CA2237855A1 - Well fluid - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns water based well fluids, having high resistance to fluid loss and temperature, comprising water soluble polymers in combination with alkyl(poly)glycosides, suitable for the use in hydrocarbon research, in water bed research, in geognostic drilling and in civil engineering operations.

Description

CA 022378~ 1998 - 0~

WO 97/19145 PCT/I~P96/05128 WELL FLUID
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention concerns fluids which can be used in the search for subterranean reservoirs of hydrocarbons and water, in geognostic drilling, in civil engineering operations etc., improved as regards specific properties and with a low environmental impact, containing environmentally compatible additives. In particular the improvement in specific properties concerns the fluid loss and the fluid resistance to thermal aging.
The field of invention comprises, besides drilling and completion fluids, also all o the water based systems used in well operations such as work-over, milling stimulation, fracturing, spotting fluids, cementing, etc. In the text the term "well fluid" will be used as reference to all this range of applications.
PRIOR ART
The well fluids have a natural trend to lose the water phase through permeable , rock formations met during drilling, because of pressure, which is generally higher inside the well than the pore pressure in the rock formation. In the course of the years various additives have been studied which, both in static and dynamic conditions, enable the building of a filter cake adhering to the well wails, having a ~ thickness low enough not to limit the fluid circulation in the well and a permeability 2() limited enough to reduce the fluid loss due to filtration.
Among the most known additives used in drilling fluids and in order to obtain the desired functional characteristics, with effect on fluid loss control, the following can be cited:
- water swellable clays such as bentonite, which generally require the use of 2~ other filtrate reducing agents;
- lignite, eventually oxidised, sulphonated, sulphomethylenated, treated with sodium hydroxide or with polyvalent metal salts such as Fe, Cr, Ti;
- lignosulphonates of Ca, Cr, Fe, Ti;
- natural polymers such as starch and its derivatives (carboxymethylated or .() hydroxyethylated starch), carboxymethylcellulose at different degrees of substitution and of molecular weight, PACs (polyanionic celluloses), CA 022378~ 1998-0~

WO 97/19145 PCT/I~P96/05128 polygalactomannans (e.g. guar) and its derivatives ~e.g. carboxymethylated and hydroxypropylated), biopolymers such as xanthan gum, scleroglucan, succinoglycan, etc.;
- synthetic polymers such as homo and copolymers of acrylic acid and acrylamide, 2-acrylamido-2-methyl propane sulphonic acid, etc. and their water soluble salts.
The well fluids containing the above mentioned additives meet specific technicalrequirements; however because of the high variability of the rock formations, temperature and pressure conditions ever increasing with depth, it is often necessary to vary considerably the additive dosage or use different additives toobtain the desired effect.
As the additive or additives used generally also influence other characteristics(viscosity, lubrication, clay swelling inhibition, etc.), also these vary and often in a undesirable way. The correct fluid formulations therefore are a delicate compromise among the various properties and the fluid loss, which implies the alternative or complementary use of various additives and the careful search forthe best dosage.
In the case of high dosage necessary for particularly permeable rock formations,or with particularly high pressures and temperatures, other drawbacks consist, for instance, in the high formulation cost, in biodegradability problems and in the polluting potential of the additives used and in the necessity to operate in confined spaces (e.g. on offshore platforms) and therefore materials are stockedin minimal quantities.
More recently, combinations of water soluble polymers and other components have been studied in order to improve specific properties.
In the US patent 4.900.4~;7 (Sheli Oil Company) A. S. Clarke-Sturman et al.
describe a polysaccharide solution composition and its use as drilling fluid, characterized by the presence of water soluble polymers and alkaline formates.
The claimed improvement consists in the resistance of the rheological propertiesafter aging of the composition at high temperature, obtained through the addition of a sufficient quantity of formates. No evidence is reported for an eventual CA 022378~ 1998-0~

