Methods of producing particles having two different properties

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017073574-A1
Application number	US-201415310730-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 5, 2014
Priority date	Jun 5, 2014
Publication date	Mar 16, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method of producing particles comprising: (A) providing a plurality of particle cores, wherein the cores have at least a first property; (B) partially or fully coating the outer surface of the cores with a substance, wherein the substance has a second property, and wherein the second property is different from the first property; and (C) reducing the particle size of the coated particles, wherein the core is exposed after the step of reducing. A method of using particles comprising: introducing a treatment fluid into an area to be treated, wherein the treatment fluid comprises: (i) a base fluid; and (ii) the particles.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of using particles comprising:
introducing a treatment fluid into an area to be treated, wherein the treatment fluid comprises: (i) a base fluid; and (ii) a first type of particles, wherein the first type of particles comprise:
(a) particle cores, wherein the cores have at least a first property;
(b) a coating around the outer surface of the cores or a modified surface of the cores, wherein the coating or surface has a second property, and wherein the second property is different from the first property, wherein the cores are exposed via grinding of the particles after coating or modification.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the treatment fluid is a slurry, an emulsion, or an invert emulsion.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the base fluid is an aqueous liquid, an aqueous miscible liquid, or a hydrocarbon liquid.

4 . The method according to claim 3 , wherein the aqueous liquid is selected from the group consisting of fresh water; saltwater;
brine; seawater; and any combination thereof.

5 . The method according to claim 3 , wherein the aqueous-miscible liquid is selected from the group consisting of alcohols; glycerins; glycols; polyglycol amines; polyols; any derivative thereof; any in combination with salts; any in combination with an aqueous-based fluid; and any combination thereof.

6 . The method according to claim 3 , wherein the hydrocarbon liquid can be selected from the group consisting of: a fractional distillate of crude oil; a fatty derivative of an acid, an ester, an ether, an alcohol, an amine, an amide, or an imide; a saturated hydrocarbon; an unsaturated hydrocarbon; a branched hydrocarbon; a cyclic hydrocarbon; and any combination thereof.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the treatment fluid is used in an oil or gas operation, and wherein the treatment fluid is a drilling fluid, cement composition, spacer fluid, completion fluid, fracturing fluid, or acidizing fluid.

8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the treatment fluid is mixed with a mixing apparatus prior to the step of introducing.

9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of introducing comprises pumping the treatment fluid into the area to be treated using a pump.

10 . A method of producing particles comprising:
(A) providing a plurality of particle cores, wherein the cores have at least a first property; (B) partially or fully coating the outer surface of the cores with a substance, wherein the substance has a second property, and wherein the second property is different from the first property; and (C) reducing the particle size of the coated particles, wherein the core is exposed after the step of reducing.

11 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the cores are made via a precipitation reaction or extruded.

12 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the cores are a polymer.

13 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the cores are composed of metals, metal alloys, plastics, thermoplastics, ceramics, insoluble salts, oxides, composites, and any other insoluble materials.

14 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the cores comprise a matrix having the first property and one or more particulates or fibers embedded within the matrix.

15 . The method according to claim 14 , wherein the one or more particulates or fibers have a third property, and wherein the third property is different from the first property of the matrix and the second property of the coating.

16 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the cores have a shape selected from the group consisting of a geometric shape, including spherical, oblong, or oval; a rod-like shape; a plate-like shape; a fiber shape; or combinations thereof.

17 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein prior to the step of coating, the particles are bulk particles or mesoscopic particles.

18 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the substance chemically interacts and bonds with the outer surface of the cores.

19 . The method according to claim 10 , further comprising a bonding layer, wherein the bonding layer is applied to the outer surface of the cores prior to the step of coating.

20 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein after the step of reducing, the particles are bulk, mesoscopic, or nanoparticles.

21 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the particle size of the coated particles is reduced via shearing, grinding, or milling.

22 . The method according to claim 21 , wherein the amount of shearing, grinding, or milling is adjusted to provide a desired ratio or concentration of the first and second properties.

23 . A method of producing particles comprising:
(A) providing a plurality of particle cores, wherein the cores have at least a first property; (B) providing a modified surface of the cores, wherein the surface has a second property, and wherein the second property is different from the first property; and (C) reducing the particle size of the particles, wherein the core is exposed after the step of reducing.

24 . A wellbore treatment fluid comprises:
a base fluid; and a first type of particles, wherein the first type of particles comprise:
(a) particle cores, wherein the cores have at least a first property;
(b) a coating around the outer surface of the cores or a modified surface of the cores, wherein the coating or surface has a second property, and wherein the second property is different from the first property, wherein the cores are exposed via grinding of the particles after coating or modification.

25 . The method according to claim 24 , wherein the treatment fluid is used in an oil or gas operation, and wherein the treatment fluid is a drilling fluid, cement composition, spacer fluid, completion fluid, fracturing fluid, or acidizing fluid.

26 . The method according to claim 24 , wherein the cores are composed of metals, metal alloys, plastics, thermoplastics, ceramics, insoluble salts, oxides, composites, and any other insoluble materials.

27 . The method according to claim 24 , wherein the cores comprise a matrix having the first property and one or more particulates or fibers embedded within the matrix.

28 . The method according to claim 27 , wherein the one or more particulates or fibers have a third property, and wherein the third property is different from the first property of the matrix and the second property of the coating.

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Mcdaniel Cato Russell
• Jamison Dale E
• Pober Kenneth W
• Ye Xiangnan

Classifications

• C09K8/40

  Spacer compositions, e.g. compositions used to separate well-drilling from cementing masses · CPC title

• C09K8/70 Primary

  characterised by their form or by the form of their components, e.g. foams · CPC title

• E21B43/16

  Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons · CPC title

• C09K8/72

  Eroding chemicals, e.g. acids · CPC title

• C09K8/03 Primary

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