Field Implementation of a Relative Permeability Modifier during Stimulation Treatments: Case Histories and Lessons Learned After More than 3,000 Treatments

Vasquez, Julio Estuardo; Eoff, Larry

doi:10.2118/164804-ms

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…16 has tremendous potential, it has not been applied much to date. A service company sold a qualitative version of this concept by incorporating a disproportionate-permeability-reduction polymer into fracturing fluids (Vasquez and Eoff 2013). The concept was that if a hydraulic fracture inadvertently cut into a water zone, the disproportionate-permeabilityreduction polymer would automatically inhibit water entry into the fracture.…”

Section: Disproportionate Permeability Reduction In Fracturesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water shutoff and conformance improvement: an introduction

2021

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This paper provides an introduction to the topic of water shutoff and conformance improvement. After indicating the volumes of water produced during oilfield operations, a strategy is provided for attacking excess water production problems. Problem types are categorized, typical methods of problem diagnosis are mentioned, and the range of solutions is introduced for each problem type. In the third section of the paper, the concept of disproportionate permeability reduction is introduced—where polymers and gels may reduce permeability to water more than to oil or gas. When and where this property is of value is discussed. The fourth section describes the properties of formed gels as they extrude through fractures and how those properties can be of value when treating conformance problems caused by fractures. Section 5 covers the efficiency with which gels block fractures after gel placement—especially, the impact of fluids injected subsequent to the gel treatment.

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Section: Disproportionate Permeability Reduction In Fracturesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water shutoff and conformance improvement: an introduction

2021

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“…Several of such polymer systems have been promoted throughout the years, and a large volume of literature has been devoted to this topic (Weaver 1978;Dunlap et al 1986;Seright 2006). This paper discusses the application of a novel HRPM system that was originally developed for water control; however, its application has also been extended to hydraulic fracturing, acid stimulation, overbalanced workover interventions, and waterflooding (Vasquez and Eoff 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Relative Permeability Modifier for Water Control: Candidate Selection, Case Histories, and Lessons Learned after more than 3,000 Well Interventions

Vasquez

Eoff

2013

All Days

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Excessive water production can detrimentally affect the profitability of hydrocarbon producing wells and limit their economic life. Relative permeability modifiers (RPMs) were introduced to the oil and gas industry more than two decades ago as an option to selectively reduce water production. This type of treatment became appealing to operators because of its simplicity of deployment requiring no zonal isolation (i.e., bullhead-type treatments). However, RPM treatments have their limitations, and proper candidate selection is the key to a high success ratio. This paper discusses the application of a unique RPM system developed for water control.This RPM system is based on a hydrophobically modified water soluble polymer (HRPM) that, once adsorbed to the surface of the rock, selectively reduces water effective permeability with little to no damage to oil or gas production. The hydrophobic modification to the base polymer chain adds unique associative properties to the system. In contrast to porosity fill-sealants (i.e., crosslinked polymer gels), HRPM treatments only provide a restriction to water flow. The following parameters are discussed: (1) HRPM performance testing, (2) candidate selection criteria, (3) design considerations and best practices for field implementation, and (4) case histories.To date, more than 3000 treatments have been performed with this HRPM system. A wide variety of case histories are highlighted in this paper discussing different types of reservoirs, wellbore completions, and water production mechanisms, among others. In addition to water control, the application of this HRPM system has been extended to hydraulic fracturing, acid stimulation, and overbalanced workover interventions. Case histories are examined. Often, RPM treatments are applied in reservoir/wellbore conditions outside of their operating capabilities. One of the main objectives of this paper is to assist operators with the candidate selection process for this particular HRPM treatment.

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On-Demand Water Control: Molecular Host-Guest Interaction for In-Situ Modification of Formation Fluid Permeability

Recio

Eoff

Reddy

2017

Day 1 Mon, April 03, 2017

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Hydrophobically modified hydrophilic polymers (HMHPs) have numerous applications in the petroleum industry, among which stand out relative permeability modifiers (RPMs) for acid diversion, drilling, fracturing, water control, water-injection profile modification, or improved oil recovery (IOR) operations. The efficacy of the polymeric RPM is attributed to a bimodal mechanism of action, which involves the association of the hydrophobic appendages in addition to adsorption of the amphoteric material to the formation surface. As a result, one challenge associated with the use of HMHPs is the pressure increase often observed when the material enters the formation. A second limitation is the inability to reverse the effect of the treatment fluid, which can be significant when the HMHP is overdisplaced, resulting in a reduction of flowback fluid, or when operational requirements call for placement of a deactivated HMHP that can be selectively activated at a desired time and location. Because of the self-diverting nature of the HMHP discussed in this paper, field deployment has been limited to near-wellbore (NWB) applications. Within this context, a linear surfactant additive [sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)] has been an effective mitigation strategy against such self-diverting characteristic; however, this also inhibits other desirable HMHP properties. Restoration of the native RPM properties was achieved using a surfactant control agent that allows on-demand RPM reactivation. Recently, it was realized that the sodium dodecyl sulfate has a much higher affinity for hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPCD) than HMHP. This paper discusses developments that allow for improved injectivity of HMHPs when used as RPMs for water-control operations. In addition, this study attempts to advance the existing understanding of the performance and associative mechanism of action of RPMs. Currently, there is a lack of consensus about the role hydrophobic modifications play in HMHP performance. Using host-guest attraction, the nature of the hydrophobic moieties is revealed, which compliments the current body of literature related to the use of HMHP in the petroleum industry. To this end, adsorption, fluid loss, and coreflow results prove the increased affinity of the surfactant for HPCD serve to release HMHP from the HMHP/linear-surfactant complex, reactivating the HMHP to its original associative mechanism-based RPM-performance profile.

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Field Implementation of a Relative Permeability Modifier during Stimulation Treatments: Case Histories and Lessons Learned After More than 3,000 Treatments

Cited by 5 publications

References 11 publications

Water shutoff and conformance improvement: an introduction

Water shutoff and conformance improvement: an introduction

A Relative Permeability Modifier for Water Control: Candidate Selection, Case Histories, and Lessons Learned after more than 3,000 Well Interventions

On-Demand Water Control: Molecular Host-Guest Interaction for In-Situ Modification of Formation Fluid Permeability

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