CA1098688A - Removal of water from gas well borehole with solid foaming agent - Google Patents
Removal of water from gas well borehole with solid foaming agentInfo
- Publication number
- CA1098688A CA1098688A CA320,507A CA320507A CA1098688A CA 1098688 A CA1098688 A CA 1098688A CA 320507 A CA320507 A CA 320507A CA 1098688 A CA1098688 A CA 1098688A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- water
- urea
- surfactant
- well
- solid
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
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Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- C09K—MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- C09K8/00—Compositions for drilling of boreholes or wells; Compositions for treating boreholes or wells, e.g. for completion or for remedial operations
- C09K8/02—Well-drilling compositions
- C09K8/38—Gaseous or foamed well-drilling compositions
Abstract
"REMOVAL OF WATER FROM GAS WELL BOREHOLE
WITH SOLID FOAMING AGENT"
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A process for producing a solid foaming agent, and a process for using the foaming agent for the removal of water from flooded gas wells is provided. The foaming agent is formed by first combining a water soluable, nonionic polyethoxylated surfactant with urea to form a solid urea adduct, and compressing the urea adduct under high pressures into a shape of size and density to enable it to drop to the bottom of a column of water existing in the well. The urea adduct is dropped into the flooded well bore and gas produced through the water generates foam which is expelled from the well with the gas flow.
WITH SOLID FOAMING AGENT"
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A process for producing a solid foaming agent, and a process for using the foaming agent for the removal of water from flooded gas wells is provided. The foaming agent is formed by first combining a water soluable, nonionic polyethoxylated surfactant with urea to form a solid urea adduct, and compressing the urea adduct under high pressures into a shape of size and density to enable it to drop to the bottom of a column of water existing in the well. The urea adduct is dropped into the flooded well bore and gas produced through the water generates foam which is expelled from the well with the gas flow.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a process for producing a solid foaming agent body and to a process of using said body for the removal of water from a gas well borehole by foam generation.
When a gas well is flooded, a column of water forms in the borehole which reduces the flow of the gas from the well. Several methods exist to remove the water from the borehole. For example, the water may be pu~ped to the surfacei however, this is both time and energy consuming. Liqu;d foaming agents are available which may be pumped to the bottom of the column of water to attain efficient foam generation, but they involve the expense of servicing the well. A preferred alternative is to drop a solid foaming agent down the borehole. As the solid dissolves, gas from the producing zone passing through the column of water generates foam which allows the water to be blown out of the well.
In principle, any water soluable surface active agent with foaming capabilities could be used to remove water from boreholes by foam generation. However, when it is desirable to use a solid foaming agent, cèrtain classes of surfactants are preferred. In particular, some members of the class of polyethyoxylated nonionic surfactants, being hard waxes at ambient temperatures, can be readily melted and cast into molds for use as solid foaming agents. Inorganic salts may be added to increase the bulk density of such compositions. An example of thi`s type of foami`ng agent is disclosed in U~ S. Patent No. 3,251,~17 to Holman et al.
These solid foaming agents are usually molded into long cylin-drical sticks approximately 3 cm in diameter and 30 to 50 cm in length.
During warm weather these products tend to become soft and waxy and are difficwlt to drop down the well borehole.
A more serious problem of these prior art compositions is their low rate of solubility. ~n order to generate foam in a reasonably short period of time an excessive quantity of the solid foaming agent : :
is added to the well. Even in large amounts, these foaming agents often -take in the order of 3 to ~ hours to expel water from the well. After most of the water has blown out of the well, the foaming agent continues to slowly dissolve in the residual water. The foam thus genenated becomes ;ncorporated in the gas production, which is undesirable.
It is known in the field of surfactant chemistry to combine liqu1d surfactants or detergents with urea to form solid urea adducts.
