Surfactants for use in liquid suspensions of lightweight beads

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10723934-B2
Application number	US-201616060975-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 9, 2016
Priority date	Feb 9, 2016
Publication date	Jul 28, 2020
Grant date	Jul 28, 2020

Abstract

A method for suspending lightweight beads in a fluid includes combining lightweight beads, a fluid, and a surfactant to form a liquid additive. The liquid additive may be used to reduce the density of a wellbore fluid. The liquid additive or wellbore fluid can be combined with a cementitious material to form a lightweight cement composition.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of suspending lightweight beads, comprising combining lightweight beads with a fluid to form a liquid additive;
wherein the fluid comprises a surfactant selected from: alcohol ether sulfates, betaines, sulfo-betaines, amine-oxides, polyether carboxylates, alkanolamides, sorbitan, and sorbitol derivatives; and
wherein at least a portion of the lightweight beads are suspended in the fluid.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
(i) the lightweight beads contain one or more members selected from glass beads and cenospheres;
or
(ii) the liquid additive is introduced into a wellbore using one or more pumps.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
(i) combining the liquid additive with a water absorbing material;
(ii) combining the liquid additive with additional fluid to form a diluted liquid additive, and
(iii) forming a cement composition by combining the diluted liquid additive with a cementitious material; or
(iv) mixing the components of the liquid additive using mixing equipment.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
forming a cement composition by combining the liquid additive with a cementitious material.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
combining the liquid additive with a wellbore fluid to reduce the density of the wellbore fluid to about 20% to about 40% of the density of the wellbore fluid without the liquid additive.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
forming a cement composition by combining the wellbore fluid with a cementitious material.

7. A lightweight cement composition, comprising:
a cementitious material;
a water absorbing material; and
a liquid additive, the liquid additive comprising:
a fluid;
a surfactant selected from: alcohol ether sulfates, betaines, sulfo-betaines, amine-oxides, polyether carboxylates, alkanolamides, sorbitan, and sorbitol derivatives;
an antifoaming agent, and
lightweight beads;

wherein the lightweight cement composition has a density from about 4 pounds per gallon to about 16 pounds per gallon.

8. The lightweight cement composition of claim 7 ,
wherein the lightweight beads are present in an amount sufficient to reduce the density of the lightweight cement composition to about 20% to about 40% of the density of the lightweight cement composition without the lightweight beads; and
wherein at least a portion of the lightweight beads are suspended in the fluid.

9. The lightweight cement composition of claim 7 , wherein:
(i) one or more of the components of the lightweight cement composition are mixed using mixing equipment;
(ii) the lightweight cement composition is introduced into a wellbore using one or more pumps;
(iii) the cementitious material is selected from Portland cements, gypsum cements, high alumina content cements, slag cements, high magnesia content cements, shale cements, acid/base cements, fly ash cements, zeolite cement systems, kiln dust cement systems, microtine cements, metakaolin, resins, epoxies, and combinations thereof;
(iv) the liquid additive is present in a volume selected from about 1% to about 50% by volume of total fluid, from about 5% to about 30% by volume of total fluid, and from about 5% to about 20% by volume of total fluid; or
(v) the water absorbing material is present in a volume selected from about 0.1% to about 10% by volume of lightweight beads, from about 0.1% to about 3% by volume of lightweight beads, and from about 0.2% to about 2% by volume of lightweight beads.

10. The lightweight cement composition of claim 7 , wherein the fluid comprises an aqueous fluid selected from fresh water, brackish water, saltwater, brine, aqueous drilling fluids, and any combination thereof.

11. The lightweight cement composition of claim 10 , further comprising water in an amount selected from about 20% to about 80% by volume of liquid additive, from about 30% to about 70% by volume of liquid additive, and from about 35% to about 50% by volume of liquid additive.

12. The lightweight cement composition of claim 7 , further comprising:
(i) the surfactant in an amount selected from about 0.001% to about 10% by volume of liquid additive, from about 0.005% to about 4% by volume of liquid additive, and from about 0.01% to about 2% by volume of liquid additive; or
(ii) the antifoaming agent in an amount selected from about 0.001% to about 10% by volume of liquid additive, from about 0.005% to about 4% by volume of liquid additive, and from about 0.01% to about 2% by volume of liquid additive.

13. A liquid additive comprising:
a fluid;
a surfactant selected from: alcohol ether sulfates, betaines, sulfo-betaines, amine-oxides, polyether carboxylates, alkanolamides, sorbitan, and sorbitol derivatives; and
lightweight beads;

wherein at least a portion of the lightweight beads are suspended in the fluid.

14. The liquid additive of claim 13 , wherein:
(i) the liquid additive may be combined with a cementitious material to form a lightweight cement composition;
(ii) the lightweight beads are present in an amount selected from about 0.2% to about 80% by volume of liquid additive, from about 30% to about 70% by volume of liquid additive, and from about 45% to about 65% by volume of liquid additive;
(iii) the components of the liquid additive are mixed using mixing equipment; or
(iv) the liquid additive is introduced into a wellbore using one or more pumps.

15. The liquid additive of claim 13 , further comprising one or more additives selected from: an anti-foaming agent and a water absorbing material.

16. The liquid additive of claim 14 , wherein the liquid additive is combined with a cementitious material and water to form a lightweight cement composition, the cementitious material being selected from Portland cements, gypsum cements, high alumina content cements, slag cements, high magnesia content cements, shale cements, acid/base cements, fly ash cements, zeolite cement systems, kiln dust cement systems, microfine cements, metakaolin, resins, epoxies, and combinations thereof.

17. A wellbore fluid, comprising:
an aqueous fluid; and
the liquid additive of claim 8 .

18. The wellbore fluid of claim 17 , wherein:
(i) the lightweight beads are added in an amount sufficient to reduce the density of the wellbore fluid;
(ii) the lightweight beads reduce the density of the wellbore fluid by at least 10%;
(iii) the lightweight beads are selected to reduce the density of the wellbore fluid relative to a second wellbore fluid;
(iv) the wellbore fluid combines with a cementitious material to form a lightweight cement slurry having a density in the range of from about 4 pounds per gallon to about 16 pounds per gallon;
(v) the aqueous fluid is selected from fresh water, brackish water, saltwater, brine, aqueous drilling fluids, and any combination thereof;
(vi) the components of the wellbore fluid are mixed using mixing equipment;
(vii) the wellbore fluid is introduced into a wellbore using one or more pumps;
(viii) the components of the liquid additive are mixed using mixing equipment; or
(ix) the liquid additive is introduced into a wellbore using one or more pumps.

19. The wellbore fluid of claim 18 , wherein the lightweight beads are added in an amount to reduce the density of the wellbore fluid and the wellbore fluid is a spacer fluid.

20. The method of claim 3 :
(i) further comprising mixing the components of the cement composition using mixing equipment; or
(ii) wherein the cement composition is introduced into a w

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Lumsden Simone E A
• Lewis Sam J
• Hundt Greg R

Classifications

• Y02W30/91

  Use of waste materials as fillers for mortars or concrete · CPC title

• C09K8/467 Primary

  containing additives for specific purposes · CPC title

• C09K8/03 Primary

  Specific additives for general use in well-drilling compositions · CPC title

• C04B28/02

  containing hydraulic cements other than calcium sulfates · CPC title

• C09K2208/28

  Friction or drag reducing additives · CPC title