Binder compositions including lost circulation materials, and related methods and geopolymer compositions

Abstract

A binder composition includes a cement composition, a geopolymer composition, or a combination thereof. The binder composition includes a binder material including at least one of cement or at least one aluminosilicate source, a lost circulation composition, and a sodium silicate. The lost circulation composition includes a first fiber material including nylon having an average length from about 5.0 mm to about 25.0 mm, and a second fiber material including chopped glass. Related methods and geopolymer compositions are also disclosed.

Description

FILED ELECTRONICALLY Docket No. IS240709-WO-PCTBINDER COMPOSITIONS INCLUDING LOST CIRCULATION MATERIALS, AND RELATED METHODSAND GEOPOLYMER COMPOSITIONSCROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application for patent claims priority benefit of United States Patent Application Serial No. 63 / 686,024, filed August 22, 2024, which is incorporated in its entirety.BACKGROUND

[0002] Wellbore drilling operations includes drilling a bore in an earth formation to access reservoirs of hydrocarbons and other subsurface resources. After a drilling operation, a casing string may be run through the wellbore and cemented into place. The cement may facilitate isolating a section of the formation from other portions of the formation. Cementing may be performed in a single stage where the cement is pumped into the casing, down a cement shoe, and then up into an annulus between the casing and the earth formation. In other cases, such as where the casing string is long or the formation cannot support the hydrostatic pressure of a column of the cement, the cementing may be performed in a multi-stage operation. For example, the wellbore may include a conductor casing proximate the surface, a surface casing extending beyond (e.g., below) the conductor casing, an intermediate casing beyond the surface casing, and a production line beyond the intermediate casing. Cement may be located between the formation and each of the casings and the formation, as well as between the neighboring casing sections.

[0003] In the hydrocarbon industry, cement and cement-like materials are used to line wellbores to provide isolation and structural support within the wellbore. Use of cement-like materials in hydrocarbon wellbores presents unique challenges. The slurry mixture precursor is typically pumped over long distances to the location where the mixture is to set, so the mixture must be pumpable without undue burden on equipment. Additionally, ambient conditions encountered in a typical hydrocarbon well are much more extreme than those encountered in a typical construction application. Further, the large vertical extent of hydrocarbon wellbore applications presents challenges of density, temperature, and pressure not faced in the construction industry.

[0004] During drilling operations and other wellbore operations, various fluids are typically used in the well for a variety of functions. The fluids may be circulated through a drill pipe, a casing, or other tubing, through the brill bit or a shoe, and back up to the surface through the annulus between the drill pipe, casing, or tubing and the earth formation. Lost circulation is a recurring problemFILED ELECTRONICALLY Docket No. IS240709-WO-PCT during the circulation of such fluids. Lost circulation is characterized by the loss of the fluids into the earth formation and can be the result of losses into fractured earth formations, highly permeable, porous, cavernous, and / or vugular earth formations. Lost circulation may result from induced pressure, which occurs when the pressure of the circulated fluid required for well control and stability exceeds the fracture resistance of the earth formation. Due to the relatively high density of cement slurries, lost circulation can occur during cementing operations since the high density of the cement slurry leads to a high bottomhole pressure on the earth formation.BRIEF SUMMARY

[0005] In some embodiments, a method of cementing a subterranean borehole includes circulating a divalent brine or a trivalent brine into an annular space between a casing and surfaces of an earth formation defining the subterranean borehole, placing a silicate material in the annular space, and mixing water with a binder composition to form a binder slurry. The binder composition includes a binder material including at least one of cement or at least one aluminosilicate source, and a lost circulation composition. The lost circulation composition includes first fibers including nylon having an average length within a range of from about 15.0 mm to about 20.0 mm and a average diameter within a range of from about 50 pm to about 400 pm, and second fibers including chopped glass having an average length less than the average length of the first fibers. The method further includes pumping the binder slurry into the annular space.

[0006] In some embodiments, a geopolymer composition includes at least one aluminosilicate source, at least one alkali activator, and a lost circulation composition. The lost circulation composition includes first fibers including nylon fibers having an average length within a range of from about 15.0 mm to about 20.0 mm, a average diameter within a range of from about 250 pm to about 300 pm, and a Young’s Modulus of Elasticity within a range of from about 1.5 GPa to about 4.0 GPa, and second fibers including chopped glass having an average length within a range of from about 12.0 mm to about 14.0 mm.

