Core-flood Effluent and Shale Surface Chemistries in Predicting Interaction between Shale, Brine, and Reactive Fluid

Abstract This work presents a matrix acidizing formulation which comprises a salt of monochloroacetic acid giving a delayed acidification and a chelating agent to prevent precipitation of a calcium salt. Results of dissolution capacity, core flood test and corrosion inhibition are presented and are compared to performance of 15 wt% emulsified HCl. Dissolution capacity tests were performed in a stirred reactor at atmospheric pressure using equimolar amounts of the crushed limestone and dolomites. Four different chelating agents were added to test the calcium ion sequestering power. Corrosion tests were executed using an autoclave reactor under nitrogen atmosphere at 10 barg. Core flood tests were performed to simulate carbonate matrix stimulation using limestone cores. It was found that the half-life time of the hydrolysis reaction is 77 min at a temperature of 100 °C. Sodium gluconate and the sodium salt of D-glucoheptonic acid were identified to successfully prevent the precipitation of the reaction product calcium glycolate at a temperature of 40 °C. Computed Tomography (CT) scans of the treated cores at optimum injection rate showed a single wormhole formed. At 150 °C an optimum injection rate of 1 ml/min was found which corresponds to a minimum PVBT of 6. In addition, no face dissolution was observed after coreflooding. Furthermore, the corrosion rates of different metallurgies (L80 and J55) were measured which are significantly less than data reported in literature for 15wt% emulsified HCl. The novelty of this formulation is that it slowly releases an organic acid in the well allowing deeper penetration in the formation and sodium gluconate prevents precipitation of the reaction product. The corrosivity of this formulation is relatively low saving maintenance costs to installations and pipe work. The active ingredient in the formulation is a solid, allowing onsite preparation of the acidizing fluid.

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The Use of Controlled Dissolution Glass for the Consolidation of a High Porosity Chalk

10.2118/205155-ms ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Max Olsen ◽

Ragni Hatlebakk ◽

Chris Holcroft ◽

Roar Egil Flatebø ◽

Asif Hoq ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tensile Strength ◽

Colloidal Silica ◽

Strength Increase ◽

High Porosity ◽

Hydrocarbon Recovery ◽

Filter Screen ◽

The Matrix ◽

Core Flood ◽

Fractured Well ◽

Tensile Strength Increase

Abstract This paper reports the development and testing, of a Phosphate controlled dissolution glass composition used to strengthen the matrix of chalk whilst retaining the permeability of the rock, facilitating improved hydrocarbon recovery in unstable wells. Multiple versions of the glass solutions and different types of colloidal silica were extensively tested in the laboratory to determine injectability and reactivity with calcium carbonate rocks. The goal of the testing was to determine the best performing solution for use in a field trial in the Norwegian North Sea. The laboratory testing included filtration and core flood tests to determine the injectability of the solutions and post treatment permeability, and Brazilian strength tests to determine the tensile strength of the treated chalk cores. The filterability was tested through filter screen sizes ranging from 5 to 0.6 µm. Core flood testing was performed on 10 cm long chalk cores with 1.5 mD permeability. The glass solutions showed the best results in the filtration and core flood testing, achieving significantly greater invasion depth than any of the colloidal silica samples. The phosphate glass treated chalk cores maintained 70 to 100% of the original permeability while delivering a 3 to 5 fold tensile strength increase. The lab tests demonstrated the potential of a glass based treatment to strengthen chalk formations without impeding permeability.Based on the promising results from the lab tests, it was decided to trial the selected glass solution in a mature vertical proppant fractured well. The test confirmed that the glass solution could be pumped into the well, but the test failed pre-maturely after two months of varied production, and the trial will not be covered in this paper.However, due to the high value in being able to stabilize chalk in the field, the Operator is evaluating a new trial in a horizontal well, and learnings from the first trial will be used to inform further lab tests in the next phase. The glass solution used in this trial is being further developed to be used in other formation types, such as sand and non-calcium containing reservoirs.

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