WO 97/1914~; PCT/E:P96/05128 decrease of the fluid loss.
In the EP patent 541 606 (Henkel) H. Mueller et al. describe the use of alkylpolyglycosides as emulsifying surfactants for well fluids, containing a continuous or dispersed oil phase together with a water phase. These additives enable water-in-oil (invert~ or oil-in-water (direct) emulsions to be obtained with good stability.
The use of alkyl(poly)glycosides is required when it is necessary to emulsify two incompatible phases; no effect of filtrate reduction is reported, even in the presence of natural or synthetic polymers.
In the US patent 5.403.820 (O'Brien, Goins, Simpson & Associates Inc.) and in SPE/IADC 294(:4 T.O. Walker et al. describe drilling fluids characterized by theaddition of water soluble alkylglycosides with alkyl chains containing between 1 to 4 carbon atoms and containing, among other things, additives for the fluid loss control.
The claimed improvement consists in the swelling reduction of the clays met by the fluid during drilling operations. This improvement is obtained provided that the alkyl radical of the alkylglycoside is able to maintain good water solubility and it therefore contains from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, preferably 1 carbon atom. In the above mentioned patent application no specific interaction between the alkylglycoside added and the other fluid components is reported. The concentration of alkylglycoside in the water phase must range from 35 to 65% in weight to be effective: in such ratios the component cannot be considered an additive any more but a base constituent of the fluid and therefore it directly determines economic aspects.
The above mentioned aspects stress the necessity of a research for more effective additives to be used in the fluid loss control and for the resistance of the mud to thermal aging.
SUMMARY
The scope of this invention is to describe new well fluids with better resistance to fluid loss and temperature over a wide range of temperatures and pressures, obtainable more economically and with a lower environmental impact at the same CA 022378~ l99X-0~

performance.
Surprisingly we have found that water based well fluids containing a very low quantity of at least one alkyl(poly)glycoside (APG) with alkyl chain C8 - C26 and at least one water soluble polymer in the suitable ratios determine a better fluid loss control and a better resistance to thermal aging The water soluble polymer can be of natural origin, or a modified natural polymer, or of synthetic origin; thealkyl(poly)glycoside consists of an aliphatic chain bound to a monosaccharide orto an oligosaccharide through an o-glycoside bond or of similar products as indicated by the formula (I). The APG quantity and its weight ratio to the watersoluble polymer and the type of the water soluble polymer determine the characteristics of filtrate reduction and the resistance to thermal aging.
This invention therefore describes these fluids, the process for their preparation and their use as well fluids.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF T~E DRAWING
; Figure 1 represents the loss of filtrate (API FLc) using combinations of watersoluble polymers with APG in comparision with the use of only one of such substances.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The well fluids of this invention are based on a continuous water phase carrying2() components of varying nature with different functions, as known in the art (see e.g. G. R. Gray, H.C.H. Darley, W. F. Rogers, "Composition and Properties of OilWell Drilling Fluids" 4th Edition, Gulf Publishing Co., Houston, Texas, U.S.A.,1980); these are generally weighting agents, viscosifiers, rheology modifiers, dispersants thinners, emulsifiers, lubricants, defoamers, biocides, pH
modifiers, corrosion inhibitors, etc. Such fluids, in particular, also contain at least one filtrate reducer chosen among water soluble polymers of natural origin, eventually modified or of synthetic origin.
Examples of water soluble polymers suitable for the use according to this invention are the cellulose ethers, PACs, starch and its derivatives, .() polygalactomannans (e.g. guar) and derivatives, biopolymers of varying nature;
homopolymers of acrylic acid, of acrylamide, of 2-acrylamido-2-, CA 022378~ 1998-0~

methylpropanesulphonic acid and copolymers with the above monomers or of the above monomers with other acrylic or vinylic monomers and their water soluble salts. These polymers are characterized by such behaviour in solution as enablesreduction of the fluid loss with respect to the base fluid without the water soluble polymer. Water soluble polymers particularly preferred are PACs and the carboxymethylcelluloses of various substitution degrees and molecular weight.
A detailed description of such water soluble polymers, which are commercially available from various sources, is reported on G. R. Gray, H.C.H. Darley, W. F.
Rogers, "Composition and Properties of Oil Well Drilling Fluids" 4th Edition, Gulf Publishing Co., Houston, Texas, U.S.A., 1980. The concentrations of water soluble polymers normally used (expressed in weight/fluid weight) range from 0.02 to 5% and preferably from 0.05 to 3%.
Surprisingly it has now been found that the introduction in the well fluids of at least one alkyl(poly)glycoside with aliphatic chain containing from 8 to 26 C
, atoms, enables a better fluid loss control and a better resistance to thermal aging, in presence of water soluble poiymers, even at very low dosages of this alkyl(poly)glycoside, and in particular from 0.001 to 3% in weight on the fluid weight, even in dynamic conditions and at high pressures and temperatures as required in many operations (i.e. up to 1000 atm and 150 ~C).
2() This alkyl(poly)glycoside is chosen among the compounds represented by the following formula (I):

R-o-(A-o)x-(G)~f(D)~ (I) where:
O represents an oxygen atom;
R represents an alkyl or alkenyl group having from 8 to 26 C atoms, linear or branched, unsubstituted or hydroxy substituted;
A represents an alkylene group having from 2 to 4 C atoms, linear or branched, or a bifunctional residue of a polyalcohol remaining after removing 2 hydroxyl .() groups on any 2 carbon atoms (e.g. a residue of sorbitol);
G represents a saccharide residue remaining after removing z hydrogen atoms CA 022378~ 1998-0~

