Progressive reduction of the flow path of oil and/or gas in the near-wellbore region could cause a gradual decline in hydrocarbon production. The major parameters that influence the time-frame of this process are related to the properties of the crude oil and to the reservoir pressure and temperature. Failure to achieve expected well production could also occur, suddenly, after a well intervention or after the wellbore construction. In either case, changes in pressure, temperature, fluid composition, incompatibility of fluids and/or poor fluid-rock interaction can generate precipitation and deposits of asphaltenes and paraffins, scale formation, emulsions or sludge and wettability alteration.
In general, traditional treatments do not target all possible causes of crude oil flow-path reduction at the same time, and a sequence of treatment fluids are pumped to clean up the multiple damages (e.g., treatment of organic deposits followed by an acid treatment to remove scale deposits). The long cleanup time and high volume of fluids used in a multi-step treatment could impact the economics of the projects, especially offshore.
The present work discusses multifunctional treatments for production enhancement and flow assurance that can remove organic deposits (e.g., paraffins and asphaltenes), emulsion blockage, scale deposits and increase water-wet condition of the flow path surfaces in one step.
