US3375192A - Method for cleaning oil and gas wells employing carbon disulfide-pentane mixtures - Google Patents

Method for cleaning oil and gas wells employing carbon disulfide-pentane mixtures Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3375192A
US3375192A US486497A US48649765A US3375192A US 3375192 A US3375192 A US 3375192A US 486497 A US486497 A US 486497A US 48649765 A US48649765 A US 48649765A US 3375192 A US3375192 A US 3375192A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
pentane
mixtures
gas wells
carbon disulphide
ignition
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US486497A
Inventor
Rowlinson Hugh Charles
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
PPG Architectural Coatings Canada Inc
Original Assignee
Canadian Industries Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Canadian Industries Ltd filed Critical Canadian Industries Ltd
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3375192A publication Critical patent/US3375192A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • C09K—MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
    • C09K8/00—Compositions for drilling of boreholes or wells; Compositions for treating boreholes or wells, e.g. for completion or for remedial operations
    • C09K8/52—Compositions for preventing, limiting or eliminating depositions, e.g. for cleaning
    • C09K8/524—Compositions for preventing, limiting or eliminating depositions, e.g. for cleaning organic depositions, e.g. paraffins or asphaltenes
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • C09K—MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
    • C09K8/00—Compositions for drilling of boreholes or wells; Compositions for treating boreholes or wells, e.g. for completion or for remedial operations
    • C09K8/52—Compositions for preventing, limiting or eliminating depositions, e.g. for cleaning
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S507/00—Earth boring, well treating, and oil field chemistry
    • Y10S507/927—Well cleaning fluid
    • Y10S507/929—Cleaning organic contaminant
    • Y10S507/931—Organic contaminant is paraffinic
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S507/00—Earth boring, well treating, and oil field chemistry
    • Y10S507/927—Well cleaning fluid
    • Y10S507/932—Cleaning sulfur deposits

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The use of a mixture of 92% to 84% by volume of carbon disulfide and 8% to 16% by volume of pentane for cleaning oil and gas wells, particularly for removal of Wax and sulfur deposits therein. The addition of 8% to 16% by volume of pentane to the carbon disulfide raises the ignition temperature of the carbon disulfide and thereby reduces the fire hazard of the same.
  • This invention relates to a composition adapted for the cleaning of oil wells and the like.
  • Oil wells and gas wells after a certain period of pro-- duction, are known to show a decrease of flow owing to the formation of deposits of wax and/or sulphur. It is known to remove this material with carbon disulphide but it has been found that there is a considerable fire hazard when this solvent is used. In view of this hazard and of the large amount of carbon disulphide required for this operation, there has been reluctance to use this solvent.
  • a further object of this invention is to provide a dewaxing and desulphurizing solvent in which the diluent does not substantially decrease the solvent power of the composition.
  • the ignition temperature at which the vapour mixed with air will ignite on a hot surface is used as a standard.
  • a method suitable for this determination is procedure A'ST M 13 287-55. This measurement is to be distinguished from the flash point which is the temperature at which ignition occurs with an open flame.
  • mixtures of carbon disulphide and petroleum pentane possess much lower flammability characteristics than mixtures of carbon disulphide with hydrocarbons of higher boiling point and, surprisingly, mixtures of carbon disulphide and chlorinated hydrocarbons.
  • the mixture of carbon disulphide and petroleum pentane containing 8% by volume of the pentane has a much higher ignition temperature than compositions of carbon disulphide and similar proportions of naphtha, or chlorinated hydrocarbons. This is true although naphtha contains components of higher boiling point than petroleum pentane. It is not known why this composition of carbon disulphide and petroleum pentane has this unexpected increase in ignition temperature, par ticularly in comparison with analogous mixtures of carbon disulphide and chlorinated hydrocarbons.
  • Example 1 A series of solutions was made up containing carbon disulphide and petroleum pentane containing 4%, 8%, 12% and 16% by volume of petroleum pentane. The ignition temperature of these mixtures and of carbon disulphide were determined using the procedure described by Scott, Jones and Scott, Analytical Chemistry, 20(3),
  • the cleaning composition of this invention comprises a mixture of carbon disulphide and petroleum pentane containing from 8% to 16% by volume of the pentane. It has been found that carbon disulphide-pentane mixtures in this range have an ignition temperature between 280 and 360 C., in comparison to the 120 C. ignition temperature of carbon disulphide. These compositions possess satisfactory solvent power for the waxes and sulphur found in oil and gas wells.
  • petroleum pentane is meant the commercial product containing approximately 90% of n-pentane. This is the saturated C hydrocarbon cut in petroleum refining. Pure n-pent-ane is, of course, equally effective as an ingredient of this composition.
  • the boiling range of said petroleum pentane lies within the range 34.5 -38 C.
  • the cleaning composition of this invention is prepared by mixing the carbon disulphide with the petroleum pentane using normal mixing procedures.
  • novel composition of this invention is employed by pumping it down the oil or gas well and allowing it to Ignition Temperature, C.
  • Example 2 A series of compositions was made up containing car-' bon disulphide and carbon tetrachloride in various proportions. The ignition temperatures of these compositions and of carbon disulphide were measured using the procedure employed in Example 1. The results are shown in Table III.
  • Example 3 A series of compositions comprising binary mixtures of carbon disulphide with methylene chloride, trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene was made up in various proportions, The ignition temperatures of these compositions were measured using the procedure employed in Example 1. The results are shown in Table IV.
  • volume I by volume C.
  • a composition for cleaning oil or gas wells consisting essentially of from 92% to 84% by volume of carbon disulphide and from 8% to 16% by volume of pentane selected from the group consisting of petroleum pentane and n-pentane.
  • a method for cleaning an oil or gas well which comprises introducing the composition defined by claim 1 into the well, leaving the compositionin the well for a period of time sufiicient for the solution of Wax and sulphur therein, and removing the composition from the well.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Detergent Compositions (AREA)
  • Production Of Liquid Hydrocarbon Mixture For Refining Petroleum (AREA)

Description

March 26, 1968 c. ow mso 3,375,192
METHOD FOR CLEANlNG OIL AND GAS WELLS EMPLOYING CARBON DISULFIDE-PENTANE MIXTURES Filed Sept. 10, 1965 g a I! E E 2 5 z s m i m g u. U E. 8 m 0 0 i z z m 8 U I! o o a m n g In. 0
9 BUILLVUBdWEL NOLLINQ! INVENTOR H.C. ROWLINSON MN A l.
AGENT United States atent Ofiice 3,375,192 METHOD FOR CLEANING OIL AND GAS WELLS EMPLOYIN G C ARB N DISULFIDE-PENTANE MIXTURES Hugh Charles Rowlinson, St-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada, assignor to Canadian Industries Limited, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, a corporation of Canada Filed Sept. 10, 1965, Ser. No. 486,497 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Sept. 25, 1964, 39,139/64 2 Claims. (Cl. 252-855) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The use of a mixture of 92% to 84% by volume of carbon disulfide and 8% to 16% by volume of pentane for cleaning oil and gas wells, particularly for removal of Wax and sulfur deposits therein. The addition of 8% to 16% by volume of pentane to the carbon disulfide raises the ignition temperature of the carbon disulfide and thereby reduces the fire hazard of the same.
This invention relates to a composition adapted for the cleaning of oil wells and the like.
Oil wells and gas wells, after a certain period of pro-- duction, are known to show a decrease of flow owing to the formation of deposits of wax and/or sulphur. It is known to remove this material with carbon disulphide but it has been found that there is a considerable fire hazard when this solvent is used. In view of this hazard and of the large amount of carbon disulphide required for this operation, there has been reluctance to use this solvent.
It is an object of this invention to provide a dewaxing and desulphurizing solvent of lower flammability. A further object of this invention is to provide a dewaxing and desulphurizing solvent in which the diluent does not substantially decrease the solvent power of the composition.
remain within the well until the wax and sulphur has been dissolved. The solvent is then removed from the well.
In measuring the flammability of carbon disulphide and carbon disulphide mixtures, the ignition temperature at which the vapour mixed with air will ignite on a hot surface is used as a standard. A method suitable for this determination is procedure A'ST M 13 287-55. This measurement is to be distinguished from the flash point which is the temperature at which ignition occurs with an open flame.
-It has been found that mixtures of carbon disulphide and petroleum pentane possess much lower flammability characteristics than mixtures of carbon disulphide with hydrocarbons of higher boiling point and, surprisingly, mixtures of carbon disulphide and chlorinated hydrocarbons. For example, the mixture of carbon disulphide and petroleum pentane containing 8% by volume of the pentane has a much higher ignition temperature than compositions of carbon disulphide and similar proportions of naphtha, or chlorinated hydrocarbons. This is true although naphtha contains components of higher boiling point than petroleum pentane. It is not known why this composition of carbon disulphide and petroleum pentane has this unexpected increase in ignition temperature, par ticularly in comparison with analogous mixtures of carbon disulphide and chlorinated hydrocarbons.
This invention is additionally illustrated by the following examples, but it is to be understood that its scope is not to be limited to the embodiments shown therein.
Example 1 A series of solutions was made up containing carbon disulphide and petroleum pentane containing 4%, 8%, 12% and 16% by volume of petroleum pentane. The ignition temperature of these mixtures and of carbon disulphide were determined using the procedure described by Scott, Jones and Scott, Analytical Chemistry, 20(3),
40 1948, 238. These results are shown in Table I.
TABLE I Increasing Tempera- Decreasing Tempera- Mixture ture, C. ture, 0. Result,
No Ignition Ignition No Ignition Ignition CS 108 118 112 121 115 CSr96/pentane 4.. 135 138 142 140 139 CSr92/pentane 8-. 268 270 280 292 277 CSr88/pentane 12.-- 310 315 324 327 317 CSr84/pentaue 16 353 355 358 361 357 Additional objects will appear hereinafter.
