Drilling fluid, apparatus, and method

a technology of drilling fluid and drilling fluid, which is applied in the direction of earth drilling and mining, chemistry apparatus and processes, and well accessories, etc., can solve the problems of oil-based fluids that oil-based fluids are difficult to maintain, etc., to achieve the effect of promoting the stability of the borehol

Inactive Publication Date: 2004-07-01
GRAIN PROCESSING CORP
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] It has now been discovered that both maltodextrins, on the one hand, and hemicellulose-containing materials, on the other hand, function to assist glycosides in promoting borehole stability in a drilling fluid. It has further been found that carboxyalkyl starches, in particular carboxymethyl starches, also function to assist glycosides in promoting borehole stability. Surprisingly, these ingredients promote borehole stability more so than other organic species of similar origin or chemical structure when used in conjunction with an alkyl glucoside. In accordance with the invention, a drilling fluid comprises a liquid base, an alkyl glycoside, which preferably is methyl glucoside; and a borehole stability promoter that comprises a maltodextrin, a carboxyalkyl starch, and / or hemicellulose. Also encompassed by the invention is a drilling fluid that includes methyl glucoside and cellulose. The invention also encompasses a drilling apparatus and a process for drilling. The drilling apparatus comprises a drilling string that is fluidically coupled to a source of drilling fluid, the drilling fluid including in one embodiment a liquid base, an alkyl glycoside, and one or more of a maltodextrin, a carboxyalkyl starch, and a hemicellulose-containing material and, in another embodiment, a liquid base, an alkyl glycoside, and cellulose. The process of the invention includes the steps of circulating the drilling fluid of the invention through a drill string as a borehole is cut into the earth, optionally in conjunction with hemicellulose, a maltodextrin, a carboxyalkyl starch and / or cellulose.

Problems solved by technology

Such oil-based fluids suffer from a number of drawbacks, particularly, their adverse effects on the environment.
Oil-based fluids also can be costly to purchase and to dispose of.
One drawback associated with water-based fluids is that the water in the fluid tends to promote borehole instability, particularly when shale is encountered in the drilling process.
The water-based fluid may adsorb and absorb into pores in the shale, thus causing the shale to swell and thereby tending to cause the borehole to collapse.

Method used

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  • Drilling fluid, apparatus, and method

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

example 1

MeG+Maltodextrin

[0050] Drilling fluids were prepared using methyl glucoside and maltodextrin, and the bentonite stability test was repeated for each fluid. The following results were obtained. Maltodextrin percentages in these tables express weight percent maltodextrin by dry basis of methyl glucoside.

6 Drilling Fluid 1 hr. 2 hr. 4 hr. 8 hr. 24 hr. 365 + 5% M040 1 1 1.5 1.5 2 365 + 5% M100 1 1 1.5 1.5 2.5 365 + 5% M180 1.5 1.5 2 2 4

[0051]

7 Drilling Fluid 1 hr. 2 hr. 4 hr. 20 hr. 30 hr. 365 + 1% M040 1.5 2 2.5 4 4 365 + 3% M040 1 1.5 1.5 2.5 3

[0052]

8 Drilling Fluid 1 hr. 4 hr. 8 hr. 24 hr. 365 + 0.5% M100 1.5 2 3.5 4 365 + 1% M100 1 1.5 1.5 3.5

[0053] As set forth above, the bentonite pellets generally were more stable in the drilling fluids of Example 1 than in the control drilling fluids.

example 2

MeG+Maltodextrin+NaCl

[0054] Drilling fluids were prepared using MeG, maltrodextrin, and sodium chloride. The bentonite stability test was repeated for each fluid, and the following results were obtained. Sodium chloride percentages in these tables express weight percent sodium chloride by dry basis weight of methyl glucoside.

