Aphron-containing well drilling and servicing fluids

Patent 6716797 Issued on April 6, 2004. Estimated Expiration Date:

May 15, 2021. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

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Inventor

Brookey, Tommy F.

Application

No. 09855932 filed on 05/15/2001

US Classes:

507/102, Contains intended gaseous phase at entry into wellbore507/202, Contains intended gaseous phase at entry into wellbore507/110, Organic component is carbohydrate or derivative thereof (e.g., sugar or gum, such as galactomannan, xanthan, etc.) or carboxylic acid ester of an alcohol which has five or more hydroxy groups bonded directly to carbons507/209, Organic component is carbohydrate or derivative thereof (e.g., sugar or gum, such as galactomannan, etc.) or carboxylic acid ester of an alcohol which has five or more hydroxy groups bonded directly to carbons507/211, Carbohydrate is polysaccharide507/213, Polysaccharide is a xanthan (e.g., scleroglucans, etc.)175/72Prevention of lost circulation or caving

Examiners

Primary: Tucker, Philip

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Conley Rose, P.C.

International Class

C09K 702

Abstract

The invention provides a method and fluid for drilling or servicing a well in a subterranean formation containing lost circulation zones or depleted, low pressure reservoirs. The fluid comprises an aqueous liquid having dispersed therein a polymer which increases the low shear rate viscosity of the fluid to the extent that the thixotropic index of the fluid is at least about 10 and a surfactant, and wherein the fluid contains less than about 15% by volume of aphrons preferably generated by the turbulence and pressure drop as the fluid exits the drill bit in the vicinity of the formation. The method of drilling a wellbore in a subterranean formation comprises continuously circulating, while drilling, such a drilling fluid.

Other References

Sebba, Foams and Biliquid Foams—Aphrons, Chapter 5, pp. 63-78, John Wiley & Sons Ltd., Great Britian, (1987).*
Article entitled “Underbalanced Drilling Manual,” Published by Gas Research Institute, GRI Ref. No. GRI-97/0236, 1997.
Article entitled “Treatability of Water-based Drilling Fluids Using Colloidal Gas Aphrons,” D. Roy, K.T. Valsaraj, and V.J. Amedee, Departments of Civil Engineering and Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA., Mar. 1992.
SPE 39589 “Microbubbles: New Aphron Drill-in Fluid Technique Reduces Formation Damage in Horizontal Wells,” Tom Brookey, SPE, ActiSystems, Inc., Feb. 18-19, 1998.
Article entitled “Drill-in Fluids Improve High-angle Well Production,” Petroleum Engineer Intn'l., 1995.
Article entitled “Microbubbles: Generation and Interaction With Colloid Particles,” J.B. Melville and E. Matijevic, Institute of Colloid and Surface Science and Department of Chemistry, Clarkson College of Technology, Potsdam, New York, 1995.
Article entitled “Separation of Organic Dyes From Wastewater by Using Colloidal Gas Aphrons,” D. Roy, K.T. Valsarlj, and S.A. Kottai, Marcel Dekker, Inc., 1992.
Article entitled“Hidraulica Forajului,” also an English Translation of pp. 444-455, Oct. 10, 1982.
H1000, Patel et al, Filed Aug. 16, 1990, Published Dec. 3, 1991.
H837, Peiffer et al, Filed Jul. 5, 1989, Published Nov. 6, 1990.