WO 97/lgl45 PCI~/EP96/05128 from all the non glycosidic hydroxyl groups and removing the glycosidic hydroxylgroup of a reducing sugar made of hexoses or/and pentoses, bound to A-O or to R-O (in the case x=0) through an o-glycosidic ether bond;
D represents an acyi residue of an organic acid, bound to an oxygen atom of 1~l the residue (G)y having formula -C-M, where M represents an alkyl or alkenyl chain having from 1 to 18 C atoms, linear or branched, unsubstituted or substituted by one or more groups such as OH, COOMt, S03Mt, -OPO3Mt2, NH2, NR'R2, where R1 and R2 can be the same or different and represent alkyl chains having from 1 to 4 C atoms, linear or branched and Mt represents one hydrogen atom or a cation such as Li, Na, K, Cs, Ca, Mg, Fe, NH4+;
x is a number from 0 to 10 which represents the average condensation degree of A, when A represents an alkylene group and is equal to 1 when A
15 represents a bifunctional residue of a polyalcohol remaining after removing 2 hydroxyl groups;
y is a number from 1 to 10 which represents the average condensation degree of G;
z is a number from 0 to 10 which represents the average esterification ~o degree of (G)y.
The compounds of formula ~I) are known and widely described, whether concerning their synthesis and corresponding preparation methods, or for the physico- chemical and application properties, as e.g reported on M. R. Porter, Handbook of Surfactants, Blackie Academic & Professional, London (2nd Ed.
1994) 202-210; F. A. Hughes and B. W. Lew, J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc. 1970 47, 162-167; F. Lomax, Specialty Chemicals, Jan-Feb. 1994, 21-24.
The compounds of formula (I) can be used in purified form or unpurified, as obtained from the synthesis. The introduction in the well fluid can be through direct addition of the compounds of formula (I), as they are, or in solution in ..() suitable soivents (water, alcohols etc.) or as suspension in a suitable material.
Alternatively it is possible to previously treat ~i.e. mix or soak) other ingredients of CA 022378~ 1998-0~

the well fluid (e.g. water soluble polymers) with the compounds of formula (I).
The preferred compounds within this invention are those of formula (I) where:
R represents a linear alkyl group having from 10 to 26 C atoms, unsubstituted orhydroxy substituted;
x = 0, or = 1 when A is a bifunctional residue of sorbitol remaining after removing 2 hydroxyl groups;
G represents a glucose residue remaining after removing 1 hydrogen atom from the non glycosidic hydroxyl groups and removing the glycosidic hydroxyl group;
y is a number from 1 to 3;
l0 z = 0, or = 1 when D = CO(CHOH)2COOMt or D=COCH2C(OH)(COOMt)C~12COOMt or D =COCH2CH(SO3Mt)COOMt or D = COCH(S03Mt)CH2COOMt, with Mt = H or Na.
Examples of the preferred compound of formula (I) are the alkyl(poly)glycosides 15 not derivatized in which x = 0, G is a glucose residue, y = 1-2, z = 0 and R is a linear saturated not substituted alkyl group, having from 10 to 26 C atoms, as e.g.
described in the patents US 3.219.656, US 3.547.828, US 3.839.318; other preferred compounds of formula (I) are the esters of the alkyl(poly)glycosides in which x = 0, G is a glucose residue, y = 1-2, z = 1 and D is a monoacyl residue of 2() a bi- or tri-carboxylic acid, eventually sulphonated, in acid form or neutralized with Na and R is a linear saturated not substituted alkyl group having from 10 to 26 C
atoms, as i.e. described in the patents EP 258814, EP 510564, EP 510565; other preferred compounds of formula (I) are glycosides in which R is a linear alkyl group having from 10 to 18 C atoms substituted with hydroxyl group in position 2, A is sorbitol group~ x = 1, G is a glucose residue, y = 1-2, z = 0, as described in the patent EP 525494.
The preferred compounds of formula (I) are commercially available from various sources and all are essentially biodegradable.
For the preparation of the well fluids according to this invention, the combinations ~,() preferred are those formed by alkyl(poly)glycosides having alkyl chains from 10 to 26 C atoms and by a water soluble polymer chosen among CA 022378~ l99X-0~

