Non-toxic high-density fluid for completion applications
AssigneeTerves, LLC
InventorsAndrew Sherman, Haixong Tang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A modified high density brine for use in subterranean drilling and completion operations. The modified high density brine includes the addition of high density particle addition that can optionally be surface-modified. The resultant modified high density brine eliminates the need for toxic, corrosive, and costly ZrBr2 additions or other ionic additives to boost the density of the modified high density brine to 15-17 lbs./gallon or greater.
Claims44
A fluid having a density of 15-23 lbs./gallon at room temperature comprising:
- a. a base brine having a density of 8.9-16 lbs./gallon at room temperature;
- and,
- b. a plurality of high density particles having a density greater than 5 g/cc, said high density particles have been surface modified for dispersion in said base brine and/or to inhibit or prevent settling of said high density particles in said base brine, said surface modification of said high density particles include one or more coatings of silane and/or siloxane, said silane and/or siloxane includes polydiethylsiloxane.
A fluid having a density of 14.5-23 lbs./gallon at room temperature comprising:
- a base brine having a density of 8.9-16 lbs./gallon at room temperature;
- and,
- a plurality of high density particles having a density greater than 2.5 g/cc, wherein such particles have been surface-modified to stabilize their surface in the brine and inhibit flocculation and settling, wherein the resultant fluid has a viscosity of less than 500 cP, said surface modification of said high density particles includes one or more coatings of silane and/or siloxane wherein the resultant fluid passes freely through a 2 micron filter, and wherein the particles are added at a concentration so as to increase the fluid density by at least 0.5 lbs./gallon, said silane and/or siloxane includes polydiethylsiloxane.
A fluid having a density of 14.5-23 lbs./gallon at room temperature for use in drill-in or completion operations in a well, said fluid comprising:
- a base brine having a density of 8.916 lbs./gallon at 77° F.;
- and,
- a plurality of high density particles having a density greater than 2.5 g/cc, said plurality of high density particles surface modified with one or more coatings of silane and/or siloxane, said plurality of high density particles added to said base brine in a quantity to includes the density of said fluid by at least 0.5 lbs./gallon as compared to said base brine absent said plurality of high density particles, said plurality of high density particles selected from particles having an equivalent spherical diameter of 10-500 nm, said high density particles added to said base brine at a concentration of about 0.5-5 lbs./gallon, said silane and/or siloxane includes polydiethylsiloxane;
- wherein said fluid has a viscosity of less than 500 cP at 77° F., and
- wherein said resultant fluid passes freely through a 2 micron filter, and wherein the particles are added at a concentration to increase the fluid density by at least 0.5 lbs./gallon.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.