Foam optimization method for deliquifying wells

Abstract

Systems and methods for optimizing injection of a foaming composition into a well for deliquification are disclosed herein. Embodiments of the method generally comprise injecting a foaming composition into a well to deliquify the well. The method may further comprise measuring the foaming properties of the produced fluids from the well. In addition, the method may comprise correlating the foaming properties of the produced fluids to production rate and then adjusting the injection rate of the foaming composition in light of the results of the analysis.

1 . A method of optimizing foam injection into a well comprising:
 a) injecting a foam composition at a flow rate into a well to remove liquid from the well, wherein the foam composition causes the liquid to form a foam and allow production of produced fluids;   b) allowing produced fluids to flow from the well at an observed production rate;   c) measuring one or more foaming properties of the produced fluids;   d) correlating the one or more foaming properties to the observed production rate to determine a relationship between the one or more properties and the observed production rate; and   e) based on the relationship, adjusting the injection rate to optimize injection of the foam composition into the well.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the one or more foaming properties measured in (c) comprises density, dynamic surface tension meter, concentration of foam composition, foam stability, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the foam composition comprises anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, zwitterinoic surfactants, amphiphobic surfactants, hydrophilic surfactants, hydrophobic surfactants, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein (c) through (e) are performed manually. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein (c) through (e) are performed automatically in real time. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein an initial injection rate is determined prior to (a) based on properties of the well fluids. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the foam composition comprises a surfactant. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the well is a gas well. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein (c) comprises using a dynamic surface tension meter, a densitometer, a chemical, or combinations thereof to measure the one or more foaming properties. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein an initial injection rate of the foaming composition is determined prior to (a). 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein (c) further comprises determining the composition of the produced fluids.