Noranda Inc.

Taras W Nazarko

Abul K Jamaluddin

Varujan Baltazar

Mark W Kennedy

In accordance with the present invention, there is now provided a method for removing asphaltene deposits in a well environment such as the wellbore and near-wellbore regions, comprising the injection of deasphalted oil therein to solubilize the asphaltene deposits obstructing the well environment. More specifically, the method of the invention comprises the injection of deasphalted oil into the wellbore and the near-wellbore formation followed by a soaking period and a production period. The method of the present invention has the great advantage of readily dissolving precipitated asphaltene in a well environment without other costly treatments such as the use of solvents like xylene or toluene. Furthermore, the present method does not require the incorporation of any additives in the deasphalted oil.

Process for removing and preventing near-wellbore damage due to

A method of increasing the near-wellbore permeability of porous formation comprises exposing formation to an elevated temperature of 400.degree. C. or greater to cause dehydration of the clay lattices, vaporization of any blocked water, mud filtrate or other fluids, and/or destruction of the clay structure.

Process for increasing near-wellbore permeability of porous formations

This invention relates a method for the selective removal of alkali metal salts of sulphate (SO.sub.4.sup.2-), and thiosulphate (S.sub.2 O.sub.3.sup.2-) from hydrogen sulphide (H.sub.2 S) scrubber solutions of the liquid redox type using an electrodialysis system. In the process of this invention the H.sub.2 S scrubber solution is directed to the diluting compartments within an electrodialysis stack, while a collecting solution with a minimal initial salt content is directed to the concentrating compartments. With the application of a direct current a portion of the alkali metal salts of sulphate and thiosulphate present in the scrubber solution are transported through ion selective membranes into the collecting solution. Essentially all of the metal organic chelate reagents and carbonate ions initially present in the scrubber solution are retained in the desalted solution and can be recycled to the H.sub.2 S scrubbing process. Organic fouling of the anionic membranes is avoided by maintaining the organic weight fraction of the total dissolved solids in the diluting solution less than 0.15 and preferably less than 0.05. High current efficiency is obtained at salt concentrations above 5 normal in the diluting solution by maintaining the salt concentration of the collecting solution below that in the diluting solution.

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Calgary, Canada

Taras W Nazarko