carboxymethylcellulose, polyanionic cellulose (PAC), polygalactomannans (e.g.
guar) and biopolymers (e.g. xanthan). The quantity of the compound of formula (I) to be introduced in the water well can vary, as specified above, from 0.001 to 3%
by weight on the fluid.
In particular it is convenient to fix the water soluble polymer content in the drilling fluid and indicate the ratio in weight of the compound of formula (I) with respect to the water soluble polymer. In this way it results that, if the polymer concentration in the fluid is as previously indicated, this weight ratio can vary from 2 x 104 to 150 preferably, and conveniently from 10-3 to 10.
The fluids containing at least one water soluble polymer and at least one alkyl(poly)glycoside, in quantities and ratios as reported above, exhibit a significantly reduced fluid loss with respect to the same fluids not containing the component of formula ~I) and have a better resistance to thermal aging, as can be seen in the examples to follow.
In particular it is possible to exploit the alkyl(poly)glycoside behaviour in combination with the water soluble polymer in order to effectively control the fluid loss at high pressures and temperatures (up to 1000 atm and 150 ~C~ where the use of only the water soluble polymer would require a much higher dosage to obtain the same performance.
20 Thanks to their characteristics, the well fluids according to this invention can be -successfully employed in the search for hydrocarbons, water beds, in geognosticdrilling and in civil engineering operations and in particular in drilling, completion, work-over, milling stimulation, fracturing and spotting fluids.
To better illustrate the invention, in the following examples is reported the effect of the addition of some types of formula (I) compounds using the same water soluble polymer, at various ratios in weight between formula (I) compounds and the water soluble polymer; the effect of the combination of the formula (I) compounds with different water soluble polymers is also reported and how such an effect is influenced by the nature of the fluid. For a better understanding of the experimental aspects and the importance of the fluid components, their preparation and evaluation methods of their properties will be first described.
-CA 02237855 l998-OS-lS

WO97/19145 PCT~P96/05128 The fluids used in the examples have been prepared according to the recipies reported for each example and the rheological and fluid loss characteristics have been measured using the apparatus and the methods described in "Standard Procedure for Field Testing Water-Based Drilling Fluids", API Recommended s Practice 13B-1 (RP 13 B-1), First Edition, June 1, 1990, edited by American Petroleum Institute, 1220 L. Street, Northwest, Washington, DC 20005, U.S.A.
In particular the rheological properties have been measured with a Direct Indicating Viscometer (Section 2) at a temperature of ca. 25~C.
Here the following abbreviations have been used: AV=apparent viscosity, PV=
plastic viscosity, YP=yield point, BA=before aging, AA=after aging, n.d.= not determined. The fluid loss properties (FL) have been measured with the equipment and the procedures detailed in Section 3.
The meaning of "API FL" (FL) is the filtrate value equal to the volume taken in the first 30 minutes from the beginning of the test, obtained at room temperature (ca.
25~C) and at an applied pressure of 100 psi; the meaning of "API FL corrected"
(FLc) is the filtrate value equal to the double of the volume taken between 7.5 minutes and 30 minutes from the beginning of the test, obtained under the same conditions.
The meaning of HPHT FL AA (high temperature/high pressure fluid loss test after ~o aging) is the fluid loss volume obtained at a temperature of 1 20~C, with a difference in applied pressure of 500 psi, filtrate value equal to the volume taken in the first 30 minutes from the beginning of the test. The high temperature aging of the muds has been carried out in suitable heat aging cells in a roller-oven at 1 20~C for 16 hours, with the procedures generally known to the experts.
~s The synthetic sea water is prepared according to the specifications ASTM D
1141-75 (Standard Specifications for Substitute Ocean Water).
The commercial products used in the examples are the following:

CA 022378~ 1998-0~
WO 97/19145 PCT/I~P96/05128 PRODUCT DFSCRIPTION SOURCE
CEPAC REGULAR Polyanioniccellulose Lamberti S.p.A. - Italy LAMPAC EXLO Polyanionic cellulose Lamberti S.p.A. - Italy LAMPAC REGULAR Polyanionic cellulose Lamberti S.p.A. - Italy CARBOCEL LV Carboxymethylcellulose Lamberti S.p.A. - Italy CARBOCEL EHV Carboxymethylcellulose Lamberti S.p.A. - Italy LAMGUM 200 Guar flour Lamberti S.p.A. - Italy VISPLEX Alluminium Magnesium Hydroxychloride Schlumberger Dowell Drilling (MMH-Mix Metal Hydroxide) Fluids - France FLOPLEX Modified starch Schlumberger Dowell Drilling Fluids - France DEXTRID IVlodified starch Baroid Drilling Fluids Inc.-U.S.A.
POLY PLUS Copolymer sodium M -I Drilling ~luids-U.S.A.
acrylate-acrylamide in inverted emulsion (PHPA) Q BROXIN Ferrochromoligno- Baroid Drilling Fluids sulphonate Inc.-USA

IDVIS Xanthan Gum SchlumbergerDowell Drilling Fluids - France As alkyl(poly)glycosides (APG~ have been used the following (described with reference to the formula (1)):

N O O O O O O

.

