Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company

Exxonmobil Technology and Engineering Company

Kevin A Harnsberry

P Scott Northrop

Paul Scott Northrop

Methods for utilizing and regenerating solvent mixtures for dissolving elemental sulfur within hydrocarbon wells are described herein. One method includes providing a solvent mixture including an elemental sulfur solvent fraction including disulfide compound(s), as well as an odorant fraction including a lactate ester solvent. The method also includes injecting the solvent mixture into a hydrocarbon well such that the elemental sulfur solvent fraction dissolves elemental sulfur deposited on well components, as well as collecting the resulting spent solvent mixture, which includes thiols and residual lactate ester solvent, within a spent solvent separator. The method further includes sparging the spent solvent mixture with oxidizer within the spent solvent separator to allow for oxidation of the thiols to produce the disulfide compound(s) using the residual lactate ester solvent (and, optionally, additional lactate ester solvent), as well as regenerating the solvent mixture using at least a portion of the produced disulfide compound(s).

Regenerating solvent mixtures that are used for elemental sulfur removal within hydrocarbon wells

Solids dissolution may be promoted using a solvent blend comprising a disulfide solvent, particularly additional solids present in combination with elemental sulfur deposits. The solvent blends may comprise at least one disulfide solvent, at least one amine solvent, at least one ketone solvent, at least one ester solvent, and optionally water. Solids dissolution methods may comprise: identifying one or more solids in addition to elemental sulfur to be contacted by the solvent blend; adjusting a composition of the solvent blend to afford selectivity for dissolution of at least a portion of the one or more solids; and contacting the solvent blend with elemental sulfur and the one or more solids to promote at least partial dissolution thereof.

Solids removal using solvent blends comprising a disulfide solvent

Solvent mixtures for downhole elemental sulfur removal and formation stimulation, and methods for utilizing such solvent mixtures, are described herein. One method includes providing a solvent mixture that includes an elemental sulfur solvent fraction and an odorant fraction that includes a lactate ester solvent. The method also includes injecting the solvent mixture into a hydrocarbon well such that the elemental sulfur solvent fraction of the solvent mixture dissolves elemental sulfur deposited on well components, and contacting the solvent mixture with water such that the lactate ester solvent within the odorant fraction reacts with the water to generate lactic acid. The method further includes stimulating a formation through which the hydrocarbon well extends by flowing the solvent mixture including the lactic acid through the hydrocarbon well and into the formation.

Solvent mixtures for downhole elemental sulfur removal and formation stimulation

Solvent mixtures for dissolving elemental sulfur, methods of utilizing the solvent mixtures, and methods of forming the solvent mixtures. The solvent mixtures include an elemental sulfur solvent fraction and an odorant fraction. The elemental sulfur solvent fraction includes an elemental sulfur solvent that has a solvent odor and a solvent sulfur solubility of at least 10 weight percent (wt %). The odorant fraction includes at least one odorant that has an odorant odor that differs from the solvent odor. The solvent mixture includes at least 20 wt % and at most 80 wt % of both the elemental sulfur solvent fraction and the odorant fraction. The presence of the odorant fraction, within the solvent mixture, decreases an intensity of the mixture odor relative to the solvent odor and/or decreases an offensiveness of the mixture odor relative to the solvent odor.

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Beaumont, TX, United States of America

Kevin A Harnsberry