METHOD OF USING A SCREEN CONTAINING A COMPOSITE FOR RELEASE OF WELL TREATMENT AGENT INTO A WELL

Abstract

The rate of release of a well treatment agent into a well may be controlled by introducing into the well a screen containing a well treatment composite having a well treatment agent and a support for the well treatment agent. The diameter of the substrate is less than the diameter of the opening of the screen of the screen assembly. Over time, the well treatment agent is released from the substrate and passes from the interior of the screen into the well.

Claims

1. A method of continuously releasing over time a well treatment agent into a well or to a subterranean formation penetrated by the well, the method comprising introducing into the well a screen composed of multiple layers having openings and wherein a composite is placed within the area defined by the multiple layers, the composite comprising a well treatment agent and a substrate, wherein the diameter of the openings of the multiple layers is smaller than the diameter of the substrate and further wherein the well treatment agent separates from the substrate over time and is released into the well or the subterranean formation by passing from the at least one of the multiple layers into the well or subterranean formation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the screen is introduced into the well after the subterranean formation has been stimulated.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein after stimulation the well is shut-in and during shut-in the screen is situated in the well.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the well is killed prior to introducing into the well the screen assembly.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the screen is introduced into an open well.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the well treatment agent is released into the well or subterranean formation over a period of time of at least six months.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the well treatment agent is released into well or subterranean formation over a period of time of at least 18 months.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the well treatment agent is selected from the group consisting of scale inhibitors, corrosion inhibitors, paraffin inhibitors, salt formation inhibitors, asphaltene dispersants and mixtures thereof.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of well treatment agent in the composite is between from about 0.05 to about 5 weight percent.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the composite contains between from about 1 to about 50 weight percent of the well treatment agent.

11. A method of continuously releasing a well treatment agent into a killed well, the method comprising: (a) introducing into the killed well a screen containing a composite within its interior, the composite comprising a well treatment agent and a substrate, wherein the mesh of the screen is sufficient to restrain flow of the substrate from the interior of the screen into reservoir fluids and further wherein the mesh of the screen is sufficient for the well. treatment agent to flow from the interior of the screen into reservoir fluids; and (b) releasing into the well the well treatment agent from the substrate of the composite.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the well treatment agent is immobilized on a support.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the well treatment agent is immobilized within a matrix.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the composite in the screen is a compressed shaped article.

15. A method of releasing a well treatment agent into reservoir fluids produced in a well penetrating a subterranean formation, the method comprising introducing into the well a screen assembly having within its interior a well treatment composite comprising a well treatment agent and a substrate wherein the diameter of the opening in a screen of the screen assembly is less than the diameter of the substrate and continuously releasing the well treatment agent from the substrate while the composite is within the interior of the screen assembly and further wherein the composite comprises: (a) a well treatment agent adsorbed into the interstitial spaces of a calcined porous metal oxide; (b) a well treatment agent adsorbed onto a water-insoluble adsorbent; or (c) a hydrocarbon soluble well treatment agent absorbed into the interstitial spaces of a porous particulate material.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the well treatment composite, when introduced into the well in the screen assembly, is a compressed shaped article.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the composite comprises the well treatment agent and a calcined porous metal oxide wherein the porosity and permeability of the calcined porous metal oxide is such that the well treatment agent is absorbed into the interstitial spaces of the porous metal oxide and further wherein (a) the surface area of the calcined porous metal oxide is between from about 1 m.sup.2/g to about 10 m.sup.2/g; (b) the diameter of the calcined porous metal oxide is between from about 0.1 to about 3 mm; and (c) the pore volume of the calcined porous metal oxide is between from about 0.01 to about 0.10 g/cc.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the porous metal oxide is alumina.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the well treatment agent is immobilized on or within a porous particulate.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the well treatment agent is adsorbed onto a water-insoluble adsorbent.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] The following figures are part of the present specification, included to demonstrate certain aspects of various embodiments of this disclosure and referenced in the detailed description herein:

[0032] In order to understand the drawings more fully referred to in the detailed description herein, a brief description of each drawing is presented, in which:

[0033] FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B are release profiles of a scale inhibitor in a high strength composites containing porous alumina adsorbents between 0 to 2,500 pore volumes and 0 to 10,000 pore volumes, respectively.

[0034] FIG. 2 is a release profile of a scale inhibitor in high strength composites containing porous alumina adsorbent of varying diameter between 0 to 2,000 pore volumes.

[0035] FIG. 3 is a release profile of a scale inhibitor in high strength composites containing porous alumina adsorbent of varying diameter using a sand pack using 50% of the particles as in FIG. 2.

[0036] FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B are release profiles of a scale inhibitor in high strength composites containing porous alumina adsorbents of varying diameters and sizes between 0 to 4,000 pore volumes and 0 to 10,000 pore volumes, respectively.

[0037] FIG. 5 illustrates the inhibitor return curve for a compressed pellet of a composite of scale inhibitor and adsorbent in a polyvinyl alcohol matrix [Puck (C)] and an epoxy matrix [Puck (D).

[0038] FIG. 6 illustrates the results of static breaker tests on a compressed pellet of a composite of scale inhibitor and adsorbent in an epoxy matrix [Puck (A)] and phenolic matrix [Puck (B)].

[0039] FIG. 7 illustrates the inhibitor return curve for a compressed pellet of a composite of scale inhibitor and adsorbent in a high melting polyethylene wax wherein only one of the pucks is coated with an epoxy resin.

[0040] FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of a representative screen assembly for use in the method disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0041] Characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure and additional features and benefits will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and referring to the accompanying figures. It should be understood that the description herein and appended drawings, being of example embodiments, are not intended to limit the claims of this patent or any patent or patent application claiming priority hereto. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the claims. Many changes may be made to the particular embodiments and details disclosed herein without departing from such spirit and scope.

[0042] As used herein and throughout various portions (and headings) of this patent application, the terms “disclosure”, “present disclosure” and variations thereof are not intended to mean every possible embodiment encompassed by this disclosure or any particular claim(s). Thus, the subject matter of each such reference should not be considered as necessary for, or part of, every embodiment hereof or of any particular claim(s) merely because of such reference.

[0043] Certain terms are used herein and in the appended claims to refer to particular components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to a component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components that differ in name but not function. Also, the terms “including” and “comprising” are used herein and in the appended claims in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean “including, but not limited to . . . .” Further, reference herein and in the appended claims to components and aspects in a singular tense does not necessarily limit the present disclosure or appended claims to only one such component or aspect, but should be interpreted generally to mean one or more, as may be suitable and desirable in each particular instance.

