Invert emulsion carrier fluid and oil-wetting agent and method of using same
AssigneeBaker Hughes Incorporated
InventorsThomas A. Jones, Alexander J. McKellar, Lirio Quintero
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gravel packing fluid and method for gravel packing a wellbore using a gravel packing fluid comprising an invert emulsion comprising oil as an external phase, clear brine as an internal phase, and a quantity of emulsifier effective to produce a stable invert emulsion, the external phase of the gravel packing fluid further comprising gravel wetting agent.
Claims51
A gravel pack carrier fluid comprising an invert emulsion comprising oil as an external phase, clear brine as an internal phase, and a type and quantity of emulsifier having an HLB of from 3 to 8 effective to produce a stable invert emulsion, the external phase of the gravel pack carrier fluid further comprising a type and quantity of gravel wetting agent having a HLB of about 4 or less effective to render the gravel oil wet.
A method for gravel packing a wellbore comprising:
- providing a stable invert emulsion comprising oil as an external phase, clear brine as an internal phase, and a type and amount of emulsifier effective to produce a stable emulsion;
- after producing the stable emulsion, providing the stable emulsion with a type and quantity of gravel wetting agent effective to render the gravel oil wet, thereby producing a modified invert emulsion;
- injecting the modified invert emulsion into a wellbore with gravel, the modified invert emulsion facilitating a faster settling rate during the “alpha wave” of an “alpha-beta” gravel packing procedure and producing an effective, tight gravel pack;
- circulating the modified invert emulsion downhole to establish the required annular flow rate to gravel pack the wellbore;
- and,
- infusing additional gravel into the wellbore with an amount of additional wetting agent comprising one or more active ingredient, producing a gravel pack carrier fluid, the amount of additional wetting agent being effective to achieve and maintain near Newtonian rheological behavior of the gravel pack carrier fluid;
- wherein a sufficient amount of additional wetting agent is infused to provide the gravel pack carrier fluid comprising a concentration of about 2.9 liters/m3 (⅛ gal/bbl) or more of the one or more active ingredient.
A method for gravel packing a wellbore comprising:
- providing a stable invert emulsion comprising oil as an external phase, clear brine as an internal phase, and a type and amount of emulsifier in an amount effective to produce a stable emulsion;
- after producing the stable emulsion, providing the stable emulsion with a type and quantity of gravel wetting agent effective to render the gravel oil wet, thereby producing a modified invert emulsion;
- and,
- injecting the modified invert emulsion into a wellbore with gravel, the modified invert emulsion facilitating a faster settling rate during the “alpha wave” of an “alpha-beta” gravel packing procedure and producing an effective, tight gravel pack;
- and,
- substantially continuously infusing gravel and from about 5.95 liters/m3 (0.25 gal/bbl) to about 23.8 liters/m3 (1.0 gal/bbl) wetting agent into the wellbore with the modified invert emulsion.
A method for gravel packing a wellbore comprising:
- providing a stable invert emulsion comprising oil as an external phase, clear brine as an internal phase, and an amount and type of emulsifier effective to produce a stable emulsion;
- after producing the stable emulsion, injecting the stable emulsion into a wellbore together with an amount of gravel and a type and quantity of gravel wetting agent effective to render the gravel oil-wet, thereby facilitating a faster gravel settling rate during the “alpha wave” of an “alpha-beta” gravel packing procedure and producing an effective, tight gravel pack;
- substantially continuously infusing gravel and from about 5.95 liters/m3 (0.25 gal/bbl) to about 23.8 liters/m3 (1.0 gal/bbl) wetting agent into the wellbore with the stable invert emulsion.
A method for gravel packing a wellbore comprising:
- providing a stable invert emulsion comprising oil as an external phase, clear brine as an internal phase, and an amount and type of emulsifier effective to produce a stable emulsion;
- after producing the stable emulsion, injecting the stable emulsion into a wellbore together with an amount of gravel and a type and quantity of gravel wetting agent effective to render the gravel oil-wet, thereby facilitating a faster gravel settling rate during the “alpha wave” of an “alpha-beta” gravel packing procedure and producing an effective, tight gravel pack;
- circulating said invert emulsion gravel pack carrier fluid downhole to establish the required annular flow rate to gravel pack the wellbore;
- and
- infusing additional gravel into the wellbore with an amount of additional wetting agent comprising active ingredient, producing a gravel pack carrier fluid, the amount of additional wetting agent being effective to achieve and maintain near Newtonian rheological behavior of the gravel pack carrier fluid;
- wherein a sufficient amount of additional wetting agent is infused to provide the gravel pack carrier fluid comprising a concentration of about 2.9 liters/m3 (⅛ gal/bbl) or more of the one or more active ingredient.