The adducts decompose in water to release urea and the uncomplexed sur-factant. It has generally been found that urea adducts can be formed lO with many straight chained hydrocarbons, fatty acids and alcohols, whereas highly branched hydrocarbons remain substantially uncombined with urea. Urea forms a helical structure in which the surfactant is trapped or held. Apparently strai'ght chai'n hydrocarbons, or those with a low degree of branching or ri'`ng formation can more easily fit into the 15 helical structure and thus form the urea adducts.
To our knowledge no one has yet attempted to utilize these urea adducts in the removal of water from well boreholes~
''SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present ;'nvent;on provides a process for removing water from a gas well and involves util;`zing a solid foaming agent formed by combining a water-soluable surfactant with urea to obtain a solid urea adduct. The solid adduct is dropped into the column of water ;n the well.
The urea rapidly~dissolves, releasing the surfactant which acts to foam the watèr,as gas ;`s produced through the columnO The gas flow gradually removes the foam from the ~ell.' In a preferred form of the inventi'on, the sol;d foam;ng agent ;5 provided by first mix;ng urea with a water-soluable non-ionic polyethoxylated' surfactant to form the adduct and then compressing the adduct under h~;gh pressure ;nto a shape of sufficient size and density to enable ;t to drop through the well bore to the bottom of the water column. By this size and densi`ty crite~ia i5 meant that the foami'ng .
agent is in a form which fits into the gas borehole, and has a density suff;ciently greater than water to permit it to drop through the flooded borehole.
In a more preFerred form, the urea is combined with the surfactant in a ratio in the range of about 1:1 to 9:1 by weight respectively.
In another preferred feature of the invention, a lubricant is added to the urea adduct to assist in the compression operation. A
polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of about 400 to 6000 is satisfactory for this purpose~
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERREn EMBODI~ENT
The surfactant used in the formati`on of the solid foaming agent i:s a non-ioni`c water-saluble polyethyoxylated compound having the general formula R - (:OCH2CH2)nOH
where R is a lipophilic group and n is a whole number.
Three factors generally restrict the type of surfactant which can be used. The surfactant must have a structure whi:ch enables it to form a solid adduct ~;th urea, and must also be sufficiently water soluble20 to give the desirable rapi:d foami:ng acti.on. Further, the rate of water solubility should be suffici:ently fast to gi:ve a rapi:d foaming capabili.ty to the foaming agent.
The lower value of n is limi:ted to that value which will confer water solubility to the lipophilic m~iety. For this purpose n must usually 25 be at least 6. I:ncreasing the value of n, i:n general, allows the phys;cal form of the non-ionic surfactant to vary from a li.quid (n= 9 to 14), to a semi-solid (:n - 12 to 14), -to a hard wax (n = 20 to 150). These ranges vary wi:th the particular lipophili:c groupO
Suitable li:pophi:li:c groups i:nclude mono or dialkyl phenols, 30 fatty carboxylic acids, and fatty alcohol residues.
: .. , . ,. . ~ :
- -The urea used in the process of the present invention isusually provided in the form of granules or pellets which are crushed to a fine powder prior to mixing with the surfactant. This step has been found to greatly influence the efficiency of adduct formations; in general, the finer the particle size of the urea the more rapid and complete the adduct formation.
The urea is combined with the surfactant in a ratio in the range of about 9:1 to 1:1 by weight respectively~ This range is not critical to the product formed, however, it is found to be a practical working range. With greater amounts of surfactants, the product formed tends to be waxy, slower to solidify, and slower dissolving in water~ while with lower amounts of surfactant, the urea is merely diluting the surfactant beyond practical limits. The most desirable compositions, that is those which solidify within a few days to form a urea adduct that is water soluble, result from using a urea to surfactant ratio of about 9:1 to 3:1 by weight respectively.
A urea-surfactant mixture derived from a liquid or semi-solid surfactant initially appears as a moist composition which solidifies - gradually as the urea adduct is formed to take on a dry appearance. This provides a simple visual assurance of complete adduct formation. The solid surfactants, on the other hand, are melted prior to combining with the urea. As the latter compositions solidify it is more difficult to ascertain whether, in fact, a urea adduct has formed, or the solid surfac-tant has merely resalidified unreacted.
