Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research

Erbil Polytechnic University

Name of experiment: Acidizing (stimulation)

Prepared by:
Shiraz Najat Sabri
Supervised By:
Mr. Sabah Sardar

2020-2021

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Aim:

• analyzing the acidizing (stimulation)

Abstract:
The acidizing is pumping of the acids into the wellbore to remove near well formafion damage and other
damaging substances, matrix acidizing is applied primarily to remove skin damage that caused by drilling,
completion, work over, well killing or injection fluids.
This project is concerned with carbonate reservoirs that exceeded in Kurdistan subsurface
formations.
Conduct a case study using real industrial data of Arab-D formation (Ghawar oil field — Saudi Arabia)
which has five water wells were treated with 50 gallon of HCI acid The treatment acid was placed with
soiled tubing and foam was used as diverter. The foam was made from nitrogen, water and surfactants.
Water injection pressure, injection rate and injection flow meter profiles prior to and after the treatment for
the five wells show optimistic results to an acceptable extent
In coiled tubing acid placement, the coiled tubing/borehole annulus is usually filled with acid which allow
the acid to be in contact with the entire zone at bottom hole temperature condition. This reduces the degree
of diversion effectiveness.
Recommend people who work in carbonate reservoirs they should done their work on petrophsical analysis
and the porosity should not have exceeded by the acids

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 Introduction:
To identify the damage or plugging solids that must be removed by a solvent, you must be familiar with
the main types of damage that occur in oil, gas, and water wells. Oil well damage usually occurs during
drilling, cementing, perforating, gravel packing, production, acidizing, well workovers, chemical
treatments, and injection operations. Conventional matrix acidizing in carbonate reservoirs uses
hydrochloric acid to remove formation damage and stimulate well performance. Many experimental and
theoretical studies in carbonate acidizing have confirmed the existence of an optimal acid injection rate at
which major wormholes are formed, and the benefit from stimulation is maximized. This optimal rate
depends on reservoir conditions, rock properties and chemical reaction rate. The success of conventional
matrix acidizing in carbonate reservoirs with hydrochloric acid is often limited due to rapid acid spending
at low injection rates to prevent fracturing the formation rock. The injection of hydrochloric acid into
carbonate formations at low rates results in compact dissolution, or face dissolution of the carbonate matrix
near wellbore, which consumes large volume of acid and stimulates a short distance. studies have also
shown that the acidizing process is most efficient (defined as the process that will enhance near-wellbore
permeability to the greatest depth with the smallest volume of acid) when major Wormholes develop.
Damage by whole mud or formation clays may be removed by appropriate HF treatments for sandstones
and HCI treatments for carbonates. Damage by cement filtrate (which usually contains calcium hydroxide
or forms of calcium silicate) is reduced by good fluid-loss control in the cement slurry. Calcium hydroxide
may be removed with either acetic acid or HCI. Calcium silicates must be removed with HF. Damage may
be severe when perforating over6alanced in the wellbore (hydrostatic pressure in the well bore is higher
than reservoir pressure). Permeability around the perforated hole may be reduced to from 2 to 20a of
original permeability, depend in- on the nature of the perforating fluid. Overbalanced perforating will
reduce permeability by compacting and plugging pores with crushed formation fines, perforating debris,
and contaminants in the perforating fluid. Perforation damage usually is removed with HF in sandstone
formations or with HCI in carbonate formations.

Damage to a producing well can be caused by formation movement, scale formation (precipitated solids, and
casing leaks. Whole formation production (collapsed perforations)
can occur in weak or friable sands. This may be corrected by gravel packing or some other
method of effective sand control. Fines migration also can occur. Fines can move through the reservoir and
bridge at or near the perforations to cause in-situ filter cakes (plugging) inside the large pores in the sand. When
casing leaks occur, either incompatible formation waters or drilling mud residues may contaminate the perforated
interval. Casing leak damage usually is treated with HF for sandstones or HCl for carbonates. If acid is

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bullheaded down tubing into a formation, pipe dope and/or iron scale (mill scale) may be squeezed into the
formation with the acid. The first acid that enters the formation already may have spent itself on iron oxide
scales. Formations with either high concentration of iron minerals or low permeability and abundant clay also
can be damaged by acid injection. Formations can be damaged easily by improper use of HF. Spent HF will
precipitate silica, calcium fluoride, and other compounds, especially when not enough HCl preflush is used
to remove calcium carbonate in the formation prior to pumping the HF.

