Application of Polymeric Damage Removal Treatment Results in Multi-Fold Well Productivity Improvement: A Case Study

Abstract

Abstract Well productivity can be significantly reduced by permeability damage. The damage in many cases is due to inadequate degradation of gelled treating fluids and the residual polymeric filter cakes on the formation face. Several methods have previously been employed to remove polymeric damage in an effort to increase well productivity with limited success. Polymer specific enzymes have been incorporated into a newly developed technique to facilitate removal of polymeric damage. The new remedial treatment is environmentally safe and can be applied over a wide pH range and at temperatures as high as 300°F. Laboratory analysis using the new system has shown that multi-fold permeability improvements can be achieved through polymeric damage removal. A case study of several wells suffering from polymeric damage was conducted. Production histories and return flow analysis were evaluated to characterize the damage and guide the remedial treatment design. Several wells treated with the polymeric damage removal treatment demonstrate multi-fold improvements in well productivity.