WELL STIMULATION TECHNIQUES

(ACIDIZATION JOB)

By

Amit Verma
Assistant professor – Senior Scale
B.Tech, M.Tech, MBA (Petroleum)
a.verma@ddn.upes.ac.in

Acknowledgement:
Dr. R. Rai (ONGC GGM production
Rtd.)
 Preamble
The OIL INDUSTRY is BIG BUSINESS. Very big business that
is capital intensive.

Therefore, all operators in this industry have a common goal

which is to generate cash for their investors.

Thus the petroleum operator must at all times be aware of

current trends in oil prices, targets, financial returns, budgets
for wells and fields…………

Nothing is done in the industry for academic reasons.

We will therefore demonstrate industry relevance throughout

this course.
Acid job in progress- onshore
Course Outline

 Matrix Acidization
 Purpose
 Brief History of Acidization
 Laboratory Studies for job design
 Job design
 Acidization job stages and procedure
 Special acid systems
 Additives used in acid jobs
 Diversion Techniques
 Brief history of acidization
 First practiced in Texas in 1933
 Commercial application in 1940 in Gulf
Coast of Mexico
 1950s & 1960s : Emphasis on development
of additives
 1970s : Deeper penetration of live HF acid
with alternate stages of HCl & HF
 1980s : Diversion techniques, Placement
thru CTU, Real time monitoring
 1990s : Development of software and on
site evaluation techniques.
Purpose of acid job
Purpose of acid job
 WHAT IS ACIDIZATION
Matrix stimulation by acidization is
accomplished by injecting chemicals:-
 to dissolve and/or disperse materials near
the wellbore that impair well production in
sandstones or
 to create new, unimpaired flow channels
between the wellbore and formation.
ACIDIZATION

 Applying acids to dissolve formation

minerals & foreign materials such as
drilling mud, that may be introduced into
formation during drilling or work over
operations.
Mechanism of Matrix Acid job:

To inject acid into formation at a pressure

less than the pressure at which fracture can
be opened
To dissolve the clays, mud solids near the
wellbore which had choked the pores
 To enlarge the pore spaces
To leave the sand and remaining fines in a
water-wet condition
 Suitable Candidate

• Success of acidisation job is greatly dependant on

-- Suitability of candidate well
-- Suitability of technique
-- Right acid formulation
• Candidate selection involves a number of studies
Planning of acid job
Worm holes (formed in
carbonate reservoirs)
ACIDIZATION

Acidizing methods

 Acid washing
 Matrix acid Job (MAJ)
• Nitrified MAJ
• Emulsified NIMAJ
• Gelled acid
 Acid fracturing
Acid washing
 To remove acid soluble scales present
in well bore
 To open perforations.
Technique
 Spotting a small quantity of acid at the
desired position & allowing it to react.
 Circulation of acid across perforation or
formation face.
Matrix acidizing
 To remove near well bore
permeability damage by enlarging
pore spaces & dissolving particles
plugging these spaces.
 To open perforations.
Technique
 Injection of acid into the formation
porosity at a pressure below the
pressure at which fracture can be
opened.
 Radial penetration of acid into formation.
Acid Fracturing
 Injection of acid into the formation at
a pressure high enough to fracture
the formation or open existing
fractures.
 Highly conductive flow channel
remains open after treatment.
 Length of conductive fracture
depends on rate of acid reaction &
rate of fluid loss from the fracture to
the formation.
Other Uses
 Spear head when fracturing:
 Facilitate entry of frac fluid through all
the perforations.
 Break emulsions
 emulsions sensitive to pH reduction.
 Stabilized by fine particles that can be
dissolved by acid.
 Break acid sensitive gels after
fracturing.
 Preflush before squeeze
cementing.
Primary chemical reactions in acidizing