[0044] A well treatment composite for use in the disclosure comprises at least one well treatment agent and a substrate. The well treatment agent is associated with a substrate. As used herein, the term “associated” refers to the nexus between the treatment agent and the substrate which enables them to be combined to form a composite. The term “associated” shall not be restricted however to a chemical reaction between the treatment agent and the substrate. As discussed further, the term may refer to adsorption of the well treatment agent onto the substrate, absorption of the well treatment agent into the matrix of the substrate, absorption into or adsorption of the well treatment agent onto the pores of the substrate, immobilization of the well treatment agent on the substrate, etc.

[0045] Over time, the well treatment agent disassociates from the substrate under in-situ conditions. In an embodiment, the well treatment agent may be adsorbed onto the surface of the substrate. In another embodiment, the well treatment agent may be absorbed into the pores of the substrate. In another embodiment, the well treatment agent may be impregnated within the substrate.

[0046] The composite is introduced into the well within a screen. The screen is placed in the well. The openings in the screen are sufficiently small to prevent the substrate of the composite from entering the well. As such, upon release of the well treatment agent, the well treatment agent flows through the openings of the screen into the well while the substrate remains within the screen assembly.

[0047] The screen described herein may be a component of a screen assembly. FIG. 8 is a typical screen assembly which may be used. Referring to FIG. 8, the screen assembly contains a screen which may be composed of multiple layers of wire 10 and 20; wire 10 and wire 20 forming the outer screen and inner screen, respectively, of the screen. The wire layers are wrapped around base pipe 30 connected to the lower end of a string of tubing. Multiple spacer bars 36 may be provided between sleeve 35 and inner wire as well. One or more spacer bars may also be between sleeve 35 and base pipe 30. Composite 40 is typically packed within the screen to provide a fluid-permeable matrix within. The diameter of the opening in the screen (mesh) are smaller than the diameter of the substrate of the composite. Thus, the openings can reduce or substantially preventing the passage of the substrate from the screen into the wellbore while at the same time allowing passage of the well treatment agent from the screen into the wellbore.

[0048] The screen assembly may further contain multiple layers of wrapped wires. For instance, the screen assembly may be composed of an inner wire layer, an outer layer and an intermediate layer. A spacer bar or rib may hold the intermediate layer from the inner layer as well as holding intermediate layer from the outer layer.

[0049] Various configurations of screens and screen assemblies are known in the art and may be used provided the mesh size of the screen is small enough to retain the substrate of the composite within the screen while permitting the flow of well treatment agent into the fluids within the well. Such fluids include the aqueous fluid water or hydrocarbon liquid contained in the subterranean formation.

[0050] The screen may be used in completion or production services. The well treatment composite within the screen is typically used to remove contaminants from or control the formation of contaminants onto tubular surface equipment within the wellbore.

[0051] Typically, the screen is placed into the well after the well has been stimulated and after the start of production of hydrocarbons from the well.

[0052] In a preferred embodiment, the well is killed by placing a heavy fluid or mud (“kill mud”) into the wellbore to suppress the pressure of the reservoir fluids and thus prevent flow of the reservoir fluids. After the well kill, the screen is lowered into the well. Production of the well may be resumed at a later point.

[0053] In another embodiment, the well may be shut-in after completion of pumping. The screen may then be inserted into the well during shut-in or shortly thereafter and prior to resuming of pumping of fluids into the well.

[0054] In a preferred embodiment, the screen is placed into an open (uncased) well.

[0055] The well treatment agent is generally capable of being dissolved at a generally constant rate over an extended period.

[0056] Typically, the specific gravity of the well treatment composite is less than or equal to 3.75 g/cc.

[0057] The amount of well treatment agent in the composite is normally from about 1 to 50 weight percent, preferably from about 14 to about 40 weight percent.

[0058] The well treatment agent is preferably water soluble or soluble in aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons. When fluid is produced in the well, the well treatment agent may be released from the substrate into its respective solubilizing liquid.

[0059] The composite does not require excessive amounts of well treatment agents. The amount of well treatment agent in the composite is that amount sufficient to effectuate the desired result over a sustained period of time and may be as low as 1 ppm. Generally, the amount of well treatment agent in the composite is from about 0.05 to about 5 (preferably from about 0.1 to about 2) weight percent based upon the total weight of the composite.

[0060] When the screen is placed into a well, the well treatment agent slowly dissolves at a generally constant rate over an extended period of time in the water or hydrocarbons which are contained in the formation and/or well. The composite therefore permits a continuous supply of the well treatment agent into the targeted area. Generally, the lifetime of a single treatment using the composite is between six and twelve months and may be in excess of 3 years depending upon the volume of water or hydrocarbons produced in the production well and the amount of well treatment agent bound to the substrate. As the oilfield fluid passes through or circulates around the well treatment composites, the well treatment agent slowly desorbs. In so doing, the composites are characterized by time-release capabilities. The gradual disassociation of the well treatment agent from the substrate insures delivery of the well treatment agent to produced fluids for extended periods of time, typically extending for periods of time greater than a year and even as long as five years. Typically the resulting concentration of the well treatment agent in the wellbore is between from about 1 to about 50 ppm and may be as low as 1 ppm. Such small amounts of well treatment agent may be sufficient for up to 1,000 pore volumes.

[0061] An exemplary well treatment composite for use herein may be a well treatment agent immobilized on a support. These includes those wherein the well treatment agent is adsorbed onto a water-insoluble adsorbent such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,491,682 and 7,493,955, both of which are herein incorporated by reference.

[0062] The water insoluble adsorbent may be any of various kinds of commercially available high surface area materials which may adsorb to the desired well treatment agent. Typically, the surface area of the adsorbent of the well treating composite is between from about 1 m.sup.2/g to about 100 m.sup.2/g.

[0063] Suitable adsorbents include finely divided minerals, fibers, ground almond shells, ground walnut shells, and ground coconut shells. Further suitable water-insoluble adsorbents include activated carbon and/or coals, silica particulates, precipitated silicas, silica (quartz sand), alumina, silica-alumina such as silica gel, mica, silicate, e.g., orthosilicates or metasilicates, calcium silicate, sand (e.g., 20-40 mesh), bauxite, kaolin, talc, zirconia, boron and glass, including glass microspheres or beads, fly ash, zeolites, diatomaceous earth, ground walnut shells, fuller's earth and organic synthetic high molecular weight water-insoluble adsorbents. Particularly preferred are diatomaceous earth and ground walnut shells.

