US4475595A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of inhibiting silica dissolution during injection of steam into a reservoir
Assignee: Union Oil Company of California
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Filing: 1982-08-23
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Granted: 1984-10-09
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Expires: 2002-08-23
Abstract
Abstract A method for inhibiting the dissolution of silica from the matrix around a well during injection of steam into the matrix by adding to the feedwater used to generate the steam or the steam itself an inhibitor comprising an ammonium or substituted ammonium compound selected from the group consisting of ammonium halides, ammonium salts of inorganic acids, ammonium salts of carboxylic acids, quaternary ammonium halides, and amine or substituted amine hydrochlorides.
Inventors
- 👤 David R. Watkins
- 👤 David J. Watanabe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 13:48
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/58; C09K8/592; E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/16; E21B43/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for inhibiting the dissolution of silica from a silica-containing material in the vicinity of a well penetrating a hydrocarbon-containing reservoir during the injection of steam into the reservoir via the well comprising adding to the boiler feedwater used to generate the steam or to the steam itself an ammonium or substituted ammonium compound selected from the group consisting of ammonium halides, ammonium salts of inorganic acids, ammonium salts of carboxylic acids, quaternary ammonium halides and amine or substituted amine hydrochlorides.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for inhibiting the dissolution of silica from a silica-containing material in the vicinity of a well penetrating a hydrocarbon-containing reservoir during the injection of steam into the reservoir via the well comprising adding to the boiler feedwater used to generate the steam or to the steam itself an ammonium or substituted ammonium compound selected from the group consisting of ammonium halides, ammonium salts of inorganic acids, ammonium salts of carboxylic acids, quaternary ammonium halides and amine or substituted amine hydrochlorides.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein the silica-containing material is the reservoir rock.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein the silica containing material is a gravel pack.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein the steam is a saturated steam of about 5 to 95 percent quality
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method defined in claim 4 wherein the amount of the ammonium or substituted ammonia compound used is sufficient to lower the pH of the liquid phase of the steam to below about 10.5.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method defined in claim 4 wherein the amount of the ammonium or substituted ammonium compound used is sufficient to lower the pH of the liquid phase of the steam to 10.5 to 7.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method defined in claim 4 wherein the amount of the ammonium compound used is sufficient to lower the pH of the liquid phase of the steam to 9.4 to 8.7.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein the ammonium compound is added as a concentrated solution.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method defined in claim 8 wherein the concentrated solution is a concentrated aqueous solution.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein the boiler feedwater contains bicarbonate ions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method defined in claim 10 wherein about 0.10 to 2.5 equivalent weights of the ammonium or substituted ammonium compound is employed per equivalent weight of bicarbonate ion present in the boiler feedwater.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method defined in claim 10 wherein about 1 equivalent weight of the ammonium or substituted ammonium compound is employed per equivalent weight of bicarbonate ion present in the boiler feedwater.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein the ammonium or substituted ammonium compound is added at a concentration of about 5 to 5,000 parts per million by weight.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein the ammonium or substituted ammonium compound is added at a concentration of about 50 to 1,500 parts per million by weight.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein the amine or substituted amine hydrochloride is selected from the group consisting of a mono-, di- or tri-alkyl amine hydrochloride wherein the alkyl group contains 1 to 20 carbon atoms, an aryl amine hydrochloride, a hydroxy-substituted amine hydrochloride, and a hetrocyclic-substituted amine hydrochloride.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the amine hydrochloride is butylamine hydrochloride.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein the compound is ammonium chloride.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein the compound is ammonium nitrate.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein the compound is tetramethyl ammonium chloride.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein the ammonium or substituted ammonium compound is added to the boiler feedwater or to the steam itself at some point prior to the time that the steam contacts the silica-containing material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein the ammonium or substituted ammonium compound is a water-soluble compound containing a protonated ammonium or substituted ammonium ion capable of decomposing in the presense of steam to form an ammonium or a substituted ammonium cation which partitions into the vapor phase and a proton which remains in the liquid phase.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for inhibiting the dissolution of silica from the reservoir in the vicinity of a well penetrating the reservoir or from a gravel pack positioned in the well during the injection of wet steam into the reservoir via the well comprising adding to a bicarbonate-ion-containing boiler feedwater used to generate the steam or to the steam itself which contains the decomposition products of bicarbonate ions, before the steam contacts the reservoir or the gravel pack an effective amount of an ammonium or substituted ammonium compound selected from the group consisting of ammonium chloride, ammonium nitrate butylamine hydrochloride and tetramethyl ammonium chloride.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for inhibiting the dissolution of silica from the reservoir in the vicinity of a well penetrating the reservoir or from a gravel pack positioned in the well during the injection of wet steam into the reservoir via the well comprising adding to a bicarbonate-ion-containing boiler feedwater used to generate the steam or to the steam itself which contains the decomposition products of bicarbonate ions, before the steam contacts the reservoir or the gravel pack an effective amount of an ammonium or substituted ammonium compound selected from the group consisting of ammonium chloride, ammonium nitrate butylamine hydrochloride and tetramethyl ammonium chloride.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method defined in claim 22 wherein about 0.10 to 2.5 equivalent weights of the ammonium or substituted ammonium compound is employed per equivalent weight of bicarbonate ion present in the boiler feedwater.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-10-09 | 1988-04-09 | 1988-10-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-10-09 | 1992-04-09 | 1992-10-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-10-09 | 1996-04-09 | 1996-10-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |