Method for assessing quality of amine-based shale inhibitors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025137935-A1
Application number	US-202318495188-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 26, 2023
Priority date	Oct 26, 2023
Publication date	May 1, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

Described is a method for assessing quality of an amine-based shale inhibitor in drilling fluid. A relationship between a concentration of the amine-based shale inhibitor in a drilling fluid and turbidity is established by preparing drilling fluid solutions with varying concentrations of the amine-based shale inhibitor, allowing the drilling fluid solutions to form precipitates, and analyzing turbidity of the drilling fluid solutions. A sample of a drilling fluid with an unknown concentration of amine-based shale inhibitor is obtained. Using the established relationship, a concentration of the amine-based shale inhibitor in the sample of the drilling fluid is estimated.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . A method for assessing a quality of an amine-based shale inhibitor, comprising:
establishing a relationship between a concentration of an amine-based shale inhibitor in a drilling fluid and turbidity, wherein establishing the relationship comprises:
preparing a plurality of drilling fluid solutions with a plurality of varying concentrations of the amine-based shale inhibitor, each drilling fluid solution having a distinct concentration of the amine-based shale inhibitor;
allowing the plurality of drilling fluid solutions to form precipitates;
analyzing turbidity of the plurality of drilling fluid solutions;
obtaining one or more samples of a drilling fluid with an unknown concentration of amine-based shale inhibitor; and using the established relationship, estimating a concentration of the amine-based shale inhibitor in the one or more samples of the drilling fluid.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising analyzing turbidity of the one or more samples of the drilling fluid.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein analyzing turbidity of the one or more samples of the drilling fluid comprises determining turbidity values for the one or more samples of the drilling fluid based on absorption intensities obtained from a turbidimeter.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the estimated concentration is correlated to a quality of the amine-based shale inhibitor in the one or more samples of the drilling fluid.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more samples of the drilling fluid are obtained prior to a drilling operation.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more samples of the drilling fluid are obtained from a circulating drilling fluid during a drilling operation.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of samples of the drilling fluid are obtained prior to a drilling operation and from a circulating drilling fluid during a drilling operation.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein analyzing turbidity of the plurality of drilling solutions comprises determining turbidity values for the plurality of drilling fluid solutions based on absorption intensities obtained from a turbidimeter.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the established relationship is visualized as a calibration plot.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein preparing the plurality of drilling fluid solutions comprises formulating a plurality of water-based drilling fluid samples having a plurality of varying concentrations of the amine-based shale inhibitor.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein preparing the plurality of drilling fluid solutions further comprises:
collecting a mud filtrate from each water-based drilling fluid sample; and mixing an amount of each mud filtrate with an amount of an amine precipitating reagent.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the amine precipitating reagent is Reinecke's salt.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of varying concentrations of the amine-based shale inhibitor range from 0 pounds per barrel (ppb) to 10 ppb.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of varying concentrations of the amine-based shale inhibitor range from 1 ppb to 2 ppb.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of varying concentrations of the amine-based shale inhibitor range from 2 ppb to 4 ppb.

16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of varying concentrations of the amine-based shale inhibitor range from 4 ppb to 6 ppb.

17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of varying concentrations of the amine-based shale inhibitor range from 6 ppb to 8 ppb.

18 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of varying concentrations of the amine-based shale inhibitor range from 8 ppb to 10 ppb.

Assignees

• Saudi Arabian Oil Co

Inventors

• Wagle Vikrant
• Pal Omprakash
• Al-Yami Abdullah
• Alkhalaf Sara

Classifications

• G01N31/02

  using precipitation {(measuring deposition or liberation of materials from an electrolyte G01N27/42)} · CPC title

• G01N33/2823

  Raw oil, drilling fluid or polyphasic mixtures · CPC title

• C09K8/14

  Clay-containing compositions (containing inorganic compounds C09K8/05) · CPC title

• C09K2208/12

  Swell inhibition, i.e. using additives to drilling or well treatment fluids for inhibiting clay or shale swelling or disintegrating · CPC title

• G01N21/82 Primary

  producing a precipitate or turbidity · CPC title