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Method for preventing the precipitation of ferric compounds during the acid treatment of wells

Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corp
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Filing: 1985-07-18
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Granted: 1986-03-04
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Expires: 2005-07-18
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Abstract

Abstract The formation and subsequent precipitation of undesirable ferric compounds during the acid treatment of wells is substantially eliminated by incorporating in said treating acid an inhibiting amount of a monobasic alkanoic and/or alkenoic acid having at least four carbon atoms and bearing at least two alcoholic hydroxyl groups per molecule, and/or a soluble salt or γ-lactone of said acid. E.g. ascorbic acid or erythorbic acid.

Inventors

  • 👤 Curtis W. Crowe
  • 👤 Charles M. Maddin

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 07:08
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/60; C09K8/62; C09K8/72; C09K8/74; C09K8/52; C09K8/528; C09K8/78; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S507/00; Y10S507/933; Y10S507/934

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 75 words
A method for preventing the undesirable formation and precipitation of ferric compounds from a spent treatment acid containing dissolved iron following an acidizing treatment of subterranean formations surrounding a wellbore, said method comprising adding to said treatment acid prior to contact with the formation an amount of ascorbic acid and/or erythorbic acid, and/or a soluble salt of said acid, sufficient to prevent the formation and precipitation of ferric compounds from the treatment acid upon spending.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 75 words
A method for preventing the undesirable formation and precipitation of ferric compounds from a spent treatment acid containing dissolved iron following an acidizing treatment of subterranean formations surrounding a wellbore, said method comprising adding to said treatment acid prior to contact with the formation an amount of ascorbic acid and/or erythorbic acid, and/or a soluble salt of said acid, sufficient to prevent the formation and precipitation of ferric compounds from the treatment acid upon spending.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 18 words
The process of claim 1 in which the aqueous acid is hydrochloric acid, HCl/HF mixtures or fluoboric acid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 30 words
The method defined by claim 2 wherein said aqueous acid is about 15 percent hydrochloric acid or a mixture of about 12 percent hydrochloric and about 3 percent hydrofluoric acid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method defined by claim 3 in which said acid is erythorbic acid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 106 words
An ungelled aqueous treatment acid composition having chemical and physical properties rendering it suitable for use in acidizing subterranean formations to increase the permeability thereof, said composition consisting essentially of (a) an aqueous acid medium having about 15% hydrochloric acid, a mixture of about 12 percent hydrochloric acid and about 3 percent hydrofluoric acid or fluoboric acid as the sole inorganic acid component thereof, and (b) ascorbic acid and/or erythorbic acid, and/or a soluble salt of said acid, in an amount sufficient to inhibit the formation and precipitation of ferric compounds in said treatment acid composition during conditions of use and in the spent treatment acid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 106 words
An ungelled aqueous treatment acid composition having chemical and physical properties rendering it suitable for use in acidizing subterranean formations to increase the permeability thereof, said composition consisting essentially of (a) an aqueous acid medium having about 15% hydrochloric acid, a mixture of about 12 percent hydrochloric acid and about 3 percent hydrofluoric acid or fluoboric acid as the sole inorganic acid component thereof, and (b) ascorbic acid and/or erythorbic acid, and/or a soluble salt of said acid, in an amount sufficient to inhibit the formation and precipitation of ferric compounds in said treatment acid composition during conditions of use and in the spent treatment acid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 20 words
The composition defined by claim 5 wherein said aqueous acid is about 15 percent HCl and (b) is erythorbic acid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 12 words
The composition defined by claim 5, in which (b) is erythorbic acid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 45 words
In the method of increasing the permeability of a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore by injecting through said wellbore and into the formation adjacent thereto an acidizing fluid, the improvement comprising using the composition defined by claims 5 or 7 as said acidizing fluid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 85 words
In the method of increasing the permeability of a subterranean formation penetrated by a well bore by injecting through said well bore and into the formation adjacent thereto an acidizing fluid, the improvement comprising adding to said acidizing fluid prior to contact with the subterranean formation an amount of ascorbic acid and/or erythorbic acid, and/or a soluble salt of said acid, sufficient to inhibit the formation and precipitation of ferric compounds in said acidizing fluid during conditions of use and in the spent acidizing fluid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 85 words
In the method of increasing the permeability of a subterranean formation penetrated by a well bore by injecting through said well bore and into the formation adjacent thereto an acidizing fluid, the improvement comprising adding to said acidizing fluid prior to contact with the subterranean formation an amount of ascorbic acid and/or erythorbic acid, and/or a soluble salt of said acid, sufficient to inhibit the formation and precipitation of ferric compounds in said acidizing fluid during conditions of use and in the spent acidizing fluid.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2175081A Cited
US3686123A Cited
US4199469A Cited
US4167214A Cited
US4160483A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1989-03-03 1989-09-02 1990-03-04 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1993-03-03 1993-09-02 1994-03-04 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1997-03-03 1997-09-02 1998-03-04 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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