Why a Custom Acid Mix is Essential for Successful Well Stimulation

In the oil and gas industry, well stimulation is crucial for maximizing production, and acidizing plays a significant role in this process. However, not all acid treatments yield the same results.

A customized acid mix tailored to your well’s specific geological and environmental conditions needs can make all the difference in achieving long-term productivity. Understanding the chemical composition of the acid mix is key to optimizing well performance and preventing costly issues.

The Importance of Acidizing in Well Stimulation

Acidizing is a well-stimulation technique that enhances permeability by dissolving scaling deposits and carbonate formation fill. It is commonly used in carbonate reservoirs and sandstone formations to improve hydrocarbon flow. However, an off-the-shelf acid blend may not effectively address the unique challenges presented by different formations. This is where a customized acid mix comes into play.

Why Chemical Composition Matters

The effectiveness of an acidizing treatment depends on the precise balance of acids, surfactants, corrosion inhibitors, and other additives. A well-designed acid mix ensures:

1. Optimal Penetration – A custom acid blend, such as Petrosol (a proprietary acidizing system developed by Petroplex), improves acid penetration by removing oil-coated scaling and carbonate fill downhole while breaking emulsions and reducing surface tension. This allows the acid to reach deeper into the formation, enhancing permeability and hydrocarbon recovery.
2. Controlled Reaction Rates – Different formations require specific acid strengths and reaction rates to prevent excessive dissolution or unwanted byproducts that could damage the well structure.
3. Reduced Formation Damage – Without the right additives, acid treatments can cause issues such as emulsions, asphaltic sludge, or unwanted precipitation. The inclusion of dispersants and surfactants helps to suspend insoluble particles and remove blockages effectively.
4. Extended Production Life – A tailored acid mix maximizes post-treatment productivity. Studies have shown that advanced chemical technologies, such as Petrosol, can lead to an 82% increase in post-60-day oil production, compared to conventional acidizing methods.
5. Prevention of Corrosion and Scaling – The right chemical inhibitors protect the wellbore and downhole equipment from acid-induced corrosion, ensuring long-term well integrity.

Petrosol Advantages

Petrosol offers several key advantages over standard acid treatments:

• Solvent/Low Surface Tension Properties – Effectively removes oil-coated scaling and carbonate formation fill, allowing for better acid penetration.
• Paraffin Removal – Contains dispersants and solvents that help remove and disperse paraffin in oil, preventing blockages.
• Enhanced Water Block Removal – Its superior surfactant foamer/detergent properties help eliminate water blocks and foreign materials from the wellbore, improving hydrocarbon flow.
• Suspension of Insoluble Fines – Functions as a suspension agent that keeps insoluble fines from settling in flow channels, reducing formation damage and maintaining flow efficiency.

How Custom Acidizing Solutions Improve Well Performance

Petrosol combines surface-active additives to improve wettability, reduce surface tension, and remove organic deposits. Additionally, it enhances the ability to treat oil-wet formations, significantly increasing production rates compared to standard acid solutions.

The Role of Gel Diversion in Acidizing Efficiency

In addition to using Petrosol, pumping an acid job in stages with a gel diverter allows the acid to penetrate deeper into the formation, increasing treatment effectiveness at minimal added cost.

• Gel Diversion Systems: Gel pills (typically 15-25 BBL of ~70 CP viscosity gel) are pumped between acid stages. This temporarily seals perforations or fractures that absorbed the previous acid stage, increasing pressure and directing subsequent acid treatments to under-stimulated zones.
• Multi-Staged Acid Treatments: A standard acidizing job may include 4-5 acid stages (e.g., 60 BBL 15% HCl with Petrosol) interspersed with 4-5 gel stages (15-25 BBL each). This method ensures uniform treatment. The gel includes a pre-mixed breaker for predictable dissolution and effective well cleanup.
• Gel Synergy with Petrosol: The combination of Petrosol’s enhanced penetration and optimized gel diversion creates a powerful synergy. Field data shows that treatments using both Petrosol and gel diverters resulted in an 86% higher increase in BOPD compared to treatments without both. This underscores the importance of pairing advanced additives with effective diversion techniques.

Petroplex: The Permian Basin’s Go-to Partner for Well Stimulation

A customized acid mix is not just an enhancement — it is a necessity for maximizing well-stimulation efficiency. The right chemical composition ensures deeper penetration, controlled reactions, minimal formation damage, and extended production gains. Whether dealing with tight oil formations or carbonate reservoirs, investing in a specialized acidizing treatment like Petrosol can provide a competitive edge in oil and gas recovery.

For more information on how tailored acid solutions can benefit your well, contact Petroplex today.

Read More: Petrosol: Petroplex's Proprietary Chemical Technology That's Transforming Acid Stimulations Across the Permian Basin.