HCl
Calcite 2HCl+CaCO3 CaCl2 + CO2 + H2O

Dolomite 4HCl+CaMg(CO3)2 CaCl2 + MgCl2

+2CO2+2H2O

Siderite 2HCl + FeCO3 FeCl2 + CO2 + H2O

Types of Acids
Types of acids
 Mineral acids
 Hydrochloric acid
 hydrochloric - hydro fluoric acid
 Organic acid
 Formic acid
 Acetic acid
 Powdered acids
 Chloro acetic acid
 Sulfamic acid
 Retarded acid systems
 Gelled acids
 Chemically retarded acids
 Emulsified acids
 Primary chemical reactions in acidizing

HCl-HF
Quartz 4HF + SiO2  SiF4 silicon tetrafluoride
+ 2H2O
SiF4 + 2HF  H2SiF6 fluosilicic acid

Albite NaAlSi3O8 + 14HF + 2H+ 

Sodium Na+ + AlF2+ + 3SiF4 + 8H2O
feldspar
Primary chemical reactions
in acidizing
HCl-HF
Orthoclase KaAli3O8 + 14HF + 2H+  K+ +
Potassium AlF2+ + 3SiF4 + 8H2O
feldspar

Kaolinite Al4Si4O10 (OH)8+ 24 HF + 4H+

 4AlF2+ + 4SiF4 + 18H2O

MontmorilloniteAl4Si4O20 (OH)4+ 40 HF + 4H+

 4AlF2+ + 8SiF4 + 24H2O
Problem of HF acid
reaction with carbonates
Why preflush of HCl to
push brines?
Equilibrium in acid -
sandstone reactions:-
 Very little SiF4 exist in solution
since it is converted to Fluosilicate
ion is formed.
SiF4 + 2F SiF6
 In presence of Na or K, insoluble
fluosilicate salts (NaSiF6) or in
their absence, fluosilicic acid
(H2SiF6) is formed.
SiF6 + 2Na Na2SiF6
SiF6 + 2H H2SiF6
Equilibrium in acid -
sandstone reactions:-
 Fluosilicic acid then, hydrolizes to
orthosilicic acid.(Si(OH)4)
H2SiF6 + 4H2O Si(OH)4 +
6H+ +6F-
 Seven fluorine complexes of
aluminium, ranging fromAl2F6= to
AlF++ are formed by contact of HF
with clays.
Steps in matrix acid
treatment
 Preflush:
Compositon 5to15%HCl+additives.(50-100
gal/ft)
 To displace water from well bore &
connate water from near well bore
region.
 Minimize direct contact between Na &
K ions in formation brine &fluosilicate
reaction products
 Dissolves calcite in formation
Step in matrix acid treatment
 Mud Acid :
Composition - HCl + HF + Additives.
 Dissolve clays, plugging particulate to
improve permeability near well bore
 HCl, HF to keep pH low, for avoiding
reprecipitation of products.
 After flush :
Composition - Hydrocarbons, 15 %
HCl
 isolate HF from brine used to flush
tubing & to restore water wettability of
formation.
Acid Additives
 Corrossion Inhibitors
 Surfactants
 Demulsifier
 Antisludge agents
 Alter formation wettability
 Mutual solvents A chemical additive for stimulation treatments that is
soluble in oil, water and acid-based treatment fluids. Mutual solvents are routinely used in a range of
applications, such as removing heavy hydrocarbon deposits, controlling the wettability of contact
surfaces before, during or after a treatment, and preventing or breaking emulsions. A commonly used
mutual solvent is ethyleneglycolmonobutyl ether, generally known as EGMBE.

