Evaluation of a Renewable, Environmentally Benign Green Solvent for Wellbore and Formation Cleaning Applications

摘要

Traditional aromatic and chlorinated solvents typically utilized in oilfield applications are facing stricter governmental and environmental restrictions for their use and disposal. Concerns about flammability, acute toxicity, and environmental contamination have made their use less attractive. Furthermore, many countries in Central and South America have begun to closely monitor and regulate the manufacture, importation, and storage of typically utilized oilfield solvents such xylene and toluene due to their utilization in the manufacture of illicit drugs. In an effort to be environmentally and socially responsible, greener alternative solvents from renewable resources are continually being investigated as possible cleaning and solvent solution substitutes. This paper discusses the properties and evaluation of a 100% biodegradable non-toxic solvent blend that is derived from two renewable resources produced both in the U.S. and world. In the past, due to its price and limited availability, the solvent's use has been limited to specialized cleaning applications in the electronics industry. However, due to improved manufacturing processes, the product is more available and affordable for wider applications. The totally biodegradable solvent blend is currently being utilized heavily in paint and coatings removal, ink and graffiti removal, and electronics component cleaning. It has a Kauri Butanol (KB) solvency value of approximately 500 and is a EPA approved SNAP solvent. This paper discusses the evaluation of the biodegradable solvent blend to replace traditional solvents in stimulation packages for wellbore and formation cleaning applications. Laboratory studies were conducted to evaluate the solvent's efficiency to dissolve and remove pipe dope materials and OB/SOB mud residues and films at room temperature and 150℉. The solvent was also evaluated to determine itsefficiency to dissolve and disperse paraffin and asphaltene solids, and to reduce the viscosity and enhance the flow characteristics of heavy crude oils.