SoluTube®

WATER SOLUBLE SOAP STICK TUBES

THE PREFERED SURFACTANT DELIVERY METHOD

SoluTube is an EPA Approved, hollow, spiral wound type of water soluble packaging used to encase a variety of substances including powders, salts, sands, candle wax, detergents and surfactants. One of the most common applications of SoluTube is encasing surfactants to release gas from inside wells.

Water accumulates in natural gas wells as they age, preventing the gas from rising. To maximize the life and gas production of the well, the water must be extracted or altered to allow gas production to resume.

One of the most cost-efficient methods for enabling the gas to flow freely again is to add a surfactant to the water, converting the liquid into foam. The method in which the surfactant is delivered is fundamental to the cost and labor efficiency.

Aquasol® Water Soluble Paper can be formed into a tube, filled with the surfactants then dropped into a gas well to deliver surfactants to the bottom of the well. The process can be further enhanced by using a Soap Stick Launcher.

In the not-too-distant past, vast quantities of chemical solutions had to be poured down the well to reach deep, underground sources. This method is inefficient and costly when compared to using the water soluble paper soap stick method.

SoluTube is an EPA Approved, hollow, spiral wound type of water soluble packaging used to encase a variety of substances including powders, salts, sands, candle wax, detergents and surfactants. One of the most common applications of SoluTube is encasing surfactants to release gas from inside wells.

Water accumulates in natural gas wells as they age, preventing the gas from rising. To maximize the life and gas production of the well, the water must be extracted or altered to allow gas production to resume.

One of the most cost-efficient methods for enabling the gas to flow freely again is to add a surfactant to the water, converting the liquid into foam. The method in which the surfactant is delivered is fundamental to the cost and labor efficiency.

Aquasol® Water Soluble Paper can be formed into a tube, filled with the surfactants then dropped into a gas well to deliver surfactants to the bottom of the well. The process can be further enhanced by using a Soap Stick Launcher.

In the not-too-distant past, vast quantities of chemical solutions had to be poured down the well to reach deep, underground sources. This method is inefficient and costly when compared to using the water soluble paper soap stick method.

Features and Benefits

Features and Benefits

Non-Stick Surface
  • Soap stick tubes made of materials other than Aquasol Water Soluble Paper release moisture over time and stick to one another in the soap stick launcher.
  • Disruptions in delivery of the surfactants to the well increase labor to remedy the problem.
  • Only SoluTubes have a non-stick surface, ensuring continuous launching of soap sticks.
Safe, Durable and Ready to Use
  • SoluTubes eliminate direct handling of surfactants. Soaps and detergents should be handled with caution.
  • SoluTube is a durable water soluble paper covering, minimizing stick breakage during transport
  • SoluTube, composed of Aquasol Water Soluble Paper, is EPA approved
Biodegradable
  • SoluTubes are made of Sodium Carboxy Methyl cellulose and wooden pulp, non-toxic and biodegradable compounds that leave no residue in the well.
Efficient and Economical
  • Eliminate using expensive well service operations such as swabbing, jetting with coiled tubing, or installing artificial lift and siphon strings.
  • Normally dissolve in 20 to 80 minutes depending on temperature, salt content, and relative water motion in the well.
  • Can dissolve in as little as 5 to 15 minutes depending upon the substance encased
Simple Storage Requirements
  • Will not dissolve while in cool, dry and ventilated storage

How SoluTube Soap Sticks Work

How SoluTube Soap Sticks Work

Insert Soap Sticks in Launcher

Soap sticks can be unloaded one at a time or continuously through a Soap Stick Launcher. Single treatments are best suited to wells that require liquid unloading on an infrequent basis. A disadvantage of this method is operator time to load and inconsistent time between loading. The Soap Stick Launcher however allows continuous treatment at timed intervals enabling soap sticks to be launched unattended.

General Instructions:

  • Shut-in the well and drop sticks through a lubricator

  • Wait 45 seconds until sticks contact top of fluid then slowly return well to normal production

  • Repeat procedure if or when it becomes necessary

Types & Sizes

SoluTube
Sizes

SoluTube Soap sticks range in size from 3/4″ to 2″ in diameter. Smaller size soap sticks are used when minimal amounts of surfactant are needed.


Types of Surfactants

Soap sticks can be made of one surfactant or a blend of surfactants. All soap sticks are used to remove water and condensate from gas wells and increase gas production. Consult with your soap stick manufacturer to create or select the blend that meets your specific needs (temperature resistance, volume of water, etc.).


Packaging

Soap sticks are packaged in plastic chests, plastic tool boxes, cardboard cartons and drums.

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Melting Point

The melting point of a soap stick is 122°F/ 50°C.

Gravity of Soap Stick

The specific gravity of a soap stick is 1.11.

Dissolving Time

The soap sticks will normally dissolve in 20 to 80 minutes depending on temperature, salt content, and relative water motion in the well.

The dissolving time will decrease if the soap sticks are broken before dropping or if they break upon impact with the top of the fluid.

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