 Reduce inter facial tension

 Solvent
 Detergent capable of removing oil
wetting materials
Acid Additives
 Fluid loss additives
 Diverting agents
 Complexing agents
-Control and reduction of iron.
 Clean up additives
-Alcohol
-Mutual Solvent
Surfactant
A molecule that seeks out an interface &
has the
ability to alter prevailing conditions.
Types:
Anionic surfactants :
Water soluble group is negatively charged.
Cationic surfactants:
Water soluble group is positively charged.
Non ionic surfactant:
They do not ionize & remain uncharged.
Action of Anionic Surfactant
Anionics will normally:
 Water-wet negatively-charged sand, shale, or
clay

 Oil-wet limestone or dolomite upto a pH of 8

 Water-wet limestone or dolomite if the pH is 9.5
or above

 Break water-in-oil emulsions

 Emulsify oil in water
 Disperse clays or fines in water
Action of Cationic Surfactant
Cationic will normally:
 Oil-wet limestone or dolomite upto a pH of 8
 Oil-wet limestone or dolomite if the pH is 9.5 or
above
 Break oil -in-water emulsions
 Emulsify water in oil
 Disperse clays or fines in oil
 Flocculate clays in water
Constituents of Acid mixture
Compatibility of Acid mixture
Types of damage which can
be prevented by surfactants
 Oil wetting of formation rock

 Water blocks

 Viscous emulsion blocks

 Interfacial film or membrane
blocks
Emulsion blocks
The calculated average well permeability as
determined by injectivity tests will be many
fold higher than the average permeability
determined from production tests. Frequently
called the “check valve” effect.
Solution: Injection of 2% to 3 % by volume of
demulsifying surfactant for breaking emulsion
Water blocks
When large quantities of water (the
filtrate part of drilling fluid) are lost to
a partially oil-wet formation, the return
of original oil or gas productivity may
be slow, especially in partially
pressure-depleted reservoirs.
Solution: Injection of 1% to 2 % by
volume of selected surfactant.
Oil wetting
Oil is preferentially attracted to the surface of
reservoir rock. This appreciably increases the
thickness of the film coating the reservoir
rock and reduces the size of flow paths from
the reservoir as well as decreasing the
relative permeability to oil, it reduces
permeability to oil by 15% to 85 %
Solution:It is better to avoid use of cationic
surfactant.
.
 Acid pumper

Acidization
Acid Remove near wellbore
damage by injecting
Well acid / reacting fluid into
Displacing
fluid the formation below
fracturing pressure
1- 4ft
Shale
Reservoir
Shale
Acid Pumper
 Sandstone Acidizing
 Injection of suitable acid for
selective dissolution of part of
formation rock to reduce the
resistance to fluid flow in the
vicinity of the wellbore.

 Radial flow geometry.

 Technology and Application
Not all matrix acid treatments
are successful even when the
well is severely damaged.
Precipitation of reaction of reaction
products
Acid fluid – reservoir fluid
interactions.
Variations in reservoir permeability
or the distribution of damage.
 Matrix Acidization

Effect:
 Acid is pumped below fracturing pressure
of formation / rock
 Used in both sandstone and carbonate
reservoir
 Used for near wellbore damage removal (
1- 4 ft.)
 Limited acid penetration
 In carbonate reservoir only HCl is used
 Fluid Selection
Previous Stimulation Core
History Preparation

XRD Analysis

SEM Studies

Solubility Test
Acid Acid
Formulation Permeability
Response
Volume
Compatibility Curve* Improvement
Optimization
Studies

Additives
 Primary Considerations
Fluid Selection
Injection schedule
Acid coverage and diversion
Real time monitoring
Additives.
 Matrix acidization design
 Fluid selection : acid type, concentration
and volume
 Injection schedule : planned rate schedule
& sequence of injection
 Additives : other chemicals to be included
to enhance process
 Acid coverage & diversion : to improve acid
contact with formation
 Real time monitoring : evaluation of
acidizing process as it occurs
Fluid selection

