Method for inhibiting scale formation in oil wells

Abstract

An illustrative method of reducing an amount of treatment water injected into a subterranean well may include providing an environmentally friendly polymer, such as a biodegradable polymer (e.g., an aspartic acid based polymer), to the subterranean well. In some cases, the aspartic acid based polymer may include one or more of a copolymer of the aspartic acid based polymer, a terpolymer of the aspartic acid based polymer, an aspartic acid based polymer derivative, an aspartic acid based polymer having an end cap, and a soluble salt of the aspartic acid based polymer. In some cases, the treatment water use may be reduced within the range of about five percent to about ninety five percent.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for reducing an amount of water injected into a subterranean well comprising providing an aspartic acid based polymer to the subterranean well. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the aspartic acid based polymer includes one or more of a copolymer of the aspartic acid based polymer, a terpolymer of the aspartic acid based polymer, an aspartic acid based polymer derivative, an aspartic acid based polymer having an end cap, and a soluble salt of the aspartic acid based polymer. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the aspartic acid based polymer is polysuccinimide and/or a derivative of polysuccinimide. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the aspartic acid based polymer is made from at least one dibasic acid. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one dibasic acid is at least one of L-aspartic acid, maleic anhydride, fumaric acid, glutamic acid, gluataric acid, adipic acid, succinic acid, tartaric acid, malic acid, and/or maliemic acid. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the aspartic acid based polymer is an polyaspartic acid sodium salt. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the aspartic acid based polymer to the subterranean well further comprises providing the aspartic acid based polymer at a specified concentration in a fluid. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the specified concentration of the aspartic acid based polymer is within a range from about 1 part per million (ppm) to about 10000 ppm. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the specified concentration of the aspartic acid based polymer includes a concentration of polyaspartic acid and/or a polyaspartic acid salt at within a range between about 1 part per million (ppm) to about 1000 ppm. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising inhibiting crystallization and/or precipitation of sodium chloride. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising injecting a combination of the aspartic acid based polymer and treatment water from at least one water source. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one water source includes one or more of a surface water source, a well water source, a reclaimed water source, a waste water source, a production water source and/or a fracturing fluid source. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising reducing an amount of treatment water injected into the subterranean well by about 5 percent to about 95 percent. 
     
     
         14 . A method for inhibiting scale formation in a subterranean well, the method comprising:
 providing treatment water into the subterranean well; and   providing an aspartic acid based polymer to the subterranean well.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising adjusting a concentration of the aspartic acid based polymer in the treatment water. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising:
 injecting the treatment water into the subterranean well at a first specified rate; and   adjusting a rate of injection of the treatment water into the subterranean well to a second rate of injection, wherein the second rate of injection is less than a first rate of injection.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the aspartic acid based polymer is provided to the subterranean well with the treatment water at a concentration between 1 part per million (ppm) and 1000 ppm. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the aspartic acid based polymer is provided into the subterranean well at a rate that results in a specified concentration of the aspartic acid based polymer in the treatment water between about 25 parts per million (ppm) and 500 ppm. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising inhibiting sodium chloride scale within a formation matrix associated with the subterranean well and/or on equipment associated with the subterranean well. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , comprising inhibiting at least one of a calcium carbonate scale formation and a barium sulfate scale formation. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the aspartic acid based polymer is polysuccinimide and/or a derivative of polysuccinimide. 
     
     
         22 . A system for minimizing scale formation in a subterranean well comprising:
 a water source, wherein water is obtained from the water source and provided to the subterranean well to at least partially inhibit scale formation within the subterranean well; and   an aspartic acid based polymer, wherein the aspartic acid based polymer is provided to the subterranean well at a specified concentration in the water obtained from the water source.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , further comprising a controller, the controller for controlling a rate of flow of the water provided to the subterranean well and/or for controlling the a concentration of the aspartic acid based polymer in the water provided to the subterranean well. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the controller is configured to minimize an amount of water used from the water source by adjusting the rate of flow of the water provided to the subterranean well and/or the concentration of the aspartic acid based polymer. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 22 , further comprising a pump configured to obtain a formation fluid from the subterranean well. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein a combination of the water and the aspartic acid based polymer minimizes scale formation on surfaces associated with the pump and/or within a formation matrix associated with the subterranean well.