic naphtha, cyclohexanone, N-2-methylpyrrolidone, N-ethyl-2-pyrrolidone, or combination thereof;

allowing the fluid to dissolve at least a portion of the organic deposit; and

removing at least a portion of the fluid,

wherein removing at least a portion of the fluid comprises flowing back the fluid to a surface of a subterranean formation through a wellbore.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the fluid comprises 10 to 70 weight percent kerosene 0.5 to 20 weight percent cyclohexanone, 10 to 70 weight percent D-limonene, and 0.5 to 20 weight percent N-ethyl-2-pyrrolidone.

21. The method of claim 19 , wherein introducing a fluid comprises placing coiled tubing with a downhole nozzle in the wellbore and flowing the fluid through the coiled tubing.

22. The method of claim 19 , wherein the fluid further comprises an asphaltene inhibitor.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the asphaltene inhibitor comprises sulfonated alkyl phenol formaldehyde resin, alkyl phenol formaldehyde resin, high molecular weight polyolefin ester, α-olefin/maleic anhydrite copolymer, polyalkylenesuccinimide copolymer, lauryl methacrylate/hydroxyethylmethacrlate copolymer, 4-alkylphenylmethacrylate polymer, 1-vinyl-4-alkyl-2-pyrrolidone polymer, polyvinylalkyl carbamates, polyesteramides, lignosulfonate polymers and/or a combination thereof.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 2, 2010
From: LI, JACK; ALI, SYED A.; BUSTOS, OSCAR; MILLER, MATTHEW J
To: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 024774/0823 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 61286827 · Dec 16, 2009
Provisional Application 61268754 · Jun 16, 2009
Related Publication 20100314117A1 · Dec 16, 2010