 Hydrochloric Acid :
 Reacts with calcite or dolomite to
form CO2, water and Ca or Mg salt
 Prevents precipitation of Ca and Mg
fluoride in sandstone pores
 Lower consumption of HF acid
during acidization
 Catalyzes reaction between HF &
dissolvable minerals like feldspars
in the porous matrix
 Fluid selection
 Mud Acid: ( HCl + HF )
 HF is reactive with clay minerals that
may be restricting near-wellbore
permeability
 ability to dissolve silica and increases the
permeability.
 The HCl is needed to keep the pH low,
thereby reducing the precipitation of HF
reaction products.
Fluid selection guidelines
 Preflush fluid
Mineralogy K > 100 md K=20–100 md K < 20 md
<10% silt & <10%clay 15% HCl 10% HCl 7.5% HCl
>10% silt & >10% clay 10% HCl 7.5% HCl 5% HCl
>10% silt & <10% clay 10% HCl 7.5% HCl 5% HCl
<10% silt & >10% clay 10% HCl 7.5% HCl 5% HCl

 Mud Acid Fluids

Mineralogy K > 100 md K=20–100 md K < 20 md
<10% silt & <10%clay 12%HCl-3%HF 8%HCl-2%HF 6%HCl-1.5%HF
>10% silt & >10% clay 12%HCl-1.5%HF 9%HCl-1%HF 5%HCl-0.5%HF
>10% silt & <10% clay 12%HCl-2%HF 9%HCl-1.5%HF 6%HCl-1%HF
<10% silt & >10% clay 12%HCl-2%HF 9%HCl-1.5%HF 6%HCl-1%HF
 Special Acid Systems.
Fluoboric Acid
Sequential mud acid system
Alcoholic mud acid
Mud acid + aluminium chloride
Organic HF
 Fluoboric Acid
Constituents / Generation:
 NH4F.HF + HCl  2HF + NH4Cl
 H3BO3 + 3HF  HBF3OH + 2H2O (quick)
 HBF3OH + HF  HBF4 + H2O (slow)
Effective in sensitive clays:borosilicates
formation by replacement of Al with B.
Retardation effects below 930C.
Sequential Mud Acid System

In-situ HF generation by alternate

injection of HF and ammonium
bifluoride.
H3O+ ion gets adsorbed on clay
surface as acid flows thr. pores. This
is replaced by NH4+ to generate HF.
HF generation can be too small to be
effective.
 Alcoholic Mud acid System

Mud acid + Isopropanol or methanol (up to

50%)
Low permeability dry gas reservoirs.
Clean is facilitated
 Reduction in surface tension of acid by alcohol
 Vapor pressure of the mixture is increased,
reducing water saturation.
 Organic HF
Blend of organic acid and HF.
Application
 HCl sensitive mineralogy
 Crude oil incompatibilities
 Corrosion concerns(high temperature
wells).
 ACID ADDITIVES
 CORROSION INHIBITOR
 • Factors Affecting Corrosion During An
Acid Treatment
 – Temperature
 – Contact Time
 – Acid Concentration
 – Metal Type
 – Corrosion Inhibitor Used
 Corrosion inhibitors