[0064] Further useful as adsorbents are clays such as natural clays, preferably those having a relatively large negatively charged surface, and a much smaller surface that is positively charged. Other examples of such high surface area materials include such clays as bentonite, illite, montmorillonite and synthetic clays.

[0065] The weight ratio of well treatment agent to water-insoluble adsorbent is generally between from about 90:10 to about 10:90.

[0066] The adsorption of the liquid (or solution of) well treatment agent onto the solid adsorbent limits the availability of the free well treatment agent in water. In addition, the composite itself has limited solubility in water. When placed into a production well, the well treatment agent slowly dissolves at a generally constant rate over an extended period of time in the water which is contained in the formation. The controlled slow release of the agent is dependent upon the surface charges between the well treatment agent and adsorbent which, in turn, is dependent upon the adsorption/desorption properties of the agent to adsorbent.

[0067] Another exemplary well treatment composite for use herein may be composed of a porous particulate and at least one well treatment agent. The well treatment agent is preferably hydrocarbon-soluble or water-soluble. The porosity and permeability of the porous particulate is such that the well treatment agent may be absorbed into the interstitial spaces of the porous particulate material. The porous particulate is preferably an untreated porous ceramic, inorganic oxide or an organic polymeric material. Suitable porous particulates include aluminosilicates, silicon carbide, alumina and other silica-based materials. Such composites include those set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 7,598,209, herein incorporated by reference.

[0068] Typically, the particle size of the porous particulate of such composites is typically between from about 0.3 mm to about 5 mm, preferably between from about 0.4 to about 2 mm.

[0069] The porosity and permeability of the porous particulate is such that the well treatment agent may be absorbed into the pores of the porous particulate material. Typically, the porosity of the porous particulate is between from about 5 to about 30 volume percent. A commercially available instrument which uses mercury intrusion, such as the AutoPore Mercury Porosimeter (Micromeritics, Norcross, Ga.), for measuring the internal porosity of the particulate and the interstitial volume (of a pack) may be used to determine the porosity of the porous particulate. Examples of types of materials suitable for use as porous particulates include particulates having a porous matrix.

[0070] The porous particulates are generally spherical and insoluble in well fluids under subterranean conditions, such as at temperatures less than about 250° C. and pressures less than about 80 MPa. The particulates may be sufficiently strong to be used on their own at high pressures. They may further be used in conjunction with other well treatment agents including non-porous proppant materials, such as sand.

[0071] The porous particulate of the composite may be any naturally occurring or manufactured or engineered porous ceramic particulate, as well as any organic polymeric material, that has an inherent and/or induced porosity and exhibits the requisite physical properties, such as particle characteristics, desired strength and/or apparent density, to fit particular downhole conditions for well treating.

[0072] The porous ceramic particulates may be selectively manufactured from raw materials such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,188,175; U.S. Pat. No. 4,427,068; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,522,731, which are each incorporated herein by reference, such as by inclusion of selected process steps in the initial material manufacturing process to result in a material that possesses desired characteristics of porosity, permeability, apparent density or apparent specific gravity (ASG) and combinations thereof.

[0073] Suitable as inorganic ceramic materials are alumina, magnetic glass, titanium oxide, zirconium oxide, silicon carbide, aluminosilicates and other silica-based materials.

[0074] Examples of non-natural porous particulate materials for use herein include, but are not limited to, porous ceramic particles, such as fired kaolinitic particles, as well as partially sintered bauxite. The porous particulates may further be porous natural ceramic materials, such as lightweight volcanic rocks, like pumice, as well as perlite and other porous “lavas” like porous (vesicular) Hawaiian Basalt, porous Virginia Diabase and Utah Rhyolite. Such naturally occurring materials may be strengthened or hardened by use of modifying agents to increase the ability of the naturally occurring material to resist deformation. A starch binder may be employed.

[0075] Further, suitable as porous particulates are those particulates set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,964,291.

[0076] Suitable polymeric materials for use as the porous particulate include thermosetting resins, such as polystyrene, a styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer, a polyacrylate, a polyalkylacrylate, a polyacrylate ester, a polyalkyl acrylate ester, a modified starch, a polyepoxide, a polyurethane, a polyisocyanate, a phenol formaldehyde resin, a furan resin, or a melamine formaldehyde resin.

[0077] In a preferred embodiment, the porous particulate material is a relatively lightweight or substantially neutral buoyant particulate material. The term “relatively lightweight” shall refer to a particulate that has an ASG (API RP 56) that is substantially less than a conventional particulate material employed in hydraulic fracturing or sand control operations, e.g., sand (having an ASG, API RP 60, of 2.65) or bauxite (having an ASG of 3.55). The ASG of a relatively lightweight material is preferably less than about 2.4, more preferably less than or equal to 2.0, even more preferably less than or equal to 1.75, most preferably less than or equal to 1.25.

[0078] Further, blends of the referenced materials may be used for achieving desired well treatment results and/or costs. Blends may consist of the referenced porous particulates as well as particulates not included within the porous particulates described herein. Particle types which may be selected for use in such blends include such non-porous particulates like conventional sand, such as Ottawa sand.

[0079] Such different types of particulates may be selected, for example, to achieve a blend of different specific gravities or densities relative to the selected carrier fluid. For example, a blend of three different particles may be selected for use in a water fracture treatment to form a blend of well treatment particulates having three different specific gravities, such as an ASG of the first type of particle from about 1 to less about 1.5; an ASG of the second type of particle from greater than about 1.5 to about 2.0; and ASG of the third type of particle from about greater than about 2.0 to about 3.0; or in one specific embodiment the three types of particles having respective specific gravities of about 2.65, about 1.7 and about 1.2. In one example, at least one of the types of selected well treatment particulates may be selected to be substantially neutrally buoyant in the selected carrier or treatment fluid.

[0080] Since the well treatment agents employed in the composites are capable of being absorbed into the interstitial spaces of the porous particulates, the well treatment agents may be slowly released from the composite upon introduction into a targeted area. The composite describe herein therefore permits a continuous supply of the well treatment agent into the targeted area. The weight ratio of well treatment agent to water-insoluble absorbent is generally between from about 90:10 to about 10:90.

[0081] Another exemplary well treatment composite for use herein may be a calcined porous substrate prepared from nano-sized material onto which may be adsorbed at least one well treatment agent.

