Liquid holdup may decrease the productivity of gas producing wells. The use of foaming agents is a popular method of reducing fluid levels and increasing well production. However, corrosion rates may still be excessive in these cases requiring a mitigation strategy. The use of chemicals that act as foaming agents and corrosion inhibitors have great utility in gas wells with excessive water holdup. The underlying physical principles and measurable parameters include dynamic interfacial tension, foaming ability, and corrosion inhibition. The importance of the dynamic nature of the foam interface is explained mechanistically, mathematically, and experimentally. In addition, the effectiveness of a chemical program to unload a well and inhibit corrosion is demonstrated.
Keywords: foam, corrosion inhibitor, surface tension, gas production