slows

https://www.slb.com/~/media/Files/resources
/oilfield_review/ors89/jul89/2_acid_jobs.pdf
 ACID ADDITIVES
 SURFACTANT :
 Change surface and interfacial tensions
 Disperse or flocculate clays and fines
 Create, break, weaken, or strengthen emulsions
 Changes or maintains the wettability of
reservoir Rocks, flow lines, tubing or casing
 Reduce acid-induced sludging
 Create or break foams
 Disperse fines and liquids
 Promote or prevent water blocks
 ACID ADDITIVES
 NON-EMULSIFIER
 • Contains water soluble group
(polymer)
 • Temperature sensitive
 • More versatile & results in
 – Lowered surface tension
 – Damage prevention
 ACID ADDITIVES
 IRON CONTROLLER :
 Methods of Iron Control
 Chelating (iron chemically bound) e.g. Acetic
acid, Citric acid
 Sequestering (iron retained in solution) e.g.
EDTA, NTA, Erythorbic acid
 The Precipitation of Iron
 Ferrous Ion (Fe++) pH 7 or Greater
 Ferric Ion (Fe+++) pH 2 to 3
 Sources of Iron
 Scale: Iron Oxide/ Sulphide/ Carbonate
 Formation: Chlorite, Pyrite, Siderite
Sequestering agent / chelating agent: a chemical used to bind metal
ions to form a ring structure. Chelating agents stabilize or prevent the
precipitation of damaging compounds. In the oil field, chelating agents are
used in stimulation treatments and for cleaning surface facilities. They are
also used to treat or remove scale or weighting agents in reservoir drilling
fluids. During acid or scale-removal treatments, various compounds may be
dissolved in the treatment fluid.
As the acid reacts and the pH increases, reaction products may precipitate
as a gelatinous, insoluble mass. Should this occur within the formation
matrix, it is almost impossible to remove and permanent permeability
damage may occur. Chelating agents prevent precipitation by keeping ions in
a soluble form until the treatment fluid can be flowed back from the formation
during cleanup.
Typical oilfield chelating agents include EDTA (ethylenediamine tetraacetic
acid), HEDTA (hydroxyethylenediamine triacetic acid), NTA (nitriolotriacetic
acid) and citric acid.
 ACID ADDITIVE
 ANTI SLUDGE AGENT
 “Sludge” is a precipitate from reaction of
high strength acid with crude .
 Methods of sludge prevention
 Solvent (Xylene, Toluene) pre-flush to
minimize physical contact
 Use of low strength acid
 Non-ionic surfactant to minimize
pprecipitation of colloidal suspension
Diversion Techniques
 Mechanical Means:
 Zone isolation
Straddle Packer thru tubing.
Inflatable Packer thru CTU
Sand plug placement
 Buoyant Ball Sealers.
 Chemical Means:
 Graded Benzoic Acid flakes.
 Emulsified acid
 Foam Acid
 ISCADA-In-situ X-linked acid diversion system
 Chemical Diversion System
Diverting agents
Inflatable Packer

• Inflatable Packer
run on Coiled
tubing to desired
Depth .
• Ball is dropped
thru CT , it seats on
the seating nipple .
• Fluid is diverted to
inflating chamber.
Mechanical Means:
Ball Sealers
Diversion- Ball sealers
Diversion- Ball sealers
Particulate Diversion
Diversion- viscosified fluid
Diversion- viscosified fluid
Diversion
Diversion
 Chemical Means:
Particulate Diverting Agent.
Graded Benzoic Acid.
 Fine particles form a relatively low permeability
filter cake on the formation face.
 Pressure drop across the filter cake increases
the flow resistance and diverts the the acid to
other parts of formation.
 Water soluble and particularly suitable for W/I
wells.
Benzoic acid pieces
Benzoic acid “flakes”
Rock Salt
 Foam - Diversion
Large volume of gas bubbles entrapped
in relatively very small volume of liquid
with surface active agent.
 Foam offers high viscosity in high
permeability region.
 Foam breaks in low permeability regions
due to loss of liquid.
Technique
 Continuous foam fluid injection
 Foam slug.
What is SDA ?
 SDA is a high-Tech pH sensitive gel.
 When Pumped, SDA enters the High
Permeability Zone
 When pH increases to 2 to 3 the
Chemical forms a Gel across the high
Permeability Layer
 Acid is then diverted to the Low
permeability Section
 When pH increases beyond 3 the Gel
breaks down, aiding flow back to
surface
 In Situ X-Linked acid diversion
 XC polymer is cross linked with
chromium acetate. The viscosity
generated at the surface is 20-30 Cp.
Optimized concentration of breaker is
also added to the system and the
generated formulation is pumped to
the multi-layered reservoir & blocks
the high permeable layer after
gaining sufficient viscosity ( > 1000
Cp) at reservoir temperature.
Flow back after job
Acid chemistry
Increasing effectiveness
 Sandstone acid job stages
 Tubing pickle
 Remove rust, iron oxide & scales
 Dissolves oily films & sludges
 Limits amount of iron going into formation
 Preflush Stage (5 -15% HCl)
 50 to 100 gal/ft of formation in general
 Removal of calcareous material prior to
mud acid
 To push NaCl or KCl away from wellbore
 Acid job stages
 Main fluid stage – HCl – HF mixture
 Reaction with clay minerals, drilling mud
or cement and thereby removing near
wellbore damage
 HCl to dissolve carbonates
 Overflush stage
 Displace main fluid stage more than 3 to
4 ft away
 To make formation water wet
 A buffer between HF & fluid
 Matrix Acidization

