Summary
The most common method for preventing scale formation is by applying a
scale-inhibitor (SI) squeeze treatment. In this process, an SI solution is
injected down a producer well into the near-wellbore formation. In the last few
years, several publications have presented experimental results, field data,
and treatment methods showing enhanced squeeze lifetime because of the use of
squeeze enhancers.
The main purpose of this paper is to model the effect of
SI-retention-enhancing additives. These additives are normally deployed in
reservoirs where the SI shows poor retention in the formation matrix in order
to reduce well interventions. In the last few years, a number of techniques to
enhance the SI retention have been reported in the literature, such as
precipitation squeezes using calcium and/or pH-increasing additives, use of an
additive package that enhances SI adsorption by crosslinking, and the injection
of nondamaging concentrations of kaolinite, calcium carbonate, and organosilane
(a solids-fixation agent). The effect of the SI-retention enhancer is modeled
as a function of the adsorption level of the additive.
A sensitivity study is then presented of the effect of deploying the
additive in the different stages; normally, they are deployed in the preflush
stage. However, the aim of this paper is to investigate how the treatment could
be optimized to achieve the longest squeeze lifetime with a fixed amount of
additive. An example of modeling a specific field treatment injecting
organosilane is included. The results are compared with the field return
profiles and clearly demonstrate the value such modeling can bring to the
interpretation and design of field squeezes.
© 2011. Society of Petroleum Engineers
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History
- Original manuscript received:
16 February 2011
- Meeting paper published:
12 April 2011
- Revised manuscript received:
15 February 2011
- Manuscript approved:
11 May 2011
- Published online:
11 July 2011
- Version of record:
10 August 2011
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