X O O O O O O O O

o E -C~ o ~ o m 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 ~: I I ' ' ' ' ' ' O ~ c~ ~ O O

~0 ~ O
Ll~ ~ ~- ~ = tD ~D ~ ~

WO 97/19145 12 PCT/E:P96/05128 ~ C~
N ~ ~ O O O

X O ~ O O O

C:~ ~

O a) O O O O
. m ~ ~ J

_, Cl I O

~_ O ~ ~
O ~, ~ X ~
~) ~

C~
C\l O ~ O

.
CA 022378~ 1998-0~

The compounds indicated with references C1 and C4 are not considered in this invention and are reported as comparison.
The water insoluble APG have been added to the fluid after dissolution in ethanol at a dry content of ca. 15% weighValcohol weight. The quantities reported alwaysrefer to the effective content of APG.
Thanks to its characteristics the fluids according to this invention can be successfully used in drilling, completion, work-over, milling stimulation~ fracturing and spotting fluids operations, concerning hydrocarbon or water beds research, in geognostic drilling and in civil engineering operations.
o To illustrate but not to limit this invention the following examples are reported.

A range of well fluids has been prepared having variable content of water soluble polymer and APG and comparing fluids without APG or water soluble polymer and the API filtrate loss corrected (FLc) has been determined as reported below.

-WO 97/19145 PCTIEP96~05128 o~
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~ ~ OooOoooooooOoo 11_ ~

~ oooooooooooOoo y C~l C~ N C~l N C~l C~l N C~ l C~l C~ C~l Lll o O O O ~O o~ ~o ~~ ~~ ~ ~1-Il~cn WO 97/1914!;

C~l C~ l N C~l C~l ~ (~1 C~l ~ ~_ m .

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o o o o o o o o O g ~ ~ l ~ O
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~ C-~ ~ o o ~ C~ Ln~ C~ C~l ~ o ~) CC O O O O O O O O O O O

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Ct~

o z ,tn .u~ .~n tn Q Q Q ~--. Q Q n Q o C~
C'l ~ _ _ _ _ PCT/l~P96/05128 R E S U L T S O B T AIN E D

F L UID N~ A Pl FLc (ml) A V A A (cP) % C1618 W EIG H TrVJEIG H T

111 18.2 18 1/2 12.8 18 0.023 1/3 10.2 n.d. 0.046 1/4 8.6 16 0.069 1/5 8.0 n.d. 0.092 1/6 6.8 14 0.115 1/7 6.2 n.d. 0.138 1/8 5.6 11 0.161 1/9 4.8 n.d. 0.184 1/10 4.6 n.d. 0.207 1/11 4.4 n.d. 0.231 1/12 5.2 n.d. 0.254 1/13 6.0 n.d. 0.277 1/14 6.4 n.d. 0.300 1/15 8.6 n.d. 0.323 1/16 11.8 n.d. 0.347 1/17 32.8 n.d. 0.370 1/2 bis 18.2 n.d.
1/4 bis 18.4 n.d.
1/6 bis 18.8 n.d.
1/8 bis 19.6 n.d.
1/10 bis 21.2 n.d.
1/12 bis 27.8 n.d.
1/14 bis 61.0 n.d.
1/16 bis 154.0 n.d.

CA 022378~ 1998-0~

From the above mentioned tests it follows that using combinations of water soluble polymers with APG in any ratio reduces the filtrate loss compared to theuse of only one of said additives with the same total content, showing a synergic effect, as represented in figure 1.
:. Moreover, it is shown that a substitution of 15% of water soluble polymers with APG is able to reduce the fluid loss by approximately 50%.

A range of well fluids has been prepared through addition of a constant minimum quantity of different types of alkyl(poly)glycosides to the soluble polymers present o in the fluid (CEPAC REGULAR) and the reduction of the HPHT FL AA at 120~C
has been determined.

~1 o NO o ' I I ~

O NO. o. , , , o ~ ~ N ~ ~) ' ' ' I o Z ~ o oU-) a) , , , o ~ O O

-- ~ o U~ O C~) C~l ~ ON~ O O
Q

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U.