- 25 To increase the lubricity of the urea-surfactant adduct during the compression step, a lubricant can be used. Incorporating with the adduct about 1 - 30% by ~eïght of a polyethylene glycol with an aver-age molecular weight between ~00 and 60QO has been found to facilitate in the compression of many of the drier compositions. These drier forms of the adduct result from using large amounts of the urea. Often, when lower amounts of urea are included in the adduct, the surfactant itself acts as a lubricant for the compres~ion. Other lubricants familiar to the art of tablet-pressing may be suitable.
The foaming agent is prepared by adding the liquid surfactant slowly with thorough mixing to the powdered urea, and lubricant if re-quired. If a solid or semi-solid surfactant is being used it is melted and added to the mixed urea-lubricant mixture. The resulting moist composition is allowed to s-olidify For 24 to 48 hours to form a dry, solid urea adduct. Often the adduct exists in hard clumps which are crushed in a suitable grinder. The adduct is then compressed at high pressures into a shape of size and density sufficient to enable it to be dropped to the bottom of a column oF water existing in a well borehole. Typically, the adduct is pressed into a cylindrical stick about 1.25" in diameter and 4.5" in length having a weight of about 4 ouncès.
The size and shape of the compressed foaming agent are re-stricted by the physical limitations of the well borehole. Usually thereis a 2 in. valve at the well head through which the compressed product must pass. The density of the foaming agent, once compressed, must be suf-ficiently greater than water to enable the product to drop through the - flooded borehole. Typically a density greater than 102 g/cm is suf-ficient for this purpose.
The compressed foaming agent when dropped into a flooded gas borehole, dissolves to lower the surface tension of the water. The reduced gas flow through th;s water causes foam generation, which foam is blown out of the well. If the flow oF gas in the gas well has been stopped by large quantities of water, an external source of compressed air is required to generate the foam.
The quantity of foaming agent required to remove the water necessarily vary with the depth,pressure and amount of water in the parti-cular well.
The 1ollowing example is illustrative of the present invention.
A urea adduct was formed by combining in the following . , . . -weighted am~unts:
20% polyethoxylated C12 - C15 linear alcohol containing 69%
ethylene oxide, or 20% polye-thoxylated C1O - C12 linear alcohol containing 60% ethyleneoxide;
75~ powdered ureai and 5% polyethylene glycol of molecular weight 4000.
The powdered urea and the polyèthylene glycol 4000 were intimately mixed. The polyethoxylated compound was melted at 35C
and added over 15 min. with m;xing to the urea-lubricant mixture.
After 3Q minutes of m;xing, the free flowing granular composition was run out and stored 24 to 48 hours to form a dry, granular urea adduct.
The adduct was compressed to 6000 psig into 4 ounce, 1.25 in. x 4 in. cylindrical sticks with the use of a hydraulic press. The product thus formed had a density of about 1.25 g/cm3.
The foaming agent thus formed was tested in a number of shallow gas wells having relatively low pressures and located in the Med;cine Hat and Milk River areas of Southern Alberta. The wells had an average depth of about 150Q to 3Q00 feet and a ~ottom hole pressure of about 400 to 50Q psi.
- 20 With the variation in depth, pressure and amount of water to be displaced in the wells, varying quantities of the foaming agent were used. Usually 1 to 4 sticks were dropped into the well and water unloading occurred within 7 to 25 minutes.
FEATURES AND ADVANTAGES
The following features and advantages are achieved by the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
(1) Ihe solub;lity rate in ~ater of the polyethoxylated non-ionic surfactant is improved due to the dispersed and finely divided state which is achieved in ~he urea adducts. This ult;~mately increases the speed at which foam can be generated in the water flo~ded well.
~9~
This invention relates to a process for producing a solid foaming agent body and to a process of using said body for the removal of water from a gas well borehole by foam generation.
