WELL STIMULATION

Well

stimulation is the process by which the productivity of a well is increased. Productivity is measured in terms of productivity index or JO JO = q / P Productivity index (PI) is defined a ratio of flow of oil per unit draw down (P = PR - PWf)

WELL STIMULATION: OBJECTIVES

Stimulation is a term for a variety of techniques designed to enhance well performance in new wells, or restore production in older wells. Stimulation of oil and gas reservoirs, with a view to increasing well productivity Initially applied in carbonate reservoirs, the technique was extended to more complex mineralogy

WELL STIMULATION: METHODS

i. ii. iii. iv.

Hydraulic fracturing Acidizing Notroshooting De-paraffination

PARAMETERS FOR HYDRAULIC FRACTURING

For water pressure gradient is 0.426 psi/ft. For brine pressure gradient is 0.433 psi.ft. For over burden 1 psi/ft. 125 200 lbs/ft3 average 144 lbs / ft3. i. The fracture will be created in a plane, which is perpendicular to minimum principal stress. ii. In deeper formation, tear is much easier than lifting. iii.In shallower formation lifting is much easier than tear apart.

INITIATION OF FRACTURES

i. Pressure required to create a Horizontal fracture Pf (h) = Z = 1.0 x D Where D is the depth in feet ii. Pressure required to create a vertical fracture Pf (v) = [ 2 / (1 - ) ] Z + St Where is Poissons ratio = lateral strain / axial strain varies between 0.18 to 0.27 for the average type of rocks. St = tensile stress.

OBSERVATION OF WELL STIMULATION

i.

Success of the well stimulation job can be found by evaluating productivity index (PI) before and after the job that is (after job) / PI (before job)

PI

WELL STIMULATION

ACIDIZING

WELL STIMULATION: ACIDIZING

Acid

is used to remove damage near the well bore in all type of the wells. In carbonate formation acid may be used to create linear flow systems by acid fracturing. Acid fracturing is not applicable in Sand stone wells.

WELL STIMULATION: ACIDIZING

(1) Matrix acidizing is performed below fracturing rate and pressure. Acid flow is through the matrix with reactions being in existing pores and natural fractures. (2) Fracture acidizing is performed above fracturing rates and pressures. Etching of the created fractures provides well stimulation, not just damage removal

WELL STIMULATION: MATRIX ACIDIZING

It is primarily applied to remove skin damage caused by drilling , completion, work over or well killing fluids and by precipitation of deposits from produced water . Due to extreme larger surface area contacted by the acid in a matrix treatment, spending time is very short. Therefore it is difficult to affect the formation more than a few feet from the well bore. .

WELL STIMULATION: MATRIX ACIDIZING

Removal of severe plugging in sandstone, limestone or dolomite can result in a very large increase in well productivity. If there is no skin damage, a matrix treatment in limestone or dolomite could stimulate natural production no more than one and one - half times. Matrix treatments tend to leave zone barriers intact of pressure are maintained below fracture pressure.

MATRIX ACIDIZING: USE OF ACID

HCl (10 15%) is used for acid washing jobs in which bottom hole is cleaned by acid reaction with scale (CaCO3) etc. The deposition on the inside wall of tubing and perforation plugging may be cleaned by acid washing. A small amount of acid is provided by to & fro circulation.

ACIDS USED IN MATRIX ACIDIZING

The acid is pumped at a pressure lower than fractured pressure of the formation. The acid is intended to enter in to the matrices of the rock. For carbonate (Limestone & Dolomite) formation 10 15% HCl is used. For sand stone formation, a combination of 12% HCl + 3% HF called mud acid is used.

ACIDS USED IN MATRIX ACIDIZING

HCl provides reaction with carbonate present in the matrices including with silica + clays. Matrix acidizing is aimed at removal of formation damage, thereby restore productivity.

FRACTURE ACIDIZING

Fracture acidizing or Acid Fracturing is an alternative to hydraulic fracturing and propping in carbonate reservoirs. In fracture acidizing, the reservoir is hydraulically fractured and then the fracture faces are etched with acid to provide linear flow channels to the well bore.

