Methods of making monoester-based drilling fluids
AssigneeChevron U.S.A. Inc.
InventorsSaleh Ali Elomari, Stephen Joseph Miller
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Abstract
Disclosed herein are monoester-based lubricant compositions and methods of making these monoester-based lubricant compositions. The monoester lubricant compositions comprise an isomeric mixture of at least one monoester species having a carbon number ranging from C8 to C40. In some embodiments, the methods for making the monoester-based lubricants utilize a biomass precursor and/or low value Fischer-Tropsch (FT) olefins and/or alcohols to produce high value monoester-based lubricants. In some embodiments, the monoester-based lubricants are derived from FT olefins and fatty acids. The fatty acids can be from a bio-based source (i.e., biomass, renewable source) or can be derived from FT alcohols via oxidation.
Claims32
A method of making a drilling fluid comprising:
- (a) isomerizing an alpha olefin having a carbon number from 6 to 22 to an isomeric mixture of internal olefins;
- (b) epoxidizing the isomeric mixture of internal olefins having a carbon number from 6 to 22 to form an isomeric mixture of internal epoxides comprising an epoxide ring;
- (c) opening the epoxide rings by reduction to form an isomeric mixture of secondary alcohols;
- (d) esterifying the isomeric mixture of secondary alcohols with a C2 to C18 carboxylic acid or acylating derivative thereof to form an isomeric mixture of at least one monoester species;
- (e) isolating the isomeric mixture of at least one monoester species, the monoester species being a secondary monoester and having the following structure:
- wherein R1, R2, and R3 are independently selected from alkyl groups to provide a monoester species or mixture of monoester species having a total carbon number up to C40;
- and
- (f) providing the isolated isomeric mixture of at least one monoester species as a drilling fluid.
A method of making a drilling fluid comprising:
- (a) isomerizing a plurality of alpha olefins having a carbon number from 6-22 to provide an isomeric mixture of a plurality of internal olefins;
- (b) epoxidizing the isomeric mixture of a plurality of internal olefins having a carbon number from 6 to 22 to form an isomeric mixture of a plurality of internal epoxides comprising an epoxide ring;
- (c) opening the epoxide rings by reduction to form an isomeric mixture of a plurality of secondary alcohols;
- (d) esterifying the isomeric mixture of a plurality of secondary alcohols with a C2 to C18 carboxylic acid or acylating derivative thereof to form an isomeric mixture of a plurality of monoester species;
- (e) isolating the isomeric mixture of a plurality of monoester species, the monoester species being secondary monoesters and having the following structure:
- wherein R1, R2, and R3 are independently selected from alkyl groups to provide a monoester species or mixture of monoester species having a total carbon number up to C40;
- and
- (f) providing the isolated isomeric mixture of a plurality of monoester species as a drilling fluid.
A drilling fluid composition comprising an isomeric mixture of at least one monoester species, the monoester species being a secondary monoester and having the following structure:
- wherein R3 is an alkyl group having a carbon number of from C5 to C14 and R1, R2, and R3 are independently selected from alkyl groups to provide a monoester species or mixture of monoester species having a total carbon number up to C40,
- wherein the isomeric mixture of at least one monoester species has an Oxidator BN value of from about 25 hours to about 80 hours.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.