Well treatment apparatus and method

Abstract

The current invention provides apparatus and methods for the downhole release of well treatment chemicals. In one aspect, the invention provides a method for the passive continuous release of well treatment chemicals. Another embodiment of the invention provides a method for selectively releasing well treatment chemicals. Further, the present invention provides a method for inhibiting scale formation in a production pipe string.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for delivering well treatment chemicals to a downhole region of a wellbore comprising the steps of: 
 placing at least one well treatment chemical within a well treatment device;    attaching the well treatment device to a pipe string;    positioning the pipe string in the wellbore;    releasing the well treatment chemicals.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein an interior of the treatment device is in fluid communication with the wellbore.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the treatment device includes a valve moveable between an open and a closed position, wherein the open position permits fluid communication between the interior of the treatment device and the wellbore; and, wherein the step of releasing the well treatment chemicals is achieved by selectively opening the treatment device to permit fluid communication between the interior of the treatment device and the wellbore.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the treatment device is selectively opened by means selected from the group consisting of dynamic pressure variance activation, passive pressure activation, temperature activation, electronic activation, seismic activation, flow constituent activation, pH activation, sonic activation, acoustic activation, mechanical activation.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , including the additional step of retrieving and replacing the treatment device.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of contacting the well treatment chemicals with a fluid passing through the pipe string, wherein the contact releases the well treatment chemicals.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the treatment chemical is selected from the group consisting of scale inhibitors, paraffin deposition inhibitors, viscosity breakers, gas hydrate suppressor, emulsion breakers, oxygen scavengers, oxidizers, esters, corrosion inhibitors, hydrogen sulfide scavengers, biocides and ashless dispersants or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the contacting step comprises contact with a production fluid and the well treatment chemical chemically reacts with at least one component of the production fluid.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , including the additional step of retrieving and replacing the treatment device.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the treatment chemical is released at a predetermined temperature, pressure or pH.  
     
     
         11 . A method for the controlled delivery of at least one well treatment chemical to a downhole region of a wellbore comprising the steps of: 
 placing at least one well treatment chemical within at least one well treatment device;    attaching the well treatment device to a pipe string, the well treatment device having at least one valve, the valve being movable between a closed position and an open position, when placed in the open position the valve permits fluid communication between the interior of the well treatment device and the interior of the pipe string;    positioning the pipe string in the wellbore;    passing fluid through pipe string, and,    selectively opening and closing the valve on the well treatment device thereby controlling the release of the well treatment chemical.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising contacting the well treatment chemical with the fluid passing through said pipe string thereby releasing the well treatment chemicals from the treatment device.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the treatment device is selectively opened by means selected from the group consisting of dynamic pressure variance activation, passive pressure activation, temperature activation, electronic activation, seismic activation, flow constituent activation, pH activation, sonic activation, acoustic activation, mechanical activation.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the treatment chemicals is selected from the group consisting of scale inhibitors, paraffin deposition inhibitors, viscosity breakers, gas hydrate suppressor, emulsion breakers, oxygen scavengers, oxidizers, esters, corrosion inhibitors, hydrogen sulfide scavengers, biocides and ashless dispersants and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the well treatment chemical chemically reacts with at least one produced fluid from a formation penetrated by the wellbore.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of releasing the well treatment chemical in response to a change in wellbore temperature, wellbore pressure or pH of fluid located in the wellbore or any combination thereof.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , including the additional step of retrieving and replacing the treatment device.  
     
     
         18 . A downhole well treatment system comprising: 
 a pipe string;    at least one well treatment device carried by the pipe string; and,    at least one well treatment chemical located within the well treatment device.    
     
     
         19 . The downhole well treatment system of  claim 18 , wherein the well treatment device has at least one valve, the valve having a closed position and an open position and the interior of the treatment device is in fluid communication with the interior of the pipe string when the valve is in the open position.  
     
     
         20 . The downhole well treatment system of  claim 19 , wherein the valve is selectively operable between the first and the second position.  
     
     
         21 . The downhole well treatment system of  claim 18 , wherein the treatment device is positioned within or on a pipe string component selected from the group consisting of a prepacked well filter, a slotted liner, coiled tubing, side pocket mandrel, sand control screen devices, steel tubing, velocity tubing strings, siphon tubing strings, fiberglass tubing, tubings made of composite materials, dump bailing devices and plastic tubing.  
     
     
         22 . The downhole well treatment system of  claim 18 , wherein the well treatment chemical is selected from the group consisting of scale inhibitors, paraffin deposition inhibitors, viscosity breakers, gas hydrate suppressor, emulsion breakers, oxygen scavengers, oxidizers, esters, corrosion inhibitors, hydrogen sulfide scavengers, biocides and ashless dispersants and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         23 . The downhole well treatment system of  claim 18 , wherein the system includes a means for controlling the release of the well treatment chemicals.  
     
     
         24 . The downhole well treatment system of  claim 23 , wherein the means for controlling the release of the well treatment chemicals is selected from the group of dynamic pressure variance activated valves, passive pressure activated valves, temperature activated valves, electronically activated valves, seismically activated valves, flow constituent activated valves, pH activated membranes, sonic activated valves, acoustically activated valves, mechanically activated valves.  
     
     
         25 . The downhole well treatment system of  claim 18 , wherein the treatment device is fitted with at least one latch.  
     
     
         26 . A downhole well treatment system comprising: 
 a pipe string;    at least one well treatment device carried by the pipe string, the well treatment device having at least one valve, the valve having a closed position and an open position, the interior of the treatment device is in fluid communication with the interior of the pipe string when the valve is in the open position;    well treatment chemicals located within the well treatment device; and,    means for selectively operating the valve between the closed and the open positions.    
     
     
         27 . The downhole well treatment system of  claim 26 , wherein the treatment device is fitted with at least one latch.  
     
     
         28 . The downhole well treatment system of  claim 26 , wherein the well treatment chemical is selected from the group consisting of scale inhibitors, paraffin deposition inhibitors, viscosity breakers, gas hydrate suppressor, emulsion breakers, oxygen scavengers, oxidizers, esters, corrosion inhibitors, hydrogen sulfide scavengers, biocides and ashless dispersants and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         29 . The downhole well treatment system of  claim 26 , wherein the well treatment device is located on the exterior of the pipe string.  
     
     
         30 . The downhole well treatment system of  claim 26 , wherein the well treatment device is located on the interior of the pipe string.  
     
     
         31 . The downhole well treatment system of  claim 26 , wherein the means for controlling the release of the well treatment chemicals is selected from the group of dynamic pressure variance activated valves, passive pressure activated valves, temperature activated valves, electronically activated valves, seismically activated valves, flow constituent activated valves, pH activated membranes, sonic activated valves, acoustically activated valves, mechanically activated valves.  
     
     
         32 . A method inhibiting the formation of scale on downhole metallic components comprising the steps of: 
 placing at least one scale inhibiting chemical within at least one well treatment device;    attaching the well treatment device to a pipe string;    positioning the pipe string in the wellbore;    releasing the well treatment chemicals.    
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the treatment device includes a valve moveable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the open position permits fluid communication between the interior of the treatment device and the wellbore; and, wherein the step of releasing the well treatment chemicals is achieved by selectively opening the treatment device to permit fluid communication between the interior of the treatment device and the wellbore.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , including the additional step of retrieving and replacing the treatment device.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the treatment device is selectively opened by means selected from the group consisting of dynamic pressure variance activation, passive pressure activation, temperature activation, electronic activation, seismic activation, flow constituent activation, pH activation, sonic activation, acoustic activation, mechanical activation.