In an increasingly competitive global environment, innovation is key to cost-effectively realising global production potential, while minimizing risk.
Operators are faced with the need to balance safe and enhanced hydrocarbon production within tighter operational and cost parameters, all of which is particularly challenging. There is also a desire, where possible, to move to the use of “greener” and lower hazard chemicals suitable for use in sensitive environments..
FIRST GENERATION FORMIC ACID PRECURSORS ARE NOW REGULATED FOR TRANSPORT
The recent REACH re-classification of so-called ‘first generation’ formic acid precursors used for oil and gas applications has resulted in these chemicals being classified as corrosive to skin, UN 3265 and requiring use of a Dangerous Goods Note to transport.
This has made it more complex, and costly, to handle and transport these chemicals. It presents significant budget considerations for operators seeking to safely optimize well productivity and return on investment against the backdrop of the new oil price environment.
Mitigating the impact of this new regulation, Cleansorb has developed Acidgen FG3: a non-hazardous liquid organic formic acid precursor proven to uniformly and efficiently remove drilling mud damage. Testing has proven that Acidgen FG3 is not classified as corrosive to skin. The product is not regulated for transport by any route.
INTRODUCING ACIDGEN FG3 – NON-HAZARDOUS PRECURSOR
Already successfully deployed in WBM damage treatments in South America, the North Sea and the Middle East, Acidgen FG3 is an innovative, safe technology that improves well productivity with minimal risk to equipment, personnel and to the environment. Acidgen FG3 is highly miscible in most common oilfield brines.
In addition, Acidgen FG3 is produced using renewable resources, and breaks down to solely PLONOR products: substances considered by OSPAR to pose little or no risk to the environment.
This is a highly effective proprietary chemistry for dissolving drilling fluid filter cakes or other acid soluble damage caused by water or oil-based drill fluids. It can be used in a wide range of downhole stimulation and completion applications in both oil and gas production wells and water and gas injection wells.
Effective filter cake clean up delivers increased production rates, even in long openhole horizontal sections and deviated wells.
APPLYING ACIDGEN FG3
Acidgen FG3 is dissolved in fresh water, sea water or completion brine together with other ORCA for WBM chemicals to produce treatment fluids for water based mud damage removal, or acidizing of carbonate formations.
ORCA treatments may be applied in new wells using mud pumps and the drill string. In some cases, it is possible to use the treatment as gravel packing fluid. In this case the filter cake remains intact during gravel placement before being broken down.
The fluid may also be placed post-gravel packing using a wash pipe. For treating wells that have already been in production, the fluid may be placed using bullheading or coiled tubing.
NOW IS THE TIME TO INNOVATE
Acidgen FG3 is one of Cleansorb’s latest innovations. Since 1994, the company has pioneered the use of in-situ acidizing in the oil and gas industry. It remains the only specialty reservoir chemistry company entirely focused on in-situ acidizing, particularly as a component of filter cake breaker systems.
Cleansorb treatments are recognized worldwide as an optimum solution in all major producing regions. Building on the recent success of Acidgen FG3 in South America, the North Sea and Middle East, use of Acidgen FG3 in these and additional regions is expected to grow during the next few years, largely replacing the use of first generation formic acid precursors.
