US4668408A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Composition and method for treatment of wellbores and well formations containing paraffin
Assignee: CONCOCO Inc A CORP OF DE
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Filing: 1985-06-17
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Granted: 1987-05-26
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Expires: 2005-06-17
Abstract
Abstract Composition and method for treating wellbores and well formations to remove and inhibit accumulations of paraffin. The composition comprises a liquid mixture of a water soluble ethoxylated alkyl phenol and an alcohol containing one to four carbon atoms. Preferred are a water soluble nonoxynol having an average number of ethylene oxide units per molecule in the range of approximately 20 to 50 and methyl alcohol. The composition is circulated in the wellbore either continuously or in batch treatments.
Inventors
- 👤 Gifford G. McClaflin
- 👤 Kang Yang, deceased
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 17:34
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/52; C09K8/524; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S507/00; Y10S507/927; Y10S507/929; Y10S507/931
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
A process for treating a wellbore for inhibiting and removing accumulations of paraffin, comprising: circulating in said wellbore a liquid mixture consisting essentially of approximately equal amounts of a water soluble alcohol containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms and a water soluble ethoxylated nonyl phenol having an average number of ethylene oxide units per molecule in the range of approximately 30 to 40 and up to 80 weight percent of water, said alcohol and ethoxylated nonyl phenol each being present in an amount of 10 to 50 weight pecent.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
89 words
A process for treating a wellbore for inhibiting and removing accumulations of paraffin, comprising: circulating in said wellbore a liquid mixture consisting essentially of approximately equal amounts of a water soluble alcohol containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms and a water soluble ethoxylated nonyl phenol having an average number of ethylene oxide units per molecule in the range of approximately 30 to 40 and up to 80 weight percent of water, said alcohol and ethoxylated nonyl phenol each being present in an amount of 10 to 50 weight pecent.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said liquid mixture consists essentially of approximately 20 weight percent of said alcohol, 20 weight percent of said water soluble ethoxylated nonyl phenol and approximately 60 weight percent water.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said mixture has a pH in the range of approximately 6.5 to 7.0.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said alcohol is methyl alcohol.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said mixture further contains a bactericide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said mixture further contains a corrosion inhibitor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
112 words
A process for treating a well formation for inhibiting and removing accumulations of paraffin, comprising: pumping into the wellbore a liquid mixture consisting essentially of approximately equal amounts of an alcohol containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms and a water soluble ethoxylated nonyl phenol having an average number of ethylene oxide units per molecule in the range of approximately 20 to 50 and up to 80 weight percent of water, said alcohol and ethoxylated nonyl phenol each being present in an amount of 10 to 50 weight percent; pressurizing the liquid mixture in the wellbore to force the liquid mixture into the well formation; and removing the mixture from the well formation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
112 words
A process for treating a well formation for inhibiting and removing accumulations of paraffin, comprising: pumping into the wellbore a liquid mixture consisting essentially of approximately equal amounts of an alcohol containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms and a water soluble ethoxylated nonyl phenol having an average number of ethylene oxide units per molecule in the range of approximately 20 to 50 and up to 80 weight percent of water, said alcohol and ethoxylated nonyl phenol each being present in an amount of 10 to 50 weight percent; pressurizing the liquid mixture in the wellbore to force the liquid mixture into the well formation; and removing the mixture from the well formation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process of claim 7 wherein said liquid mixture consists essentially of approximately 20 weight percent of said alcohol, 20 weight percent of said water soluble ethoxylated nonyl phenol and approximately 60 weight percent water.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 8 wherein said ethoxylated noxylphenol has an average number of ethylene oxide units per molecule in the range of approximately 30 to 40.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 7 wherein said mixture has a pH in the range of approximately 6.5 to 7.0.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 7 wherein said alcohol is methyl alcohol.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-05-25 | 1990-11-24 | 1991-05-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-05-25 | 1994-11-24 | 1995-05-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-05-25 | 1998-11-24 | 1999-05-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |