ALTACHEM Ltd.

Industrial & Oilfield Chemicals

th
5507-76 Ave. NW EDMONTON ALBERTA T6B 0A7
TOLL FREE: 1-866-414-1445 (Canada/USA) PH: 414-1445 FAX: (780) 414-1446
Technical Advice & Consultation: (760) 907-2357 Peter Swankhuizen

HOW TO TREAT A DEAD WELL WITH GAS STICKS

Gas (Co2-Swab) Sticks are water-soluble sticks, which are filled with a powder which creates the agitation to agitate
the soap stick and allow it to form bubble to lighten the load.. Gas Sticks are usually used in conjunction with a high end
foamer stick in the case of Oil Wells we recommend the Slick Willie Soap Stick to unload fluids from low pressure or

Gas Sticks should always be tried before expensive swabbing to remove the water column. They will
vigorously produce agitation when dissolved in fresh or brine water thereby creating the gas agitation needed
for foam sticks to help unload fluid in the absence of natural gas percolation. The entire stick will dissolve and
foam out with the well fluids.

TREATMENT
The proper way to go about reviving the dead well is to drop 1-2 foam sticks (this is always dependent on the amount
of water in the tubing) (see calculation of water column) (Superfoam Stick, Max Foam Stick or Liquid Foam Sticks should
be used) (remember not all sticks are created equal) approximately 1 ½ - 2 hours before introducing the Gas Stick.

Remember do not drop Gas Sticks till 1 1/2-2 hours after introducing the foam stick (note 5 to six hours will also
work)! Drop 1-2 Gas Sticks (again you should drop the same amount of gas sticks as u do foam sticks) wait
approximately 5 minutes (more wait time for deeper wells but not more than 30 minutes for deeper wells) for it to
reach the water phase and then turn the well back on at about 25% making sure the choke is wide open plus you have
clear lines so the resistance is minimal. In most cases the system should unload in a short time, more than one
treatment may be required (greater number of foam and gas sticks) if the well is loaded with a greater amount of water.
The sticks should be alternately dropped down the well first foam sticks then gas sticks .Three to four of each will usually
unload a well 5000 feet or less.

More energy (Gas Sticks) maybe required for deeper wells or those with over 5% oil, which acts as a de-foamer. Wait
no more than 30 minutes before unloading the well as the Gas Sticks react rapidly down hole. The Gas Stick bubbling
through the water phase creates a foaming action which decreases the hydrostatic back-pressure which increases gas
production that further enhances the foaming action until the well unloads.

Another note to remember when dropping these sticks is that the number of sticks to be dropped is always based on
the amount of water to be lifted and it is advisable to drop the same amount of Gas Sticks as the number of Foam
sticks although if higher levels of Oil or Condensate are present my suggestion would be to increase the number of Gas
sticks.

Peter Swankhuizen Technical Representative/Owner

ALTACHEM LTD.
5507-76TH Avenue NW Edmonton, Alberta T6B 0A7 CANADA
CELL: +780-907-2357 TEL: +780-414-1445 F A X : +780-414-1446
EMAIL: altachem@shaw.ca altachem@gmail.com
Website: altachem@shaw.ca
http://www.altachem.net/ http://www.altachem.ca
altachem@gmail.com

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