ACIDIZING ELECTRIC SUMERSIBLE PUMPS WITH

HYDROCHLORIC (HCl) ACID

NOTE!
Use extreme care when working with acid solutions. Wear the proper personal protective
equipment (PPE). Be sure to follow all precautions and guidelines provided by the
chemical supplier.

1.) The maximum concentration of HCl to be used is 15 % and it must have a metal
inhibitor in the solution.

2.) The acid can be spotted in the pump through the tubing or down the backside
(annulus). SEE NOTE

NOTE!
Never acidize down the backside (annulus) if galvanized cable armor is used, as the acid
will attack this armor; potentially leading to fragments of the armor coming off, in the
well, and being sucked into the pump, causing it to lockup.

3.) It is recommended the pressure used to pump the acid solution not exceed 100 PSI
at the surface. If the pump is completely plugged and would have to be pulled
anyway, if it can’t be cleaned up, some customers have applied a higher pressure.
If this is the selected approach the pressure applied at the surface should be
calculated, as follows, to obtain housing burst pressure of the pump series you are
acidizing. The calculation is as follows:

(Sp. Gr.)(. 433)(FTF + PAS) = Housing Burst Pressure

Sp. Gr. = specific gravity of the acid solution

FTF = feet to fluid level
PAS = pressure applied at surface.
ACIDIZING ELECTRIC SUBMERSIBLE PUMPS WITH HYDROCHLORIC ACID PAGE 2

4.) Allow the acid to remain downhole for the amount of time specified by the
chemical company. If a time is not specified allow a minimum of thirty minutes
and a maximum of four hours. We do not recommend exposing the esp
equipment longer than 4 hours.

5.) When treating down the tubing, flush the spent acid from the pump by pumping
filtered water or produced fluid down the tubing. The volume of flushing fluid
should exceed the volume of acid solution by at least 10%.

6.) Some customers flush the spent acid from the pump by isolating the surface flow
line check valve. Then, remove the flapper from the check valve. After replacing
the check valve cover, the flow line valves are opened to allow produced fluid to
flow back down the tubing for the amount of time required to spot at least 10%
more produced fluid than the amount of acid pumped downhole.

7.) When the flushing fluid in the tubing string has equalized with the annulus fluid
level it is OK to start the unit. Before starting the unit, it is recommended that the
unit be check to determine if it is back spinning.

It is possible to check the unit to see if it is back spinning with an analog

Ohmmeter. Set the Ohmmeter on the R X 10,000 Ω scale. Short the leads to
gather and adjust it to zero. Connect the leads to any 2 of the cable conductors,
after all 3 have been disconnected at the junction box. When the meter hand
stops oscillating the unit has stopped rotating.

If there is any question as to the length of time it will take to reach equalization,
wait a minimum of 30 minutes.

8.) If a well is known to have a problem with calcium carbonate scale, or it is

discovered to have a problem with calcium carbonate scale, it is recommended
that a Premium Face Seal (PFS) be used as the top mechanical seal in the Seal
Section. A PFS has Silicon Carbide face sealing components.

NOTE !
Follow all electrical safety precautions when disconnecting/reconnecting the cable at
junction box.

Rev. C
6-28-01