When a gas well is flooded, a column of water forms in the borehole which reduces the flow of the gas from the well. Several methods exist to remove the water from the borehole. For example, the water may be pu~ped to the surfacei however, this is both time and energy consuming. Liqu;d foaming agents are available which may be pumped to the bottom of the column of water to attain efficient foam generation, but they involve the expense of servicing the well. A preferred alternative is to drop a solid foaming agent down the borehole. As the solid dissolves, gas from the producing zone passing through the column of water generates foam which allows the water to be blown out of the well.
In principle, any water soluable surface active agent with foaming capabilities could be used to remove water from boreholes by foam generation. However, when it is desirable to use a solid foaming agent, cèrtain classes of surfactants are preferred. In particular, some members of the class of polyethyoxylated nonionic surfactants, being hard waxes at ambient temperatures, can be readily melted and cast into molds for use as solid foaming agents. Inorganic salts may be added to increase the bulk density of such compositions. An example of thi`s type of foami`ng agent is disclosed in U~ S. Patent No. 3,251,~17 to Holman et al.
These solid foaming agents are usually molded into long cylin-drical sticks approximately 3 cm in diameter and 30 to 50 cm in length.
During warm weather these products tend to become soft and waxy and are difficwlt to drop down the well borehole.
A more serious problem of these prior art compositions is their low rate of solubility. ~n order to generate foam in a reasonably short period of time an excessive quantity of the solid foaming agent : :
is added to the well. Even in large amounts, these foaming agents often -take in the order of 3 to ~ hours to expel water from the well. After most of the water has blown out of the well, the foaming agent continues to slowly dissolve in the residual water. The foam thus genenated becomes ;ncorporated in the gas production, which is undesirable.
It is known in the field of surfactant chemistry to combine liqu1d surfactants or detergents with urea to form solid urea adducts.
The adducts decompose in water to release urea and the uncomplexed sur-factant. It has generally been found that urea adducts can be formed lO with many straight chained hydrocarbons, fatty acids and alcohols, whereas highly branched hydrocarbons remain substantially uncombined with urea. Urea forms a helical structure in which the surfactant is trapped or held. Apparently strai'ght chai'n hydrocarbons, or those with a low degree of branching or ri'`ng formation can more easily fit into the 15 helical structure and thus form the urea adducts.
To our knowledge no one has yet attempted to utilize these urea adducts in the removal of water from well boreholes~
''SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present ;'nvent;on provides a process for removing water from a gas well and involves util;`zing a solid foaming agent formed by combining a water-soluable surfactant with urea to obtain a solid urea adduct. The solid adduct is dropped into the column of water ;n the well.
The urea rapidly~dissolves, releasing the surfactant which acts to foam the watèr,as gas ;`s produced through the columnO The gas flow gradually removes the foam from the ~ell.' In a preferred form of the inventi'on, the sol;d foam;ng agent ;5 provided by first mix;ng urea with a water-soluable non-ionic polyethoxylated' surfactant to form the adduct and then compressing the adduct under h~;gh pressure ;nto a shape of sufficient size and density to enable ;t to drop through the well bore to the bottom of the water column. By this size and densi`ty crite~ia i5 meant that the foami'ng .
agent is in a form which fits into the gas borehole, and has a density suff;ciently greater than water to permit it to drop through the flooded borehole.
In a more preFerred form, the urea is combined with the surfactant in a ratio in the range of about 1:1 to 9:1 by weight respectively.
In another preferred feature of the invention, a lubricant is added to the urea adduct to assist in the compression operation. A
polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of about 400 to 6000 is satisfactory for this purpose~
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERREn EMBODI~ENT
The surfactant used in the formati`on of the solid foaming agent i:s a non-ioni`c water-saluble polyethyoxylated compound having the general formula R - (:OCH2CH2)nOH
where R is a lipophilic group and n is a whole number.