[0082] The porosity and permeability of the calcined porous substrate is such that the well treatment agent may also be absorbed into the interstitial spaces of the porous substrate. Typically, the surface area of the calcined porous substrate is between from about 1 m.sup.2/g to about 10 m.sup.2/g, preferably between from about 1.5 m.sup.2/g to about 4 m.sup.2/g, the diameter of the calcined porous substrate is between from about 0.1 to about 3 mm, preferably between from about 150 to about 1780 micrometers, and the pore volume of the calcined porous substrate is between from about 0.01 to about 0.10 cc/g.

[0083] The porous metal oxide is typically spherical and insoluble in well fluids under subterranean conditions, such as at temperatures less than about 250° C. and pressures less than about 80 MPa.

[0084] The porous substrate may be a metal oxide, such as alumina, zirconium oxide and titanium oxide. Typically, the porous substrate is alumina.

[0085] The adsorbent may be prepared by:

[0086] (a) mixing a metal oxide hydrosol (such as aluminum oxide hydrosol) containing a hydrate of the metal oxide or activated metal (such as activated alumina) and an additive component selected from carbon (such as carbon black) or a high molecular weight natural organic material (such as wood flour and starch) which is insoluble in aqueous solution up to a temperature of 50° C. and carbon with a solution of hydrolyzable base to form a mixture;

[0087] (b) introducing the mixture in dispersed form into a water-immiscible liquid having a temperature of from about 60° to 100° C., whereby gel particles are formed;

[0088] (c) aging the gel particles in the liquid at the temperature and subsequently in an aqueous base, such as an aqueous ammonia solution;

[0089] (d) recovering the aged particles; and then

[0090] (e) calcining the recovered particles. During calcination, the additive component is removed.

The calcined particles have a lower bulk density when the additive component is present during calcinations than when the additive component is not present. Typically, the bulk density of the well treatment composite is between from about 75 to about 150 lb/ft..sup.3. In addition, combustion of the additive component during calcinations of the hydrosol results in formation of pores of the calcined metal oxide.

[0091] The metal oxide hydrosol may optionally contain a silica-containing substance which in their non-soluble form is coprecipitated with the metal oxide particles. The silica-containing substance is preferably a low-density silica, such as that prepared by hydrolysis of silicon tetrachloride in an oxyhydrogen flame and known under the designation pyrogenic silica.

[0092] In an embodiment, spherical metal oxide adsorbent may be prepared from a concentrated metal oxide hydrosol of a pH value in the range of about 3 to about 5 which, in turn, is prepared by dissolving metal in hydrochloric acid and/or metal chloride in aqueous solution or by dissolving metal hydroxychloride in water, the concentration of which is adjusted so that metal oxide derived from the sol amounts to 15 to 35% by weight, preferably to 20 to 30% by weight of the mass of the calcined particles. Metal oxide hydrate and/or activated metal, preferably of an average particle diameter of maximally 10 μ, is then added to the hydrosol in an amount so that the metal oxide content amounts to 65 to 85% by weight, preferably 70 to 80% by weight of the calcined particles. Optionally, pyrogenic silica may be added to the hydrosol such that the SiO.sub.2 content of the calcined particles amounts to 10 to 40% by weight. A soft to medium-hard wood flour may then added to the mixture, the wood flour being ground to a finer particle size such that it is present in a quantity of 5 to 35% by weight, preferably 10 to 25% by weight relative to the mass of the calcined particles. The hydrosol containing the wood flour may then be mixed with a concentrated aqueous solution of hexamethylene tetramine and then sprayed or dropped into a column filled with the mineral oil of a temperature of 60° C. to 100° C. The gel particles are then allowed to remain at the temperature of precipitation for a period of time from 4 to 16 hours; thereafter the gel particles are aged for 2 to 8 hours in aqueous ammonia solution, washed with water, dried at 100° C. to 150° C., or preferably at from about 120° C. to about 200° C., preheated to 250° C. to 400° C. and calcined at a temperature of 600° C. to about 1000° C.

[0093] Alternative methods for making metal oxide adsorbent are further disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,013,587, herein incorporated by reference.

[0094] In a preferred embodiment, when the metal oxide adsorbent is alumina adsorbent, the adsorbent may be prepared by hydrolyzing aluminum alkoxides to render nano sized alumina, drying to remove water and then introducing the dried aluminum in a dispersed form into an oil at a temperature of from about 60° to 100° C., whereby gel particles are formed. The gel particles are then aged in the liquid and subsequently in an aqueous ammonia solution, recovered and then calcined. Nano sized alumina may be produced having an average diameter in the range from about 0.4 mm to about 1 mm.

[0095] Any of the well treatment composites may be compressed into shaped articles and the shaped articles placed into the screen of the screen assembly.

[0096] The shaped articles may be in the form of a sphere, cylinder, rod or any other shape which allows for the slow release of the well treatment agent into the targeted area. In a preferred embodiment, the shaped articles are shaped pellets. In some applications, the shaped particles are cylindrically shaped having a length of about 0.5 inch to about 6 inches, preferably from about 1 inch to about 2 inches and a diameter of from about 0.25 inch to about 4 inches, preferably from about 0.5 inch to about 1 inch.

[0097] In those instances where the shaped article is to be directly dropped into the well from the well head, the article is preferably spherical and is formed into a ball-like sphere having a diameter between from about ½ inch to about 3 inches, more preferably from about ¾ inch to about 2½ inches, most preferably approximately 1¾ inch. Such spheres resemble spherical balls.

[0098] The specific gravity of the shaped articles is generally between from about 1.1 to about 3. In a preferred embodiment, the specific gravity of the shaped articles is between from about 2 to about 2.5.

[0099] The binder, to which the composite is added, generally serves to hold the well treatment agent and any desired additives agents together during compression. Suitable binders may be an organic binder or inorganic binder. Typical organic binders are those selected from resole or novolac resins, such as phenolic resole or novolac resins, epoxy-modified novolac resins, epoxy resins, polyurethane resins, alkaline modified phenolic resoles curable with an ester, melamine resins, urea-aldehyde resins, urea-phenol-aldehyde resins, furans, synthetic rubbers, silanes, siloxanes, polyisocyanates, polyepoxys, polymethylmethacrylates, methyl celluloses, crosslink entangled polystyrene divinylbenzenes, and plastics of such polymers as polyesters, polyamides, polyimides, polyethylenes, polypropylenes, polystyrenes, polyolefins, polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinylacetates, silyl-modified polyamides and, optionally, a crosslinking agent. Typical inorganic binders include silicates, e.g., sodium silicate, aluminosilicates, phosphates, e.g., polyphosphate glass, borates, or mixtures thereof, e.g., silicate and phosphate.

[0100] The amount of binder added to the composite to form the compressed article is typically from about 0.5 to about 50, preferably from about 1 to about 5 percent based on the total weight of the binder and composite, prior to compression.

[0101] Prior to being shaped, a weighting agent may be combined with the composite and binder to impart to the shaped article a higher specific gravity. When present, the amount of weighting agent added to the composite is that amount needed to adjust the specific gravity of the shaped particulate to the requirements of the treated well. Suitable weighting agents include sand, glass, hematite, silica, sand, aluminosilicate, and an alkali metal salt or trimanganese tetraoxide.

[0102] The shaped particulates may be produced by procedures known in the art. Typically the shaped particulates are formed by combining the well treatment composite and, optional, weighting agent, with a binder and then compressing the mixture in a mold of the desired shape or extruding the mixture into its desired shape.

[0103] Exemplary of the process for making the shaped particulates is to combine the composite, prepared in accordance with the teachings set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,493,955 or 7,494,711, with an organic binder and then compressing the mixture at a temperature between from about 20° C. to about 50° C. at a pressure of from between 50 to about 5000 psi. The hardened particulates may then be screened to the desired size and shape. In another preferred embodiment, the shaped composites are produced by a continuous extrusion at a temperature between from about 400° C. to about and 800° C.

[0104] The shaped particulates may further be coated with a resin, plastic or sealant which is resistant to the hydrocarbons produced in the well. Suitable resins include phenolic resins like phenol formaldehyde resins, melamine formaldehyde resins, urethane resins, epoxy resins, polyamides, such as nylon, polyethylene, polystyrene, furan resins or a combination thereof.

[0105] The coating layer serves to strengthen the compressed article, protect the article from harsh environmental conditions, protect the article from rupturing as it is lowered into the well and to lengthen the time of release of the well treatment agent from the article. The coating layer may be applied to the article by mixing the article and coating material in a vessel at elevated temperatures, typically from about 200 to about 350, preferably around 250° F. An adherent, such as a resin adhesive or tackifying resin, may further be added to the vessel during mixing. The adherent may be used to assist the adhesion of the coating onto the compressed article. Alternatively, the coating layer may also be applied as a spray in a solvent based coating on the compressed article and then dried to remove the solvent.

[0106] In an embodiment where a solid well treatment is an inhibitor for scales, corrosion, salts or biocidal action, the treatment agent may desorb into produced water. In the absence of water flow, the well treatment agent may remain intact on the solid adsorbent. As another example, solid inhibitors for paraffin or asphaltene may desorb into the hydrocarbon phase of produced fluid.

[0107] In a preferred embodiment, the well treatment agent may be at least one member selected from the group consisting of demulsifying agents (both water-in-oil and oil-in-water), corrosion inhibitors, scale inhibitors, paraffin inhibitors, gas hydrate inhibitors, salt formation inhibitors and asphaltene dispersants as well as mixtures thereof.

[0108] Further, other suitable treatment agents include foaming agents, oxygen scavengers, biocides and surfactants as well as other agents wherein slow release into the production well is desired.

[0109] The well treatment agent is preferably a liquid material. If the well treatment agent is a solid, it can be dissolved in a suitable solvent, thus making it a liquid.

[0110] The composites defined herein are used in well treatment compositions such as fluids used for the treatment of gas wells or oils wells wherein it is desired to inhibit the formation of undesired contaminants, control the formation of undesired contaminants or retard the release of undesired contaminants into the well. For instance, the composite may be used in completion or production services. The composites disclosed herein may be used in the well to remove undesired contaminants from or control the formation of undesired contaminates onto tubular surface equipment within the wellbore.

[0111] In a preferred embodiment, the well treatment composite described herein effectively inhibits, controls, prevents or treats the formation of inorganic scale formations being deposited in subterranean formations, such as wellbores, oil wells, gas wells, water wells and geothermal wells. The composites described herein particularly efficacious in the treatment of scales of calcium, barium, magnesium salts and the like, including barium sulfate, calcium sulfate, and calcium carbonate scales. The composites may further have applicability in the treatment of other inorganic scales, such as zinc sulfide, iron sulfide, etc.

[0112] The well treatment composite may also be used to control and/or prevent the undesired formation of salts, paraffins, gas hydrates, asphaltenes as well as corrosion in formations or on surface equipment. Further, other suitable treatment agents include foaming agents, oxygen scavengers, biocides, emulsifiers (both water-in-oil and oil-in-water) and surfactants as well as other agents may be employed with the adsorbent when it is desired to slowly slow release such agents into the production well.

[0113] Suitable scale inhibitors are anionic scale inhibitors.

[0114] Preferred scale inhibitors include strong acidic materials such as a phosphonic acid, a phosphoric acid or a phosphorous acid, phosphate esters, phosphonate/phosphonic acids, the various aminopoly carboxylic acids, chelating agents, and polymeric inhibitors and salts thereof. Included are organo phosphonates, organo phosphates and phosphate esters as well as the corresponding acids and salts thereof.

[0115] Phosphonate/phosphonic acid type scale inhibitors are often preferred in light of their effectiveness to control scales at relatively low concentration. Polymeric scale inhibitors, such as polyacrylamides, salts of acrylamido-methyl propane sulfonate/acrylic acid copolymer (AMPS/AA), phosphinated maleic copolymer (PHOS/MA) or sodium salt of polymaleic acid/acrylic acid/acrylamido-methyl propane sulfonate terpolymers (PMA/AMPS), are also effective scale inhibitors. Sodium salts are preferred.

[0116] Further useful, especially for brines, are chelating agents, including diethylenetriaminepentamethylene phosphonic acid and ethylenediaminetetra acetic acid.

[0117] The well treatment agent may further be any of the fructans or fructan derivatives, such as inulin and inulin derivatives, as disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2009/0325825, herein incorporated by reference.