Scale inhibitors can oil wet carbonates and corrosion inhibitor treatments can oil wet sandstones. Damage
cannot be prevented when these treatments are necessary to keep the well in operation; however, some
inhibitors cause more damage than others. Variable degrees of damage have been observed in corrosion
inhibitor treatments of gas wells. Atomized nitrogen treatments seem to be less damaging than oil squeezes
when injecting corrosion inhibitors in gas wells. Sometimes severe damage may be corrected by using tested
solvent/surfactant wash treatments.

Types of Acidizing:
• Acid job

• Fracture acidizing

• Matrix acidizing

• Matrix stimulation

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Acid Job:
The treatment of a reservoir formation with a stimulation fluid containing a reactive acid. In sandstone
formations, the acid reacts with the soluble substances in the formation matrix to enlarge the pore spaces.

In carbonate formations, the acid dissolves the entire formation matrix. In each case, the matrix acidizing
treatment improves the formation permeability to enable enhanced production of reservoir fluids. Matrix
acidizing operations are ideally performed at high rate, but at treatment pressures below

the fracture pressure of the formation. This enables the acid to penetrate the formation and extend the depth
of treatment while avoiding damage to the reservoir formation.

Fracture acidizing:
• Fracture acidizing is an alternative to hydraulic fracturing and propping in carbonate reservoirs. In fracture
acidizing, the reservoir is hydraulically fractured a then the fracture faces are etched with acid to provide
linear flow channels to wellbore.

• As such, the application of acid fracturing is confined to carbonate reservoirs and should never be used to
stimulate sandstone, shale, or coal-seam reservoirs.

• Long etched fractures are difficult to obtain, because of high leak off and rapid acid reaction with the
formation.

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Matrix acidizing:
• Matrix acidizing is applied primarily to remove skin damage caused by drilling, completion, workover,
well-killing, or injection fluids, and by precipitation of scale deposits from produced or injected water.

• During matrix acidizing the acids dissolve the sediments and mud solids within the pores that are inhibiting
the permeability of the rock.

• mostly used in sandstone formations.

• Due to the extremely large surface area contacted by acid in a matrix treatment, spending time is very short.
Therefore, it is difficult to affect formation more than a few feet from the wellbore.

Matrix stimulation:
• A sandstone matrix stimulation treatment is generally composed of a hydrochloric acid [HCI] pre flush, a
main treating fluid (HCl-HF mixtures) and an over flush (weak acid solution or brine). The treating fluid is
maintained under

pressure inside the reservoir for a period of time, after which the well is swabbed and returned to production.
In carbonate reservoirs, HCl is the most common fluid used. Organic acids such as formic

and acetic acid are used in either sandstone or carbonate acidizing, mainly in retarded-acid systems or in
high- temperature applications

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 Conventional acid systems
In order to make the most of acidizing, acid treatment design must be approached as a process. The general
approach is as follows:
• 1- select an appropriate stimulation candidate well;
• 2- design an effective treatment;
• 3- monitor the treatment for subsequent improvement.
• A number of different acids are used in conventional acidizing treatments. The most common are:
• — Hydrochloric, HCl
• - Hydrofluoric, HF
• — Acetic, CH3< OOH
• — Formic, HCOOH
• — Sulfamic, H2NSO3H
• — Chloroacetic, ClCH2COOH.

