Paper: Microencapsulation A New Approach To Downhole Inhibitor Treatments

Conventional downhole treatments for scale and corrosion typically rely upon either "squeeze" or batch type treatments for control of corrosion and/or scale. These treatments introduce large amounts of inhibitor into the wellbore area and may adversely affect the production characteristics of the well, require excessive amounts of chemical, and require repeated treatments over short periods of time. The use of encapsulated materials for scale and corrosion inhibition has recently been shown to be a reliable and economic alternative to the conventional squeeze or truck batch treatment. Encapsulated materials provide a reliable, long term, controlled release of inhibitor at concentration levels high enough to provide the required protection without introducing potentially damaging chemicals into the formation. This paper details field experiences with the encapsulated materials in a variety of wells and the results that have been obtained with these treatments.