9 Drilling Fluid 1 hr. 2 hr. 4 hr. 8 hr. 24 hr. 365 + 5% 1 1 1 1.5 2 M040 + 10% NaCl 365 + 5% 1 1 1.5 1.5 2 M100 + 10% NaCl 365 + 5% 1 1.5 1.5 2 4 M180 + 10% NaCl

[0055]

10 Drilling Fluid 1 hr. 2 hr. 4 hr. 20 hr. 30 hr. 365 + 1% 1.5 1.5 1.5 2 3 M040 + 5% NaCl 365 + 3% 1 1 1.5 2 3 M100 + 5% NaCl

[0056]

11 Drilling Fluid 1 hr. 4 hr. 8 hr. 24 hr. 365 + 0.5% M040 + 2% NaCl 1.5 1.5 2.5 3.5 365 + 1% M100 + 2% NaCl 1 1.5 1.5 3 365 + 0.5% M100 + 5% NaCl 1.5 2 2 3.5 365 + 1% M100 + 5% NaCl 1 1.5 1.5 3.5

[0057] As seen, the addition of sodium chloride to the drilling fluid rendered the fluid retention less aggressive toward the bentonite pellets.

example 3

MeG+HC

[0058] Drilling fluids were prepared using MeG and the hemicellulose fraction of alkaline treated corn hulls. The bentonite stability tests were repeated, and the following examples were obtained. Hemicellulose percentages in these tables are expressed as weight percent dry hemicellulose provided in the HC solution by dry basis MeG.

12 Drilling Fluid 1 hr. 2 hr. 4 hr. 8 hr. 365 + 0.6% hemicellulose 1 1 1 1.5 365 + 0.6% hemicellulose 2.5 3.5 4 4.5 (solution diluted to 50%)

[0059]

13 Drilling Fluid 1 hr. 2 hr. 4 hr. 20 hr. 30 hr. 365 + 1% 1 1 1 2 2.5 hemicellulose

[0060]

14 Drilling Fluid 1 hr. 2 hr. 4 hr. 8 hr. 24 hr. 48 hr. 207 + 0.5% 1 1 1 1 1.5 1.5 hemicellulose 365 + 0.6% 1 1 1 1.5 -- --hemicellulose

[0061] As seen, the bentonite pellets were substantially more stable in the drilling fluids prepared using MeG and hemicellulose than in the drilling fluids prepared using only MeG.

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Abstract

Disclosed are drilling fluids suitable for use in connection with oil well drilling. The drilling fluids of the invention include in one embodiment a liquid base, an alkyl glucoside, such as methyl glucoside, and a borehole stability promoter that includes a maltodextrin, a carboxyalkyl starch, a hemicellulose-containing material, or a mixture of the foregoing. In another embodiment, the drilling fluid includes a liquid base and molasses solids, preferably in combination with an alkyl glucoside and more preferably in further combination with one of the aforementioned borehole stability promoters. In another embodiment, the drilling fluid includes sorbitol, preferably in conjunction with a borehole stability promoter. The drilling fluids of the invention surprisingly have a reduced tendency to swell shale as compared with known drilling fluids. Also disclosed are a drilling apparatus and process. The drilling apparatus includes a drill string, which may be conventional, that is fluidically coupled to a source of drilling fluid, the source of drilling fluid including the drilling fluid of the invention. The process of the invention includes the step of circulating the drilling fluid of the invention through a drill string during borehole drilling.

Description

[0001] The invention is in the area of drilling fluids used in connection with drilling wells, such as oil wells and water wells. The invention is also directed towards a drilling apparatus and process.[0002] In drilling a well or other similar borehole, a drill bit is operatively coupled, usually by a drill string, to a drive which rotates the drill bit to cause the drill bit to bore into the earth. A drilling fluid, or drilling mud, is circulated through the borehole annulus. The drilling fluid passes through the drilling string and to the surface through the drill bit for cooling and lubricating the drill bit and for carrying rock cuttings generated by the cutting action of the bit to the surface. The drilling fluid may be a gas, but more typically is a liquid.[0003] Many liquids suitable for use as drilling fluids are known. Some drilling fluids are oil-based. Such oil-based fluids suffer from a number of drawbacks, particularly, their adverse effects on the environment. Oil-bas...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): C09K8/08C09K8/20C09K8/514
CPCC09K8/08C09K8/514C09K8/206
Inventor WIESNER, THOMAS A.ABBOTT, DAVID W.
Owner GRAIN PROCESSING CORP
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