Single phase microemulsions and in situ microemulsions for cleaning formation damage

US8091646B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Baker Hughes Holdings LLC · US

Inventors

• Lirio Quintero · Houston, US
• Thomas A. Jones · Cypress, US
• David E. Clark · Gainesville, US
• Allen D. Gabrysch · Houston, US
• Ana Forgiarini · Mérida, VE
• Jean-Louis Salager · Mérida, VE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 26, 2008
• Grant date: Jan 10, 2012
• Expiry date: Aug 20, 2028

Classification

• Technology area (CPC E): Fixed Constructions
• CPC primary: E21B37/08
• WIPO field: Basic materials chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Single phase microemulsions (SPMEs) and in situ-formed microemulsions may be used to clean up and remove non-polar materials from reservoir production zones of oil and gas wells. This clean up occurs by solubilization of the non-polar material into the microemulsion when the treatment fluid contacts the non-polar material. An in situ microemulsion may be formed when one or more surfactant and a polar phase (e.g. water or brine), and eventually some small amount of organic phase, contacts the reservoir formation and solubilizes the non-polar material encountered in the porous media. The microemulsions are effective for removing the formation damage caused by non-polar materials which include, but are not necessarily limited to oil-based mud, synthetic-based mud, paraffins, asphaltenes, emulsions, slugs, and combinations thereof.