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t~l ~ N~ ~) ' ' ' ~ t~
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1-- LLI :~

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z Z
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o O O o a) ~ o g O ~ ~) ' ' o ' o o g o ~ ~~ ' ' ' ' o ' ' o o O g U~ oO~ , , , ' ' ' ' ~'I ~ C~l ~ o o a~ g O ~ ~ ' ' ' ' ' ' o ' ' ' ' '' C~l ~ o O

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The above results show that addition of different types of APG equal to 2.8% in weight with respect to the water solubie polymer (CEPACREGULAR) can reduce the HPHT filtrate after aging in variable proportions up to 53%. This effect is not present with APG having chains C1 and C4.
The fluid n~ 2/14 shows that it is not possible to obtain good HPltT values wheninstead of adding APG the water soluble polymer is increased by the same quantity.
EX~MP1 E 3 Two water well fluids have been prepared, respsctively without and with APG, as reported below.
FLUIDS COMPOSITION

COMPONENTS (g~ FLUID N~ 3/1 FLUIl:l N~ 3/2 CEPACREGULAR 1.15 1.15 IDVIS 0.80 0.80 C618 - 0.80 PCT/EP96/0~128 RESULTS OBTAINED

F~UID N~ 3/1 FLUII:) N~ 312 API FLc(ml/l) 12 10 AV BA (cP) 21 24 PV BA (cP) 10 12 YP BA (Ibl100 ft2) 22 24 . HPHT FL AA (ml~ 100 52 AV AA (cP) 8.5 14.5 PVAA (cP) 6.0 9.5 YP AA (Ib/100 ft2) 5.0 10.0 DENSITY (glcm3) 1.25 1.25 The results show that the addition of APG to the fluid produces sharp reduction of HPHT filtrate, improvement in the corrected API filtrate and in the rheology after aging.
EXAMpLF 4 s Two fluids have been prepared at high density and containing drill solids as reported below and the reduction of HPHT FL AA and the viscosity variation due to an APG addition have been determined.

WO 97/191~; 2~

FLUIDS COMPOSITION

COM PONENTS (g) FLUID N~ 4/1 FLUID N~ 4/2 SYNTHETiC SEA WATER (ml) 350 350 KCI 10.5 10.5 MgO

CaCO3 10 10 RESULTS OBTAINED

FLUID N~ 4/1 FLUID N~ 4/2 PV BA (cP) 40 40 YP BA ( Ib/1 00 ft2) 1 50 1 55 PVAA(cP) 31 46 YP AA (Ib/100 ft2) 4 12 HPHT FL AA (ml) 25.4 13.6 DENSITY (g/cm3) 1.6 1.6 The results show that the addition of 25% in weight of an APG to CEPACREGULAR improves the fluid resistance to thermal aging, limiting decrease in YP
and with HPHT AA filtrate values halved.

WO 97/1~145 25 A dispersed bentonite fluid has been prepared in presence of contaminants and the improvement of the HPHT AA filtrate loss due to an addition of APG has been verified.

FLUIDS COMPOSITION

COMPONENTS~g)FLUID N~ 5/1 FLUID N~ 5/2 Q-BROXIN 0.38 0.38 CARBOCEL EHV 0.6 0.6 CaCO3 10 10 C1618 - 1.30 RESULTS OBTAINED

FLUID N~ 6/1 FLUID N~ 512 AVAA (cP) 23.5 42.5 PV AA (cP~ 16 26 YP AA (Ib/100 ft2) 15 33 HPHT FL AA (ml) 22.6 16 The results show that the addition of an alkyl(poly)glycoside improves both the HP~IT AA filtrate and the fluid rheology after aging.

Fluids with increasing concentrations of APG have been prepared and the effect s on the API filtrate loss corrected has been determined.

FLUIDS COMPOSIT~ON

COMPONENTS (g) FLUID N~

I DVI S 0. 80 0. 80 0 80 0. 80 LAMPAC EXLO 0.80 0.80 0.80 0.80 C1618 - 0.032 0.064 0.80 RESULTS OBTAINED

FLU~D N~

AV BA (cP) 7.5 7.5 8.011.0 API FLc (ml) 15.4 11 10 4 The results show the effect of the APG quantity added on the fluid loss reduction.

Fluids with PHPA have been prepared as reported below and the APi filtrate corrected has been optimized.

FLUIDS COMPOSITION

COMPONENTS (g) FLUID N~

CARBOCEL LV 0.80 0.40 0.80 C1618 - 0.40 0.40 POLY-PLUS 2 2 1.6 CA 02237855 l99X-05-15 RESULTS OBTAINED

FLUII:) hl~

AV BA (cP~ 20 20 16.
PV BA (cP) 15 15 12 YP BA (Ib/100 ft2) 10 10 9 API FLc(ml) 13.2 10.8 9.6 In the above mentioned example, the optimization of the API fluid loss corrected is obtained by adding APG.

A range of fluids for top hole has been prepared in order to study the action ofs APG addition on the API filtrate corrected loss of these fluids.