Three factors generally restrict the type of surfactant which can be used. The surfactant must have a structure whi:ch enables it to form a solid adduct ~;th urea, and must also be sufficiently water soluble20 to give the desirable rapi:d foami:ng acti.on. Further, the rate of water solubility should be suffici:ently fast to gi:ve a rapi:d foaming capabili.ty to the foaming agent.
The lower value of n is limi:ted to that value which will confer water solubility to the lipophilic m~iety. For this purpose n must usually 25 be at least 6. I:ncreasing the value of n, i:n general, allows the phys;cal form of the non-ionic surfactant to vary from a li.quid (n= 9 to 14), to a semi-solid (:n - 12 to 14), -to a hard wax (n = 20 to 150). These ranges vary wi:th the particular lipophili:c groupO
Suitable li:pophi:li:c groups i:nclude mono or dialkyl phenols, 30 fatty carboxylic acids, and fatty alcohol residues.
: .. , . ,. . ~ :
- -The urea used in the process of the present invention isusually provided in the form of granules or pellets which are crushed to a fine powder prior to mixing with the surfactant. This step has been found to greatly influence the efficiency of adduct formations; in general, the finer the particle size of the urea the more rapid and complete the adduct formation.
The urea is combined with the surfactant in a ratio in the range of about 9:1 to 1:1 by weight respectively~ This range is not critical to the product formed, however, it is found to be a practical working range. With greater amounts of surfactants, the product formed tends to be waxy, slower to solidify, and slower dissolving in water~ while with lower amounts of surfactant, the urea is merely diluting the surfactant beyond practical limits. The most desirable compositions, that is those which solidify within a few days to form a urea adduct that is water soluble, result from using a urea to surfactant ratio of about 9:1 to 3:1 by weight respectively.
A urea-surfactant mixture derived from a liquid or semi-solid surfactant initially appears as a moist composition which solidifies - gradually as the urea adduct is formed to take on a dry appearance. This provides a simple visual assurance of complete adduct formation. The solid surfactants, on the other hand, are melted prior to combining with the urea. As the latter compositions solidify it is more difficult to ascertain whether, in fact, a urea adduct has formed, or the solid surfac-tant has merely resalidified unreacted.
- 25 To increase the lubricity of the urea-surfactant adduct during the compression step, a lubricant can be used. Incorporating with the adduct about 1 - 30% by ~eïght of a polyethylene glycol with an aver-age molecular weight between ~00 and 60QO has been found to facilitate in the compression of many of the drier compositions. These drier forms of the adduct result from using large amounts of the urea. Often, when lower amounts of urea are included in the adduct, the surfactant itself acts as a lubricant for the compres~ion. Other lubricants familiar to the art of tablet-pressing may be suitable.
The foaming agent is prepared by adding the liquid surfactant slowly with thorough mixing to the powdered urea, and lubricant if re-quired. If a solid or semi-solid surfactant is being used it is melted and added to the mixed urea-lubricant mixture. The resulting moist composition is allowed to s-olidify For 24 to 48 hours to form a dry, solid urea adduct. Often the adduct exists in hard clumps which are crushed in a suitable grinder. The adduct is then compressed at high pressures into a shape of size and density sufficient to enable it to be dropped to the bottom of a column oF water existing in a well borehole. Typically, the adduct is pressed into a cylindrical stick about 1.25" in diameter and 4.5" in length having a weight of about 4 ouncès.
The size and shape of the compressed foaming agent are re-stricted by the physical limitations of the well borehole. Usually thereis a 2 in. valve at the well head through which the compressed product must pass. The density of the foaming agent, once compressed, must be suf-ficiently greater than water to enable the product to drop through the - flooded borehole. Typically a density greater than 102 g/cm is suf-ficient for this purpose.
The compressed foaming agent when dropped into a flooded gas borehole, dissolves to lower the surface tension of the water. The reduced gas flow through th;s water causes foam generation, which foam is blown out of the well. If the flow oF gas in the gas well has been stopped by large quantities of water, an external source of compressed air is required to generate the foam.
