Eutectic metal alloy-containing cement and methods of use thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025074834-A1
Application number	US-202318459139-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 31, 2023
Priority date	Aug 31, 2023
Publication date	Mar 6, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for remediating fractures in a cement structure including heating the cement structure to a temperature at or above the melting temperature of the eutectic metal alloy particles to allow the particles to flow in liquid state into the fractures in the cement structure until the heat source is discontinued, allowing the particles to cool and solidify.

First claim

1 . A cement composition comprising:
a cement precursor; and eutectic metal alloy particles.

2 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the eutectic metal alloy particles comprise one or more selected from the group consisting of lead, tin, bismuth, cadmium, and indium.

3 . The composition of claim 2 , wherein the eutectic metal alloy particles comprise bismuth and tin.

4 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the eutectic metal alloy particles have an average particles size ranging from 100 to 1,000 microns.

5 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the cement has a compressive strength ranging from 250 psi to 7,000 psi.

6 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the cement composition further comprises an additive selected from the group consisting of lost circulation materials, retarders, viscosifiers, accelerators, fluid loss agents, and combinations thereof.

7 . A method of remediating fractures in a cement structure comprising eutectic metal alloy particles within a cement composition, the method comprising:
heating the cement structure and the cement composition with an external heat source to a temperature at or above a melting temperature of the eutectic metal alloy particles; melting the eutectic metal alloy particles within the cement composition to provide the eutectic metal alloy in a liquid state, thereby allowing flow of the eutectic metal alloy in the liquid state into fractures in the cement structure; discontinuing heating the cement structure; and cooling and solidifying the eutectic metal alloy in the fractures of the cement structure, wherein the eutectic metal alloys are present in a concentration ranging from 1 to 50 wt % based on the cement composition.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the eutectic metal alloy particles comprise one or more selected from the group consisting of lead, tin, bismuth, cadmium, and indium.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the eutectic metal alloy particles comprise bismuth and tin.

10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the eutectic metal alloy particles have an average particles size ranging from 100 to 3,000 microns.

11 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the melting temperature of the eutectic metal alloy particles ranges from 45° C. to 280° C.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the melting temperature of the eutectic metal alloy particles ranges from 100° C. to 280° C.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the cement structure is a well casing.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the external heat source is a mineral insulated heater or a thermite heater.

15 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
prior to heating the cement structure, pumping the cement composition downhole; and curing the cement composition downhole to provide the cement structure comprising eutectic metal alloys particles.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising mixing a cement precursor with the cement composition.

Assignees

• Aramco Services Co
• Newpark Drilling Fluids Llc

Inventors

• Hale Arthur
• Boul Peter
• Amer Ahmed Said Abdelaziz

Classifications

• C09K8/467

  containing additives for specific purposes · CPC title

• C09K8/428

  for squeeze cementing, e.g. for repairing · CPC title

• C04B2201/50

  for the mechanical strength · CPC title

• C04B2111/72

  Repairing or restoring existing buildings or building materials · CPC title

• C04B41/0081

  characterised by the subsequent cooling step · CPC title