Acid Compositions (Sandstone):

 Mud Acid ( 5-15 % HCl + 1-3 % HF)
 Organic HF ( 10% Acetic acid + 2 % HF )
 Fluoboric acid ( HBF4 )
 Alcoholic mud acid ( Mud acid + Methanol
50%)
 Self generating mud acid
Sandstone : HCl-HF(Mud acid)
 Quartz:
4HF + SiO2 SiF4(silicon tetrafluoride)
 Albite(sodium feldspar)
NaAlSi3O8 +14HF+2H Na +AlF2 +3SiF4 +8H2O
 Orthoclase( potassium feldspar)
NaAlSi3O8 +14HF +2H K +AlF2 + 3SiF4+8H2O
 Kaolinite
Al4Si4O10(OH)8 +24HF+4H 4AlF2 +4SiF4+18H2O
 Montmorillonite
AlSi8O20(OH)4 + 40 HF + 4 H 4AlF2 +8 SiF4 +24H2O
 Mud Acid + Aluminium chloride.

AlCl3 to complex fluoride ions.

 AlCl3 +4HF + H2O  AlF4¯ + 3HCl + H3O+
 AlF4¯ + 3H3O ⇌ AlF2+ + 3HF + 3H2O
Retardation of clay dissolution by
injecting reaction products.
 Smaller effective live acid penetration.
 Precipitation of amorphous
aluminosilicate.
 Carbonate
Acidizing
Reaction Process:
• Reaction Rate
• Area Volume Ratio
• Diffusion
Worm Holing Phenomenon
Selection of Acid System.
 Matrix Acidization

Acid Compositions (Limestone /

Carbonate):
 15% or 28 % HCl
 Deep penetrating acid
Acid with diversion
capability

Wormhole generated by acid in

limestone rock
 Chemical Reactions

Limestone: HCl
Calcite:
2HCl + CaCO3 CaCl2 +CO2+H2O
Dolomite:
4HCl + CaMg(CO3)2 Cacl2 + MgCl2 +
CO2+2H2O
Siderite:
2HCl +FeCO3 FeCl2+CO2+H2O
Area Volume Ratio:
Carbonate Acidizing:
Acid Systems
 Gelled Acids
 Emulsified Acids
 Self Diverted Acid Systems
 Nitrified Acid System.
 Matrix Acidization

Job execution procedure:

 Injectivity test before job to estimate the extent
of damage
 Recording of the pressure and measurement of “Skin”
 Pumping of acid stages
 Measurement of pressure and flow rate
 Injectivity test after job to estimate the extent
of damage removal
 Recording of the pressure and measurement of “Skin”
Primary design considerations

 Fluid selection – acid type, concentration

and volume
 Injection schedule – planned rate schedule
and sequence of injected fluids
 Acid coverage and diversion – special steps
taken to improve acid contact with the
formation
 Real-time monitoring – methods to
evaluate the acidizing process as it occurs
 Additives – other chemicals included in the
acid solution to enhance the process or to
protect tubular goods.
Process of acid job
 Acid job design

Criteria of acid formulation:

 15%HCL
 4% GD II Corrosion Inhibitor
 5% MUTUAL SOLVENT (EGMBE)
 0.2% surfactant
 2% Acetic Acid
 Diverter
 Acid job design

Diverters- Bio-balls/ RCN

All conventional cemented and perforated wells will use bio-balls

Injection wells - The wells will not be flowed back.

Instead, water injection will be immediately resumed.

