Method and system for operating a well treatment chemical pump

Abstract

A method for chemical treatment includes operating a chemical pump having a flow rate capacity of a selected multiple of a flow rate of a chemical required to treat at least one of a well and surface equipment associated therewith. The operating is performed at at least one selected time and for at least one selected duration inversely proportional to the flow rate capacity such that a volume of the chemical pumped in a predetermined time interval substantially equals a required volume of the chemical during the predetermined time interval.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for chemical treatment, comprising:
 operating a chemical pump having a flow rate capacity of a selected multiple of a flow rate of a chemical required to treat at least one of a well and surface equipment associated therewith, the operating performed at at least one selected time and for at least one selected duration inversely proportional to the flow rate capacity such that a volume of the chemical pumped in a predetermined time interval substantially equals a required volume of the chemical during the predetermined time interval.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the chemical pump has a flow rate capacity of at least four times the flow rate of the chemical required to treat the at least one of the well and the surface equipment. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the chemical pump has a flow rate capacity of at least ten times the flow rate of the chemical required to treat the at least one of the well and the surface equipment. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the chemical pump comprises a pneumatically operated pump, and the operating comprises automatically opening a valve between a pressurized gas source and the pneumatic pump. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the valve comprises an electrically operated solenoid valve. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the electrically operated solenoid valve is controlled by at least one of a timer and a programmable logic controller. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a chemical output of the chemical pump is connected to an annular space in a well. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a chemical output of the chemical pump is connected to a flow conduit in fluid communication with an outlet of a well. 
     
     
         9 . A chemical treatment system, comprising:
 a chemical treatment pump in fluid communication at an outlet thereof with at least one of a well and surface equipment connected to an outlet of a well, the chemical treatment pump having a flow rate capacity of a selected multiple of a flow rate of chemical required to treat the at least one of a well and surface equipment; and   a controller connected between a power supply used to operate the chemical treatment pump and the chemical treatment pump, the controller programmed to operate the chemical treatment pump for time intervals inversely proportional to the selected multiple of the flow rate.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the controller comprises a valve and the power supply comprises a pressurized gas source. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the valve comprises an electrically operated solenoid valve. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the electrically operated solenoid valve is controlled by at least one of a timer and a programmable logic controller. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9  wherein a chemical output of the chemical treatment pump is connected to an annular space in a well. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9  wherein a chemical output of the chemical treatment pump is connected to a flow conduit in fluid communication with an outlet of a well.