A Silicate Based Process for Plugging the Near Well Bore Formation

M. Fleury (1) , O. Sissmann (1) , E. Brosse (1) , M. Chardin (1)

1 IFPEN - IFP Energies nouvelles

A method for treating the surrounding of a well using a reactive suspension is studied, using silicate based solutions. They present the following key qualities: high performance, long term chemical stability, good injectivity, little environmental impact. We present an experimental investigation of the precipitation of commercial low-cost potassium silicate solutions, using a weak acid to lower the pH. Experiments were performed between 20°C and 60°C, by adding a non-hazardous acidic compound to the silica based solution. Bulk gelation times were estimated between a few minutes to 4 days. A coreflood injection experiment was then performed on an analog sandstone sample, representative of CO 2 formation, by using an optimum mixture with viscosity close to water. After a few days, a breakthrough experiment was performed by increasing gradually the differential pressure across the sample. Preliminary results indicate a very large strength of the order of 600 bar/m.

Keywords: Remediation; silicates; gels; permeability; CO2; gelling time; MiReCOL

Domains: Sciences of the Universe [physics]; Earth Sciences

M. Fleury, O. Sissmann, E. Brosse, M. Chardin. A Silicate Based Process for Plugging the Near Well Bore Formation. Energy Procedia, 2017, 114, pp.4172 - 4187. ⟨10.1016/j.egypro.2017.03.1558⟩. ⟨hal-01740288⟩