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Publication Number
US-11499089-B2
Publication Date
2022-11-15
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to biocide compositions, formulations and methods for using formulations. In particular the present disclosure relates to biocide compositions and their use in effecting biocidal activity in subterranean oil and gas wells being drilled, completed, worked over or produced.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to controlling biofilms and bacterial growth in gas or oil well equipment by using an aqueous, oxidizing biocide comprising a stabilized hypochlorous acid solution having a pH of at least 11, together with a water soluble bromide ion source. The biocide is defined by specified ranges of chlorine source, stabilizer, base, bromide ion source, and water, and is used in connection with well components that include crosslinkers, gelling agents, friction reducers, or surfactants.
A core aspect is that the biocide system uses a stabilized hypochlorous acid solution at high pH and introduces a bromide ion source so that hypobromous acid (HOBr) is generated for antimicrobial control. The invention is directed to treating gas or oil well equipment and treating water in a gas or oil well, including use with compositions present in well operations such as crosslinkers, gelling agents, friction reducers, or surfactants.
The invention further emphasizes compatibility with gelled frac fluids and maintenance of antimicrobial performance, including functional constraints relating to gel stability after treatment and not consuming total chlorine. In the described embodiments, the biocide provides a chlorine residual for up to about 24 hours after treating, and the approach is framed for controlling biofilms on gas or oil well equipment and for controlling bacterial growth in a frac fluid.
Claims Coverage
The partial content provides three independent claims, each centered on using a stabilized hypochlorous acid (pH at least 11) oxidizing biocide combined with a water soluble bromide ion source, with compositions defined by weight-percentage ranges and compatibility with oilfield additives. The independent claims cover three inventive features.
Treating gas or oil well equipment with stabilized HOCl biocide plus bromide ion source
Treat the gas or oil well equipment with an aqueous, oxidizing biocide comprising a stabilized hypochlorous acid solution having a pH of at least 11, and a water soluble bromide ion source, wherein the aqueous, oxidizing biocide contains about 1% by weight to about 20% by weight of a chlorine source, about 1% by weight to about 20% by weight of a stabilizer, about 5% by weight to about 10% by weight of a base, about 0.1% by weight to about 15% by weight of a water soluble bromide ion source, and about 35% by weight to about 92.9% by weight of water, and the oil or gas well equipment contains one or more crosslinkers, gelling agents, friction reducers, or surfactants.
Treating water in a gas or oil well with stabilized HOCl biocide plus bromide ion source
Treat the gas or oil well with an aqueous, oxidizing biocide comprising a stabilized hypochlorous acid solution having a pH of at least 11, and a water soluble bromide ion source, wherein the aqueous, oxidizing biocide contains about 1% by weight to about 20% by weight of a chlorine source, about 1% by weight to about 20% by weight of a stabilizer, about 5% by weight to about 10% by weight of a base, about 0.1% by weight to about 15% by weight of a water soluble bromide ion source, and about 35% by weight to about 92.9% by weight of water, and the water in the oil or gas well contains one or more compositions crosslinkers, gelling agents, friction reducers, or surfactants.
Controlling bacterial growth in a frac fluid with stabilized HOCl biocide plus bromide ion source
Treat the frac fluid with an aqueous, oxidizing biocide composition comprising a stabilized hypochlorous acid solution having a pH of at least 11, and a water soluble bromide ion source, wherein the aqueous, oxidizing biocide contains about 1% by weight to about 20% by weight of a chlorine source, about 1% by weight to about 20% by weight of a stabilizer, about 5% by weight to about 10% by weight of a base, about 0.1% by weight to about 15% by weight of a water soluble bromide ion source, and about 35% by weight to about 92.9% by weight of water; and the frac fluid contains one or more compositions crosslinkers, gelling agents, friction reducers, or surfactants.
Across the independent claims, the inventive coverage focuses on applying an aqueous oxidizing biocide that is a stabilized hypochlorous acid solution at pH of at least 11 in combination with a water soluble bromide ion source, with defined weight-percentage composition ranges for chlorine source, stabilizer, base, bromide ion source, and water, and with the biocide used in the presence of crosslinkers, gelling agents, friction reducers, or surfactants in gas or oil well equipment, well water, and frac fluids.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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