The cleaning composition of this invention comprises a mixture of carbon disulphide and petroleum pentane containing from 8% to 16% by volume of the pentane. It has been found that carbon disulphide-pentane mixtures in this range have an ignition temperature between 280 and 360 C., in comparison to the 120 C. ignition temperature of carbon disulphide. These compositions possess satisfactory solvent power for the waxes and sulphur found in oil and gas wells.
By petroleum pentane is meant the commercial product containing approximately 90% of n-pentane. This is the saturated C hydrocarbon cut in petroleum refining. Pure n-pent-ane is, of course, equally effective as an ingredient of this composition. The boiling range of said petroleum pentane lies within the range 34.5 -38 C.
The cleaning composition of this invention is prepared by mixing the carbon disulphide with the petroleum pentane using normal mixing procedures.
The novel composition of this invention is employed by pumping it down the oil or gas well and allowing it to Ignition Temperature, C.
Mixture. percent by Volume Minimum Tempera- Maxirnuru Temperature For Ignition ture For Ignition C S; 110 126 CSr88/naphtha-12 212 258 CSr84/naphtha-16 245 257 CSz/naphtha-20 280 290 A comparison of the ignition temperature of these two types of mixtures are shown in the drawing. The values plotted are averages. It can be seen that there is a range of carbon disulphide/petroleum pentane mixtures which have an unexpected increase in ignition temperature.
Example 2 A series of compositions was made up containing car-' bon disulphide and carbon tetrachloride in various proportions. The ignition temperatures of these compositions and of carbon disulphide were measured using the procedure employed in Example 1. The results are shown in Table III.
It can be seen that the addition of carbon tetrachloride to carbon disulphide has surprisingly little effect in changing the ignition temperature. Following the initial rise the ignition temperature is roughly constant for compositions containing from 5% to 40% by volume carbon tetrachloride.
Example 3 A series of compositions comprising binary mixtures of carbon disulphide with methylene chloride, trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene was made up in various proportions, The ignition temperatures of these compositions were measured using the procedure employed in Example 1. The results are shown in Table IV.
TABLE IV Percent Carbon I Percent Ignition Disulpnide, by Additive Additive, Temp,
volume I by volume C.
60 Methylene chloride 40 200 60.... 'Irichloroethylene 40 235 80.... Perchloroethylene 20 186 50..-. do 197 30 ..(l0 218 It can be seen that the addition of methylene chloride, trichloroethylene or perchloroethylene was not eifective in increasing the ignition temperatures of mixtures with carbon disulphide.
What I claim is: V
1. A composition for cleaning oil or gas wells consisting essentially of from 92% to 84% by volume of carbon disulphide and from 8% to 16% by volume of pentane selected from the group consisting of petroleum pentane and n-pentane. V V
2. A method for cleaning an oil or gas well which comprises introducing the composition defined by claim 1 into the well, leaving the compositionin the well for a period of time sufiicient for the solution of Wax and sulphur therein, and removing the composition from the well.
References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,358,665 9/1944 Shapiro s 252-855 ,805,200 9/1957 Lee et a1. 2528.55 3,279,541 10/1966 Knox et a1 2528.55 X
LEON D. ROSDOL, Primary Examiner.
H. B. GUYNN, Assistant Examiner.
US486497A 1964-09-25 1965-09-10 Method for cleaning oil and gas wells employing carbon disulfide-pentane mixtures Expired - Lifetime US3375192A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB3913964 1964-09-25

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3375192A true US3375192A (en) 1968-03-26

Family

ID=10407859

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US486497A Expired - Lifetime US3375192A (en) 1964-09-25 1965-09-10 Method for cleaning oil and gas wells employing carbon disulfide-pentane mixtures

Country Status (1)

Country Link
US (1) US3375192A (en)

