USH1685H - Drilling fluid - Google Patents

Drilling fluid Download PDF

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Publication number
USH1685H
USH1685H US08/499,156 US49915695A USH1685H US H1685 H USH1685 H US H1685H US 49915695 A US49915695 A US 49915695A US H1685 H USH1685 H US H1685H
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
drilling fluid
microns
zno
particle size
drilling
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US08/499,156
Inventor
Hon Chung Lau
Arthur Herman Hale
Louis Anthony Bernardi, Jr.
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Shell USA Inc
Original Assignee
Shell Oil Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Shell Oil Co filed Critical Shell Oil Co
Priority to US08/499,156 priority Critical patent/USH1685H/en
Assigned to SHELL OIL COMPANY reassignment SHELL OIL COMPANY ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: BERNARDI, LOUIS ANTHONY JR., HALE, ARTHUR HERMAN, LAU, HON CHOUNG
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of USH1685H publication Critical patent/USH1685H/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • C09K—MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
    • C09K8/00—Compositions for drilling of boreholes or wells; Compositions for treating boreholes or wells, e.g. for completion or for remedial operations
    • C09K8/02—Well-drilling compositions
    • C09K8/04—Aqueous well-drilling compositions
    • C09K8/14—Clay-containing compositions
    • C09K8/16—Clay-containing compositions characterised by the inorganic compounds other than clay
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • C09K—MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
    • C09K8/00—Compositions for drilling of boreholes or wells; Compositions for treating boreholes or wells, e.g. for completion or for remedial operations
    • C09K8/02—Well-drilling compositions
    • C09K8/32—Non-aqueous well-drilling compositions, e.g. oil-based

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to drilling fluids of the type employed in oil and gas wells. More particularly, the invention relates to weighting materials for water and oil based drilling fluids for horizontal wells.
  • a drilling fluid with density between 12-19 ppg is often required.
  • barite barium sulfate
  • Barite is not suitable for horizontal wells because a barite-laden filtercake cannot be dissolved. Undissolved barite particles can invade the production screen in the horizontal well and plug it causing cessation or reduction in flow of hydrocarbon.
  • the present invention in response to this need in the art provides a solution as described hereinafter.
  • the primary purpose of the present invention is to alleviate problems with weighting materials in drilling muds used in drilling geopressured horizontal wells.
  • zinc oxide and zirconium oxide are used as weighting agents in such drilling fluids, preferably in particle sizes of the order of 10 microns or a range of 4 to 200 microns.
  • Zinc oxide is a particularly suitable material for weighting because, it has a high density (5.6 g/ml versus 4.5 for barite); It is soluble in acids (e.g. HCl); and its particle size can be designed so that it does not invade the formation. Acid solubility is particularly desirable because dissolved ZnO can be produced through a production screen without plugging it. A high density means less weighting material is needed per unit mud volume to achieve a desired density. Tests were performed with commercially available ZnO particles. Surprisingly, it was found that the particle size (of the order of 10 microns) is such that the ZnO particles do not invade the formation core with the filtrate. Also it is not large enough to settle out of suspension.
  • weighting material such as manganese tetraoxide is so fine that it invades the formation with the filtrate.
  • Zirconium oxide possesses similar properties as ZnO. It has a density of 5.7 and is soluble in nitric acid and hot concentrated hydrochloric, hydrofluoric and sulfuric acids, making it useful in the invention.
  • these materials are acid soluble. Hence filtercake formed from them can be dissolved and produced through the production screen without plugging it. Also they are fine enough to be easily suspended in the oil or water base mud, but not too fine to invade the formation with the filtrate.
  • the very high acid solubility of ZnO makes it particularly suitable as weighting material. This problem is unique to horizontal wells because they are often completed as open holes without a casing. A production screen is placed in the open hole to retain sand and yet allow hydrocarbon to be produced.
  • Solubility of ZnO in HCl at elevated temperatures was measured. At 150° F., solubility of ZnO in 15% w/v HCl is 60 lb/bbl and 98 lb/bbl in 25% w/v HCl.
  • Return permeability experiments with ZnO weighted waterbase mud showed that the ZnO mud did not damage the formation and that the ZnO filtercake can be dissolved by HCl.
  • Experiments also showed that an aqueous NaBr mud weighted with ZnO has acceptable rheology for drilling.
  • particle size is extremely important to the invention.
  • Miller uses very small particle sizes of less than 3 microns. This would not be suitable for use with the present invention.
  • the size of the particles of this invention is such that it does not invade the formation core with the filtrate and it is not large enough to settle out of suspension. Accordingly, the present invention is useful with a particle size range of 4 to 200 microns, more preferably 6 to 100, and most preferably 8 to 50.
  • the present invention is suitable for use with all types of muds, both water base and oil base, as well as emulsion muds, including invert emulsion muds and synthetic muds.
  • the invention is suitable for use with the alcohol-in-oil drilling fluid described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,794 to Hale et al, issued Dec. 17, 1991, which disclosure is incorporated hereinto by reference thereto.
  • the oil can be vegetable or mineral or can be synthetic such as esters, isomerized olefins or polyalpha olefins.
  • water base muds the water can be fresh, brackish or brine.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
  • Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
  • Production Of Liquid Hydrocarbon Mixture For Refining Petroleum (AREA)
  • Lubricants (AREA)

Abstract

Zinc oxide and zirconium oxide are used as weighting materials for water and oil based drilling fluids for horizontal wells.