Fracturing Fluid:
Low viscosity
Etches Wuure face by dissolution
Acid fraCtUfir\g fluid properti6S reqUired Leaks off intoformation mainly by diffusion
Causes minimal formdion damage
No wormholing
Fluid propeKles required from an acid ffiacturlng

Install pump at wellhead for fracturing

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 Acidizing damage:
• Acidizing damage mechanisms include:
• - Inadvertent injection of solids.
• - Use of incompatible additives or improper mixing procedures.
• - Reprecipitation of acid reaction products.
• Loss of near-wellbore formation compressive strength.
• - Formation of emulsions.
• - Formation of sludge.
• - Water blocking.
• - Wettability alteration.
• - Post-treatment fines migration.

Organic acide:
Carbonate acidizing has been carried out using Hcl-based stimulation fluid for decades. However, at high
temperatures, Hc1 does not produce acceptable results because of its fast reaction, acid penetration. and
hence surface dissolution, and its high corrosion rate.
Organic acids are mostly used in high temperature reservoirs, where the fast HC1 spending rate can cause
sever tubing corrosion and poorly etched fractures.
organic acids cannot used at high consternation because of Calcium salts. Thus, the concentrations of
acetic and formic acids used are less than 13 and 9 wt.% respectively. This is. Because the reaction
products (e.g., calcium fomite) can precipitate at higher acid concentration.
In field treatments, mixtures of organic acids have been used stimulate high temperature/pressure wells and
remove calcium carbonate scale.
The new organic acid is obtained at an initial concentrator of 50 wt. For the experimental procedure, the acid
was diluted io condensation of 10 wt. Deionized water was obtained from a water purification system that
has a resistivity of 18.2 M ohm.cm and added to the original acid solution so the final corrosion was obtained
at 10 wt. A corrosion inhibitor (proprietary alkoxylated fatty amine salts, alkoxylate organic acid, thiourea)
at 0.1 wt.% added to prepare the acid.

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Quality Control After Pumping:
1.Do not shut the well in after acid injection. Flow the well back to tank or pit as soon as the flow line is
connected.
2.Collect at least three one-quart samples of back-flowed acid for analysis. Sample the acid backflow at the
beginning, middle, and near the end of the flow. If on swab, get a sample from every other swab run.
Secure a lab analysis for:
a. amount, size and type of solids. b. strength of returned acid.
c. 1. total 2. Iron 3. content.
d. presence of emulsions.
e. formation of any precipitates (besides iron).
3.Get the treatment report and pressure Charts to the office for evaluation and placement into the well file.

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Environmental Management consideration:
As already mentioned, the oil and gas industry has been using acids for well treatment for well over 100
years. As a result, the industry has a great deal of experience with the safe and environmentally sound
handling and management of these fluids both before and after their use. Operator, service companies, and
regulatory agencies have sound procedures in place that protect both workers and the public. Acids must be
transported and used with proper precautions, safety procedures, and equipment.
Transportation of the acid and related materials must be done in USDOT (or equivalent) approved equipment
and containers, properly labeled, and follow approved routes to the work site. Personnel working directly
with the acids must utilize the personal protective equipment (PPE) specified in the Safety Data Sheet (or
equivalent) and be properly trained and experienced in the use of these materials.
All equipment used in pumping the acid should be well maintained and all equipment components that will
be exposed to pressure during the acid job should be tested to pressures equal to the maximum anticipated
pumping pressure plus an adequate safety margin prior to the start of pumping operations, in accordance
with industry standards and pressure pumping service provider operating guidelines.
The operator should consider the use of barricades to limit access to areas near acid and additive containers,
mixing and pumping equipment, and pressure piping.
After the acid job is successfully pumped and the well is brought to production, the operator should consider
using separate tanks or containers to isolate the initial produced fluids (spent acid and produced water).
The fluids that are initially recovered will contain the spent acid (acid that is largely chemically reacted,
neutralized, and converted to inert materials) and it will typically have a pH of 2-3 or greater, approaching
neutral ph.
These fluids can be further neutralized to a pH>4.5 prior to introduction into the produced water treatment
equipment, if necessary. Once neutralized, the spent acid and produced water can be handled with other
produced water at the production site. Most produced water, including spent acid, is treated as needed and
then injected via deep injection wells that are permitted by the jurisdictional regulatory authority.

