{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,18]],"date-time":"2026-08-18T03:03:03Z","timestamp":1787022183087,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":29,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"10","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,16]],"date-time":"2025-10-16T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1760572800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS One"],"abstract":"<jats:p>With the extensive exploitation of shale gas fields in southern Sichuan, China, the Weiyuan Area \u2013 a key production zone within this region \u2013 has experinced a growing gas well plugging problem, which significantly hampers production efficiency. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of plugging problems in this area. Plugging samples were obtained from typically affected gas wells and subjected to a suite of analytical techniques. Results indicated that plugging materials were predominantly inorganic, primarily comprising iron-based impurities and mineral scale deposits, while organic components\u2014present in minor proportions\u2014primarily composed of long-chain alkanes. The formation of these plugs is attributed to downhole corrosion, high-salinity formation water, and complex chemical interactions occurring within the wellbore. In response, specialized plugging removal agents were developed: an organic composite acid-organic solvent system achieved up to 98% dissolution efficiency for iron oxide-dominated plugs; a chelating agent based on CDTA was optimized for iron sulfide-based plugging; and the DTPA-based system exhibited superior dissolution efficiency for barium sulfate\/calcium carbonate scale deposits. This research provides a scientific basis for effectively mitigating plugging issues in comparable shale gas fields.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0334495","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,16]],"date-time":"2025-10-16T17:31:12Z","timestamp":1760635872000},"page":"e0334495","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Comprehensive analysis and effective treatment of plugging in shale gas wells: From composition identification to removal agent 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