Description

BACKGROUND
The present invention relates to drilling fluids of the type employed in oil and gas wells. More particularly, the invention relates to weighting materials for water and oil based drilling fluids for horizontal wells.
In drilling geopressured horizontal wells, a drilling fluid with density between 12-19 ppg is often required. Traditionally, barite (barium sulfate) is used as weighting material for drilling fluid. Barite is not suitable for horizontal wells because a barite-laden filtercake cannot be dissolved. Undissolved barite particles can invade the production screen in the horizontal well and plug it causing cessation or reduction in flow of hydrocarbon.
The present invention in response to this need in the art provides a solution as described hereinafter.
SUMMARY
The primary purpose of the present invention is to alleviate problems with weighting materials in drilling muds used in drilling geopressured horizontal wells. To this end, zinc oxide and zirconium oxide are used as weighting agents in such drilling fluids, preferably in particle sizes of the order of 10 microns or a range of 4 to 200 microns.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Zinc oxide is a particularly suitable material for weighting because, it has a high density (5.6 g/ml versus 4.5 for barite); It is soluble in acids (e.g. HCl); and its particle size can be designed so that it does not invade the formation. Acid solubility is particularly desirable because dissolved ZnO can be produced through a production screen without plugging it. A high density means less weighting material is needed per unit mud volume to achieve a desired density. Tests were performed with commercially available ZnO particles. Surprisingly, it was found that the particle size (of the order of 10 microns) is such that the ZnO particles do not invade the formation core with the filtrate. Also it is not large enough to settle out of suspension. Other weighting material such as manganese tetraoxide is so fine that it invades the formation with the filtrate. Zirconium oxide possesses similar properties as ZnO. It has a density of 5.7 and is soluble in nitric acid and hot concentrated hydrochloric, hydrofluoric and sulfuric acids, making it useful in the invention.
As above observed, these materials are acid soluble. Hence filtercake formed from them can be dissolved and produced through the production screen without plugging it. Also they are fine enough to be easily suspended in the oil or water base mud, but not too fine to invade the formation with the filtrate. The very high acid solubility of ZnO makes it particularly suitable as weighting material. This problem is unique to horizontal wells because they are often completed as open holes without a casing. A production screen is placed in the open hole to retain sand and yet allow hydrocarbon to be produced.
Solubility of ZnO in HCl at elevated temperatures was measured. At 150° F., solubility of ZnO in 15% w/v HCl is 60 lb/bbl and 98 lb/bbl in 25% w/v HCl. Return permeability experiments with ZnO weighted waterbase mud showed that the ZnO mud did not damage the formation and that the ZnO filtercake can be dissolved by HCl. Experiments also showed that an aqueous NaBr mud weighted with ZnO has acceptable rheology for drilling.
As above-mentioned, particle size is extremely important to the invention. U.S. Pat. No. 3,622,513 to George Miller, patented Nov. 23, 1961, incorporated hereinto by reference thereto, discloses the use of zinc oxide in an oil base mud as a weighting agent. However, Miller uses very small particle sizes of less than 3 microns. This would not be suitable for use with the present invention. The size of the particles of this invention is such that it does not invade the formation core with the filtrate and it is not large enough to settle out of suspension. Accordingly, the present invention is useful with a particle size range of 4 to 200 microns, more preferably 6 to 100, and most preferably 8 to 50.
The present invention is suitable for use with all types of muds, both water base and oil base, as well as emulsion muds, including invert emulsion muds and synthetic muds. The invention is suitable for use with the alcohol-in-oil drilling fluid described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,794 to Hale et al, issued Dec. 17, 1991, which disclosure is incorporated hereinto by reference thereto. The oil can be vegetable or mineral or can be synthetic such as esters, isomerized olefins or polyalpha olefins. For water base muds the water can be fresh, brackish or brine.

Claims (5)

We claim:
1. A drilling fluid for use in geopressured horizontal wells comprising a liquid carrier medium and a weighting agent of zinc oxide or zirconium oxide having a particle size range of 4 to 200 microns.
2. The drilling fluid of claim 1 wherein the particle size range is 6 to 100 microns.
3. The drilling fluid of claim 1 wherein the particle size range is 8 to 50 microns.
4. The drilling fluid of claim 1 wherein the liquid carrier medium is water base.
5. The drilling fluid of claim 1 wherein the liquid carrier medium is oil base.
US08/499,156 1995-07-07 1995-07-07 Drilling fluid Abandoned USH1685H (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US08/499,156 USH1685H (en) 1995-07-07 1995-07-07 Drilling fluid