The quantity of foaming agent required to remove the water necessarily vary with the depth,pressure and amount of water in the parti-cular well.
The 1ollowing example is illustrative of the present invention.
A urea adduct was formed by combining in the following . , . . -weighted am~unts:
20% polyethoxylated C12 - C15 linear alcohol containing 69%
ethylene oxide, or 20% polye-thoxylated C1O - C12 linear alcohol containing 60% ethyleneoxide;
75~ powdered ureai and 5% polyethylene glycol of molecular weight 4000.
The powdered urea and the polyèthylene glycol 4000 were intimately mixed. The polyethoxylated compound was melted at 35C
and added over 15 min. with m;xing to the urea-lubricant mixture.
After 3Q minutes of m;xing, the free flowing granular composition was run out and stored 24 to 48 hours to form a dry, granular urea adduct.
The adduct was compressed to 6000 psig into 4 ounce, 1.25 in. x 4 in. cylindrical sticks with the use of a hydraulic press. The product thus formed had a density of about 1.25 g/cm3.
The foaming agent thus formed was tested in a number of shallow gas wells having relatively low pressures and located in the Med;cine Hat and Milk River areas of Southern Alberta. The wells had an average depth of about 150Q to 3Q00 feet and a ~ottom hole pressure of about 400 to 50Q psi.
- 20 With the variation in depth, pressure and amount of water to be displaced in the wells, varying quantities of the foaming agent were used. Usually 1 to 4 sticks were dropped into the well and water unloading occurred within 7 to 25 minutes.
FEATURES AND ADVANTAGES
The following features and advantages are achieved by the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
(1) Ihe solub;lity rate in ~ater of the polyethoxylated non-ionic surfactant is improved due to the dispersed and finely divided state which is achieved in ~he urea adducts. This ult;~mately increases the speed at which foam can be generated in the water flo~ded well.
~9~
(2) Solidification of the surfactants with urea improves the temperature stability of the solid foaming agents.
Whereas many of -the prior art foaming agents were subject to melting at ambient temperatures.
Whereas many of -the prior art foaming agents were subject to melting at ambient temperatures.
(3) A large range of suitable surfactants can be utilized since both liquid and solid surfactants will form solid urea adducts.
(4) The density of the solid ~oaming agent is increased with the use of urea. Urea has a density of 1.34 g/cm3 so, when combined with the surfactant,results in a product which can be compressed to a density sufficient to enable it to drop through the water flooded borehole.
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Claims (14)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A process for producing a solid foaming agent body for the removal of water from a gas well comprising:
combining a water-soluble non-ionic polyethoxylated surfactant with urea to form a solid urea adduct; and compressing the urea adduct into a shape of size and density sufficient to enable it to drop to the bottom of the column of water expected to be existing in the well.
combining a water-soluble non-ionic polyethoxylated surfactant with urea to form a solid urea adduct; and compressing the urea adduct into a shape of size and density sufficient to enable it to drop to the bottom of the column of water expected to be existing in the well.
2. The process as set forth in claim 1 wherein:
the urea is mixed with the surfactant in a ratio in the range of about 1:1 to 9:1 by weight respectively.
the urea is mixed with the surfactant in a ratio in the range of about 1:1 to 9:1 by weight respectively.
3. The process as set forth in claim 2 comprising:
adding a lubricant to the urea adduct to aid in the com-pressing step.
adding a lubricant to the urea adduct to aid in the com-pressing step.
4. The process as set forth in claim 3 wherein:
the lubricant is a polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of about 400 to 6000.
the lubricant is a polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of about 400 to 6000.
5. The process as set forth in claim 2 and 3 wherein:
the surfactant is a polyethoxylated linear C12 - C15 alcohol.
the surfactant is a polyethoxylated linear C12 - C15 alcohol.
