Low molecular weight water soluble organic compounds as crystallization point suppressants in brines
AssigneeBaker Hughes Incorporated
InventorsWilliam S. Halliday, Dennis K. Clapper
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A brine for use during drilling operations, preferably a completion brine, comprising an amount of a low molecular weight water-soluble organic compound effective to reduce the crystallization point of the brine. The low molecular weight water soluble organic compound can be a variety of compounds, with preferred compounds being ethylene glycol, tripropylene glycol bottoms, and combinations thereof. A method of lowering the crystallization point of the brine using a low molecular weight water soluble organic compound also is provided.
Claims81
A brine selected from the group consisting of a completion fluid, a perforating fluid, a packer fluid, and a drill-in fluid comprising:
- an aqueous solution comprising at least one salt at a density of about 10 pounds per gallon or more;
- and
- a crystallization point suppressant consisting essentially of one or more low molecular weight water-soluble organic compounds other than methanol in an amount effective to suppress said crystallization point;
- wherein said low molecular weight organic compound is selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycols and propylene glycols having a molecular weight up to about 800.
A brine comprising:
- an aqueous solution comprising at least one salt at a density of about 10 pounds per gallon or more;
- and
- a crystallization point suppressant consisting essentially of one or more low molecular weight water-soluble organic compounds selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, tripropylene glycol bottoms, and combinations thereof, said low molecular weight organic compound being present in an amount effective to suppress said crystallization point.
A brine selected from the group consisting of a completion fluid, a perforating fluid, a packer fluid, and a drill-in fluid comprising:
- an aqueous solution comprising at least one salt at a density of about 10 pounds per gallon or more;
- and
- a crystallization point suppressant consisting essentially of one or more low molecular weight water-soluble organic compounds other than methanol in an amount effective to suppress said crystallization point;
- wherein said at least one low molecular weight water-soluble organic compound is selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, tripropylene glycol bottoms, and combinations thereof.
A brine selected from the group consisting of a completion fluid, a perforating fluid, a packer fluid, and a drill-in fluid comprising:
- an aqueous solution comprising at least one salt at a density of about 10 pounds per gallon or more;
- and
- a crystallization point suppressant consisting essentially of one or more low molecular weight water-soluble organic compounds other than methanol in an amount effective to suppress said crystallization point;
- wherein said low molecular weight organic compound is selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycols, diethylene glycols, triethylene glycols, tetraethylene glycols, propylene glycols, dipropylene glycols, tripropylene glycols, and tetrapropylene glycols, polyethylene oxides, polypropylene oxides, and copolymers of polyethylene oxides and polypropylene oxides, polyethylene glycol ethers, polypropylene glycol ethers, polyethylene oxide glycol ethers, polypropylene oxide glycol ethers, and polyethylene oxide/polypropylene oxide glycol ethers.
A brine selected from the group consisting of a completion fluid, a perforating fluid, a packer fluid, and a drill-in fluid comprising:
- an aqueous solution comprising at least one salt at a density of about 10 pounds per gallon or more;
- and
- a crystallization point suppressant consisting essentially of one or more low molecular weight water-soluble organic compounds other than methanol in an amount effective to suppress said crystallization point;
- wherein said low molecular weight organic compound is selected from the group consisting of carbohydrates and derivatives thereof having a molecular weight of about 800 or less.
A brine selected from the group consisting of a completion fluid, a perforating fluid, a packer fluid, and a drill-in fluid comprising:
- an aqueous solution comprising at least one salt at a density of about 10 pounds per gallon or more;
- and
- a crystallization point suppressant consisting essentially of one or more low molecular weight water-soluble organic compounds other than methanol in an amount effective to suppress said crystallization point;
- wherein said low molecular weight organic compound is selected from the group consisting of carbohydrates and derivatives thereof having a molecular weight of about 800 or less, selected from the group consisting of monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides.
A method of suppressing the crystallization point of a brine selected from the group consisting of a completion fluid, a perforating fluid, a packer fluid, and a drill-in fluid, said brine comprising at least one salt at a density of about 10 pounds per gallon or more, said method comprising adding to said brine an amount of a low molecular weight water soluble organic compound other than methanol effective to suppress said crystallization point.
A method for suppressing crystallization of water soluble salt from a brine, said method comprising:
- providing a brine comprising at least one water soluble salt at a density of at least 10 pounds per gallon;
- and
- providing said brine with a crystallization suppressant in an amount effective to suppress said point, said crystallization suppressant being selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, tripropylene glycol bottoms, and a combination thereof.
A method for suppressing crystallization of water soluble salt from a brine selected from the group consisting of a completion fluid, a perforating fluid, a packer fluid, and a drill-in fluid, said method comprising:
- providing a clear brine comprising at least one water soluble salt at a density of at least 10 pounds per gallon;
- and
- providing said brine with a crystallization suppressant comprising an amount of at least one low molecular weight water-soluble organic compound effective to suppress said point, said low molecular weight water-soluble organic compound being selected from the group consisting of polyols, glycols, polyglycols, polyalkyleneoxides, alkyleneoxide copolymers, alkylene glycol ethers, polyalkyleneoxide glycol ethers, amino acids, amino sulfonates, salts of any of the foregoing compounds, and combinations of the foregoing compound.
A method for suppressing crystallization of water soluble salt from a brine, said method comprising:
- providing a brine comprising at least one water soluble salt at a density such that, where no crystallization suppressant is present in said brine, said water soluble salt crystallizes out of said brine at a point comprising a given temperature and pressure;
- and
- providing said brine with a crystallization suppressant comprising tripropylene glycol bottoms in an amount effective to suppress said point.
A method for suppressing crystallization of water soluble salt from a brine, said method comprising:
- providing a brine comprising at least one water soluble salt at a density of at least 10 pounds per gallon;
- and
- providing said brine with a crystallization suppressant comprising ethylene glycol in an amount effective to suppress said point.
A method for suppressing crystallization of water soluble salt from a brine, said method comprising:
- providing a brine comprising at least one water soluble salt at a density such that, where no crystallization suppressant is present in said brine, said water soluble salt crystallizes out of said brine at a point comprising a given temperature and pressure;
- and
- providing said brine with a crystallization suppressant comprising a combination of ethylene glycol and tripropylene glycol bottoms in an amount effective to suppress said point.
A method for suppressing crystallization of water soluble salt from a brine, said method comprising:
- providing a brine comprising at least one water soluble salt at a density of at least 10 pounds per gallon;
- and
- providing said brine with a crystallization suppressant in an amount effective to suppress said point, said crystallization suppressant being selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, tripropylene glycol bottoms, and a combination thereof.
A method of suppressing the crystallization of water soluble salt from a brine comprising:
- providing a brine comprising at least one water soluble salt at a density of at least 10 pounds per gallon;
- and
- providing said brine with a crystallization suppressant in an amount effective to suppress said point, said crystallization suppressant being selected from the group consisting of organic alcohols selected from the group consisting of ethanol, propanol, and glycols thereof having a molecular weight of up to 200.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.