Baker Hughes Corporation

Michael A Jarrett

Dennis K Clapper

James E Norfleet

Patricia A Potts

Allen Dale Gabrysch

John C Welch

Tao Xiang

Frank E Evans

David B Young

Benn A Voll

Ronald Gene Bland

William S Halliday

John Barton Weirich

Alexander John McKellar

William M Dye

John B Trenery

Billy G Chesser

Geoffrey Robinson

Mohammad Tej

Nyal S Walker

Patrick E Grover

William J Gusler

Michelle Carr

Cedric Nix

Floyd Harvey

Brett Collins

Marvin L Pless

Harold R Krause

Jerry L Summerhill

A thermal insulation composition comprising: aqueous base; one or more primary viscosifier comprising a quantity of clay; and, an amount of one or more polymeric viscosifier comprising sulfonate moiety.

Thermal insulation composition

A process for minimizing breaking of an emulsion type drilling fluid system comprising one or more fibrous lost circulation material, the process comprising: determining the water retention value of one or more candidate fibrous lost circulation materials; and, formulating the emulsion type drilling fluid system to comprise fibrous lost circulation material consisting of one or more of the candidate fibrous lost circulation materials having a water retention value of about 1 or less.

Process for minimizing breaking of emulsion type drilling fluid systems, emulsion type drilling fluid systems, and spotting fluids

A method and drilling fluid system for providing filtration control during drilling operations using a drilling fluid system comprising water soluble polymer comprising acrylamide monomer, the method comprising: providing a drilling fluid system having effective rheological properties, the drilling fluid system comprising aqueous base consisting essentially of freshwater, a quantity of from about 21 to 58 kg/m(7.5 to about 20 pounds per barrel) plugging agent, and an amount of bridging agent comprising water soluble polymer comprising acrylamide monomer which exhibits a 5% by weight Brookfield viscosity in freshwater of from about 50 cP to about 100 cP, and; contacting a subterranean formation with the drilling fluid system and maintaining effective filtration control at concentrations of about 10,000 ppm or less monovalent salt, as demonstrated in the laboratory by producing a HPHT filtrate of 25 cm/min or less after 30 minutes at about 149&#xb0; C. (300&#xb0; F.) after static aging of said drilling fluid system for a period of 16 hours or more at temperatures of about 260&#xb0; C. (500&#xb0; F.).

High temperature filtration control using water based drilling fluid systems comprising water soluble polymers

Invert emulsion drilling system fluids comprising an oleaginous continuous phase and a non-oleaginous dispersed phase, the dispersed phase comprising organofunctional compound(s) effective to provide shale inhibition. The organofunctional compound(s) may be used either as a supplement to or as a substitute for metallic salts.

Organofunctional compounds for shale stabilization of the aqueous dispersed phase of non-aqueous based invert emulsion drilling system fluids

A drilling system fluid and method of using same. The drilling system fluid comprises water as a continuous phase, an amount of a multivalent metal, and a quantity of a water soluble polyacrylamide copolymer having a charge density of at least about 1%. In a preferred embodiment, the fluid also comprises a second amount of a monovalent salt effective to increase gas hydrate suppression and decrease density when compared to a fluid consisting essentially of only a divalent salt in the absence of the monovalent salt.

Water based fluids comprising multivalent salts and low molecular weight, low charge cationic polyacrylamide copolymers

High fluid loss acid soluble lost circulation material and spotting pill comprising the lost circulation material. The spotting pill preferably is weighted to a density substantially the same as the drilling fluid used to treat the formation.

Acid soluble, high fluid loss pill for lost circulation

A drilling fluid and method of using same. The drilling fluid comprises water as a continuous phase, an amount of calcium chloride, and a quantity of a polyacrylamide copolymer. The amount of calcium chloride and the quantity of polyacrylamide copolymer in the drilling fluid are sufficient to produce a rate of penetration approaching that achieved using a synthetic oil-based drilling fluid while preventing substantial screen blinding. In a preferred embodiment, the continuous phase also comprises a second amount of a monovalent salt effective to increase gas hydrate suppression and decrease density when compared to a fluid consisting essentially of only a divalent salt in the absence of the monovalent salt.

Shale stabilizing drilling fluids comprising calcium chloride and low molecular weight low charge cationicpolyacrylamide copolymers

New compositions have been discovered which are useful as slurry concentrates to carry solid particles along in a fluid. A non-limiting example would be to carry proppants in a concentrate to a completion fluid being pumped downhole in a hydrocarbon recovery operation. The composition employs both a trivalent salt, such as aluminum chlorohydrate, as a viscosifying agent, and a surfactant. Surprisingly, it has been discovered that a synergistic effect is present between the aluminum chlorohydrate and the surfactant in that less of each component is required when both are used together to suspend the same amount of solids, than if one or the other is used separately. The viscoelasticity of the concentrate may be easily broken by dilution; other mechanisms are also anticipated.

Application of aluminum chlorohydrate in viscosifying brine for carrying proppants in gravel packing

The invention concerns a method for determining the presence and quantity of an amine-based additive in fluids, particularly aqueous fluids used in hydrocarbon recovery such as drilling fluids, drill-in fluids, completion fluids, and the like. It was discovered that, after isolating the amine-based additive, the amount of clay stabilizer is linearly dependent upon the spectrometric count of its peak fluorescent spectrum. The method is reproducible and is not bothered by the presence of lignosulfonate and/or lignite which interferes with conventional methods.

Method for determination of amine-based additives in drilling fluid filtrates

A drilling fluid having a brine base fluid, aluminum chlorohydrate as a viscosifying agent, an alkoxylated surfactant, and an amphoteric polymer encapsulant has been found to have excellent viscoelasticity and suspension characteristics. Surprisingly, it has been discovered that a synergistic effect is present between the aluminum chlorohydrate and the surfactant such that less of each component is required when both are used together to suspend the same amount of solids, than if one or the other is used separately.

Use of alkoxylated surfactants and aluminum chlorohydrate to improve brine-based drilling fluids

The present invention provides a method of preparing a fluid for use in drilling and completion operations comprising mixing a fluid comprising a salt of an alkaline earth metal with a nonionic colloid-forming material in an amount and under conditions sufficient to convert a majority of said nonionic colloid-forming material into water insoluble hydrated colloidal complexes comprising hydrated ions of said alkaline earth metal complexed with said nonionic colloid-forming material, said complexes being effective to improve a property of said fluid selected from the group consisting of rheology, fluid loss control, and a combination thereof.

Fluids for use in drilling and completion operations comprising water

The present invention provides nonionic alkanolamides which may be added to drilling fluids in order to minimize hydration and prevent erosion loss of water-sensitive shale substrates. Preferred alkanolamides are acetamide mono- and diethanolamines.

Nonionic alkanolamides as shale stabilizing surfactants for aqueous well

The present invention provides amphoteric acetates, diacetates, and glycinates which may be added to drilling fluids in order to minimize hydration and prevent erosion loss of water-sensitive shale substrates.

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Houston, TX, United States of America

Michael A Jarrett