US 11,401,805 B2 · Colorimetric detection of amine-based shale inhibitors

Abstract

A method of detecting an amine-based shale inhibitor in a wellbore servicing fluid (WSF) comprising contacting an aliquot of the WSF with an amine detector compound to form a detection solution; wherein the WSF comprises the amine-based shale inhibitor; and wherein the detection solution is characterized by at least one absorption peak wavelength in the range of from about 380 nm to about 760 nm; detecting an absorption intensity for the detection solution at a wavelength within about ±20% of the at least one absorption peak wavelength; comparing the absorption intensity of the detection solution at the wavelength within about ±20% of the at least one absorption peak wavelength with a target absorption intensity of the amine-based shale inhibitor to determine the amount of amine-based shale inhibitor in the WSF; and comparing the amount of amine-based shale inhibitor in the WSF with a target amount of the amine-based shale inhibitor.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of detecting an amine-based shale inhibitor in a wellbore servicing fluid (WSF) comprising:

(a) contacting an aliquot of the WSF with an amine detector compound to form a detection solution;
wherein the WSF comprises the amine-based shale inhibitor;
and wherein the detection solution is characterized by at least one absorption peak wavelength in the range of from about 380 nanometers (nm) to about 760 nm;
(b) detecting an absorption intensity for the detection solution at a wavelength within about ±20% of the at least one absorption peak wavelength;
(c) comparing the absorption intensity of the detection solution at the wavelength within about ±20% of the at least one absorption peak wavelength with a target absorption intensity of the amine-based shale inhibitor to determine the amount of amine-based shale inhibitor in the WSF;
and
(d) comparing the amount of amine-based shale inhibitor in the WSF with a target amount of the amine-based shale inhibitor.

4 more elements

A method of servicing a wellbore in a subterranean formation comprising:

(a) preparing a drilling fluid comprising a base fluid and an amine-based shale inhibitor, wherein the amine-based shale inhibitor is present in the drilling fluid in a target amount;
(b) circulating the drilling fluid in the wellbore and/or subterranean formation to yield a circulated drilling fluid;
(c) subjecting at least a portion of the circulated drilling fluid to solids removal to yield a substantially solids-free circulated drilling fluid;
(d) contacting an aliquot of the solids-free circulated drilling fluid with an amine detector compound to form a detection solution;
wherein the detection solution is characterized by at least one absorption peak wavelength in the range of from about 380 nanometers (nm) to about 760 nm;
(e) detecting an absorption intensity for the detection solution at a wavelength within about ±20% of the at least one absorption peak wavelength;
(f) comparing the absorption intensity of the detection solution at the wavelength within about ±20% of the at least one absorption peak wavelength with a target absorption intensity of the amine-based shale inhibitor to determine the amount of amine-based shale inhibitor in the circulated drilling fluid;
and
(g) comparing the amount of amine-based shale inhibitor in the circulated drilling fluid with the target amount of the amine-based shale inhibitor.

6 more elements

A method of servicing a wellbore in a subterranean formation comprising:

(a) preparing a drilling fluid comprising a base fluid and an amine-based shale inhibitor, wherein the amine-based shale inhibitor is present in the drilling fluid in a target amount;
(b) circulating the drilling fluid in the wellbore and/or subterranean formation to yield a circulated drilling fluid;
(c) subjecting at least a portion of the circulated drilling fluid to solids removal to yield a substantially solids-free circulated drilling fluid;
(d) contacting an aliquot of the solids-free circulated drilling fluid with ninhydrin to form a detection solution;
wherein the detection solution is characterized by a first absorption peak wavelength of about 400 nanometers (nm) and by a second absorption peak wavelength of about 570 nm;
and wherein the ninhydrin is contacted with the aliquot of the solids-free circulated drilling fluid in an amount of from about 0.01 mmol/liter to about 200 mmol/liter ninhydrin, based on the total volume of the detection solution;
(e) detecting an absorption intensity for the detection solution at a wavelength within about ±20% of the first absorption peak wavelength and/or the second absorption peak wavelength;
(f) comparing the absorption intensity of the detection solution at the wavelength within about ±20% of the first absorption peak wavelength and/or the second absorption peak wavelength with a target absorption intensity at the wavelength within about ±20% of the first absorption peak wavelength and/or the second absorption peak wavelength, respectively of the amine-based shale inhibitor to determine the amount of amine-based shale inhibitor in the circulated drilling fluid;
and
(g) comparing the amount of amine-based shale inhibitor in the circulated drilling fluid with the target amount of the amine-based shale inhibitor.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Colorimetric detection of amine-based shale inhibitors

Life of this patent

Colorimetric detection of amine-based shale inhibitors

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20