Thermal thickening in invert emulsion treatment fluids

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016369151-A1
Application number	US-201414902427-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 17, 2014
Priority date	May 17, 2014
Publication date	Dec 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Among the methods provided is a method comprising: providing an invert emulsion fluid formed by combining components that comprise: an oil-based continuous phase; an aqueous discontinuous phase; and a glycol ether additive that comprises a glycol ether and using the invert emulsion fluid to drill at least a portion of a well bore penetrating at least a portion of a subterranean formation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method comprising:
providing an invert emulsion fluid formed by combining components that comprise:
an oil-based continuous phase,
an aqueous internal phase,
a glycol ether additive comprising a glycol ether; and
using the invert emulsion fluid to drill at least a portion of a well bore penetrating at least a portion of a subterranean formation;
wherein the glycol ether additive substantially increases the low-shear viscosity at elevated temperatures of the invert emulsion fluid relative to a fluid without a glycol ether additive.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the glycol ether additive comprises a glycol ether and a dimer/trimer fatty acid.

3 . (canceled)

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the invert emulsion fluid comprises from about 0.25 pounds (0.11 kg) to about 1 pounds (0.45 kg) per barrel of the glycol ether additive.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the oil-based continuous phase comprises at least one oil selected from the group consisting of: a paraffin oil, a mineral oil, a synthetic oil, a diesel oil, and any combination thereof.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the oil-based continuous phase comprises greater than about 30% by volume of the total fluid.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the glycol ether comprises at least one glycol ether selected from the group consisting of: triethylene glycol butyl ether, triethylene glycol propyl ether, triethylene glycol methyl ether, triethylene glycol ethyl ether, triethylene glycol isopropyl ether, diethylene glycol butyl ether, diethylene glycol propyl ether, diethylene glycol methyl ether, diethylene glycol ethyl ether, diethylene glycol isopropyl ether, ethylene glycol butyl ether, ethylene glycol propyl ether, ethylene glycol methyl ether, ethylene glycol ethyl ether, ethylene glycol isopropyl ether, propylene glycol butyl ether, propylene glycol propyl ether, propylene glycol methyl ether, propylene glycol ethyl ether, or propylene glycol isopropyl ether.

8 . (canceled)

9 . (canceled)

10 . An invert emulsion fluid comprising:
an oil-based continuous phase, an aqueous internal phase, and a glycol ether additive comprising a glycol ether;
wherein the glycol ether additive substantially increases the low-shear viscosity at elevated temperatures of the invert emulsion fluid relative to a fluid without a glycol ether additive.

11 . (canceled)

12 . The invert emulsion fluid of claim 10 wherein the oil-based continuous phase comprises greater than about 30% by volume of the total fluid.

13 . The invert emulsion fluid of claim 10 wherein the glycol ether additive comprises a glycol ether and a dimer/trimer fatty acid.

14 . The invert emulsion fluid of claim 10 wherein the glycol ether comprises at least one glycol ether selected from the group consisting of: triethylene glycol butyl ether, triethylene glycol propyl ether, triethylene glycol methyl ether, triethylene glycol ethyl ether, triethylene glycol isopropyl ether, diethylene glycol butyl ether, diethylene glycol propyl ether, diethylene glycol methyl ether, diethylene glycol ethyl ether, diethylene glycol isopropyl ether, ethylene glycol butyl ether, ethylene glycol propyl ether, ethylene glycol methyl ether, ethylene glycol ethyl ether, ethylene glycol isopropyl ether, propylene glycol butyl ether, propylene glycol propyl ether, propylene glycol methyl ether, propylene glycol ethyl ether, or propylene glycol isopropyl ether.

15 . The invert emulsion fluid of claim 10 wherein the invert emulsion fluid comprises from about 0.1 pounds (0.05 kg) to about 5 pounds (2.3 kg) per barrel of the glycol ether additive.

16 . The invert emulsion fluid of claim 10 wherein the invert emulsion fluid comprises at least one additive selected from the group consisting of: a solid, a weighting agent, an inert solid, a fluid loss control agent, an emulsifier, a salt, a dispersion aid, a corrosion inhibitor, an emulsion thinner, an emulsion thickener, a viscosifier, and any combination thereof.

17 .- 21 . (canceled)

22 . The method of claim 1 wherein the glycol ether additive substantially increases the low-shear viscosity of the invert emulsion fluid at temperatures between approximately 120 degrees Fahrenheit (48.9 degrees Celsius) and 500 degrees Fahrenheit (260 degrees Celsius).

23 .- 28 . (canceled)

29 . The invert emulsion fluid of claim 10 wherein the glycol ether additive substantially increases the low-shear viscosity of the invert emulsion fluid at temperatures between approximately 120 degrees Fahrenheit (48.9 degrees Celsius) and 500 degrees Fahrenheit (260 degrees Celsius).

30 .- 35 . (canceled)

36 . A method comprising:
providing an oil-based fluid formed by combining components that comprise:
a glycol ether additive comprising a glycol ether, wherein the glycol ether additive substantially increases the low-shear viscosity of the oil-based fluid at temperatures between approximately 120 degrees Fahrenheit (48.9 degrees Celsius) and 500 degrees Fahrenheit (260 degrees Celsius); and
using the oil based fluid to drill at least a portion of a well bore penetrating at least a portion of a subterranean formation.

37 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the glycol ether additive comprises a glycol ether and a dimer/trimer fatty acid.

38 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the oil-based fluid comprises from about 0.1 pounds (0.05 kg) to about 5 pounds (2.3 kg) per barrel of the glycol ether additive.

39 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the oil-based fluid comprises at least one oil selected from the group consisting of: a paraffin oil, a mineral oil, a synthetic oil, a diesel oil, and any combination thereof.

40 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the glycol ether comprises at least one glycol ether selected from the group consisting of: triethylene glycol butyl ether, triethylene glycol propyl ether, triethylene glycol methyl ether, triethylene glycol ethyl ether, triethylene glycol isopropyl ether, diethylene glycol butyl ether, diethylene glycol propyl ether, diethylene glycol methyl ether, diethylene glycol ethyl ether, diethylene glycol isopropyl ether, ethylene glycol butyl ether, ethylene glycol propyl ether, ethylene glycol methyl ether, ethylene glycol ethyl ether, ethylene glycol isopropyl ether, propylene glycol butyl ether, propylene glycol propyl ether, propylene glycol methyl ether, propylene glycol ethyl ether, or propylene glycol isopropyl ether.

41 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the oil-based fluid comprises at least one additive selected from the group consisting of: a solid, a weighting agent, an inert solid, a fluid loss control agent, an emulsifier, a salt, a dispersion aid, a corrosion inhibitor, an emulsion thinner, an emulsion thickener, a viscosifier, and any combination thereof.

42 . (canceled)

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Livanec Philip Wayne
• Deville Jay Paul
• Davis Chesnee Lae
• Walker Jonathan Paul

Classifications

• C09K8/36 Primary

  Water-in-oil emulsions · CPC title

• E21B43/04

  Gravelling of wells · CPC title

• C09K2208/32

  Anticorrosion additives · CPC title

• C09K8/502

  Oil-based compositions · CPC title

• E21B41/02

  in situ inhibition of corrosion in boreholes or wells · CPC title