Contamination-resistant sand control apparatus and method for preventing contamination of sand control devices

Abstract

The present invention relates to a contamination-resistant sand control apparatus and a method for preventing the contamination of sand control devices. More particularly, the invention involves placing time-release treatment chemicals in a flow channel that communicates with the sand control device. The treatment chemicals take the form of time-release capsules or are coated on a surface of the sand control device and may include scale inhibitors, paraffin inhibitors, asphaltene inhibitors, enzymes and the like. The treatment chemicals prevent and clear the formation and buildup of particulates on a surface of the sand control apparatus.

1 . A method of preventing contamination of a downhole device adapted to be placed inside a wellbore, comprising the step of: 
 placing at least one time-release treatment chemical in a flow channel that communicates with the downhole device.    
   
   
       2 . The method of preventing contamination of a downhole device according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one time-release treatment chemical is selected from a group consisting of one or more scale inhibitors, paraffin inhibitors, asphaltene inhibitors, enzymes and any combination thereof.  
   
   
       3 . The method of preventing contamination of a downhole device according to  claim 2  wherein the one or more scale inhibitors is selected from a group consisting of one or more phosphates, organic esthers and any combination thereof.  
   
   
       4 . The method of preventing contamination of a downhole device according to  claim 2  wherein the one or more parrafin inhibitors is selected from a group consisting of heavy aromatic naphtha, napthenic distillates, C-20-C-28 Olefins, Trimethylbenzene and any combination thereof.  
   
   
       5 . The method of preventing contamination of a downhole device according to  claim 2  wherein the one or more asphaltene inhibitors comprises Targon.  
   
   
       6 . The method of preventing contamination of a downhole device according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one time-release treatment chemical is encapsulated.  
   
   
       7 . The method of preventing contamination of a downhole device according to  claim 6  wherein the at least one time-release treatment chemical capsule is approximately 1 to 5 millimeters in diameter.  
   
   
       8 . The method of preventing contamination of a downhole device according to  claim 1  wherein the downhole device is selected from a group consisting of gravel packs, pre-packed screens, and all-metal screens.  
   
   
       9 . A method of preventing contamination of a sand control device adapted to be placed inside of a wellbore, comprising the step of: 
 disposing at least one time-release treatment chemical within, or adhering it to, a surface of the sand control device.    
   
   
       10 . The method of preventing contamination of a sand control device according to  claim 9  wherein the at least one time-release treatment chemical is selected from a group consisting of one or more scale inhibitors, paraffin inhibitors, asphaltene inhibitors, enzymes and any combination thereof.  
   
   
       11 . The method of preventing contamination of a sand control device according to  claim 10  wherein the one or more scale inhibitors is selected from a group consisting of one or more phosphates, organic esthers and any combination thereof.  
   
   
       12 . The method of preventing contamination of a sand control device according to  claim 10  wherein the one or more parrafin inhibitors is selected from a group consisting of one or more heavy aromatic naphtha, napthenic distillates, C-20-C-28 Olefins, Trimethylbenzene and any combination thereof.  
   
   
       13 . The method of preventing contamination of a sand control device according to  claim 10  wherein the one or more asphaltene inhibitors comprises Targon.  
   
   
       14 . The method of preventing contamination of a sand control device according to  claim 9  wherein the at least one time-release treatment chemical is encapsulated.  
   
   
       15 . The method of preventing contamination of a sand control device according to  claim 14  wherein the at least one time-release treatment chemical capsule is approximately 1 to 5 millimeters in diameter.  
   
   
       16 . The method of preventing contamination of a sand control device according to  claim 9  wherein the at least one time release treatment chemical is coated on a surface of the sand control device.  
   
   
       17 . The method of preventing contamination of a sand control device according to  claim 16  wherein a layer of sacrificial metal is coated over the at least one time release treatment chemical.  
   
   
       18 . The method of preventing contamination of a sand control device according to  claim 17  wherein the layer of sacrificial metal comprises zinc.  
   
   
       19 . The method of preventing contamination of sand control devices according to  claim 9  wherein the sand control device is selected from a group consisting of gravel packs, pre-packed screens, and all-metal screens.  
   
   
       20 . The method of preventing contamination of sand control devices according to  claim 9  wherein the at least one time-release treatment chemical is adhered to a surface of the sand control device using latex and a fatty acid material with C-18 unsaturated diamer acid mixtures.  
   
   
       21 . A contamination-resistant sand control device comprising: 
 at least one time-release treatment chemical disposed within, or adhered to, a surface of the sand control device.    
   
   
       22 . The contamination-resistant sand control device according to  claim 21  wherein the at least one time-release treatment chemical is selected from a group consisting of one or more scale inhibitors, paraffin inhibitors, asphaltene inhibitors, enzymes and any combination thereof.  
   
   
       23 . The contamination-resistant sand control device according to  claim 22  wherein the one or more scale inhibitors is selected from a group consisting of one or more phosphates, organic esthers and any combination thereof.  
   
   
       24 . The contamination-resistant sand control device according to  claim 22  wherein the one or more paraffin inhibitors is selected from a group consisting of one or more heavy aromatic naphtha, napthenic distillates, C-20-C-28 Olefins, Trimethylbenzene and any combination thereof.  
   
   
       25 . The contamination-resistant sand control device according to  claim 22  wherein the one or more asphaltene inhibitors consists of Targon.  
   
   
       26 . The contamination-resistant sand control device according to  claim 21  wherein the at least one time-release treatment chemical is encapsulated.  
   
   
       27 . The contamination-resistant sand control device according to  claim 26  wherein the at least one time-release treatment chemical capsule is approximately 1 to 5 millimeters in diameter.  
   
   
       28 . The contamination-resistant sand control device according to  claim 21  wherein the sand control device is selected from a group consisting of gravel packs, pre-packed screens, and all-metal screens.  
   
   
       29 . The contamination-resistant sand control device according to  claim 21  wherein the at least one time-release treatment chemical is adhered to a surface of the sand control device using latex and a fatty acid material with C-18 unsaturated diamer acid mixtures.  
   
   
       30 . The contamination-resistant sand control device according to  claim 21  wherein the at least one time release treatment chemical is coated on a surface of the sand control device.  
   
   
       31 . The contamination-resistant sand control device according to  claim 30  wherein a layer of sacrificial metal is coated over the at least one time release treatment chemical.  
   
   
       32 . The contamination-resistant sand control device according to  claim 31  wherein the layer of sacrificial metal comprises zinc.