Experimental study on property enhancement of potassium Brines with alcohol additives for well completion applications
Abstract Well completion operations involve critical post-drilling processes to enable hydrocarbon extraction, where the selection of completion fluids—such as packer, workover, or fracturing fluids—plays a pivotal role in operational success. In Iran’s oil industry, high-temperature, high-pressure...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06422-x |
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| author | Ali Naghipour Ehsan Khamehchi Javad Mahdavi Kalatehno Alireza Kazemi |
| author_facet | Ali Naghipour Ehsan Khamehchi Javad Mahdavi Kalatehno Alireza Kazemi |
| author_sort | Ali Naghipour |
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| description | Abstract Well completion operations involve critical post-drilling processes to enable hydrocarbon extraction, where the selection of completion fluids—such as packer, workover, or fracturing fluids—plays a pivotal role in operational success. In Iran’s oil industry, high-temperature, high-pressure reservoirs necessitate high-density brines like calcium bromide. Reservoirs exceeding 300 °F and 10,000 psi (HPHT conditions) typically require completion fluids with densities above 100 lb/ft3. However, economic constraints and limited domestic bromine resources render such fluids prohibitively expensive, while locally available brines often lack essential completion fluid properties. This study addresses these challenges by synthesizing cost-effective, potassium-based brines using domestically sourced salts and alcohols to enhance density and performance. By incorporating alcohols (40% vol.), the crystallization temperature of medium-density brines was significantly reduced, enabling higher salt dissolution and achieving densities of 93.4, 97.8, 99.2, and 99.4 lb/ft3. Alcohol-free variants (93.4 and 97.8 lb/ft3) and alcohol-enhanced formulations (99.2 and 99.4 lb/ft3) demonstrated alkaline pH stability, low viscosity (Viscosity below 70 cP for pumping downhole using available pumps in Iran), minimal clay swelling (< 5 mL/2 g bentonite), and near-zero corrosion rates, even at 300 °F. Notably, exposure to reservoir rock altered wettability from oil-wet to water-wet, enhancing hydrocarbon recovery. Economically, these fluids leverage Iran’s accessible raw materials, offering a 40% cost reduction compared to calcium bromide. Designed primarily as packer fluids, they ensure well integrity under high reservoir pressures while mitigating formation damage. This research presents a scalable, sustainable solution for Iran’s oil sector, balancing technical efficacy with economic viability in challenging downhole environments. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3a3d8a13a56a4a7bb18b884a88d60f7f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-3a3d8a13a56a4a7bb18b884a88d60f7f2025-08-20T03:37:20ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115112510.1038/s41598-025-06422-xExperimental study on property enhancement of potassium Brines with alcohol additives for well completion applicationsAli Naghipour0Ehsan Khamehchi1Javad Mahdavi Kalatehno2Alireza Kazemi3Department of Petroleum and Geoenergy Engineering, Amirkabir University of TechnologyDepartment of Petroleum and Geoenergy Engineering, Amirkabir University of TechnologyDepartment of Petroleum and Geoenergy Engineering, Amirkabir University of TechnologyDepartment of Petroleum and Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Sultan Qaboos UniversityAbstract Well completion operations involve critical post-drilling processes to enable hydrocarbon extraction, where the selection of completion fluids—such as packer, workover, or fracturing fluids—plays a pivotal role in operational success. In Iran’s oil industry, high-temperature, high-pressure reservoirs necessitate high-density brines like calcium bromide. Reservoirs exceeding 300 °F and 10,000 psi (HPHT conditions) typically require completion fluids with densities above 100 lb/ft3. However, economic constraints and limited domestic bromine resources render such fluids prohibitively expensive, while locally available brines often lack essential completion fluid properties. This study addresses these challenges by synthesizing cost-effective, potassium-based brines using domestically sourced salts and alcohols to enhance density and performance. By incorporating alcohols (40% vol.), the crystallization temperature of medium-density brines was significantly reduced, enabling higher salt dissolution and achieving densities of 93.4, 97.8, 99.2, and 99.4 lb/ft3. Alcohol-free variants (93.4 and 97.8 lb/ft3) and alcohol-enhanced formulations (99.2 and 99.4 lb/ft3) demonstrated alkaline pH stability, low viscosity (Viscosity below 70 cP for pumping downhole using available pumps in Iran), minimal clay swelling (< 5 mL/2 g bentonite), and near-zero corrosion rates, even at 300 °F. Notably, exposure to reservoir rock altered wettability from oil-wet to water-wet, enhancing hydrocarbon recovery. Economically, these fluids leverage Iran’s accessible raw materials, offering a 40% cost reduction compared to calcium bromide. Designed primarily as packer fluids, they ensure well integrity under high reservoir pressures while mitigating formation damage. This research presents a scalable, sustainable solution for Iran’s oil sector, balancing technical efficacy with economic viability in challenging downhole environments.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06422-xWell completion fluidBrineAlcoholsDensitypH |
| spellingShingle | Ali Naghipour Ehsan Khamehchi Javad Mahdavi Kalatehno Alireza Kazemi Experimental study on property enhancement of potassium Brines with alcohol additives for well completion applications Scientific Reports Well completion fluid Brine Alcohols Density pH |
| title | Experimental study on property enhancement of potassium Brines with alcohol additives for well completion applications |
| title_full | Experimental study on property enhancement of potassium Brines with alcohol additives for well completion applications |
| title_fullStr | Experimental study on property enhancement of potassium Brines with alcohol additives for well completion applications |
| title_full_unstemmed | Experimental study on property enhancement of potassium Brines with alcohol additives for well completion applications |
| title_short | Experimental study on property enhancement of potassium Brines with alcohol additives for well completion applications |
| title_sort | experimental study on property enhancement of potassium brines with alcohol additives for well completion applications |
| topic | Well completion fluid Brine Alcohols Density pH |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06422-x |
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