Loss circulation material composition having alkaline nanoparticle based dispersion and water soluble hydrolysable ester

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10759986-B2
Application number	US-201715679890-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 17, 2017
Priority date	Aug 17, 2017
Publication date	Sep 1, 2020
Grant date	Sep 1, 2020

Abstract

A lost circulation material (LCM) is provided having an alkaline nanosilica dispersion and an ester activator. The alkaline nanosilica dispersion and the ester activator may form a gelled solid after interaction over a contact period. Methods of lost circulation control using the LCM are also provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method to control lost circulation in a lost circulation zone in a wellbore, comprising:
introducing a lost circulation material (LCM) into the wellbore such that the LCM contacts the lost circulation zone and reduces a rate of lost circulation into the lost circulation zone as compared to a period before introducing the LCM, wherein the LCM comprises an alkaline nanosilica dispersion, a water soluble ester, and a catalyst selected to increase a hydrolysis rate of the water soluble ester, wherein the alkaline nanosilica dispersion has a pH in the range of 8.5 to 10.5, wherein the weight ratio of the alkaline nanosilica dispersion to the water soluble ester is in the range of 50:1 to 80:1, wherein the water soluble ester comprises ethyl lactate; and maintaining the LCM in contact with the lost circulation zone for a contact period to form a gelled solid, wherein the contact period comprises a range of 0.5 hours to 24 hours.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the LCM consists of the alkaline nanosilica dispersion and the water soluble ester.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the lost circulation zone has a temperature that is at least 100° F.

4. The method of claim 1 , comprising mixing the alkaline nanosilica dispersion and the water soluble ester to form the LCM at the surface before introducing the LCM into the wellbore.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the LCM comprises at least one of calcium carbonate particles, fibers, mica, and graphite.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the fibers comprises at least one of ester fibers, polypropylene fibers, starch fibers, polyketone fibers, ceramic fibers, glass fibers and nylon fibers.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the catalyst comprises hydrochloric acid, or sulfuric acid.

Assignees

• Saudi Arabian Oil Co

Inventors

• Wagle Vikrant
• Kalgaonkar Rajendra
• Al-Yami Abdullah
• Alsaihati Zainab

Classifications

• C04B28/24 Primary

  containing alkyl, ammonium or metal silicates; containing silica sols {(reaction mixtures resulting in mineral polymers C04B28/006; polymeric reaction products of alkali metal silicates with isocyanates C08G18/3895)} · CPC title

• C09K2208/08

  Fiber-containing well treatment fluids · CPC title

• C09K8/506

  containing organic compounds · CPC title

• C09K8/5045

  containing inorganic compounds · CPC title

• C04B28/26

  Silicates of the alkali metals · CPC title