[0118] Exemplary of the demulsifying agents that are useful include, but are not limited to, condensation polymers of alkylene oxides and glycols, such as ethylene oxide and propylene oxide condensation polymers of di-propylene glycol as well as trimethylol propane; and alkyl substituted phenol formaldehyde resins, bis-phenyl diepoxides, and esters and diesters of the such di-functional products. Especially preferred as non-ionic demulsifiers are oxyalkylated phenol formaldehyde resins, oxyalkylated amines and polyamines, di-epoxidized oxyalkylated polyethers, etc. Suitable oil-in-water demulsifiers include poly triethanolamine methyl chloride quaternary, melamine acid colloid, aminomethylated polyacrylamide etc.

[0119] Paraffin inhibitors useful for the composites include, but are not limited to, ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymers, acrylates (such as polyacrylate esters and methacrylate esters of fatty alcohols), and olefin/maleic esters.

[0120] Exemplary corrosion inhibitors useful herein include but are not limited to fatty imidazolines, alkyl pyridines, alkyl pyridine quaternaries, fatty amine quaternaries and phosphate salts of fatty imidazolines.

[0121] Gas hydrate treating chemicals or inhibitors that are useful include but are not limited to polymers and homopolymers and copolymers of vinyl pyrrolidone, vinyl caprolactam and amine based hydrate inhibitors such as those disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2006/0223713 and 2009/0325823, both of which are herein incorporated by reference.

[0122] Exemplary asphaltene treating chemicals include but are not limited to fatty ester homopolymers and copolymers (such as fatty esters of acrylic and methacrylic acid polymers and copolymers) and sorbitan monooleate.

[0123] Suitable foaming agents include, but are not limited to, oxyalkylated sulfates or ethoxylated alcohol sulfates, or mixtures thereof.

[0124] Exemplary surfactants include cationic, amphoteric, anionic and nonionic surfactants. Included as cationic surfactants are those containing a quaternary ammonium moiety (such as a linear quaternary amine, a benzyl quaternary amine or a quaternary ammonium halide), a quaternary sulfonium moiety or a quaternary phosphonium moiety or mixtures thereof. Suitable surfactants containing a quaternary group include quaternary ammonium halide or quaternary amine, such as quaternary ammonium chloride or a quaternary ammonium bromide. Included as amphoteric surfactants are glycinates, amphoacetates, propionates, betaines and mixtures thereof. The cationic or amphoteric surfactant may have a hydrophobic tail (which may be saturated or unsaturated) such as a C.sub.12-C.sub.18 carbon chain length. Further, the hydrophobic tail may be obtained from a natural oil from plants such as one or more of coconut oil, rapeseed oil and palm oil.

[0125] Preferred surfactants include N,N,N trimethyl-1-octadecammonium chloride: N,N,N trimethyl-1-hexadecammonium chloride; and N,N,N trimethyl-1-soyaammonium chloride, and mixtures thereof. Suitable anionic surfactants are sulfonates (like sodium xylene sulfonate and sodium naphthalene sulfonate), phosphonates, ethoxysulfates and mixtures thereof.

[0126] Exemplary oxygen scavengers include triazines, maleimides, formaldehydes, amines, carboxamides, alkylcarboxyl-azo compounds cumine-peroxide compounds morpholino and amino derivatives morpholine and piperazine derivatives, amine oxides, alkanolamines, aliphatic and aromatic polyamines.

[0127] Adsorption of the well treatment agent onto the porous metal oxide and into the interstitial spaces of the oxide reduces (or eliminates) the amount of well treatment agent required to be in solution. In light of the physical interaction between the well treatment agent and porous metal oxide, only a small amount of well treatment agent may be released into the aqueous or hydrocarbon medium.

[0128] For instance, where the well treatment agent is a scale inhibitor, the amount of scale inhibitor released from the composite is that amount required to prevent, or to at least substantially reduce the degree of, scale formation. For most applications, the amount of scale inhibitor released from the well treatment composite may be as low as ppm. Costs of operation are therefore significantly lowered.

[0129] Well treatment compositions containing the composites may be used in treatment operations near the wellbore in nature (affecting near wellbore regions) and may be directed toward improving wellbore productivity.

[0130] The following examples are illustrative of some of the embodiments described herein. Other embodiments within the scope of the claims herein will be apparent to one skilled in the art from consideration of the description set forth herein. It is intended that the specification, together with the examples, be considered exemplary only, with the scope and spirit of the disclosure being indicated by the claims which follow.

[0131] All percentages set forth in the Examples are given in terms of weight units except as may otherwise be indicated.

EXAMPLES

Example 1

[0132] In accordance with the procedure set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,013,587, alumina spheres were prepared by hydrolyzing aluminum alkoxide. The resulting spheres were then dried to remove the water. The dried aluminum was then dispersed into an oil at about 90° C. Gel particles were formed.

[0133] Water insoluble spherical particles of greater than 95% alumina were recovered as Sample A. The spherical alumina beads consisted of bohemite alumina (non calcined) having a 1 mm diameter, a pore volume of 0.5 cc/g and a surface area of 216 m2/g.

[0134] A portion of Sample A was calcined at 1200° C. for 2 hours to render spherical beads of 1 mm diameter (Sample B) composed of alpha/delta theta alumina and having a pore volume of 0.08 cc/g and a surface area of 3 m.sup.2/g.

[0135] A portion of Sample A was calcined at 1400° C. for 2 hours to render spherical beads of 1 mm diameter (Sample C) composed of alpha alumina and having a pore volume of 0.03 cc/g and a surface area of 4 m.sup.2/g.

Example 2

[0136] Each of Sample A, Sample B and Sample C were added at different weight percent loadings to commercial lightweight ceramic proppant, commercially available as CARBO LITE® from Carbo Ceramics Inc. of Dallas, Tex., and the crush was determined according to IS013503-2: Measurement of Properties of Proppants used in Hydraulic Fracturing and Gravel Packing Operations). The results are shown in Table I below wherein the Comparative Sample is a 10/50 mesh diatomaceous earth (Celite MP-79):

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE I Sample Sample Comparative A B STRESS, CONCEN- Sample CRUSH CRUSH Sample C psi TRATION CRUSH % % % CRUSH % 4000 0% 0.24 0.15 0.15 0.15 2% NA 0.68 0.36 0.32 4% NA 0.83 0.24 0.34 10% 5.88 3.16 0.61 0.39 6000 0% 0.92 0.92 0.92 0.92 2% 2.77 2.09 1.09 1.09 4% 5.08 4.18 1.09 0.90 10% 11.49 9.57 1.48 1.46 8000 0% 5.29 5.44 5.44 5.44 2% 7.14 8.38 6.22 5.61 4% 10.23 9.72 5.15 5.15 10% 17.21 17.30 5.44 5.03 10000 0% NA 12.32 12.32 12.32 2% NA 17.38 11.25 12.20 4% NA 22.31 14.12 9.96 10% NA 24.98 12.56 11.45
The results indicate that the non-calcined Sample A has strength comparable to the diatomaceous earth of the Comparative Sample, whereas calcined Sample B and Sample C had the strength of commercial ceramic proppant in that even after the addition of 10% by weight of Sample B or Sample C the crush strength of the combined proppant particle mixtures, even at 10,000 psi stress, was not altered.

