Recent advances in biotechnology have led to the identification ‘and isolation of polymer-specific enzymes. This new technology has been incorporated in the development of improved damage removal systems. The polymer specific reactivity of the new systems provides environmentally safe polymer degradation without causing damage to the formation or tubular goods.

Polymer specific systems have been developed for removal of damage caused by polymers such as cellulose, guar, and starch. The treatments can be applied over a wide range of downhole conditions to polymeric damage resulting from fracturing, gravel packing, or workover operations.

Fracture conductivity and core flow evaluations have shown that multi-fold improvements in permeability are achieved with the new systems. Damaged wells treated with the new systems have experienced up to three-fold improvement in well productivity. A detailed study and analysis of laboratory and field data are presented.

Keywords:
cellulose, drilling fluids and materials, enzyme, polymeric damage removal provide, hydrolase, reaction, drilling fluid selection and formulation, permeability, drilling fluid chemistry, linkage
Subjects:
Drilling Fluids and Materials, Hydraulic Fracturing, Drilling fluid selection and formulation (chemistry, properties), Fracturing materials (fluids, proppant)
Copyright 1993, Society of Petroleum Engineers
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