초록

A method for delivering a scale treatment agent to a hydrocarbon producing system. The method includes the steps of contacting the system with a foam comprising the scale treatment agent, and shutting the scale treatment agent in the system for at least 0.5 hour.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method for treating a hydrocarbon-producing geological formation, said method comprising: providing a foam that includes a scale treatment agent and an alkyl polyglycoside foaming agent;placing the foam into the hydrocarbon-producing geological formation, causing the foam to remain stable withi

1. A method for treating a hydrocarbon-producing geological formation, said method comprising: providing a foam that includes a scale treatment agent and an alkyl polyglycoside foaming agent;placing the foam into the hydrocarbon-producing geological formation, causing the foam to remain stable within the hydrocarbon-producing geological formation, and then causing the foam to form a liquid within the hydrocarbon-producing geological formation, and wherein the foam has a static half life of at least 3 minutes and forms a liquid within 1-15 minutes of being placed in the hydrocarbon-producing geological formation, and wherein the liquid includes the scale treatment agent;shutting said scale treatment agent in said hydrocarbon-producing geological formation for at least 0.5 hour; andsubsequently, removing the liquid from the hydrocarbon-producing geological formation. 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said scale treatment agent removes and/or prevents scale. 3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said scale treatment agent is a scale dissolver, a scale inhibitor or a mixture thereof. 4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said foam comprises a gas. 5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said alkyl polyglycoside is a compound of formula I: R1O(R2O)a(X)b (I), wherein R1 is C6-30 alkyl group, R2 is an alkylene group having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms, X is a saccharide residue having 5 or 6 carbon atoms, a is an integer having a value of 0 to 12, and b is an integer having a value of 1 to 6, or mixtures thereof. 6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said foam comprises water. 7. A method as claimed claim 1 wherein said foam comprises a scale inhibitor. 8. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein said scale inhibitor is a polymer formed from monomers of formula (II): wherein R3 is —CO2Z, —SO3Z, —PO3Z2 or an alkyl or aryl group substituted with at least one —CO2Z, —SO3Z or —PO3Z2 group in which Z is a hydrogen atom or a univalent metal atom; R4, R5 and R6 are each independently hydrogen, an optionally substituted alkyl or aryl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a group R3 as hereinbefore defined. 9. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said foam comprises a scale dissolver. 10. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the scale dissolver comprises potassium carbonate and ester of an aliphatic carbonic acid. 11. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said foam has a static half life of 3 to 20 minutes. 12. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a pre-flush. 13. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an after-flush.