A gravel pack carrier fluid comprising an invert emulsion comprising oil as an external phase, clear brine as an internal phase, and a type and amount of emulsifier effective to produce a stable invert emulsion, the gravel pack carrier fluid further comprising a type and quantity of gravel wetting agent effective to render the gravel oil wet, the quantity being from about 5.95 liters/m3 (0.25 gal/bbl) to about 23.8 liters/m3 (1.0 gal/bbl), based on the volume of the stable invert emulsion.
A gravel pack carrier fluid comprising an invert emulsion comprising oil as an external phase, clear brine as an internal phase, a type and quantity of emulsifier effective to produce a stable invert emulsion, and a type and quantity of gravel wetting agent effective to render the gravel oil wet, the gravel wetting agent comprising one or more active ingredients, the quantity of gravel wetting agent producing a concentration of about 2.9 liters/m3 (⅛ gal/bbl) or more of the one or more active ingredients in the gravel pack carrier fluid.
A method for gravel packing a wellbore comprising:
- providing an invert emulsion comprising oil as an external phase, clear brine as an internal phase, and a type and amount of emulsifier sufficient to produce a stable invert emulsion;
- injecting the stable invert emulsion into a wellbore together with an amount of gravel and a type and quantity of gravel wetting agent effective to render the gravel oil-wet and to produce an effective, tight gravel pack;
- substantially continuously infusing gravel and from about 5.95 liters/m3 (0.25 gal/bbl) to about 23.8 liters/m3 (1.0 gal/bbl) gravel wetting agent into the wellbore with the stable invert emulsion.
A method for gravel packing a wellbore comprising:
- providing an invert emulsion comprising oil as an external phase, clear brine as an internal phase, and a type and amount of emulsifier sufficient to produce a stable invert emulsion;
- injecting the stable invert emulsion into a wellbore together with an amount of gravel and a type and quantity of gravel wetting agent effective to render the gravel oil-wet and to produce an effective, tight gravel pack;
- circulating said invert emulsion gravel pack carrier fluid downhole to establish the required annular flow rate to gravel pack the wellbore;
- and
- infusing additional gravel into the wellbore with an amount of additional gravel wetting agent comprising one or more active ingredient, producing a gravel pack carrier fluid, the amount of additional gravel wetting agent being effective to achieve and maintain near Newtonian rheological behavior of gravel pack carrier fluid;
- wherein a sufficient amount of additional gravel wetting agent is infused to provide gravel pack carrier fluid comprising a concentration of about 2.9 liters/m3 (⅛ gal/bbl) or more of the one or more active ingredient.
A method for gravel packing a wellbore comprising:
- providing a stable invert emulsion comprising oil as an external phase, clear brine as an internal phase, and an amount and type of emulsifier effective to produce a stable invert emulsion;
- providing the stable invert emulsion with gravel and a type and quantity of gravel wetting agent effective to render the gravel oil wet, thereby producing a modified invert emulsion;
- and,
- injecting the modified invert emulsion into a wellbore with gravel, thereby facilitating a faster gravel settling rate during the “alpha wave” of an “alpha-beta” gravel packing procedure and producing an effective, tight gravel pack;
- substantially continuously infusing gravel and from about 5.95 liters/m3 (0.25 gal/bbl) to about 23.8 liters/m3 (1.0 gal/bbl) wetting agent into the wellbore with the modified invert emulsion.
A method for gravel packing a wellbore comprising:
- providing a stable invert emulsion comprising oil as an external phase, clear brine as an internal phase, and an amount and type of emulsifier effective to produce a stable invert emulsion;
- providing the stable invert emulsion with gravel and a type and quantity of gravel wetting agent effective to render the gravel oil wet, thereby producing a modified invert emulsion;
- injecting the modified invert emulsion into a wellbore with gravel, thereby facilitating a faster gravel settling rate during the “alpha wave” of an “alpha-beta” gravel packing procedure and producing an effective, tight gravel pack
- circulating the modified invert emulsion downhole to establish the required annular flow rate to gravel pack the wellbore;
- and,
- infusing additional gravel into the wellbore with an amount of additional wetting agent comprising active ingredient, producing a gravel pack carrier fluid, the amount of additional wetting agent being effective to achieve and maintain near Newtonian rheological behavior of the gravel pack carrier fluid;
- wherein a sufficient amount of additional wetting agent is infused to provide the gravel pack carrier fluid comprising a concentration of about 2.9 liters/m3 (⅛ gal/bbl) or more of the active ingredient.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.