Bentonite-based grouts and related methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022195283-A1
Application number	US-202217654125-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 9, 2022
Priority date	Nov 14, 2017
Publication date	Jun 23, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

Bentonite-based grout fluids and methods of using the grout fluids are provided. A method of using a grout fluid includes placing a geothermal conduit in at least one hole in the earth, providing a grout fluid consisting essentially of water and a bentonite-based grout, wherein the bentonite-based grout consists essentially of calcium carbonate, a bentonite, one or more grout-setting modifiers, and one or more thermally conductive materials, introducing the grout fluid into a space between the geothermal conduit and sidewalls of the at least one hole so that the grout fluid is in contact with the geothermal conduit, and after introducing the grout fluid, allowing the grout fluid to set to fix the geothermal conduit to the at least one hole, wherein after setting, the grout fluid has a hydraulic conductivity of between about 1×10 −7 cm/s and about 1×10 −9 cm/s.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of using a grout fluid, which comprises:
placing a geothermal conduit in at least one hole in the earth; providing a grout fluid consisting essentially of water and a bentonite-based grout, wherein the bentonite-based grout consists essentially of calcium carbonate, a bentonite, one or more grout-setting modifiers, and one or more thermally conductive materials; introducing the grout fluid into a space between the geothermal conduit and sidewalls of the at least one hole so that the grout fluid is in contact with the geothermal conduit; and after introducing the grout fluid, allowing the grout fluid to set to fix the geothermal conduit to the at least one hole, wherein after setting, the grout fluid has a hydraulic conductivity of between about 1×10′ cm/s and about 1×10 −9 cm/s.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the bentonite consists of sodium bentonite.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more grout-setting modifiers comprise ammonium sulfate, potassium chloride, sodium chloride, partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide, and combinations thereof.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the one or more grout-setting modifiers comprise potassium chloride, ammonium sulfate, or a combination thereof.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more thermally conductive materials comprise a silicate, a carbon-based material, a metal particulate, or a combination thereof.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the bentonite-based grout consists essentially of calcium carbonate, sodium bentonite, potassium chloride, ammonium sulfate, and one or more thermally conductive materials.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the bentonite-based grout consists essentially of calcium carbonate, sodium bentonite, ammonium sulfate, and one or more thermally conductive materials.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the grout fluid has a viscosity of less than about 100 cp within 5 minutes of the grout fluid being prepared.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the grout fluid sets within 24 hours after the grout fluid is introduced into the at least one hole.

10 . A method of using a grout fluid, which comprises:
providing a grout fluid consisting essentially of water and a bentonite-based grout, wherein the bentonite-based grout consists essentially of calcium carbonate, a bentonite, and one or more grout-setting modifiers; introducing the grout fluid into a borehole in the earth so that the grout fluid is in contact with sidewalls of the borehole and fills the borehole; and allowing the grout fluid to set in the borehole, wherein after setting, the grout fluid has a hydraulic conductivity of between 1×10 −7 cm/s and 1×10 −9 cm/s.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the bentonite consists of sodium bentonite.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the one or more grout-setting modifiers comprise ammonium sulfate, potassium chloride, sodium chloride, partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide, and combinations thereof.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the one or more grout-setting modifiers comprise potassium chloride, ammonium sulfate, or a combination thereof.

14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the bentonite-based grout consists essentially of calcium carbonate, sodium bentonite, potassium chloride, and ammonium sulfate.

15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the bentonite-based grout consists essentially of calcium carbonate, sodium bentonite, ammonium sulfate, and one or more thermally conductive materials.

16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein introducing the grout fluid into the borehole comprises introducing the grout fluid into an annulus between the borehole and a casing.

17 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the grout fluid has a viscosity of less than about 100 cp within 5 minutes of the grout fluid being prepared.

18 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the grout fluid sets within 24 hours after the grout fluid is introduced into the at least one hole.

19 . A grout fluid consisting essentially of:
an aqueous fluid; and a bentonite-based grout consisting essentially of:
calcium carbonate,
sodium bentonite, and
one or more grout-setting modifiers.

20 . The grout fluid of claim 19 , wherein the bentonite-based grout consists of calcium carbonate, sodium bentonite, one or more grout-setting modifiers, and a thermally conductive material.

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Stone Shantel Jeanette

Classifications

• C04B28/001

  containing unburned clay (polymer binder - clay mixtures used in well cementing C09K8/44) · CPC title

• E21B33/14

  for cementing casings into boreholes · CPC title

• C09K8/508 Primary

  macromolecular compounds {(C09K8/512 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• C09K8/5045 Primary

  containing inorganic compounds · CPC title

• C04B22/103

  Acids; Carbonic acids, e.g. from carbon dioxide · CPC title