Detection of polymer shale encapsulators in wellbore fluid
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsPreston May, Jay Deville
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Abstract
Systems and methods to determine concentrations of certain polymer encapsulators in drilling fluids based on light scattering, turbidity analysis and other analysis techniques. The method generally includes disposing a sample of drilling fluid within a vessel. A precipitant is added to form a precipitate with the desired polymer resulting in turbidity which is then measured in a variety of ways to determine the amount of polymer in the drilling fluid.
Claims20
A method to determine a polymer concentration in an aqueous drilling fluid, the method comprising:
- obtaining a sample of a drilling fluid comprising an aqueous base fluid and a polymer comprising a vinylpyrrolidone monomer;
- adding a precipitant to the sample to form a precipitate comprising at least a portion of the polymer;
- and
- determining an amount of the polymer within the drilling fluid by performing at least of a turbidity analysis of the sample, a gravimetric weight analysis of the precipitate, a volumetric analysis of the precipitate or combinations thereof.
A system to determine a concentration of vinlypyrrolindone in drilling fluid, the system comprising:
- a vessel to obtain a sample of drilling fluid comprising an aqueous base fluid and a polymer comprising a vinylpyrrolidone monomer, the drilling fluid having a precipitant added therein to form a precipitate with at least a portion of the polymer;
- and
- an analyzer to determine an amount of the polymer within the sample, the analyzer being a turbidity meter, a gravimetric weight analysis device, a spectrophotometer, a volumetric analysis device or combinations thereof.
A method to determine a concentration of a polymer in fluid, the method comprising:
- providing a fluid comprising an aqueous base fluid and a polymer;
- adding a precipitant to the fluid to form a precipitate with at least a portion of the polymer;
- and
- determining a concentration of polymer in the fluid by performing at least one of:
- optically interacting electromagnetic radiation with the precipitate to generate scattered light, wherein the concentration of the polymer is determined based upon the scattered light;
- gravimetrically measuring the precipitate;
- spectrally measuring the precipitate;
- or
- volumetrically measuring the precipitate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.