Therefore, ALL diverters for injectors should be able to be

dissolved by seawater at bottom-hole injection temperature.
Injectors will use 100% Bio-balls

Producers will use 50% RCN’s and 50% Bio-balls

Two numbers of bio- balls/ RCN will be used per perforation shot/ hole
 Acid job design

Injection wells - The wells will not be flowed back.

Instead, water injection will be immediately resumed.

Therefore, ALL diverters for injectors should be able to

be dissolved by seawater at bottom-hole injection
temperature.
Granulated rock salt- NACL (only ) will be used as a
diverter for Horizontal injectors –. 15,000 pounds per
well.
Horizontal producers –
A 50/50 mix of granulated rock salt and benzoic
acid granules will be used – 7,000 pounds of
each per well.
 Acid job design

Tubing Pickling acid (1,000 gallons per well):

– 15% HCL
–Including double strength iron sequestering
agents (200 gallons - M acetic acid)
– 2 gpt non-emulsifier / surfactant
– Inhibited for 6 hours at 240ºF
• Pickling acid should always be flowed
back or circulated out of the well. If that is not
possible do not pickle
RRB-6H

4 legs, 1,712 meters of open hole

RRB-6H
RRH-6H

RRH-6H
RRH-6H
 Preparations for treatment -
gel acid

 XC polymer gel
 ~ 30,000 gallons (720 bbls / 114 m³)
 HCL Acid
 ~ 87,000 gallons (2,070 bbls / 330
m³)
 Block readiness
 Rock salt – 20,000 pounds
 Benzoic Acid – 20,000 pounds
 XC Polymer gel Recipe

 Seawater Base; plus:

 XC Polymer - 0.6% w/v of WH Vol
 (50 lbs./1,000 gals.) yields ~ 24 cps
 NaCl Salt – 81 pounds / Bbl. (231
Kg/m³)
 Surfactant – 2 gpt (0.2% v/v)
 Additives to the acid

 Corrosion inhibitors – ACI Gd-II -

4%
 Surfactants - 2 gpt (0.2% v/v)
 Iron control additives:
 Acetic acid – 10% v/v
 Citric acid – 50 ppt or equivalent
 Mutual solvents – 5% v/v - EGMBE
 Friction reducer – AG-12
 Generalized Procedure
 Arrive at site, safety meeting; Rig up.
 Fill the annulus with seawater (if possible);
pressure up to ~ 400 psi and monitor the
pressure.
 Begin loading the hole (tbg.) with XC Polymer
Gel.
 Start pressuring up well; slowly increase pump
rate and WHP. Check for leaks and mechanical
integrity.
 Finish loading hole; 1 hole volume (~ 80 Bbls.).
 Continue pumping XC polymer gel; when WHP
psi and rate is constant; Shut-down for ISIP.
Depending on pressure, watch for 5 – 15
minutes.
 Check for leaks, check annulus psi, check crew
readiness; START job.
 Generalized Procedure

 Switch from XC polymer to 15% HCL; establish

rate and pressure. (~14,000 g = 334 Bbls.).
 Drop block (depending on Rate & Pressure).
 ~ 7,000 pounds in 100 Bbls. XC gel).
 50% benzoic; 50% rocksalt at ~ 2 ppg).
 Pump stage II acid (~14,000 g = 334 Bbls.).
 Drop block (adjusted for Rate & Pressure).
 ~ 7,000 pounds in 100 Bbls. XC gel).
 Continue until all acid is used up; ~ 5 stages +/- 2.
 Displace with XC gel, and over-displace ~ 10 Bbls.
 Shut down; ISIP, flow back.
 Example pressure / rate chart

4,000 psi
35

Pressure (PSI) Rate (BPM)

Increasing pump rate

Acid arrives at formation

5

T Time
 Spent Acid Recovery
(Flowback)

