Method of introducing treatment agents into a well or flow conduit

Abstract

A treatment agent retained in a housing may be slowly and continuously released into a targeted area in a well or in a flow conduit. The housing contains a confinement area. Movement of the treatment agent is limited in the confinement area by a retainer.

1 . A method of introducing a treatment agent in a well or in a flow conduit extending from a well comprising:
 (a) retaining a soluble treatment agent within a housing located externally from a well;   (b) introducing fluid into the housing and moving at least a portion of the fluid over the retained soluble treatment agent, wherein at least a portion of the retained soluble treatment agent is dissolved in the fluid;   (c) flowing the fluid containing the dissolved treatment agent out of the housing; and   (d) flowing the fluid of step (c) into the annulus of the well or into a flow conduit extending from the well.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid introduced into the housing in step (b) is water, oil or a mixture of oil and water. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the soluble treatment agent is retained in the housing by a screen or porous media. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the soluble treatment agent is retained in the housing within a perforated sleeve. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid is introduced into the housing at the top of the housing and wherein the fluid exits the housing at the bottom. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid is introduced into the housing at the bottom of the housing and wherein the fluid exits the housing at the top. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid is introduced into the housing at a side of the housing and wherein the fluid exits the housing at the opposite side. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein an unobstructed continuous channel extends from the top of the housing to the bottom of the housing. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the soluble treatment agent is a composite of a water soluble or oil soluble treatment agent adsorbed onto a water insoluble or oil insoluble adsorbent. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the soluble treatment agent is selected from the group consisting of corrosion inhibitors, scale inhibitors, paraffin inhibitors, gas hydrate inhibitors, salt formation inhibitors, asphaltene dispersants, foaming agents, hydrogen sulfide scavengers, oxygen scavengers, biocides and surfactants. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the soluble treatment agent is a scale inhibitor. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the water insoluble adsorbent is diatomaceous earth. 
     
     
         13 . A method of delivering a treatment agent into the annulus of a well comprising:
 (a) retaining a soluble treatment agent in a confinement area in a housing located externally from the well;   (b) introducing fluid into the housing and traversing the fluid over or through the confinement area and dissolving at least a portion of the treatment agent into the traversed fluid;   (c) flowing the traversed water containing the treatment agent into the annulus of the well; and   (d) releasing the treatment agent into the annulus of the well.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the well is a production well. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the soluble treatment agent is retained in the housing by a screen, a porous media or within a perforated sleeve. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein either:
 (a) the fluid is introduced to the housing at the top of the housing and the traversed fluid containing the dissolved treatment agent exits the housing at the bottom of the housing;   (b) the fluid is introduced to the housing at the bottom of the housing and the traversed fluid containing the dissolved treatment agent exits the housing at the top of the housing; or   (c) the fluid is introduced to the housing at the side of the housing and the traversed fluid containing the dissolved treatment agent exits the housing at the opposite side of the housing.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the soluble treatment agent is a composite of a water soluble or oil soluble treatment agent adsorbed onto a water insoluble or oil insoluble adsorbent. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the soluble treatment agent is selected from the group consisting of corrosion inhibitors, scale inhibitors, paraffin inhibitors, gas hydrate inhibitors, salt formation inhibitors, asphaltene dispersants, foaming agents, hydrogen sulfide scavengers, oxygen scavengers, biocides and surfactants. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the water insoluble adsorbent is diatomaceous earth. 
     
     
         19 . A method of delivering a chemical treatment agent into a flow conduit downstream of a producing well comprising:
 (a) moving produced fluid from the well through a flow conduit;   (b) transporting the produced fluid from the flow conduit through a housing containing a solid chemical treatment agent and dissolving a portion of the solid chemical treatment agent in the produced fluid, wherein the solid chemical treatment agent is retained in the housing during movement of the produced fluid through the housing; and   (c) delivering the produced fluid containing the dissolved chemical treatment agent into the flow conduit.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the chemical treatment agent is retained in the housing by a screen, porous media or within a perforated sleeve. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein either:
 (a) the fluid is introduced to the housing at the top of the housing and the traversed fluid containing the dissolved treatment agent exits the housing at the bottom of the housing;   (b) the fluid is introduced to the housing at the bottom of the housing and the traversed fluid containing the dissolved treatment agent exits the housing at the top of the housing; or   (c) the fluid is introduced to the housing at the side of the housing and the traversed fluid containing the dissolved treatment agent exits the housing at the opposite side of the housing.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the chemical treatment agent is a composite of a water soluble or oil soluble chemical treatment agent adsorbed onto a water insoluble or oil insoluble adsorbent. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the chemical treatment agent is selected from the group consisting of corrosion inhibitors, scale inhibitors, paraffin inhibitors, gas hydrate inhibitors, salt formation inhibitors, asphaltene dispersants, foaming agents, oxygen scavengers, biocides and surfactants. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the water insoluble adsorbent is diatomaceous earth.