6. The process as set forth in claims 2 and 3 wherein:
the surfactant is a polyethoxylated linear C10 - C12 alcohol.
the surfactant is a polyethoxylated linear C10 - C12 alcohol.
7. A process for removing water from a gas well which comprises:
combining a water-soluble non-ionic polyethoxylated surfactant with urea to form a solid urea adduct;
compressing the urea adduct into a shape of size and density sufficient to enable it to drop to the bottom of the column of water expected to be existing in the well; and dropping the urea adduct into the water in a gas well and producing gas through the water to generate foam, thereby gradually removing said foam from the well.
combining a water-soluble non-ionic polyethoxylated surfactant with urea to form a solid urea adduct;
compressing the urea adduct into a shape of size and density sufficient to enable it to drop to the bottom of the column of water expected to be existing in the well; and dropping the urea adduct into the water in a gas well and producing gas through the water to generate foam, thereby gradually removing said foam from the well.
8. The process as set forth in claim 7 wherein:
the urea is mixed with the surfactant in a ratio in the range of about 1:1 to 9:1 by weight respectively.
the urea is mixed with the surfactant in a ratio in the range of about 1:1 to 9:1 by weight respectively.
9. The process as set forth in claim 8 comprising:
adding a lubricant to the urea adduct to aid in the compressing step.
adding a lubricant to the urea adduct to aid in the compressing step.
10. The process as set forth in claim 9 wherein:
the lubricant is a polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of about 400 to 6000.
the lubricant is a polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of about 400 to 6000.
11. The process as set forth in claims. 8 and 10 wherein:
the surfactant is a polyethoxylated linear C12 - C15 alcohol.
the surfactant is a polyethoxylated linear C12 - C15 alcohol.
12. The process. as. set forth in claims 8 and 10 wherein:
the surfactant is a polyethoxylated linear C10 - C12 alcohol.
the surfactant is a polyethoxylated linear C10 - C12 alcohol.
13. A process. for producing a solid foaming agent body for the removal of water from a gas well comprising:
combining a water-soluble surfactant with urea to form a solid urea adduct; and compressing the urea adduct into a shape of size and density sufficient to enable it to drop to the bottom of the column of water ex-pected to be existing in the well.
combining a water-soluble surfactant with urea to form a solid urea adduct; and compressing the urea adduct into a shape of size and density sufficient to enable it to drop to the bottom of the column of water ex-pected to be existing in the well.
14. A process for removing water from a gas well which comprises:
combining a water-soluble surfactant with urea to form a solid urea adduct;
compressing the urea adduct into a shape of size and density sufficient to enable it to drop to the bottom of the column of water expected to be existing in the well; and dropping the urea adduct into the water in the gas well and producing gas through the water to generate foam, thereby gradually removing foam from the well.
combining a water-soluble surfactant with urea to form a solid urea adduct;
compressing the urea adduct into a shape of size and density sufficient to enable it to drop to the bottom of the column of water expected to be existing in the well; and dropping the urea adduct into the water in the gas well and producing gas through the water to generate foam, thereby gradually removing foam from the well.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA320,507A CA1098688A (en) | 1979-01-30 | 1979-01-30 | Removal of water from gas well borehole with solid foaming agent |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA320,507A CA1098688A (en) | 1979-01-30 | 1979-01-30 | Removal of water from gas well borehole with solid foaming agent |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1098688A true CA1098688A (en) | 1981-04-07 |
Family
ID=4113418
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA320,507A Expired CA1098688A (en) | 1979-01-30 | 1979-01-30 | Removal of water from gas well borehole with solid foaming agent |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1098688A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7074258B2 (en) | 2001-04-04 | 2006-07-11 | Bp Exploration Operating Company Limited | Process for dehydrating gas |
-
1979
- 1979-01-30 CA CA320,507A patent/CA1098688A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7074258B2 (en) | 2001-04-04 | 2006-07-11 | Bp Exploration Operating Company Limited | Process for dehydrating gas |
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