Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.

Jeff Kirsner

Don Siems

David L Carbajal

Kimberly Burrows-Lawson

Dale E Jamison

Ian D Robb

Jeff Miller

Kimberly Jo Burrows

Heinz Mueller

Kenneth William Pober

Jon Bracken

William Walter Shumway

Kenneth W Oyler

Robert W Pike

Gary C West

David Carbajal

Diesel oil-based invert emulsion drilling fluids having fragile gel properties and improved performance. Methods are also disclosed for drilling, running casing, cementing, and/or producing hydrocarbons in a subterranean formation.

Diesel oil-based invert emulsion drilling fluids and methods of drilling boreholes

A method for drilling, running casing in, and/or cementing a borehole in a subterranean formation without significant loss of drilling fluid is disclosed, as well as compositions for use in such method. The method employs a drilling fluid comprising a fragile gel or having fragile gel behavior and providing superior oil mud rheology and overall performance. The fluid is especially advantageous for use in deep water wells because the fluid exhibits minimal difference between downhole equivalent circulating density and surface density notwithstanding differences in drilling or penetration rates. When an ester and isomerized olefin blend is used for the base of the fluid, the fluid makes an environmentally acceptable and regulatory compliant invert emulsion drilling fluid. The fluid preferably contains no organophilic clays.

Method of drilling using invert emulsion drilling fluids

A method of reducing the viscosity of invert emulsions and oil-based drilling fluids and well service fluids comprising such emulsions over a broad temperature range is disclosed. The method comprises adding to said invert emulsions of the invention a non-ionic surfactant alone or in combination with a co-thinner having the formula: R&#x2033;&#x2033;&#x2014;(CHO)(CHO)(CHO)&#x2014;H where R&#x2033;&#x2033; is a saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched, alkyl radical having about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms, n is a number ranging from about 1 to about 10, m is a number ranging from about 0 to about 10, and k is a number ranging from about 0 to about 10. The non-ionic surfactant is a reaction product of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and/or butylene oxide with Ccarboxylic acids or Ccarboxylic acid derivatives containing at least in position 9/10 and/or 13/14 structural units of general formula (I) where Ris a hydrogen atom or an OH group or a group OR. Ris an alkyl group of about 1 to about 18 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group of about 2 to about 18 carbons atoms, or a group of the formula (II): Ris a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group of about 1 to about 21 carbon atoms or an alkylene group or 2 to 21 carbon atoms. 

Thinners for invert emulsions

An efficient oil based drilling fluid is provided that includes a polymer additive effective at imparting suspension characteristics without the presence of organophilic clays, while also providing filtration control. The fluid is shear thinning and has good fluid rheology over a broad temperature range. A preferred polymer for the additive is substantially linear and comprises mostly hydrophobic monomers and some hydrophilic monomers such as, for example, an emulsion copolymer of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate and acrylic acid.

Drilling fluid comprising a vinyl neodecanoate polymer and method for enhanced suspension

Methods for drilling, running casing in, and/or cementing a borehole in a subterranean formation without significant loss of drilling fluid are disclosed, as well as compositions for use in such methods. The methods employ drilling fluids comprising fragile gels or having fragile gel behavior and providing superior oil mud rheology and overall performance. The fluids are especially advantageous for use in offshore wells because the fluids exhibit minimal differences between downhole equivalent circulating densities and surface densities notwithstanding differences in drilling or penetration rates. When an ester and isomerized olefin blend is used for the base of the fluids, the fluids make environmentally acceptable and regulatory compliant invert emulsion drilling fluids.

Invert drilling fluids and methods of drilling boreholes

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a drilling fluid composition that comprises a surfactant-free emulsion comprising an oleaginous fluid, a fluid that is at least partially immiscible with the oleaginous fluid, and emulsion facilitating particles. In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of treating a subterranean formation comprising providing a treatment fluid that comprises a surfactant-free emulsion, the surfactant-free emulsion comprising an oleaginous fluid, a fluid that is at least partially immiscible with the oleaginous fluid, and emulsion facilitating particles; and treating the subterranean formation.

Surfactant-free emulsions and methods of use thereof

Invert drilling fluids for use in drilling in subterranean formations

Environmentally acceptable or regulatory compliant oil-based drilling fluids and methods of using same in drilling a wellbore in a subterranean formation are disclosed. The fluids are able to meet environmental regulations while maintaining acceptable oil mud rheology and overall oil mud performance. The fluids are comprised of an invert emulsion. The base or continuous phase of the emulsion is comprised of esters blended with isomerized olefins, and/or other hydrocarbons, such as paraffins, mineral oils or glyceride triesters or combinations thereof. Alternatively, the emulsion has as a base comprising isomerized olefins blended with other hydrocarbons such as linear alpha olefins, paraffins or naphthenes.

Drilling method using isomerized olefins and paraffin hydrocarbons as base oils for invert emulsion oil muds

Flat rheology drilling fluids

Methods of drilling using flat rheology drilling fluids

A method of reducing the viscosity of oil-based drilling fluids and well service fluids at low temperatures and a thinner compound for use in such drilling fluids and well service fluids is disclosed. The method comprises adding to said drilling fluids or well service fluids a thinner having the formula:R&#x2014;(CHO)(CHO)(CHO)-Hwhere R is a saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched alkyl radical having about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms, n is a number ranging from about 1 to about 10, m is a number ranging form about 0 to about 10, and k is a number ranging from about 0 to about 10.

Method of formulating and using a drilling mud with fragile gels

A method and product is disclosed which provides emulsion stability and filtration control to invert emulsion drilling fluids. The product comprises a blend of a carboxylic acid terminated polyamide and/or a wetting agent with a reaction product or mixture produced by the Diels-Alder reaction of dienophiles, preferably carboxylic acids, polycarboxylic acids, acid anhydrides, or combinations or mixes thereof, with a mixture of fatty acids and resin acids. The product of the invention is extremely effective, decreasing by about two-thirds the amount of emulsifier generally required to formulate an effective drilling fluid. The product of the invention also greatly reduces and in many cases eliminates the need for conventional fluid loss additives, and additionally provides electrical stability. Moreover, the product of the invention has a pour point as low as about 20 degrees Fahrenheit with minimal solvents, thereby eliminating the need to ship large amounts of inert material for use, and may be transported in a highly active state.

Growing community of inventors

Humble, TX, United States of America

Jeff Kirsner