 If at all possible, flow the well back immediately

after the treatment.
 If the well will not flow, then do whatever is
available (swab, gas lift, CTU and Nitrogen, etc.) to
remove the treatment fluid. The treatment fluids
need to be removed as soon as possible to help
prevent formation damage, and to take advantage of
CO2 gas and a low pH environment.
 Acid job design with ball sealers

Example treatment job schedule as following:

 Pump at rate of at 2 – 4 BPM increasing slowly to 6 – 10
BPM
 Pump 4,000 gallons of acid
 Pump 9,000 gallons of acid containing 330 Bio-balls
evenly dispersed throughout this
 stage (1 ball for each 27 gallons of acid pumped).
 Flush tubing volume with Seawater plus 10 Bbls of over-
flush.
 Shut in for 5 minutes,
 Monitor the ISIP and shut in pressure,
 Flowback immediately.
Job pumping schedule- Example pressure-rate Chart
 Acid job design
Assignment

One E & P company plans to carry out acid treatment in 25 offshore wells.
There are 13 injection wells and 12 production wells. Out of 13 injection wells
there are 8 horizontal slotted liner completed wells and there are 5 cemented
perforated conventional completed wells. Similarly, out of 12 production wells
there are 8 horizontal slotted liner completed wells and there are 4 cemented
perforated conventional completed wells. Wells are completed in carbonate
reservoir and each conventional well is perforated in 50 feet of interval with 6
shots per feet. Carryout following:
1. Define objective and purpose of acid treatment
2. What are different constituents of acid treatment and what is their
objective, their composition in total formulation.
3. Carryout job design and calculate volume required of each chemical
including pickling of tubing.
4. Indicate a sample pumping schedule.
5. Use illustrations, figures, equations and tables, assumptions where ever
necessary.
THANK YOU
 RR3 well details:
 This vertical well was cored, completed, and activated
with a 7” cemented liner through the reservoir. It is being
produced as a conventional well with co-mingled
production from layers V, VI, VII, and “B” layers.
 Current production, as tested on August 22nd, 2011 was
1081 bbls. total liquid, and 389 bbls oil (approximately
64% water cut). The well is producing with the assistance
of gas lift.
Perforations are in the layers V to “B” alon with PR:
 1372.5 – 1374.5 m - V -1,680 psi
 1376 – 1379 m - VI -1,700 psi
 1381 – 1384 m -VII -1,710 psi
 1390 – 1393 m – “B” -1,880 psi
Porosities average ~ 27-30 percent in the top three layers,
and ~35% in the “B” layer.
 Production packer set in 7” liner above 5” liner. 3 ½”
production tubing.
Net pay is 11 meters. Gross pay is 20.5 meters.
Approximate number of perforations is ~ 220 shots.
 Job Design
 Acid volume = not exceeding 100 gallons per foot of
net pay ( for large jobs- 400 bbl/feet).
 Ball sealers = 2 per shots of perforations
 Additives
 4% GD II Corrosion Inhibitor
 5% MUSOL (EGMBE)
 0.2% surfactant
 2% Acetic Acid
 Diverter

Pickle the tubing with 750 gallons of 15% HCL acid

pickling fluid:
A relatively weak, inhibited acid used to remove scale, rust and similar deposits from the internal
surfaces of equipment such as treating lines, pumping equipment or the tubing string through which
an acid or chemical treatment is to be pumped. The pickling process removes materials that may
react with the main treatment fluid to create undesirable secondary reactions or precipitates
damaging to the near-wellbore reservoir formation.
 Treatment schedule
Pump the following at 5 – 8 BPM:

1,000 gallons of 15% HCL acid.

3,000 gallons of acid containing 400 Bio-balls (or
rubber coated nylon(RCN) balls) evenly dispersed
throughout this stage (1 ball for each 7 gallons of acid
pumped).

Flush with Seawater plus 10 Bbls of over-flush.

Shut in for 5 minutes, monitor the ISIP and shut in
pressure, flow back immediately at 2 – 4 BPM.

If RCN balls are used, it allows 20 minutes extra shut-in

time for the balls to fall.