Mesophase fluids with extended chain surfactants for downhole treatments
US8235120B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 31, 2009 |
| Grant date | Aug 7, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 1, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC09K8/584
- WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Mesophase fluids may be pre-formed or formed in situ and may be used downhole for various treatments including, but not limited to, cleaning up and removing non-polar materials from reservoir production zones, removing wellbore damage, releasing stuck pipe, components in spacers and pills and the like in oil and gas wells. These treatments involve solubilization of the non-polar material into the emulsion when the treatment fluid contacts non-polar materials. These mesophase fluids use extended chain surfactants having propoxylated/ethoxylated spacer arms. The extended chain surfactants are intramolecular mixtures containing hydrophilic and lipophilic portions. They attain high solubilization in the mesophase fluids (e.g. single phase microemulsions), are in some instances insensitive to temperature and are useful for a wide variety of oil types.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.