# US 9,435,182 B2 · System and method of assessing a wellbore servicing fluid or a component thereof

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- Number: US 9,435,182 B2
- Document ID: US9435182B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/527,373
- Filed: 2012-06-19
- Published: 2013-12-19
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2012-06-19
- Assignees: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
- Applicants: Jeanie Lynn Lawson Mohar
- Inventors: Jeanie Lynn Lawson Mohar
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9435182B2

## CPC

- E21B 43/16: Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons
- C12Q 1/64: Geomicrobiological testing, e.g. for petroleum
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- C12Q: MEASURING OR TESTING PROCESSES INVOLVING ENZYMES, NUCLEIC ACIDS OR MICROORGANISMS (immunoassay G01N33/53); COMPOSITIONS OR TEST PAPERS THEREFOR; PROCESSES OF PREPARING SUCH COMPOSITIONS; CONDITION-RESPONSIVE CONTROL IN MICROBIOLOGICAL OR ENZYMOLOGICAL PROCESSES

## Abstract

A wellbore servicing fluid assessment method comprising introducing test organisms into a first section of a first tub, allowing organisms less than a first size to pass into a second section of the first tub, allowing organisms less than the first size to flow into a first section of a second tub, allowing organisms less than a second size to pass into a second section of the second tub, allowing organisms less than the second size to flow into a first section of a third tub, allowing organisms less than a third size to pass into a second section of the third tub, selecting test organisms of a desired testing size, dividing the selected test organisms into a control group and test group, subjecting the test group to the wellbore servicing fluid or a component, and assessing the acceptability of the wellbore servicing fluid or component.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of assessing a wellbore servicing fluid or a component thereof comprising:
providing a plurality of test organisms, wherein providing the plurality of test organisms comprises:
introducing at least a portion of a population of the test organisms into a first section of a first tub, wherein the first section of the first tub is separated from a second section of the first tub by a first screen, wherein the first screen is configured to retain an organism of at least a first size and to allow passage of an organism less than the first size;
allowing at least a portion of the organisms of a size less than the first size to pass through the first screen and into the second section of the first tub;
allowing at least a portion of the organisms of a size less than the first size to flow out of the first tub and into a first section of a second tub, wherein the first section of the second tub is separated from a second section of the second tub by a second screen, wherein the second screen is configured to retain an organism of at least a second size and to allow passage of an organism loss than. the second size;
allowing at least a portion of the organisms of as size less than the second size to pass through the second screen and into the second section of the second tub;
allowing at least a portion of the organisms of a size less than the second size to flow out of the second tub and into a first section of a third tub, wherein the first section of the third tub is separated from a second section of the third tub by a third screen, wherein the third screen is configured to retain organism of at least a third size and to allow passage of an organism less than the third size;
allowing at least a portion of the organisms of a size less than the third size to pass through the third screen and into the second section of the third tub; and
allowing at least a portion of the organisms of a size less than the third size to flow out of the third tub;
selecting test organisms for testing from the first section of the first tub, the first section of the second tub, the first section of the third tub, or combinations thereof;
dividing the selected test organisms into a control group and at least one test group;
subjecting the at least one test group to the wellbore servicing fluid or component thereof; and
assessing the acceptability of the wellbore servicing fluid or component thereof.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein providing the plurality of test organisms further comprises:
allowing at least a portion of the organisms of a size less than the third size to flow out of the third tub and into a first section of a fourth tub, wherein the first section of the fourth tub is separated from a second section of the fourth tub by a fourth screen, wherein the fourth screen is configured to retain an organism of at least a fourth size and to allow passage of an organism less than the fourth size;
allowing at least a portion of the organisms of a size less than the fourth size to pass through the fourth screen and into the second section of the fourth tub; and
allowing at least a portion of the organisms of a size less than the fourth size to flow out of the fourth tub.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the first screen comprises a mesh size of about 1,000 microns, the second screen comprises a mesh size of about 710 microns, the third screen comprises a mesh size of about 500 microns, and the fourth screen comprises a mesh size of about 300 microns.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein at least portion of the test organisms retained in the second section of the first tub have a size of greater than about 1,000 microns, wherein at least a portion of the test organisms retained in the second section of the second tub have a size of from about 710 microns to about 1,000 microns, wherein at least a portion of the test organisms retained in the second section of the third tub have as size of from about 500 microns to about 710 microns, and wherein at least a portion of the test organisms retained in the second section of the fourth tub have a size from about 300 microns to about 500 microns.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein providing the plurality of test organisms further comprises:
allowing at least a portion of the organisms of a size less than the fourth size to flow out of the fourth tub and into a first section of a fifth tub, wherein the first section of the fifth tub is separated from a second section of the fifth tub by a fifth screen, wherein the fifth screen is configured to retain an organism of at least a fifth size and to allow passage of an organism less than the fifth size;
allowing at least a portion of the organisms of a size less than the fifth size to pass through the fifth screen and into the second section of the fifth tub; and
allowing at least a portion of the organisms of a size less than the fifth size to flow out of the fifth tub.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the first screen comprises a mesh size of about 1,000 microns, the second screen comprises a mesh size of about 850 microns, the third screen comprises a mesh size of about 710 microns, the fourth screen comprises a mesh size of about 500 microns, and the fifth screen comprises a mesh size of 300 microns.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein at least a portion of the test organisms retained in the second section of the first tub have a size of greater than about 1,000 microns, wherein at least a portion of the test organisms retained in the second section of the second tub have a size of from about 850 microns to about 1,000 microns, wherein at least a portion of the test organisms retained in the second section of the third tub have a size of from about 710 microns to about 850 microns, wherein at least a portion of the test organisms retained in the second section of the fourth tub have a size from about 500 microns to about 710 microns, and wherein at least a portion of the test organisms retained in the second section of the fifth tub have a size of from about 300 microns to about 500 microns.

### Claim 8 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein he first tub is positioned at a height greater than the height at which the second tub is positioned, wherein the second tub is positioned at a height greater than the height at which the third tub is positioned, and wherein the third tub is positioned at a height greater than the height at which the fourth tub is positioned.

### Claim 9 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the first tub is positioned at a height greater than the height at which the second tub is positioned, wherein the second tub is positioned at a height greater than the height at which the third tub is positioned, wherein the third tub is positioned at a height greater than the height at which the fourth tub is positioned, and wherein the fourth tub is positioned at a height grater than the height at which the fifth tub is positioned.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the first screen, the second screen, or the third screen comprises a sieve.

### Claim 11

The method of claim wherein one or more of the first screen, the second screen, or the third screen comprises a wall.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first tub further comprises a valve and a flow conduit in fluid communication with the first section of the second tub, wherein the portion of the organisms of less than the first size are allowed to flow out of the first tub and into the first section of the second tub via the valve and the flow conduit.

### Claim 13 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the test organisms are introduced within an aquatic solution, wherein the aqueous solution comprises sediment.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the aqueous solution comprises a salinity of about 20%.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one test group comprises at least two test groups, wherein, in each of the at least two test groups, the test organisms are subjected to the wellbore servicing fluid or component thereof at varying concentrations.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, herein the at least one test group comprises at least two test groups, wherein, in each of the at least two test groups, the test organisms are subjected to a different component of the wellbore servicing fluid.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the test organisms comprise Lepocheirus plumulosus.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the test organisms selected for testing are of a size from about 710 microns to about 1000 microns.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the test organisms selected for testing are of a size from about 710 microns to about 850 microns.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the wellbore servicing fluid comprises a drilling fluid, a perforating fluid, as fracturing fluid, an acidizing fluid, or a cementitious composition.