Acid precursor treatment fluid generating and/or releasing acid for use downhole in a subterranean formation
A method includes providing a treatment fluid including a strong acid precursor defined by the structure: where X is independently selected from fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine; where each of R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 is independently selected from a hydrogen, X, and a C 1 to C 10 hydrocarbon chain; and where the electron withdrawing group (EWG) is independently selected from a carboxylic acid, carboxylate salt, or carboxylate ester, an orthoester, a sulfonic acid, sulfonate salt, or ester, a phosphonic acid, phosphonate salt, or phosphonate ester, a nitrate, or a cyanide; where Y is hydrogen, a cation, or a C 1 to C 10 hydrocarbon chain; and wherein each R′ is independently is independently selected from a hydrogen, X, and a C 1 to C 10 hydrocarbon chain. The method also includes introducing the treatment fluid into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation.
1. A method comprising:
providing a treatment fluid comprising an acid precursor, the acid precursor comprising a compound defined by Structure 1:
wherein X is a halogen independently selected from fluorine (—F), chlorine (—Cl), bromine (—Br), and iodine (—I); wherein each of R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 is independently selected from a hydrogen, X, and a C 1 to C 10 hydrocarbon chain; and
wherein the electron withdrawing group (EWG) is a carboxylate ester (—CO 2 Y);
wherein Y is hydrogen (—H), a cation, or a C 1 to C 10 hydrocarbon chain; and
introducing the treatment fluid into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the acid precursor generates an acid (HX) within the subterranean formation.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising allowing the acid to acidize a portion of the subterranean formation or damage contained therein.
4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising contacting at least a portion of a biopolymer or a filter cake located in the subterranean formation with the acid, wherein the portion of the biopolymer or the filter cake degrades.
5. The method of claim 2 , further comprising allowing the acid to dissolve carbonate minerals in the subterranean formation.
6. The method of claim 2 , further comprising allowing the acid to contact a viscosified fracturing fluid in the subterranean formation.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising introducing the treatment fluid into the subterranean formation at or above a pressure sufficient to create or enhance one or more fractures within the subterranean formation.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
introducing a catalytic acid or a catalytic acid precursor into the wellbore; and
contacting at least a portion of the treatment fluid with the catalytic acid or the catalytic acid precursor.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the treatment fluid has a pH of about 7 or greater when introduced into the wellbore, and wherein the pH of the treatment fluid is about 3 or less within about 2 hours after being introduced into the wellbore.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising
allowing the acid precursor to generate an acid within the subterranean formation.
11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising allowing the acid to acidize a portion of the subterranean formation or damage contained therein.
12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising contacting at least a portion of a biopolymer or a filter cake located in the subterranean formation with the acid, wherein the portion of the biopolymer or the filter cake degrades.
13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising allowing the acid to dissolve carbonate minerals in the subterranean formation.
14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising allowing the acid to contact a viscosified fracturing fluid in the subterranean formation.