Methods For Removing Paraffinic Hydrocarbon Or Bitumen In Oil Producing Or Disposal Wells

Abstract

Disclosed is an improved process for removing heavy oil, bitumen and/or paraffinic materials in oil production or storage wells including onshore and offshore petroleum wells, petroleum residual disposal wells and Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) or Cyclic Steam Stimulation (CSS) producing wells used in the oil sands industry. This process helps restore the operating efficiency of organically contaminated hydrocarbon producing wells in a safe, fast and effective manner without the need to insert any equipment to mechanically remove organic contaminants. Used is a heated terpene-based chemical injected with or without steam following a hot water or steam pre-heat to create a very effective cleaning process.

1 . A method for cleaning an oil production or storage system, comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a water source;   (b) providing a chemical source capable of providing a chemical;   (c) delivering water from said water source to said system, wherein said water is in the form of heated water or steam when delivered to said system;   (d) introducing said chemical from said chemical source into said system, said chemical comprising a terpene;   (e) removing a contaminant from said system while said contaminant is in a heated or vaporized form.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the water source is capable of providing heated water. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the water source in step (a) is a steam source, and the water in step (c) is steam. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said chemical is delivered into said heated water or steam, said heated water or steam having been delivered into the system prior to the delivery of the chemical into the system. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said water is in the form of a steam, and said chemical is delivered into said steam, said steam having been delivered into the system prior to the delivery of the chemical into the system. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the chemical and the steam are mixed before said chemical and said steam are delivered into said system. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said chemical is preheated prior to its delivery into the system. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the chemical is preheated by a circulating boiler. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said contaminant has a formula of C 2 H 2n+2 , wherein n is an integer greater than 10. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein n is greater than 18. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising a step of injecting an acid to permeate the limestone in the vicinity of the system, said limestone having been exposed to the chemical after the introduction of said chemical into said system. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising a step of preheating the annulus of said system with said hot water or steam prior to the introduction of said chemical into said system. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said chemical comprises at least 90% (w/w) terpene. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said chemical comprises at least 95% (w/w) terpene. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said chemical comprises about 100% (w/w) terpene. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said terpene is at least one member selected from the group consisting of monocyclic saturated terpene, monocyclic unsaturated isoprenoid, and bicyclic pine terpene. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said terpene is a monocyclic saturated terpene. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said terpene is para-menthane. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said chemical further comprises a surfactant additive. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the oil production or storage system comprises one or more oil reservoir. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the oil production or storage system comprises piping leading into and out of said one or more oil reservoir. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising a step of determining whether the piping are partially or totally blocked and a step of determining the property of the material that causes the blockage. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said oil production or storage system is part of or is connected with an oil production operation selected from the group consisting of an on-shore or off-shore oil production well, an oil production related onshore disposal well, an oil sands SAGD (steam assisted gravity drainage) and a CSS (cyclic steam stimulation) well. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of introducing a hot water flush into the system and removing the hot water flush from said system. 
     
     
         25 . A method for cleaning an oil production or storage system, comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a water source;   (b) providing a chemical source capable of providing a chemical;   (c) delivering water from said water source to said system, wherein said water is in the form of heated water or steam when delivered to said system;   (d) introducing said chemical from said chemical source into said system, said chemical comprising terpene;   (e) removing a contaminant from said system while said contaminant is in a heated or vaporized form,   wherein no surfactant is used to clean said system.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said chemical comprises about 100% (w/w) terpene.