FRACTURE ACIDIZING

Fracture

acidizing has no application is sand stone wells. Break down of a sand stone well with acid at fracture pressure tends to break down natural vertical permeability barriers to adjacent unwanted zones.

FRACURE ACIDIZING

SAND STONE ACIDIZING

The primary reaction to acidizing sandstone wells is to increase well permeability by dissolving clays near the well bore. These clays may naturally occurring formation clays or may have introduced from drilling/ completion or work over operations. HF can dissolve calcium carbonate, sand, clays, shale and feldspars. However, the HF is used to remove clay deposits form the rock matrix.

ACID USED IN FRACTURE ACIDIZING

In case of carbonate rocks 12-15% HCl is used for acid fracturing job that is done at pressure more than fracture pressure of the reservoir rock. For matrix acidizing, the following procedure is requiredFirst a pre-flush of about 10% HCl is pumped followed by mud acid (12% HCl + 3% HF) volume that is called Pad Volume. The pad volume is followed by a spocer flush or after flush of 5% HCl.

HYDROCHLORIC ACID (HCl)

CaCO3 + 2HCl --------- CaCl2 + H2O + CO2 Lime stone+ AcidSoluble salt +Water +(gas evolved) CaMg(CO3)2 + 4HCl -- CaCl2 +MgCl2+ 2H2O + 2CO2 Dolomite+Acid -- Soluble salts+ Water + (gas evolved)

HYDROCHLORIC ACID (HCl)

i. Normally 15% HCl by weight is used in the field but the concentration varies between 5% to 35%. The freezing point of the 15% acid is 27deg F, less than 70degF for 20 29% and 36 deg F for 35% acid.. HCl will dissolve limestone, dolomite and other carbonates. ii. A thousand gallons of 15% HCl will dissolve 1,840 lb or 01.5 cu.ft of zero porosity lime stone (CaCO3). This reaction will produce 2,050 lbs of Calcium chloride (CaCL2), 812 lb or 6,600 cu.ft. of Carbon dioxide (CO2) gas at standard conditions of temperature and pressure. In addition to the 7,600 lb of water injected as a carrier fluid for acid, 333 lbs of water is also produced as the part of the reaction.

HYDROCHLORIC ACID (HCl)

III. In practice, after spending in lime stone, 1000 gal of 15% HCl becomes 1020 gal of 20% solution of Calcium Chloride weighting 9.79 ppg. IV. A 1000 gal of 15% HCl will dissolve 1,7010 lb 0r 9.6 cu.ft. of Dolomite CaMg(CO3)2. The spending of 1000 gal of 15% HCl in dolomite will produce 1020 gal of mixture of Calcium Chloride and 9% Magnesium Chloride weighing 9.7ppg.

HYDROFLUORIC ACID (HF):

i. HF is used in oil, gas or service wells in normally 3% HF combined with 12% HCl also called as Mud Acid. It is employed exclusively used in Sandstone rock matrix treatments to dissolve either natural clays or clays which have migrated into the formation. ii.1000 gal of 4.2% HF acid will dissolve 700 lb of clay. iii.Fast reaction time and precipitation make HF acid undesirable in carbonate containing sands having more than 20% solubility in HCl. HF acid should never be used in carbonate formation.

HYDROFLUORIC ACID (HF):

SiO2 + Sand

6HF --- H2 Si F6 + 2H2O Fluo-silicic Acid solution

Al2 Si4 O10 (OH)2 + 36 HF--- 4 H2 Si F6 + 12 H2O + 2H3Al F6 Clay Fluo-Aluminic acid solution

HYDROFLUORIC ACID (HF):

i.Reaction rate on sand and clay are dependent on the ratio of the surface area of the rock to volume of acid in the sandstone matrix. The acid produced by the reaction of HF acid on sand stone will react with NaCl or KCl in the sand around the well bore to produce insoluble precipitates.