Example 3

[0137] Scale inhibitor amino tri(methylene phosphonic acid) (ATMP), commercially available as Dequest 2000 from ThermPhos International BV was adsorbed onto each of Sample A, Sample B and Sample C to render Samples FBG-90706-4A, FBG-90706-4B and FBG-90706-4C respectively. These Samples were prepared by first adsorbing water on the Samples to determine how much water could be adsorbed. Water was added to the sample until the Sample appeared wet. Sample A was found to adsorb 0.698 g of H.sub.2O/g of sample, Sample B adsorbed 0.362 g of H.sub.2O/g of sample, and Sample C adsorbed 0.415 g of H.sub.2O/g of sample. Next Dequest 2000 was added to each sample. Due to the low adsorbency compared to diatomaceous earth, two additions were followed to prepare the samples. In the first addition for Sample A, only 0.32 g of Dequest 2000/g of Sample A could be added. In the second addition, 0.25 g of Dequest 2000/g of Sample A could be added. This results in a product which contains about 22% active content. The method used to prepare the diatomaceous earth based product set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 7,493,955 was adapted to these alumina samples. For Sample B, only 0.31 g of Dequest 2000/g of Sample B could be added followed by 0.13 g of Dequest 2000/g of Sample B in the second addition. This results in a product which contains about 18% active content. For Sample C, only 0.23 g of Dequest 2000/g of Sample C could be added followed by 0.08 g of Dequest 2000/g of Sample C in the second addition. This results in a product which contains about 13.5% active content. The properties of each of these samples is set forth in Table II below:

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE II FBG FBG 90607-4A 90607-4B FBG 90607-4C Alumina Sample A Sample B Sample C Nominal Content % by weight 22 18 13.5 Determined 19.6 15.5 12.0 Content Bulk Loose lb/ft3 36 81 97 Density Packed 43 90 105 Specific gravity H2O = 1 4.22 3.50 3.43 pH 10% Slurry 2.16 1.65 1.76

Example 4

[0138] The elution characteristic of the solid composites of Example 3 were determined by packing 20/40-mesh Ottawa sand and solid inhibitor (2% by weight of the sand) into a 35-cm-long stainless steel column (inner diameter=1.08 cm). The pore volume was approximately 12 mL. The column was eluted with synthetic brine (0.025 mol/L CaCl.sub.2, 0.015 mol/L NaHCO.sub.3, 1 mol/L NaCl, sparged with 100% CO.sub.2) at 60° C. with a flow rate of 120 mL/hour. The synthetic brine was at saturation with calcite to simulate typical connate brine in the formation. The effluent solution was collected and analyzed for phosphorus and Ca concentration to obtain the inhibitor release profile. The results are shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B. The minimum effective concentration for scale inhibition was 0.1 ppm.

Example 5

[0139] Five alumina samples labeled 23A, 23B, 23C, 23D and 23E were prepared. 23-A was the same as Sample A (1 mm alumina bead, not calcined); 23-B was the same as Sample B (1 mm alumina beads calcined at 1200° C. for 2 hours) and 23-C was the same as Sample C (1 mm alumina bead calcined at 1400° C. for 2 hours). Samples 23D and 23E were prepared using the same protocols as Sample B and Sample C, respectively, except the diameter of the spherical beads was adjusted to 0.8 mm. Each of 23A, 23B, 23C, 23D and 23E were heated to 225° F. and cooled to room temperature in a desiccator before the addition of the ATMP solution. A 55% by weight solution of ATMP was prepared. Three additions were made to each sample and the amount that was able to be adsorbed is set forth in Table III below:

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE III % ATMP g 1st g 2nd g 3rd by weight g Alumina Addition Addition Addition sample 23A 50.001 3.00 3.25 0.84 7.2 23B 50.005 9.43 6.52 1.34 16.0 23C 50.004 5.29 1.83 0.70 7.9 23D 50.008 9.81 9.10 3.98 20.1 23E 50.006 9.93 3.80 2.02 14.8
The results shown in Table III are in contrast to 22.1% for Sample A, 18.1% for Sample B and 13.5% for Sample C.

Example 6

[0140] The elution of Samples 22B, 23C, 23D, 23E and the Comparative Sample of Example 2 were performed as set forth by the method in Example 4 with 2% of the particles by weight of the sand in the column. The results are shown in FIG. 2. The results are similar to those illustrated in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B. Since there is commercial interest in using higher percentage of the particles in a proppant pack, the elution studies were performed on the samples at 50% of the particles in the sand pack and the results are shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 indicates much slower release and longer period of effective inhibition.

Example 7

[0141] Four samples were prepared of two different sizes (0.8 mm and 1.0 mm diameter before calcining) in accordance with the procedure set forth in Example 1. The four samples were labeled as CO10118 (0.8 mm), CO10118 (1 mm), CO10524 (0.8 mm) and CO10593 (1 mm). Sample CO10118, after calcining, had a size of 25 mesh (0.71 mm) and a surface area of 1 m.sup.2/g; sample CO10118, after calcining, had a size of 30 mesh (0.59 mm) and a surface area of less than 1 m.sup.2/g. Sample CO10524, after calcining, had a size of 30 mesh (0.59 mm) and a surface area of 5.6 m.sup.2/g and sample CO10593, after calcining, had a size of 20 mesh (0.84 mm) and a surface area of 7.3 m.sup.2 /g. Crush analysis was conducted on each of the samples as well as on ECONOPROP®, a commercial proppant available from Carbo Ceramics Inc. Further, two other samples labeled 25 mesh APA1.0/3C 12853 (surface area 3.1 m.sup.2/g) and 30 mesh APA0.8/3C 12852 were also prepared. The crush data on these is presented also in Table 4. The crush data of each sample was generated using a pluviation method to load the proppant in the API crush cell. The results are shown in Table IV below:

