Process for alleviating sulfur deposition in sour gas wells

摘要

Process for treating a well penetrating a subterranean formation which is productive of sour gas in order to alleviate sulfur deposition. An alkyl naphthalene base sulfur solvent is circulated into the well and recovered from the well in admixture with the produced gas. The injected solvent comprises an alkyl naphthalene mixture containing C. sub.1 -C.sub. 4 alkyl naphthalenes in an amount within the range of 70-90 weight percent and higher-boiling naphthalenes in an amount within the range of 5-15 weight percent. The sulfur solvent contains no more than a 10 weight percent of naphthalene and has an initial boiling point of at least 230. degree. C., a flash point greater than 101° C., and a freezing point of less than 0° C. The solvent mixture may be dissolved in a carrier oil for introduction into the well.