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 Clay stabilizers:
Clays are layered minerals of silicon and aluminum oxides and exist in the majority of sandstone formations.
Some can lead to formation damage, either
damage caused by:
I- clay swelling or
2- clay migration.
As soon as their chemical environment is changed in the formation like in acid treatments, clay particles may
be released when the treating solution dissolves the surrounding material. The particles become entrained in
the moving fluids.
The dispersion and movement of fine clay particles in water sensitive formations eventually plugs flow
channels causing a reduction in permeability.
The alteration of equilibrium between clays and formation waters which means change in salinity causing
imbalances in the forces between clays.
ion exchange between the aqueous system and the formation can cause swelling clays which reduce
permeability. The most common swelling clays are smectites and smectite mixtures. Clay stabilizers act to
decrease the activity of ions in order to prevent ion exchange.
In this manner, they are effectively desensitized to swelling and migration or coated or fused, rendering
them immobile Ammonium chloride, NH Cl, is commonly used as a pre- and post- flush brine or as a
spacer when stimulating with hydrofluoric acid. The ammonium ion acts as a temporary stabilizer for
migrating and swelling clays normally found in sandstone reservoirs. When performing acid stimulations
using hydruria acid the wrong spacer can cause precipitations. Potassium chloride, KCl, for instance, and
hydrofluoric acid will form potassium fluosilicate precipitates, KSiF. Ammonium chloride as a spacer will
not induce the formation of precipitations.
Fluoboric acid, HBF, also provides clay stabilization through reactions related to borate and fluoborite ions.
The cation exchange capacity is strongly decreased and hence well able clays are desensitized.

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Conclusion:
The project concluded by
• Introducing specified acidizing and others, and showing the most common one in the petroleum industry.
• After reviewing other researchers works, all types of acidizing were describing and the advantages and
disadvantages was defined. finally,
• Finally, the result shows that by acidizing, the production rate can be increased based on the optimized
acid used, such as:
-Organic acids
• When the acid reacts with formation materials it is largely consumed and neutralized.
• Spent acid that is recovered when a treated well is brought on production is treated and safely disposed of
in essentially the same way as produced water.

Recommendation:
• acidizing process is a very sensitive process, should apply in accurate way
to prevent problems such as; corrosions and plugs.
• Some of acids have a high dissolving power so it’s very important to adjust the concentration and the
volume of the acids used to prevent high formation acidizing.
• Matrix acidizing deals with some poisons acids so it’s important to prevent sever injuries.

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References:

• Huang, T., Ostensen, L., & Hill, A. D. (2000, January 1). Carbonate Matrix Acidizing with
Acetic Acid. Society of Petroleum Engineers. doi:10.211s sgvi5-MS
• McLeod, H. 0. ( 1984, December 1). Matrix Acidizing. Society of Petroleum Engineers. doi:
10.2118/13752-PA
• Rike, J. L. (1971, November 1). Workover and Completion Technology - A Survey. Society
of Petroleum Engineers. doi:10.2i i g/3715-PA
• Curtis, J., & Kalfayan, L. (2003, January 1). Improving Wellbore And Formation Cleaning
Efficiencies With Environmental Solvents And Pickling Solutions. Society of Petroleum
Engineers. doi:10.2i was i i38-MS
• Milligan, M. (1994, January 1). Well Stimulation Using Acids. Petroleum Society of Canada.
doi: 10.2118/94-01-01
• Hall, J. A. (2005, January 1). Designing The Perfect Drilling Fluid Additive: Can It Be Done?
Society of Petroleum Engineers. doi: 10.2118/95196-MS
• Bartko, K. M., Chang, F. F., Behrmann, L. A., & Walton, I. C. (2007, January 1).
• http://specialjobsinoilproduction.bIogspot.com/
• Halliburton, Carbonate Matrix Acidizing Treatments, Best Practices Series

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