For nearly 120 years, acid treatment (acidizing) has been used by oil and gas operators to improve well productivity, predating all other well stimulation techniques, including hydraulic fracturing. However, its use was limited by the lack of effective acid corrosion inhibitors to protect steel tubulars. With the development of efficient corrosion inhibitors, acidizing became widely used, leading to the establishment of the well stimulation services industry. Today, acidizing is among the most effective means for operators to increase a well’s productivity - it is frequently used on new wells to maximize initial output and on aging wells to restore productivity and energy resource recovery.

Acidizing is usually done by pumping acid into a wellbore or geologic formation that produces oil/gas. Two types of acids are often used: hydrochloric (for all formations) and hydrofluoric (for sandstones and certain shales). Organic acids may be used in specialized situations. Three general categories of acid treatments are acid washing, matrix acidizing, and fracture acidizing. Washing aims to clean the tubular and wellbore without treating the formation. In matrix acidizing, an acid treatment is injected below the formation fracturing pressure, while fracture acidizing is when acid is pumped above the fracturing pressure. The objective of both is to dissolve material in, or enhance, the formation to improve flow to the wellbore. The formation type determines the type of acid necessary, and formation permeability determines the pump pressure needed for putting acid into the formation.

Acidizing is a standard practice in the oil and gas industry, and operators and their service providers have the expertise and experience needed for safe and effective execution. Regulators have established a well-founded regulatory framework that manages any work related to the handling of these fluids, protecting the environment and public health and safety. Equipment used in pumping the acid should be well-maintained, and all components exposed to pressure during acid jobs should be pressure tested before pumping operations, in accordance with industry standards and guidelines.

Elephant is proud to offer a comprehensive range of pumps tailored to meet the demanding nature of acidizing jobs. Our commitment to outstanding customer service, convenient Parts on Demand program, and unparalleled support for service and repair ensures that our customers can rely on our acidizing pumps to deliver outstanding performance even in the harshest conditions.