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3531160A (en) * 1968-09-18 1970-09-29 Phillips Petroleum Co Production of sour gas-sulfur wells employing a sulfur solvent
US3724553A (en) * 1971-11-18 1973-04-03 Mobil Oil Corp Paraffin well treatment method
US3724552A (en) * 1971-11-01 1973-04-03 Mobil Oil Corp Well treating method to remove paraffin deposition
US3729053A (en) * 1972-01-05 1973-04-24 Amoco Prod Co Method for increasing permeability of oil-bearing formations
US3835927A (en) * 1970-06-15 1974-09-17 Petrolite Corp Process of removing sulfur from fluids
US4728447A (en) * 1984-12-03 1988-03-01 Societe Nationale Elf Aquitaine Process and product for dissolving sulfur
US5053149A (en) * 1990-03-30 1991-10-01 Atochem North America, Inc. Method for dewaxing oil and gas pipelines or wells
US5340593A (en) * 1981-10-27 1994-08-23 Union Oil Company Of California Stabilized solid thiocarbonate
US20110132617A1 (en) * 2008-07-14 2011-06-09 Shell Oil Company Systems and methods for producing oil and/or gas
US10711176B2 (en) * 2018-10-03 2020-07-14 David O. Trahan Method, process, apparatus and chemicals to produce and inject paraffin treating compounds

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2358665A (en) * 1942-03-30 1944-09-19 Socony Vacuum Oil Co Inc Method of removing wax deposits from oil-well tubing
US2805200A (en) * 1954-03-11 1957-09-03 Diamond Alkali Co Method of inhibiting waxy deposits in oil wells and compositions therefor
US3279541A (en) * 1965-08-20 1966-10-18 Halliburton Co Method for removing paraffinic and asphaltic residues from wells

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2358665A (en) * 1942-03-30 1944-09-19 Socony Vacuum Oil Co Inc Method of removing wax deposits from oil-well tubing
US2805200A (en) * 1954-03-11 1957-09-03 Diamond Alkali Co Method of inhibiting waxy deposits in oil wells and compositions therefor
US3279541A (en) * 1965-08-20 1966-10-18 Halliburton Co Method for removing paraffinic and asphaltic residues from wells

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3531160A (en) * 1968-09-18 1970-09-29 Phillips Petroleum Co Production of sour gas-sulfur wells employing a sulfur solvent
US3835927A (en) * 1970-06-15 1974-09-17 Petrolite Corp Process of removing sulfur from fluids
US3724552A (en) * 1971-11-01 1973-04-03 Mobil Oil Corp Well treating method to remove paraffin deposition
US3724553A (en) * 1971-11-18 1973-04-03 Mobil Oil Corp Paraffin well treatment method
US3729053A (en) * 1972-01-05 1973-04-24 Amoco Prod Co Method for increasing permeability of oil-bearing formations
US5340593A (en) * 1981-10-27 1994-08-23 Union Oil Company Of California Stabilized solid thiocarbonate
US4728447A (en) * 1984-12-03 1988-03-01 Societe Nationale Elf Aquitaine Process and product for dissolving sulfur
US5053149A (en) * 1990-03-30 1991-10-01 Atochem North America, Inc. Method for dewaxing oil and gas pipelines or wells
US20110132617A1 (en) * 2008-07-14 2011-06-09 Shell Oil Company Systems and methods for producing oil and/or gas
US10711176B2 (en) * 2018-10-03 2020-07-14 David O. Trahan Method, process, apparatus and chemicals to produce and inject paraffin treating compounds

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
DE69300998T2 (en) Cooling composition
US3846311A (en) Method for removing elemental sulfur from wells and flowlines
US2356254A (en) Process for preventing and/or removing accumulation of solid matter in oil wells, pipelines, and flow lines
US4101425A (en) Non-aqueous acid emulsion composition and method for acid-treating siliceous geological formations
US2350154A (en) Nonaqueous drilling fluid
US4239630A (en) Method for dissolving sulfur deposits rapidly
US2643977A (en) Method of inhibiting corrosion of metals
CA1118963A (en) Method and composition for removing elemental sulfur from high temperature, high pressure wells and flow lines
US2797250A (en) Stabilization of chlorinated hydrocarbons
US3914132A (en) Composition and process for the removal of asphaltenic containing organic deposits from surfaces
US2089580A (en) Corrosion inhibitor
JPH07505171A (en) Fire spread prevention solvent
US2370552A (en) Method of inhibiting deterioration of organic compounds
US3563315A (en) Well cleaning method
US2378714A (en) Fireproofing compositions
US5053149A (en) Method for dewaxing oil and gas pipelines or wells
US2191499A (en) Petroleum wax alkylated phenol and a process of making it
US3558509A (en) Means for raising the autogenous ignition temperature of carbon disulfide
US2841625A (en) Stabilization of chlorinated hydrocarbons with 2, 5-dimethyl-1, 5-hexadiene-3-yne andsynergistic mixtures containing same
US2455670A (en) Deodorizing petroleum oils and waxes
US2646400A (en) Method of inhibiting corrosion of metals
US3031412A (en) Composition and method of inhibiting corrosion of ferrous metals by aminestabilized chlorinated hydrocarbons
US2031145A (en) Nonflammable cleaning solvent
US1944859A (en) Dry cleaning composition
US2737532A (en) Stabilization of perchloroethylene with alkoxyalkylnitriles