FLUIDS COMPOSITION

COMPONENTS (~) FLUID N~

LAMGUM 200 3. 2 3.2 3.2 3.2 C1618 - 0.13 0.32 Q.96 RESULTS OBTAINED

FLUID N~

AV BA (cP) 44.5 45 47 49 PV BA (cP) 16 16 16 16 YP BA (Ib/100 ft2) 57 58 62 66 API FLc(ml) 10 9 9 6.44.2 The results show that in the above mentioned fluids the fluid loss reduction is proportional to the APG quantity added.

The fluids reported below have been prepared in order to verify the variation inrheolo~y and the corrected API filtrate loss of the Visplex system on addition of APG.

FLUIDS COMPOSITION

COMPONENTS (g)FLUID N~ 9/1 FLUID N~ 912 FRESH WATER 184.3 184.3 SODIUM BENTONITE 15.8 15.8 VISPLEX 1.5 1.5 FLOPLEX 3.5 3 5 C1618 - 0. 50 WO 97/19145 PCTtEP96/05128 RESULTS OBTAINED

FLUID N~ 9/1 FLUID N~ 9/2 PV BA (cP) 12 13 YP BA (Ib/100 ft2) 30 36 API FLc(ml) 10.4 8.8 The results show that the APG addition to the Visplex system improves the rheology and the filtrate.

~ Water soluble polymer based fluids have been prepared containing respectively APG with chain C16-c1ô~ insoluble in water and, in comparison, APG with methyl and butyl, water soluble.

FLUIDS COMPOSITION

COMPONENTS (g~ FLUID N~

FRESH WATER 310.6 310.6 310.6 310.6 310.6 310.6 IDVIS
FLOPLEX
DEXTRID 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 C1 - 0.15* - - 1.57**
C4 - - 0.15* - - .57**
C1618 - - - 0.15*
BARITE - - - - - -PCT/l~P96/05128 FLUIDS COMPOSITION

COMPONENTS (g) FL01D N~

FRESH WATER 310.6 310.6 310.6 310.6 310.6 IDVIS
Fl OPLEX
DEXTRID 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 C1 - - 1.57 - -C4 - - - 1 . 57 C1618 1.57** - - - 1.57 * 0.05% ON WEIGHT OF THE FLUID
~ 0.5% ON WEIGHT OF THE FLlJID

~ C~l o ~ O o O cr~ ~ C~ ~ ~) o o~ ~ o ~
o ' <~

a~ CD O ~. U~ ~
~

oo , o ~, o ~.
~ 1~

~D O ~ U~ o o CD 1~) ~ U~ ~

~ ~ ~ U~ ~
o CC) o ~

(D ~ In ~

~ CD L~ ~ 1~ 0 o C~ ~ U~ ~ ~

o C~ ~ o ~ o z tn -- ~ o O ~ ~ o m ~

Ii ~L Q > > Q
CL <I: C ~: Q >-The results show that at the concentrations described in the example the APG
with chain C16-C18 improves the fluid loss. No effect noted with methyl glucoside and butyl glucoside.

s The fluids reported below have been prepared in order to verify the variations due to the addition of APG in a silicate system.

FLUIDS COMPOSITION

COMPONENTS (g) FLUID N~

IDVIS
LAMPAC REGULAR 1.5 i.5 1.5 NaOH 0 5 0.5 0.5 SODA ASH 0.25 0.25 0.25 Na SILICATE (% VN) 5 5 5 C1618 - 0.15 0.65 RESULTS OBTAINED

FLUID N~

API FL BA (ml) 6.8 5.6 3.7 AV BA ~cP) 31 34 37.5 PV BA (cP) 17.5 17 19.5 YP BA (lb/100 ft2) 27 34 36 The resuits show that the addition of APG in the silicate system improves the rheology and the filtrate.

Claims (13)

1. Water based well fluids having an improved fluid loss control and an improvedresistance to the thermal aging, characterized by the fact that they contain both at least one water soluble polymer and at least one alkyl(poly)glycoside chosen among the compounds represented by the following formula (I):
R-O-(A-O)x-(G)y-(D)z (I) where:
O represents an oxygen atom;
R represents an alkyl or alkenyl group having from 8 to 26 C atoms, linear or branched, unsubstituted or hydroxy substituted;
A represents an alkylene group having from 2 to 4 C atoms, linear or branched, or a bifunctional residue of a polyalcohol remaining after removing 2 hydroxyl groups on any 2 carbon atoms;
G represents a saccharide residue remaining after removing z hydrogen atoms from all the non glycosidic hydroxyl groups and removing the glycosidic hydroxylgroup of a reducing sugar made of hexoses orland pentoses, bound to A-O or to R-O (in the case x=0) through an o-glycosidic ether bond;
D represents an acyl residue of an organic acid, bound to an oxygen atom of the residue (G)y having formula -C-M, where M represents an alkyl or alkenyl chain having from 1 to 18 C atoms, linear or branched, unsubstituted or substituted by one or more groups such as OH, COOMt, SO3Mt, -OPO3Mt2, NH2, NR1R2, where R1 and R2 can be the same or different and represent alkyl chains having from 1 to 4 C atoms, linear or branched and Mt represents one hydrogen atom or a cation selected from Li, Na, K, Cs, Ca, Mg, Fe, NH4+;
x is a number from 0 to 10 which represents the average condensation degree of A, when A represents an alkylene group and is equal to 1 when A represents a bifunctional residue of a polyalcohol remaining after removing 2 hydroxyl groups;
y is a number from 1 to 10 which represents the average condensation degree of G;
z is a number from 0 to 10 which represents the average esterification degree of (G)Y.

