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US 11,441,367 B2Granted
Direct emulsions and methods of use
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorCarlos Rodriguez
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method comprising drilling through a plurality of differing zones of a subterranean formation using a drilling fluid comprising a non-oleaginous continuous phase, an oleaginous discontinuous phase and at least a first salt dissolved into the non-oleaginous continuous phase. The amount of the at least first salt dissolved into the non-oleaginous continuous phase is maintained such that a density of the drilling fluid varies by no more than 10% while drilling through the plurality of zones.
Claims19
A method comprising:
- drilling through a plurality of differing zones of a subterranean formation using a drilling fluid comprising:
- a non-oleaginous continuous phase in an amount from 40 vol % to 95 vol %;
- an oleaginous discontinuous phase in an amount from 5 vol % to 60 vol %;
- a saponite clay;
- a surfactant in an amount from 0.1 wt % to 8.0 wt %;
- and
- at least one first salt dissolved into the non-oleaginous continuous phase,
- wherein
- an amount of the at least one first salt dissolved into the non-oleaginous continuous phase is maintained such that a density of the drilling fluid varies by no more than 10% while drilling through the plurality of differing zones,
- the at least one first salt is selected from a group consisting of sodium chloride, calcium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium formate, potassium formate, cesium formate, sodium bromide, potassium bromide, calcium bromide, zinc bromide, zinc chloride, calcium nitrate, potassium acetate, calcium sulfate dehydrate, and combinations thereof, and
- a density of the drilling fluid ranges from about 8.0 ppg to about 11.0 ppg.
8 more elements
A method comprising:
- drilling into at least an upper zone of a subterranean formation having at least one first salt therein with a drilling fluid comprising:
- a non-oleaginous continuous phase in an amount from 40 vol % to 95 vol %;
- an oleaginous discontinuous phase in an amount from 5 vol % to 60 vol %;
- a saponite clay;
- a surfactant in an amount from 0.1 wt % to 8.0 wt %;
- and
- at least one second salt dissolved into the non-oleaginous continuous phase,
- wherein, during the drilling, an amount of the at least one second salt dissolved into the non-oleaginous continuous phase is maintained such that a density of the drilling fluid varies by no more than 10% during the drilling, the non-oleaginous continuous phase is an aqueous phase, an amount of the at least one second salt dissolved in the aqueous phase is up to 4 wt % of saturation, the at least one second salt is selected from the group consisting of sodium chloride, calcium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium formate, potassium formate, cesium formate, sodium bromide, potassium bromide, calcium bromide, zinc bromide, zinc chloride, calcium nitrate, potassium acetate, calcium sulfate dehydrate, and combinations thereof, and a density of the drilling fluid ranges from about 8.0 ppg to about 11.0 ppg;
- and
- drilling into at least one selected from an intermediate zone and a lower zone of the subterranean formation using the drilling fluid.
7 more elements
A method comprising:
- drilling into at least an upper zone of a subterranean formation having swellable clays therein with a drilling fluid comprising:
- a non-oleaginous continuous phase in an amount from 40 vol % to 95 vol %;
- an oleaginous discontinuous phase in an amount from 5 vol % to 60 vol %;
- a saponite clay;
- a surfactant in an amount from 0.1 wt % to 8.0 wt %;
- and
- at least one salt dissolved into the non-oleaginous continuous phase,
- wherein
- an amount of the at least one salt is selected to be dissolved into the non-oleaginous continuous phase such that a reactivity of the swellable clay is reduced and the at least one salt is selected from the group consisting of sodium chloride, calcium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium formate, potassium formate, cesium formate, sodium bromide, potassium bromide, calcium bromide, zinc bromide, zinc chloride, calcium nitrate, potassium acetate, calcium sulfate dehydrate, and combinations thereof;
- and
- drilling into at least one selected from an intermediate zone and a lower zone of the subterranean formation having a lower pressure than the upper zone using the drilling fluid.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.