HYDROFLUORIC ACID (HF):

Fluo-silicic Acid H2 Si F6 + 2Na + Na2Si F6 H2 Si F6 + 2K +

2 H+ 2 H+

K2Si F6 + Precipitate

HYDROFLUORIC ACID (HF):

Fluo-Aluminic acid H2 Si F6 + 3Na + -- Na3 Al F6 + 3 H+ H2 Si F6 + 3K + -- K3 Al F6 + 3 H+ i. The insoluble precipitate formed are Na2Si F6 , K2Si F6 , Na3 Al F6 , K3 Al F6. These fluorides are gelatinous type materials and occupy a large volume of pore space. They also adhere strongly to rock surfaces. The results are very damaging to well productivity.

HYDROFLUORIC ACID (HF):

i. HCl can not dissolve clay or sand but can dissolve carbonates present in sand stone formation. HF acid reacts with lime stone and precipitates calcium fluoride an insoluble fine white powder.

CaCO3 + 2HF CaF2 + H2O +CO2 Precipitate

HYDROFLUORIC ACID (HF):

To avoid precipitation in sand stone a pre-flush of HCl is used to dissolve the lime stone and prevent calcium ions from contacting HF acid. Sand stone formations have 20% more solubility in HCl should normally be treated with HCl only.

ACETIC ACID (CH3COOH) :

i. Acetic acid is a weak ionised & slow reacting acid. A 1000 gal of 10% acetic acid will dissolve about 1,110 lb of lime stone. The cost of dissolving a given weight of lime stone is greater than HCl. Acetic acid is very easy to inhibit against corrosion and can usually be left in contact with tubing or casing for days without danger of serious corrosion. Therefore it generally used as perforating fluid in lime stone wells

ACETIC ACID (CH3COOH) :

i. Acetic acid is natural sequestering agent against iron precipitation. It does not cause embrittlement or stress cracking of high strength steel. ii. It will not corrode aluminium. iii. It will not attack chorme plating up to 200 deg.F. Therefore it may be considered when acidizing is done with an alloy pump in the hole.

FORMIC ACID (HCOOH):

i.

Formic acid is a weak ionised slow reacting organic acid. It has similar properties to acetic acid. However formic acid is more difficult to inhibit against corrosion at higher temperatures and does not have widespread acceptance.

ACID ADDITIVES

i. Surfactans: To reduce surface / interfacial tension to prebvent emulsions to water wet formations. Surface tension of 15% HCl is 72 Dynes/cm that can be reduced up to 30 Dynes/cm by addition of the additives. Suspending Agents: Most of the carbnate formations contain fines which nay cause blockage in formation pores or fractures if fines released by the acids are allowed to settle and form bridges. Halliburtons HC2 in concentration of about 5 Gal / 1000 gal of acid mat be used to suspend fines for more than 24 hours & possibly up to 7 days.

ACID ADDITIVES

i. Sequestering Agents: to inhibit precipitation of iron as hydrochloric acid spends. Acetic acid, Citric acid/ oxalic acid and lactic acid are common sequestering agents. ii. Anti Sludge Agents: To prevent sludge formation by keeping colloidal materials dispersed. iii. Corrosion Inhibitors: To slow down the rate of corrosion. arsenic acid is more effective inhibitor than organic inhibitor.

ACID ADDITIVES

i. Alcohols: Methyl alcohol or IPA at the concentration of 5% - 2% are used with acid to lower the surface tension. The use of alcohol accelerates the well clean up and improves clean up particularly in dry wells. ii. Fluid Loss Controller: It may be required to reduce acid leakage in fractures etc. iii. Diverting or Bridging Agents: These are used to aloe relatively uniform acidizing of various porous zones open to well bore.

OTHER IMPORTANT ADDITIVES:

i. Corrosion inhibitors in small concentration of about 0.5% of acid volume is added in all three stages of treatment to prevent corrosion. Chromates, Di-chromates of Potassium or organic inhibitors are used for the purpose. ii. Surfactants 1% by volume of acid is used to reduce interfacial tension between oil, water and acid so that any formation of acid sludge is prevented. iii. Stabilizing agent 3% by volume of acid such as acetic acid is used to stabilize formation clays and other fines.

