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Acidizing
Fundamental Acid Techniques
Wellbore clean-up (tubing/casing)
Matrix acidizing (sandstone or carbonates)
Acid fracturing
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TYPES OF ACIDIZING METHODS
• Acid is used to remove damage near the
wellbore in all types of wells.
• In carbonate formations, acid may be used to
create linear flow systems by acid fracturing.
• Acid fracturing is not applicable to sandstone.
• The two basic types of acidizing are
characterized through injection rates and
pressures.
• Injection rates below fracture pressure are
termed matrix acidizing, while those above
fracture pressure are termed acid fracturing.
Types of Acid
Mineral
Hydrochloric - HCl
Hydrochloric/Hydrofluoric - HCl/HF
Organic (slower reacting – less
corrosive)
Acetic
Formic
Powdered (acid sticks)
Sulfamic
Chloroacetic
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1. Matrix Acidizing
Removal of severe plugging in sandstone, limestone, or dolomite can
result in a very large increase in well productivity.
In matrix acidizing,acid flow is confined to the formations,رnatural pores
and flow channels at a bottom pressures less than the fracturing pressures.
The purpose is to increase the permeability and porosity of the producing
formation.
During the matriz acidizing job, the contact area between the acid and
the formation is very large. Therefore, friction pressure increases rapidly
with increased pumping rates.
Due to high friction pressures, matrix acidizing must be
conducted at low injection rates.
A matrix acidizing treatment consists of slowly injecting acid into the
formation so that it penetrates into the pore spaces of the rock without
fracturing the formation.
Acid Fracturing
The reservoir is hydraulically fractured and then the fracture faces are
etched with acid to provide linear flow channels to the welbore.
Acid Fracturing is to prop the fracture faces open with sand or glass beads.
• The choice between acid fracturing and conventional hydraulic fracturing
is often a difficult decision.
• If both systems appear equally feasible to obtain desired fracture flow
capacity, then the decision may be based on comparative costs.
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Factors Affecting Fracture
Geometry
Injection rate Rock properties
Fluid viscosity Formation fluids
Fluid volume injected Formation stresses
Fluid loss Reaction rates
ACID ADDITIVES
The use of acid can create a number of well problems;
1. Release fines that plug the formation
2. Form emulsions
3. Corrode steel
• Additives are available to correct these and a number of other problems
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Dissolving Capability
15% HCL – 1.84 ppg
28% HCL – 3.68 ppg
9:1 mix 7.5% HCL : Acetic – 1.64 ppg
9:1 mix 15% HCL : Acetic – 2.48 ppg
9:1 mix 28% HCL : Acetic – 3.72 ppg
10% Acetic – 0.71 ppg
Basic Equation
2HCl + CaCO3 H2O + CO2 +CaCl2
Water Salt
Gas
Controlling Factors
Pressure
Less than 500 psi
Temperature
Velocity
Accelerate the mass transfer
Flow patterns – radial, linear, cylindrical
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Controlling Factors
Concentration
Stronger is faster (to a point)
Contact area & volume ratio
Matrix = large surface area (30000:1)
20% Φ limestone with 10 md
Natural fracture (3000:1)
Same limestone with a 0.001” natural fracture
Fracture = smaller surface area (32:1)
Same limestone with a 0.1” created fracture
Controlling Factors
Formation composition
Surface wetting
Viscosity
Retarded Acids
Gelled acid
Mineral/organic mix
Common ion
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Retarded Acids
Gelled acid
Mineral/organic mix
Common ion
Oil-wet barriers
Emulsions
High concentrations
Acid additives
Corrosion Inhibitors – specify time and
temperature
Surface Active Agents – anionic,
cationic, nonionic, amphoteric
Anionic tend to water wet sand, emulsify oil in
water, break water in oil emulsions, disperse
clays
Cationic tend to water wet carbonates, emulsify
water in oil, break oil in water emulsions,
flocculates clay
Anionic and cationic surfactants mix like matter
and anti-matter
Nonionic tends to be the most popular
surfactants
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HCl/HF Acidizing
Always need HCl pre-flush
HF reacts more quickly with clays than silica
Don’t use sodium, potassium or calcium salt waters for
flush
Feldspar means use half strength (13.5%:1.5%)
Flush with ammonium chloride or HCl spacer
Acid Fracturing (Carbonates)
Factors affecting penetration
Fluid loss
Injection rate
Fracture width
Factors affecting conductivity
Heterogeneity
Closure pressure
Rock strength
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Acid Fracturing Methods
Density controlled
Viscous fingering
Foamed acid
Overbalanced surge
Carbonate
Acidizing
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Reasons for Carbonate
Acidizing
Damaged permeability
Low permeability
Low perforation efficiency
Fracture Acidizing
Majority of carbonate reservoir treatments are acid
fracs
Good conductivity is the key to successful stimulation
Productivity increases of 2.5-13 fold
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General volumes
Acid wash/soak – 10-25 gals/ft
Matrix acid – 100-200 gals/ft
Acid Fracture – 400-600 gals/ft
Keys to Successful Acidizing
Cool down the reservoir
Increase the fracture width
Rate dependent on pressure
Maximize penetration distance
Closed fracture acidizing
Overflush
Two Staged Acid Proposal
First stage Divert with 500
20,000 gals 30# gel bioballs
5,000 gals 30# borate Second stage
x-linked 15,000 gals 30# gel
20,000 gals 20% HCL 5,000 gals 30# borate
Pump at 8-10 BPM, x-linked
but use pressure to 15,000 gals 20% HCL
dictate maximum Reduce rate & over
rate flush
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Stimulation Comparison
Acidizing. Fracturing
No mechanical Requires prep work
changes required. Potential for early job
No potential for termination (25%)
pressure related Potential for pressure
failures. related failure (<5%?)
Conductivity is not Conductivity is
predictable. predictable
Lower cost. High cost/ scheduling
Cost Estimates
Acidizing
Book Price - $90,000
Discounted @ 40% - $54,000
Fracturing
Book Price - $375,000
Discounted @ 40% - $225,000 (4:1 cost ratio)
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