Compositions comprising non-halogenated solvents for use in oil and/or gas wells and related methods

Abstract

Compositions comprising non-halogenated solvents for use in various aspects of a life cycle of an oil and/or gas well, and related methods, are provided. In some embodiments, the composition comprises a solvent blend and one or more surfactants. In some embodiments, the solvent blend comprises a first type of solvent (e.g., a terpene) and a second type of solvent (e.g., a non-halogenated solvent). The composition may comprise about 90 wt % to 99.9 wt % of the solvent blend, and about 0.1 wt % to 10 wt % of one or more surfactants, versus the total weight of the composition. In some embodiments, compositions can be used in methods for treating an oil and/or gas well, having a wellbore that comprises one or more fluids. A composition may be delivered into the wellbore, passing through the one or more fluids to reduce residues comprising asphaltenes, paraffins or combinations thereof on or near the wellbore.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A composition for treating an oil and/or gas well having a wellbore, comprising:
 a solvent blend comprising a water-immiscible hydrocarbon liquid comprising a terpene and a non-halogenated solvent; and   one or more surfactants.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the terpene comprises d-limonene, dipentene, alpha terpineol, alpha pinene, beta pinene, and/or eucalyptol. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the non-halogenated solvent comprises butyl 3-hydroxybutanoate and/or a non-halogenated aromatic ester solvent comprising an ester of a salicylate, an ester of a benzoate, an ester of a cinnamate, and/or an ester of a phthalate. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more surfactants comprises a nonionic surfactant comprising an ethoxylated castor oil, an ethoxylated sorbitan ester, an ethoxylated alcohol, an ethoxylated tristyrylphenol, an ethoxylated fatty acid, an ethoxylated fatty amide, and/or a sorbitan ester. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises from about 90 wt % to about 99.9 wt % of the solvent blend versus the total weight of the composition and from about 0.1 wt % to about 10 wt % of the one or more surfactants versus the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the terpene is present in an amount from about 1 wt % to about 50 wt % versus the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the non-halogenated solvent is present in an amount from about 40 wt % to about 98.9 wt % versus the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more surfactants is present in an amount from about 0.1 wt % to about 2 wt % versus the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is free of any solid additives and/or emulsified additives. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition has a density of at least 1.01 g/mL. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the water-immiscible hydrocarbon liquid further comprises an amine solvent. 
     
     
         12 . A method of treating an oil and/or gas well having a wellbore, wherein the wellbore comprises one or more fluids, comprising:
 delivering a composition into the wellbore, wherein the composition comprises:
 a solvent blend comprising a water-immiscible hydrocarbon liquid comprising a terpene and a non-halogenated solvent; and 
 one or more surfactants; and 
   causing the composition to travel through the one or more fluids to reduce residues on the wellbore or near the wellbore.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the composition comprises from about 90 wt % to about 99.9 wt % of the solvent blend versus the total weight of the composition and from about 0.1 wt % to about 10 wt % of the one or more surfactants versus the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein after the composition travels through the one or more fluids, the composition separates from the one or more fluids to form a first layer comprising the composition beneath a second layer comprising the one or more fluids. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the residues comprise a kerogen, asphaltene, paraffin, and/or organic scale. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the composition has a density of at least 1.01 g/mL. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the terpene comprises d-limonene, dipentene, alpha terpineol, alpha pinene, beta pinene, and/or eucalyptol. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more surfactants comprises a nonionic surfactant comprising an ethoxylated castor oil, an ethoxylated sorbitan ester, an ethoxylated alcohol, an ethoxylated tristyrylphenol, an ethoxylated fatty acid, an ethoxylated fatty amide, and/or a sorbitan ester. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the terpene is present in an amount from about 1 wt % to about 50 wt % versus the total weight of the composition, the non-halogenated solvent is present in an amount from about 40 wt % to about 98.9 wt % versus the total weight of the composition, and/or the one or more surfactants is present in an amount from about 0.1 wt % to about 2 wt % versus the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the composition is free of any solid additives and/or emulsified additives. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the non-halogenated solvent comprises butyl 3-hydroxybutanoate and/or a non-halogenated aromatic ester solvent comprising an ester of a salicylate, an ester of a benzoate, an ester of a cinnamate, and/or an ester of a phthalate. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the water-immiscible hydrocarbon liquid further comprises an amine solvent.