OTHER IMPORTANT ADDITIVES:

i.Sequestering agents (3% by volume) such As organic acids (acetic acid/ oxalic acid/ citric acid) help to prevent re-precipitation of salts of aluminium % iron. CaCO3 + 2HCl CaCl2 + H2O + CO2 Lime stone+Acid Soluble salt +Water+(gas evolved)

OTHER IMPORTANT ADDITIVES:

Ca Mg (CO3)2 + 4HCl CaCl2 + MgCl2 + 2H2O + 2CO2 Dolomite + Acid Soluble salts+ Water+ (gas evolved CaCO3 + 2HF CaF2 + H2O + CO2 Limestone+Acid Precipitate +Water+(gas evolved)

OTHER IMPORTANT ADDITIVES:

i. A Moderate rate of pre-flush is to prevent reaction of carbonate with HF. ii. HF reacts with silica & clays and dissolved them in to the HF solution. iii. Over flush pushes HCl + HF deeper in to the formation to facilitate treatment in larger rock volume. iv. Adequate mud acid is required for effective treatment.

WELL STIMULATION

NITROSHOOTING

WELL STIMULATION: NITRO SHOOTING

Liquid explosive called nitro-glycerine was pumped down hole & detonated. This results in to high pressure gas which shatters rock around bottom hole resulting in increased permeability. The only problem is that the whole process is uncontrolled. This method has been discontinued.

DEPARAFFINATION

Removal of wax or paraffin deposits from the bore hole or the down hole equipment is known as De- paraffination. Primary cause is cooling of oil due to expansion of gas or oil, loss of heat etc. Paraffins can precipitate from crude on changing the equilibrium conditions

WELL STIMULATION

DE-PARAFFINATION

DEPARAFFINATION

Asphaltenes, fines and corrosion products present in the system act as nucleating materials and increase the binding force of solid to get deposited. Deposition of asphaltenes on the formation sand grains near the well bore that is oil wet zone causes the plugging the permeable zone and reduces the production

DEPARAFFINATION
The most common methods of removing paraffin deposits form wells are i. Mechanical removal: use of scrappers and cutters. Soluble plugs of microcrystalline wax or insoluble plugs of hard rubber or sharp edged plastic spheres have been found useful in removing deposits.

DEPARAFFINATION
ii. Use of solvents: Chlorinated Hydrocarbon such as Carbon Tetra Chloride, Carbon disulphide are the various solvents to remove the deposits. iii. Use of dispersants: Water soluble dispersants in the concentration of 2 10% have been found effective

WELL STIMULATION

WITH SURFACTANTS

Well Stimulation using surfactants

Surfactants are chemicals that can be used to improve the flow around the well bore. They can Raise or lower surface and interfacial tension. Make, break, weaken or strengthen an emulsion. Change the wettability of reservoir rock, casing, tubing and flow-lines. Disperse or floculate clays and other fines.

i. ii.

iii.

iv.

Well Stimulation using surfactants

The real problem in emulsion removal from sandstone formation with surfactant is the near impossibility of getting the surfactant in infinite contact with the emulsion droplets. Surfactant stimulation treatment form finger or channel through a viscous emulsion. The majority of the untreated emulsion can re-block the channels if not treated properly.

Well Stimulation using surfactants

If the damage is oil wetting this can be treated by injecting a strong water wetting surfactant in to the formation. Cationics are very difficult to remove so the use of cationics in sandstone should be avoided.

Well Stimulation using surfactants

Stimulation is usually carried out with a dilute solution of surfactant 2 % - 3% in filtered oil or filtrate salt water 2% KCl. Treatment size should be equal or greater the size of fluid that has damaged the formation. An average treatment is 100 gal per foot (1.5 kL per meter) of interval treated for the radius fo 3-5 ft. from the well bore with min.24 hours retention time.