Water-based foaming composition-method for making same
AssigneeInstitut Francais du Petrole
InventorsJean-François Argillier, Annie Audibert-Hayet, Sabine Zeilinger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention concerns a water based foaming composition and the method of making it. The composition is optimized in that it contains a surfactant specifically selected according to the polymer also present in the composition. The surfactant and the polymer are selected so that they are oppositely charged. The invention is very useful in drilling or treating wells.
Claims14
A water-based foaming composition that comprises at least one surfactant and a water-soluble polymer, characterized in that said surfactant has charges of a sign that is opposite to those of said polymer, said surfactant being present at a concentration of less than about 5·10−3 mol/l and said polymer being present in a concentration sufficient to provide a stable foam.
A process for producing a foam from water, at least one surfactant and at least one polymer, wherein a surfactant present in a concentration of less than about 5·10−3 mol/l and a water-soluble polymer of opposite charge are combined, and the polymer concentration is determined in order to obtain a stable foam with the lowest surfactant level possible.
In a well that is drilled into the ground, circulating a water-based foaming composition comprising an anionic surfactant and a cationic water-soluble polymer wherein the anionic surfactant is present in a concentration of less than about 5-10−3 mol/l.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.