Solvents

Solvents are liquids with the ability to solubilize a substance into a solution.  Solvents are used for a broad range of oilfield applications, but are primarily used to remove heavy hydrocarbon compounds and asphaltenes, prevent and break emulsions, and to restore wettability of rock surfaces. Each of which can restrict flow in the tubing and near wellbore, require excessive production chemical treatment or cause catastrophic production facility upsets.

Solvent treatments can also be used to remove water blocks and other phase trapping phenomenons such as condensate banking. Water blocks are often created when drilling, workover or completion fluids invade the near-wellbore formation and create excessive water saturations. This damage mechanism creates a high water saturation that reduces the effective permeabilty to hydrocarbons. 

Operators have found that managing wettability reversal, waxes and asphaltenes with smaller targeted solvent systems has proven to be far more cost effective than shutting in production for extended periods of time in an attempt to overhaul extremely damaged wellbores.

PIC scientists use case specific data to design a solvent system to remedy the specific damage mechanisms present. The fact that the solvent system is customizable means that the properties and components of the system can vary drastically. Hydrocarbon based systems can range from aliphatic to olefinic to aromatic, from light carbon to heavy carbon number, and contain an array of different additives targeting the specific hydrocarbon range observed. Water based systems can range from near freshwater to low density brines to high alcohol and surfactant based systems.

Additives we might integrate for your specific conditions include:

• Wetters
• Alcohols
• Penetrants
• Dispersants
• Surfactants
• Cosolvents
• Scale Removers
• Inhibitors
  • For Wax
  • For Asphaltenes
  • For Scale