Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company

Sandeep A Kibey

Ward E Narhi

David A Stiles

Sabine C Zeilinger

Lillard Eugene Korn, Jr

Michael R Awe

Joshua Blunt

Adam W Aylor

A method of designing compressible particles for a fluid mixture. The compressible particles are intended to be used for attenuating pressure within a confined volume such as a trapped annulus. Preferably, the compressible particles reside buoyantly within an aqueous fluid, forming a fluid mixture. Each of the compressible particles is fabricated to collapse in response to fluid pressure within the confined volume, and comprises carbon. The particles may each have a porosity of between 5% and 40%, and a compressibility of between 10% and 30%, at 10,000 psi. The particles are tuned to have a buoyancy that is lower than the carrier fluid while still having resiliency.

Method of designing compressible particles having buoyancy in a confined volume

A fluid mixture for attenuating pressure within a confined volume. The fluid mixture comprises an aqueous carrier fluid. The fluid mixture further comprises a plurality of compressible particles dispersed in the carrier fluid. Each of the compressible particles is fabricated to collapse in response to fluid pressure within a confined volume. Each of the compressible particles has a density that is less than a density of the carrier fluid and has a compressibility of between 10% and 30%, up to 10,000 psi. A column of fluid within a trapped annulus of a wellbore is also presented, wherein the column of fluid has a plurality of compressible particles dispersed in a carrier fluid.

Fluid mixture containing compressible particles

A method of placing compressible particles within a wellbore. The method first comprises accessing a wellbore. The wellbore has a first string of casing and a second string of casing, wherein the first string of casing surrounds an upper portion of the second string of casing, forming a trapped annulus. The method further includes pumping a fluid mixture down the second string of casing and back up the annulus. The fluid mixture comprises an aqueous carrier fluid having a plurality of compressible particles dispersed therein. Each of the compressible particles is fabricated to collapse in response to fluid pressure within the trapped annulus. The method additionally includes pumping cement into at least a lower portion of the annulus behind the fluid mixture, forming a column of cement, and thereby placing the fluid mixture in the annulus above the column of cement.

Method of placing a fluid mixture containing compressible particles into a wellbore

A collection of compressible particles. The compressible particles are intended to be used for attenuating pressure within a confined volume such as a trapped annulus. Preferably, the compressible particles buoyantly reside within an aqueous fluid, forming a fluid mixture. Each of the compressible particles is fabricated to collapse in response to fluid pressure within the confined volume, and comprises carbon. The particles may each have a porosity of between 5% and 40%, and a compressibility of between 10% and 30%, at up to 10,000 psi. Each of the particles has a resiliency of between 80% and 120%.

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Spring, TX, United States of America

Sandeep A Kibey