Method for Stimulating a Petroleum Well

Abstract

The addition of one or more stimulants to a petroleum well in order to enhance the production of the well. If the well is suffering from asphaltene or paraffin build tip, the well may be heated either chemically or with steam prior to introduction of the stimulant. Additionally, a solvent may be added to dissolve the asphaltenes and paraffins. The stimulants are allowed to soak into the formation and then the well is returned to production. The stimulants increase the ability of oil to flow through the formation and decrease the ability of water to flow through the formation by coating the water wet portions of the formation with oil soluble chemicals. The stimulants also decrease the viscosity of the oil in formation.

1 . A method of stimulating the production of a petroleum well comprising: 
 pumping a first stimulant into the well, wherein said first stimulant comprises dipentene; ethoxylated linear alcohol; a solvent comprised of naphtha; a product formed from the reaction of alpha olephin with maleic anhydride; and a surfactant.    
     
     
         2 . A method of stimulating the production of a petroleum well according to  claim 1  wherein said dipentene comprises at least about fifteen percent by volume of said first stimulant.  
     
     
         3 . A method of stimulating the production of a petroleum well according to  claim 2  wherein said ethoxylated linear alcohol is a non-ionic surfactant.  
     
     
         4 . A method of stimulating the production of a petroleum well according to  claim 3  wherein said ethoxylated linear alcohol comprises at least about thirty percent by volume of said first stimulant.  
     
     
         5 . A method of stimulating the production of a petroleum well according to  claim 4  wherein said ethyl hexanol comprises at least about fifteen percent by volume of said first stimulant.  
     
     
         6 . A method of stimulating the production of a petroleum well according to  claim 5  wherein said solvent further comprises isopropyl benzene, and vinyl acetate.  
     
     
         7 . A method of stimulating the production of a petroleum well according to  claim 6  wherein said solvent comprises at least about ten percent by volume of said first stimulant.  
     
     
         8 . A method of stimulating the production of a petroleum well according to  claim 7  wherein said product of alpha olephin and maleic anhydride comprises at least about ten percent by volume of said first stimulant.  
     
     
         9 . A method of stimulating the production of a petroleum well according to  claim 1  wherein said surfactant comprises propylene oxide and ethylene block polymers.  
     
     
         10 . A method of stimulating the production of a petroleum well according to  claim 1  further comprising pumping a second stimulant into the well, said second stimulant comprising: a product formed from the reaction of alpha olephin with maleic anhydride; a product formed from the reaction of polyether with maleic anhydride; a product formed from the product of alpha olephin and maleic anhydride further reacted with a long chain alcohol selected from the group comprising RCH 2 CH 2 CHO and R(CHCH 3 )CHO and mixtures thereof; a product formed from the reaction of dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid with a pentene; 2 ethyl hexanol; 4-isopropenyl-1-methylcyclohexane; and a surfactant.  
     
     
         11 . A method of stimulating the production of a petroleum well according to  claim 10  where R is a carbon chain with at least twenty carbons.  
     
     
         12 . A method of stimulating the production of a petroleum well according to  claim 10  where said pentene is a dipentene.  
     
     
         13 . A method of stimulating the production of a petroleum well according to  claim 10  wherein said second stimulant further comprises a demulsifier.  
     
     
         14 . A method of stimulating the production of a petroleum well according to  claim 10  further comprising pumping a solvent solution into the well, said solvent solution comprising dipentene and diesel.  
     
     
         15 . A method of stimulating the production of a petroleum well according to  claim 14  wherein said solvent solution comprises about fifty percent by volume dipentene and about fifty percent by volume diesel.  
     
     
         16 . A method of stimulating the production of a petroleum well according to  claim 14  wherein said solvent solution is pumped into the well before said first or said second stimulant is pumped into the well.  
     
     
         17 . A method of stimulating the production of a petroleum well according to  claim 16  wherein a spacer is pumped into the well between said first stimulant and said second stimulant.  
     
     
         18 . A method of stimulating the production of a petroleum well according to  claim 17  wherein said spacer is diesel.  
     
     
         19 . A method of stimulating the production of a petroleum well according to  claim 10  wherein a spacer is pumped into the well between said first stimulant and said second stimulant.  
     
     
         20 . A method of stimulating the production of a petroleum well according to  claim 1  further comprising pumping a solvent solution into the well, said solvent solution comprising dipentene and diesel.  
     
     
         21 . A method of stimulating the production of a petroleum well according to  claim 20  wherein said solvent solution comprises about fifty percent by volume dipentene and about fifty percent by volume diesel.  
     
     
         22 . A method of stimulating the production of a petroleum well according to  claim 21  wherein said solvent solution is pumped into the well before said first stimulant is pumped into the well.  
     
     
         23 . A method of stimulating the production of a petroleum well according to  claim 20  wherein a spacer is pumped into the well between said first stimulant and said solvent solution.  
     
     
         24 . A method of stimulating the production of a petroleum well according to  claim 23  wherein said spacer is diesel.  
     
     
         25 . A method of stimulating the production of a petroleum well according to  claim 1  wherein said well is heated with steam prior to the introduction of said stimulant.  
     
     
         26 . A method of stimulating the production of a petroleum well according to  claim 1  wherein said well is heated with hot water prior to the introduction of said stimulant.  
     
     
         27 . A method of stimulating the production of a petroleum well according to  claim 10  wherein the well is in a formation and wherein a displacement fluid selected from the group comprising water and steam is pumped into the well, whereby the first and second stimulant may be forced into the formation.  
     
     
         28 . A method of stimulating the production of a petroleum well according to  claim 27  wherein said well is allowed to cool before returning said well to production.