Earth boring – well treating – and oil field chemistry – Earth boring – Contains organic component
Patent
1998-03-20
1999-11-16
Tucker, Philip
Earth boring, well treating, and oil field chemistry
Earth boring
Contains organic component
507140, 507145, 516 27, 516141, C09K 706, C09K 702, B01J 1300
Patent
active
059858001
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to invert emulsion fluids suitable for use in drilling wells. More particularly, the invention relates to acidic drilling fluids comprising an oleaginous liquid, a non-oleaginous liquid, an amine and an acid.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Invert emulsion fluids. i.e. emulsions in which the non-oleaginous fluid is the dispersed phase and the oleaginous fluid is the continuous phase, are employed in drilling processes for the development of oil or gas sources, as well as, in geothermal drilling, water drilling, geoscientific drilling and mine drilling. Specifically, the invert emulsion fluids are conventionally utilized for such purposes as providing stability to the drilled hole, forming a thin filter cake, lubricating the drilling bore and downhole, and penetrating salt beds without sloughing or enlargement of the drilled hole.
Invert emulsion fluids generally consist of a three-component system, namely an oleaginous liquid such as oil which serves as a continuous phase, a non-oleaginous liquid such as water which serves as a discontinuous phase, and an emulsifying agent. The emulsifying agent serves to lower the interfacial tension of the liquids so that the non-oleaginous liquid may form a stable dispersion of fine droplets in the oleaginous liquid. A full description of such invert emulsions may be found in Composition and Properties of Drilling and Completion Fluids, 5th Edition, H. C. H. Darley, George R. Gray, Gulf Publishing Company, 1988. pp. 328-332, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
Usually, lime or other alkaline materials are added to conventional invert emulsion fluids to maintain a reserve alkalinity when the invert emulsion fluid is to be used in drilling. See, for example, API Bulletin RP 13B-2, 1990. p. 22 which describes a standard test for determining excess lime in drilling mud. See also, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,254,531 which employs lime along with an ester oil, a fatty acid, and an amine and EP 271943 which employs lime along with oil, water, and an ethoxylated amine. In some areas acidic gases such as CO.sub.2 or H.sub.2 S are encountered during drilling. The acidic gases often weaken conventional invert emulsion fluids to the point of failure and render the invert emulsion fluids unstable.
Another aspect of invert emulsions that is typically encountered during drilling is the need to increase the density of the drilling fluid. Conventionally this is done by the addition of solid weighting agents or by the use of brines of salts that form basic or neutral aqueous solutions. The use of brines of salts that form acidic aqueous solutions, for example a transition metal halide solution, is difficult because of the addition of the acidic brine would tend to make the invert emulsion fluids unstable. Further, due to the alkaline reserve noted above, the transition metal ion would precipitate out due to the formation of hydroxide complexes. However the use of acidic brine solutions is desired due to their higher density imparted by the metal cation.
Thus, it would be desirable if an invert emulsion could be invented which did not fail or weaken when subjected to acidic gases such as CO.sub.2 or H.sub.2 S. Likewise, it would be desirable to weight an oil based drilling fluid with high density acidic brines which may be made with acidic metal salts. In this manner, the invert emulsion could be employed as a stable drilling or completion fluid.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A new invert emulsion fluid has been invented which comprises an oleaginous liquid, a non-oleaginous liquid, and a protonated amine having the structure R--N.sup.+ --H.sub.3 wherein R represents a C.sub.12 -C.sub.22 alkyl group or a C.sub.12 -C.sub.22 alkenyl group. Such fluid is particularly useful in the drilling of wells in which CO.sub.2, H.sub.2 S or other acidic gases will be encountered and break or adversely affect conventional invert emulsions. Such fluids may also be useful in the formulation of "solids free" invert emulsion drilling fluid
REFERENCES:
patent: 2802531 (1957-08-01), Cardwell et al.
patent: 2900336 (1959-08-01), Brown et al.
patent: 2900337 (1959-08-01), Earley et al.
patent: 3804760 (1974-04-01), Darley
patent: 3962151 (1976-06-01), Dekker et al.
patent: 4040866 (1977-08-01), Mondshine
patent: 4230586 (1980-10-01), Bretz et al.
patent: 4439345 (1984-03-01), Duke
patent: 4582543 (1986-04-01), Bretz
patent: 4615813 (1986-10-01), Bretz
patent: 4645608 (1987-02-01), Rayborn
patent: 4670550 (1987-06-01), Bleeker et al.
patent: 4735731 (1988-04-01), Rose et al.
patent: 5156686 (1992-10-01), Van Slyke
patent: 5189012 (1993-02-01), Patel et al.
patent: 5254531 (1993-10-01), Mueller et al.
patent: 5403820 (1995-04-01), Walker
patent: 5634984 (1997-06-01), Van Slyke
Kirk-Othmer, "Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology", Third Edition, vol. 1, A to Alkanolamines,pp. 944-960, 1978.
"Fine and Functional Chemicals", Nitrogen Derivatives, AKZO General Catalog. Copyright 1990.
"Quaternary Ammonium Compounds", Fine and Functional Chemicals, AKZO Catalog. Copyright 1990.
M-I L.L.C.
Tucker Philip
LandOfFree
Invert emulsion fluids suitable for drilling does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Invert emulsion fluids suitable for drilling, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Invert emulsion fluids suitable for drilling will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1324611