Abstract
Abstract
Most sandstone reservoirs in shallow water continental shelf fields are fully mature and require economical low-risk stimulation treatments to achieve maximum recovery. The once characterized "New Fronter" developments in Deepwater and Ultra Deepwater are also entering the mature, end of life status. 2019 had the largest increase in acid stimulation treatments ever in the Deepwater Gulf of Mexico. This study focused on identifying a HF acid derivative treatment that could be used as a single-step sandstone acid treatment, with all the associated benefits, but would not require acid flowback services. Five commercially available buffered, retarded, and HF derivative acid chemistries were tested to determine the risks of facility upsets. Laboratory tests showed that these HF derivative acid chemistries had varying levels of potential facility upset risk in either viscous emulsion formation or overboard water quality noncompliance. A new Fluoroboric Acid (HBF4) chemistry was developed building on 80 years of well-known performance history. This chemistry has all the benefits of HBF4, is compatible with most sensitive minerals and does not cause facility upsets. Ninety-three treatments were done in the eastern and central US GOM without the expense of flowback equipment. These treatments resulted in an 88% economic success rate and only 2 short term oil and grease noncompliance instances in the facilitie overboard water discharge.