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE IV Crushed Fines % 8000 10000 Sample 5000 psi 6000 psi psi psi 25 Mesh 0.8 mm C010118 0.5 0.8 1.9 8.4 (Surface Area: 1 m.sup.2/g) 30 Mesh 1.0 mm C010118 5.2 5.9 11.8 18.9 (Surface Area: <1 m.sup.2/g) 30 Mesh 0.8 mm C010524 9.0 12.1 24.6 37.6 (Surface Area: 5.6 m.sup.2/g) 20 Mesh 1.0 mm C010593 26.6 36.5 49.2 61.4 (Surface Area: 7.3 m.sup.2/g) 25 Mesh EconoProp NA NA 21.5 24.9 30 Mesh EconoProp 11.1 12.2 15.0 20.6 25 Mesh APA 1.0/3 C12853 1.2 2.2 8.6 17.5 (Surface Area: 3.1 m.sup.2/g) 30 Mesh APA 0.8/3 C12852 0.7 1.5 4.4 11.6 (Surface Area: 3.1 m.sup.2/g) 25 Mesh EconoProp NA NA 21.4 26.0 30 Mesh EconoProp 4.9 5.3 10.1 14.7

Example 8

[0142] Scale Inhibitor amino tri(methylene phosphonic acid) (ATMP), commercially available as Dequest 2000 from ThermPhos International BV was adsorbed onto the four samples of Example 7 and resultant materials were labeled FBG-100824A, FBG-100824B, FBG-100824C and FBG-100824D, respectively. The procedure for the preparation of these samples is set forth above in Example 3. The properties for each of the samples is set forth in Table V below:

TABLE-US-00005 TABLE V Sample FBG 100824 A FBG 100824 B FBG 100824 C FBG 100824 D Alumina CO10118, 0.8 mm CO10524, 0.8 mm CO10593, 1 mm CO10118, 1 mm Calculated Content ATMP 17.7 38.5 40.5 26.2 Determined Content % by 9.7 16.7 20.6 13.2 weight Bulk Loose lb/ft3 106 88 87 100 Density packed 114 94 94 108 Specific gravity H2O = 1 3.19 2.94 2.87 3.11 Moisture % by 0.41 0.50 0.51 0.48 weight

Example 9

[0143] The elution of each of samples of Example 8 was performed in accordance with the procedures set forth in Examples 4 and 6 with 50% of the particles by weight of the sand in the column. The results are set forth in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B and are compared to the results of 2% of loading of the composite exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 7,493,955. The results are similar to those of Example 6 and show that the amount of composite may be tailored with the amount of proppant depending on the amount of water produced from the well and how long protection is desired. As illustrated, 2% of the particles in the sand and 50% particles in the sand may be used for the same purpose.

Example 10

[0144] About 800 g of 10/50 mesh diatomaceous earth (Celite MP-79) absorbent was added into a mixing bowl. A paddle mixer blade was attached and liquid organophosphate (Solutia Dequest 2000) was added to the mixing bowl at a rate in which the liquid was readily absorbed, and the liquid did not puddle. After all of the liquid was added, mixing was continued until a homogenous blend was produced. The blend was then dried at 225 F until the percent moisture of the resulting product was less than 3%. The composite thus prepared contained 25 percent by weight of organophosphate scale inhibitor. To the composite was then added a binder of an epoxy resin (A), phenolic resin (B) and polyvinyl alcohol (C). The mixture contained about 50 percent by weight of the resin. The mixture was then compressed under a pressure of about 250 psi for about 1 minute in a mold to render a cylindrical pellet resembling a hockey puck having a diameter of about 1 inch and a thickness of about 0.5 inch to render puck (A), (B) and (C) corresponding to the epoxy resin binder, phenolic resin binder and polyvinyl alcohol binder, respectively. Puck (D) was obtained by coating Puck (C) with an epoxy resin by spray and drying.

Example 11

[0145] The elution characteristics of Puck C and Puck D were then determined by packing approximately 440 grams 20/40 Ottawa white frac sand and 3 pieces of the pucks into a 30 cm length stainless steel column (ID=3.48 cm). The pore volume of the column was approximately 80 milliliters. The column was eluted with a synthetic brine (0.025 mol/L CaCl.sub.2, 0.015 mol/L NaHCO.sub.3, 1 mol/L NaCl, sparged with 100% CO.sub.2) at 60° C. at a flow rate of 270 ml/hour. The effluent solution was collected and analyzed for phosphorus and calcium concentration to obtain the inhibitor flow back curve, set forth in FIG. 5. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the concentration of phosphorus in the effluent gradually decreased as synthetic brine was pumped into the column. After 1200 pore volumes of return flow, the concentration of effluent phosphorus remained approximately 0.4 ppm. There was no significant difference found between the phosphorus return curves of Puck (C) and Puck (D). The data demonstrates the ease that the pucks have while flowing through production tubing.

Example 12

[0146] Puck (A) and Puck (B) were mixed with 500 ml of water. After 30 minutes, the supernatant was removed and the concentration of phosphorus in the supernatant was measured by (ICP) spectrophotometer. The test was repeated 14 times. The amount of residual phosphorous in the supernatant, illustrated as the static breaker test, is illustrated in FIG. 6. FIG. 6 demonstrates that the concentration of phosphorus in the effluent concentration of Puck (B) was higher than that of sample Puck (A) after washing with tap water.

Example 13

[0147] To about 95% by weight of the composite of Example 5 was added about 5% by weight of a high melting polyethylene wax. The mixture was then compressed into a pellet having a diameter of 1 inch and about half inch in height to obtain Puck (E). Puck (F) was obtained by coating the compressed pellet of Puck (E) with about 20 weight % epoxy resin and drying the coated resin at 120° F. Puck(E) and Puck (F) were then immersed in water at 180° F. for five days. No deterioration was seen in either puck after 5 days. Puck (E) and Puck (F) were also immersed in W. Texas Crude Oil for two weeks at 140° F. No deterioration was seen in either puck after two weeks. Elution studies were then conducted on Puck (E) and Puck (F) in accordance with the testing conditions of Example 11. FIG. 7 represents the inhibitor flow back curve of Puck (E) and Puck (F). The results indicate the release of scale inhibitor above the minimum effective inhibitor concentration of 0.1 mg/l even after 1500 pore volumes of fluid elution through the column when the testing was terminated. The results of the release curve for the coated Puck (F) indicate no premature release of the inhibitor at the beginning which should result in longer effectiveness of the puck.

[0148] From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the disclosure.