Measuring and testing – Liquid analysis or analysis of the suspension of solids in a... – Gelling or coagulation
Patent
1996-04-10
1998-02-10
Williams, Hezron E.
Measuring and testing
Liquid analysis or analysis of the suspension of solids in a...
Gelling or coagulation
73 5301, 73 6173, 7315239, 166285, 166281, 166270, G01N 1100, E21B 33138, C09K 702, C08L 334
Patent
active
057171319
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for the testing of different properties of a shear thickening plugging fluid useful for plugging of a zone of a subterranean formation around a well bore, or for blocking a well in case of unintended water intrusion. The properties of a plugging fluid that it may be of particular interest to evaluate are in particular related to setting time, shear strength and homogeneity at different pressure and temperature conditions and chemical conditions.
2. Description of the Invention Background
For plugging of zones of subterranean formations, a use may be made i.a. of so-called "rheotropic" fluids, which fluids thicken when subjected to high shear. A suitable rheotropic fluid for such use is a fluid having physical properties enabling it to be easily pumped through the mud system (Condition 1) to the drill bit, and to set (Condition 2) when forced through the nozzles of the drill bit, where the pressure drop will be in the range of about 50 to 120 bars. Also, the time period from the passing through the nozzles till setting takes place must be sufficiently long to enable the fluid to flow into the formation zones to be plugged.
For the preparation of a plugging fluid having such desired setting pattern, it is known to use an emulsion technique for preparing an emulsion in which two reactive components--which will provide a thickening or setting of the fluid when brought in contact with one another--are placed each in one separate phase of the emulsion, in such a way that they are not brought into contact with one another. As long as the emulsion is not broken, the two reactive components will in this manner stay separated from one another, whereby the emulsion maintains its original low viscosity. On the other hand, when the emulsion is subjected to high shear, causing it to be broken, the two reactive components will come into contact with one another and the setting of the fluid takes place.
Said emulsion technique can be utilized in several ways. Thus, U.S. Pat. No. 4,663,366 discloses a rheotropic water-in-oil emulsion wherein (a) the oil phase contains dispersed therein a hydratable water-swelling hydrophilic clay such as bentonite, and also contains dissolved therein a surfactant consisting of a polyamine derivative, and (b) the water phase contains dissolved therein a polyacrylamide and a polycarboxylic acid. To keep the bentonite separated from the water until a setting of the fluid is desired, each droplet of the dispersed aqueous phase is coated with a membrane or a film of a polymer material which is formed when the aqueous phase is dispersed or emulsified into the oil phase of the emulsion. The film or membrane is formed as a result of the interfacial interaction between the polyamine derivative in the oil phase and the polyacryl amide and polycarboxylic acid in the dispersed aqueous phase. When the emulsion is subjected to high shear stress at the desired point of time, the protective film around the dispersed droplets in the emulsion is broken and the bentonite comes into contact with the water, which leads to a swelling of the bentonite and consequently a thickening of the fluid.
A plugging fluid in which the emulsion technique has been utilized in a different manner is disclosed in Norwegian Patent Application No. 931954. This plugging fluid is constituted of an emulsion comprising (a) a continuous phase containing a hydrophobic liquid (oil), an emulsifier and a cross-linking agent for a polysaccharide, and (b) a discontinuous phase containing water and a polysaccharide. In this case, the mechanism of the setting of the plugging fluid is a cross-linking of the polysaccharide with the cross-linking agent. Thus, for achieving the desired effect of the plugging emulsion it is critical even in this case that the two reactive components of the emulsion are kept separated from one another until a setting of the plugging emulsion is desired. This separation is achieved by maintaining the cross-linking ag
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Engan Tommy
Johnsen Hans Konrad
Sunde Egil
Den Norske Stats Oljeselskap A.S.
Wiggins J. David
Williams Hezron E.
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