2. Well fluids according to the claim 1, characterized by the fact that said water soluble polymer is chosen in the group composed by cellulose ethers, polyanioniccelluloses, starches, starch derivatives, polygalactomannans and derivatives thereof, biopolymers, homopolymers of acrylic acid, of acrylamide, of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulphonic acid and copolymers among these ones or of these ones with other acrylic or vinyl monomers and their water soluble salts.

3. Well fluids according to the claim 1, characterized by the fact that in said formula (I):
R represents a linear alkyl group having from 10 to 26 C atoms, unsubstituted orhydroxy substituted;
x = 0, or = 1 when A is a bifunctional residue of sorbitol remaining after removing 2 hydroxyl groups;
G represents a glucose residue remaining after removing 1 hydrogen atom from the non glycosidic hydroxyl groups and removing the glycosidic hydroxyl group;
y is a number from 1 to 3;
z = 0, or = 1 when D = CO(CHOH)2COOMt or D=COCH2C(OH)(COOMt)CH2COOMt or D = COCH2CH(SO3Mt)COOMt or D = COCH(SO3Mt)CH2COOMt, with Mt = H or Na.

4. Well fluids according to the claim 1, characterized by the fact that in said formula (I):
x = 0, G is a glucose residue, y = 1-2, z = 0 and R is linear saturated not substituted alkyl having from 10 to 26 C atoms.

5. Well fluids according to the claim 1, characterized by the fact that in said formula (I):
x = 0, G is a glucose residue, y = 1-2, z = 1 and D is a monoacyl residue of a bi- or tri-carboxylic acid, optionally sulphonated, in acid form or salified with Na and R
is a linear saturated not substituted alkyl group having from 10 to 26 C atoms.

6. Well fluids according to the claim 1, characterized by the fact that in said formula (I): R is a linear alkyl group having from 10 to 18 C atoms substituted with hydroxyl group in position 2, A is a sorbitol bifunctional residue, x - 1, G is a glucose residue, y = 1-2, z = 0.

7. Well fluids according to the claim 1, characterized by the fact that they contain an alkyl(poly)glycoside having alkyl chains from 10 to 26 C atoms and a water soluble polymer chosen among carboxymethylcellulose, polyanionic cellulose, guar and xanthan gums.

8. Well fluids according to the claim 1, characterized by the fact that said alkyl(poly)glycoside is contained in quantity from 0.001 to 3% in weight with respect to the fluid, and said water soluble polymer is contained in quantity from 0.02 to 5% in weight with respect to the fluid.

9. Well fluids according to the claim 1, characterized by the fact that said alkyl(poly)glycoside is contained in quantity from 0.001 to 3% in weight with respect to the fluid, and said water soluble polymer is contained in quantity from 0.05 to 3% in weight with respect to the fluid.

10. Procedure for the preparation of well fluids as described in claim 1, characterized by the fact that to a water composition comprising thickening agents, viscosifiers, rheological modifiers, dispersants, emulsifiers, lubricants, defoamers, biocides, pH modifiers and corrosion inhibitors, are added at least one alkyl(poly)glycoside having formula (I) in quantity from 0.001 to 3% in weight with respect to the fluid and at least one water soluble polymer in quantity from 0.02 to 5% in weight with respect to the fluid.

11. Procedure according to the claim 10, characterized by the fact that said alkyl(poly)glycoside is added directly to said water composition as is or in the form of solution or suspension.

12. Procedure according to claim 10, characterized by the fact that said alkyl(poly)glycoside is added to said water composition in form of a mix with one of said agents or with said water soluble polymer.

13. Use of well fluids as described in claim 1, in drilling, completion, work-over, milling stimulation, fracturing and spotting fluids operations, concerning hydrocarbons or water beds research, geognostic drilling and civil engineering operations.