Prevention and mitigation of damage problems
Ufa Scientific and Technical Center provide integrated approach to prevention and mitigation of various damage problems in production such as
The following effective technologies are employed for prevention and mitigation of damage problems:
- Efficient technique to prevent scale and corrosion (the so-called Squeeze) implies squeezing a combination of chemical agents into the near wellbore formation zone followed by its gradual backflow (withdrawal) during stimulation. The technology ensures 3-8 times longer time between failures for ESPs
- Deployment of submersible downhole containers – dispensers for inhibiting scale, heavy oil deposits and corrosion
- Placement of dosing containers filled with inhibiting compositions below the downhole motor of the ESP ensuring the following results:
- Prevention of scaling, heavy oil deposits and corrosion within the area of the downhole motor, movable working parts of the ESP and tubing
- Increased time between failures for ESPs – double the original life span and longer
- Reduced operating costs for inhibiting compared to other prevention and mitigation
Scale
Scale deposition in producing wells occurs due to changes in pressure and temperature. Mixing of formation waters from different reservoirs (reservoir units) with varying salt saturation leading to changes in water salinity (solution equilibrium) or oversaturation by salt-forming ions
Corrosion
Corrosion is the destruction of metal or alteration of its properties due to its exposure to external environment. In a narrower sense corrosion is understood as metal failure caused by environmental exposure
Based on the mechanism the following types of corrosion are identified:
- Electrochemical (carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, oxygen, acid)
- Microbial / biological (sulfate reducing bacteria, hydrocarbon oxidizing bacteria, thionic bacteria, iron-depositing bacteria and the like)
- Erosive
Based on its form the following types of corrosion are identified:
- Massive (uniform attack)
- Non-uniform
- Pitting (localized/selective)
- Rill (channel/groove)
- Mesa corrosion
