Intensification of the process of decomposition of oil-water emulsions stabilized with hydrochloric acid

Development and Exploitation of Oil and Gas Fields, Samara State Technical University, Samara, Russia

Abstract

The major goal of oil and gas companies working in the oilfields on the late stages of development is to maintain a high level of hydrocarbon production. Analysis of well intervention techniques (WITs) in the oilfields of the Samara Region shows that most often the bottomhole area is treated with reagents containing hydrochloric acid, which significantly effects the efficiency of well fluid preparation processes. The paper summarizes the results of studies of the impact of hydrochloric acid on the rheological and near-surface properties of water-in-oil emulsions (WOEs). It is shown that the presence of acid and/or products of its reaction with the oil increases the stability of the water-in-oil emulsion. To enhance the process of decomposition of the water-in-oil emulsion stabilized with hydrochloric acid, a reagent was developed based on the non-ionic surfactants, alkaline agent and solvent, providing a significant reduction of the viscosity of water-in-oil emulsions and improving the efficiency of their decomposition.