Elution systems for treatment of subterranean reservoirs

Abstract

Methods for treating a producing wellbore of a subterranean reservoir include obtaining a side stream flow of a produced fluid from a production tube of the wellbore at a location above the surface of the earth; providing an eluting contact of the side stream flow of produced fluid with a treatment material to form a side stream flow of treated produced fluid; and directing the side stream flow of treated produced fluid into the wellbore at a point below the surface of the earth. Apparatuses suitable for carrying out the methods include an elution device fluidly connected to a side stream of produced fluid flowing above the surface of the earth and situated to direct the side stream toward the elution device to provide an eluting contact of the produced fluid with a treatment material disposed in the elution device, then direct the treated produced fluid into the wellbore.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An elution kit comprising an elution device having a top and a bottom and defining an interior volume defining an outlet therefrom, the outlet situated on or proximal to the bottom of the elution device and appended by a first connector, wherein the interior volume comprises a treatment material;
 a conduit having conduit first end and conduit second end, wherein conduit first end is appended by first mated connector for mating with the first connector of the elution device to form a sealed fluid connection, and   wherein conduit second end is appended by a second connector, wherein the second connector is adapted and configured to obtain a fluid connection with a flow of produced fluid from a production tube of a wellbore.   
     
     
         2 . The elution kit of  claim 1  wherein the first connector and the first mated connector are a first rapid connection pair independently selected from push-to-connect connection pairs or threaded connection pairs. 
     
     
         3 . The elution kit of  claim 1  wherein the flow of produced fluid is received from a wellbore side stream of the production tube. 
     
     
         4 . The elution kit of  claim 1  wherein the kit excludes external or applied sources of power to receive the flow of produced fluid. 
     
     
         5 . The elution kit of  claim 1  wherein the treatment material is a solid treatment material or composite treatment material. 
     
     
         6 . The elution kit of  claim 5  wherein the solid treatment material or the composite treatment material includes two or more treatment materials having different solubility in a produced fluid. 
     
     
         7 . The elution kit of  claim 1  wherein the elution device further comprises a valve proximal to the outlet. 
     
     
         8 . A method of using the mobile elution kit of  claim 1 , wherein the method includes the steps in order of: a) assembling the mobile elution kit to form a passive elution system in fluid contact with a wellbore; b) treating the wellbore by allowing an eluting contact of a produced water from the wellbore with the treatment material; and c) disassembling the passive elution system to reform the mobile elution kit. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein steps a)-c) are repeated 2 to 10,000 times. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising transporting the mobile elution kit after any one or more step c). 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein assembling the mobile elution kit comprises disposing the elution device on or above the surface of the earth. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8  wherein allowing the eluting contact comprises allowing the treatment material to flow from the interior volume of the elution device and through the outlet, facilitated by gravity. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the elution device further comprises a valve proximal to the outlet, and the flow is a selected rate of flow. 
     
     
         14 . A passive elution system comprising:
 an elution device defining an interior volume having an outlet therefrom, the outlet situated at or proximal to a bottom of the elution device, wherein the interior volume comprises a treatment material, and wherein the elution device excludes an inlet; and   a conduit arranged and adapted to receive a produced fluid flow from a wellbore of a subterranean reservoir at a location above a surface of the earth, direct the produced fluid flow to provide an eluting contact with the treatment material at the outlet or proximal to the outlet to form a treated produced fluid flow, and direct the treated produced fluid flow into the wellbore.   
     
     
         15 . The passive elution system of  claim 14  wherein the elution device defines an access opening, and a removable cap covering the access opening. 
     
     
         16 . The passive elution system of  claim 14  wherein the elution device is a single-use cartridge that is pre-loaded with the treatment material. 
     
     
         17 . The passive elution system of  claim 14  wherein the elution device comprises a basket affixed thereto and positioned beneath the outlet, and the treatment material is a treatment solid or a composite treatment solid. 
     
     
         18 . The passive elution system of  claim 14  wherein the elution device is one part of a mobile elution kit. 
     
     
         19 . The passive elution system of  claim 14  wherein the treatment material is a solid treatment material or composite treatment material. 
     
     
         20 . The passive elution system of  claim 14  wherein the composite treatment material includes two or more treatment materials having different solubility in a produced fluid. 
     
     
         21 . The passive elution system of  claim 14  wherein allowing the eluting contact comprises allowing the treatment material to flow from the interior volume of the elution device and through the outlet, facilitated by gravity. 
     
     
         22 . The passive elution system of  claim 21  wherein the elution device further comprises a valve proximal to the outlet, and the flow is a selected rate of flow.