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US08/499,156 USH1685H (en) 1995-07-07 1995-07-07 Drilling fluid

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
USH1685H true USH1685H (en) 1997-10-07

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US08/499,156 Abandoned USH1685H (en) 1995-07-07 1995-07-07 Drilling fluid

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US (1) USH1685H (en)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20040000434A1 (en) * 2002-06-28 2004-01-01 Todd Bradley L. System and method for removing particles from a well bore penetrating a possible producing formation
US6790812B2 (en) 2001-11-30 2004-09-14 Baker Hughes Incorporated Acid soluble, high fluid loss pill for lost circulation
US7169738B2 (en) 2004-06-03 2007-01-30 M-I L.L.C. Method of using a sized barite as a weighting agent for drilling fluids
US20080041589A1 (en) * 1996-07-24 2008-02-21 M-I Llc Method of completing a well with sand screens
US20090312203A1 (en) * 2006-12-07 2009-12-17 Baker Hughes Incorporated Viscosity enhancers for viscoelastic surfactant stimulation fluids
US8168569B2 (en) 2006-09-11 2012-05-01 M-I L.L.C. Precipitated weighting agents for use in wellbore fluids

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3622513A (en) * 1968-05-10 1971-11-23 Oil Base Oil base fluid composition
US5072794A (en) * 1988-09-30 1991-12-17 Shell Oil Company Alcohol-in-oil drilling fluid system
US5301754A (en) * 1992-10-22 1994-04-12 Shell Oil Company Wellbore cementing with ionomer-blast furnace slag system
US5307877A (en) * 1992-10-22 1994-05-03 Shell Oil Company Wellbore sealing with two-component ionomeric system
US5332040A (en) * 1992-10-22 1994-07-26 Shell Oil Company Process to cement a casing in a wellbore
US5343952A (en) * 1992-10-22 1994-09-06 Shell Oil Company Cement plug for well abandonment
US5363918A (en) * 1993-08-04 1994-11-15 Shell Oil Company Wellbore sealing with unsaturated monomer system

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3622513A (en) * 1968-05-10 1971-11-23 Oil Base Oil base fluid composition
US5072794A (en) * 1988-09-30 1991-12-17 Shell Oil Company Alcohol-in-oil drilling fluid system
US5301754A (en) * 1992-10-22 1994-04-12 Shell Oil Company Wellbore cementing with ionomer-blast furnace slag system
US5307877A (en) * 1992-10-22 1994-05-03 Shell Oil Company Wellbore sealing with two-component ionomeric system
US5332040A (en) * 1992-10-22 1994-07-26 Shell Oil Company Process to cement a casing in a wellbore
US5343952A (en) * 1992-10-22 1994-09-06 Shell Oil Company Cement plug for well abandonment
US5363918A (en) * 1993-08-04 1994-11-15 Shell Oil Company Wellbore sealing with unsaturated monomer system

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20080041589A1 (en) * 1996-07-24 2008-02-21 M-I Llc Method of completing a well with sand screens
US7918289B2 (en) * 1996-07-24 2011-04-05 M-I L.L.C. Method of completing a well with sand screens
US6790812B2 (en) 2001-11-30 2004-09-14 Baker Hughes Incorporated Acid soluble, high fluid loss pill for lost circulation
US6968898B2 (en) * 2002-06-28 2005-11-29 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. System and method for removing particles from a well bore penetrating a possible producing formation
US20040000434A1 (en) * 2002-06-28 2004-01-01 Todd Bradley L. System and method for removing particles from a well bore penetrating a possible producing formation
US7169738B2 (en) 2004-06-03 2007-01-30 M-I L.L.C. Method of using a sized barite as a weighting agent for drilling fluids
US7220707B2 (en) 2004-06-03 2007-05-22 M-I L.L.C. Sized barite as a weighting agent for drilling fluids
US7409994B2 (en) 2004-06-03 2008-08-12 M-I L.L.C. Drilling well with drilling fluid of fluid phase and weighting agent
US7176165B2 (en) 2004-06-03 2007-02-13 M-I L.L.C. Method of drilling using a sized barite as a weighting agent for drilling fluids
US8168569B2 (en) 2006-09-11 2012-05-01 M-I L.L.C. Precipitated weighting agents for use in wellbore fluids
US20090312203A1 (en) * 2006-12-07 2009-12-17 Baker Hughes Incorporated Viscosity enhancers for viscoelastic surfactant stimulation fluids
US7825075B2 (en) * 2006-12-07 2010-11-02 Baker Hughes Incorporated Viscosity enhancers for viscoelastic surfactant stimulation fluids
CN101765696B (en) * 2007-06-22 2014-05-07 M-I有限公司 Method of completing a well with sand screens

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AS Assignment

Owner name: SHELL OIL COMPANY, TEXAS

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:LAU, HON CHOUNG;HALE, ARTHUR HERMAN;BERNARDI, LOUIS ANTHONY JR.;REEL/FRAME:008566/0214

Effective date: 19950703

STCF Information on status: patent grant

Free format text: PATENTED CASE