[0007] In some embodiments, a binder composition including at least one of cement or an aluminosilicate source comprises a binder material including at least one of cement or at least one aluminosilicate source and a lost circulation composition. The lost circulation composition includes first fibers including nylon having an average length within a range of from about 15.0 mm to about 20.0 mm and a average diameter within a range of from about 50 pm to about 400 pm,FILED ELECTRONICALLY Docket No. IS240709-WO-PCT and second fibers including chopped glass having an average length less than the average length of the first fibers.

[0008] This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0009] Additional features and advantages of embodiments of the disclosure will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by the practice of such embodiments. The features and advantages of such embodiments may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and other features will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of such embodiments as set forth hereinafter.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0010] In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and other features of the disclosure can be obtained, a more particular description will be rendered by reference to specific implementations thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. For better understanding, the like elements have been designated by like reference numbers throughout the various accompanying figures. While some of the drawings may be schematic or exaggerated representations of concepts, at least some of the drawings may be drawn to scale. Understanding that the drawings depict some example implementations, the implementations will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

[0011] FIG. 1 is a representation of a drilling system for drilling an earth formation to form a wellbore, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0012] FIG. 2 is a simplified, partial cross-sectional view illustrating a portion of a downhole system, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0013] FIG. 3 is a simplified flow chart illustrating a method of performing a cementing or geopolymer operation, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.FILED ELECTRONICALLY Docket No. IS240709-WO-PCTDETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] As used herein, “cement composition” means and includes a mixture (blend) of one or more materials used to which water may be added to form a slurry, referred to herein as a “cement slurry.” Upon hydrating and setting, the cement slurry forms a hardened water saturated material, which may be referred to herein as “cement.”

[0015] As used herein, “geopolymer composition” means and includes a mixture (blend) of one or more materials to which water may be added to form a slurry, referred to herein as a “geopolymer slurry.” During hardening (also referred to as “setting”), the geopolymer slurry undergoes polymerization of aluminum, silicon, and oxygen wherein the reactive composition included in the slurry (e.g., aluminosilicate or other solid alkaline reactive material comprising aluminum, silicon, and oxygen) polymerizes and forms a crosslinked network, which may be referred to herein as a “geopolymer,” a “set geopolymer,” a “hardened geopolymer,” or a “geopolymer cement.”

[0016] As used herein, a “binder composition” means and includes a composition including binder materials and may include a cement composition, a geopolymer composition, or a combination thereof. Accordingly, a binder composition may be used to refer to a cement composition, a geopolymer composition, or a composition including both cement and geopolymer. As used herein, a “binder slurry” means and includes a slurry formed from a cement composition, a geopolymer composition, or a combination thereof.

[0017] As used herein, the term “barrel” is a volume equivalent to 42 gallons. Quantities of various materials (e.g., additives) are often quantified in barrels in the oil and gas industry.

[0018] This disclosure generally relates to devices, systems, and methods for binder compositions and binder slurries including a lost circulation composition including a combination of fibers to reduce lost circulation and fluid loss of the binder slurries during cementing operations and / or formation of a geopolymer liner, such as during primary cementing. The binder slurry including the fibers may exhibit a plugging capacity such that the binder slurry may plug fractures as large as about 10 mm, as large as about 15 mm, or even as large as about 20 mm. Plugging of such fractures with the binder slurry may reduce (e.g., substantially reduce, eliminate, prevent) loss of the binder slurry or lost circulation of the binder slurry during circulation of the binder slurry during cementing operations and geopolymer operations.FILED ELECTRONICALLY Docket No. IS240709-WO-PCT

[0019] The binder composition may include a binder (e.g., cement, a geopolymer, a combination thereof), a lost circulation composition formulated and configured to facilitate the plugging capacity of the binder slurry formed from the binder composition, sodium silicate, and one or more additives. The lost circulation composition may include a mixture of fibers including a blend of first fibers and second fibers, the second fibers relatively softer than the first fibers. The combination of the first fibers and the second fibers may be formulated and configured to facilitate the plugging of relatively large factures.

[0020] The first fibers may be relatively more stiff than the second fibers. The first fibers may exhibit a stiffness such that the first fibers are configured to bend without breaking when exposed to conditions within a wellbore and / or while pumping a slurry including the first fibers. The first fibers may include, for example, one or more of polypropylene, nylon, glass, poly-paraphenylene terephthalamine (a reaction product of 1,4-phenylene-diamine (para-phenyl enediamine) and terephthaloyl chloride) (e.g., Kevlar™), polyvinyl alcohol, crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol, aluminum fibers, iron fibers, a combination of aluminum fibers and iron fibers, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the first fibers include nylon. As described herein, one or more of (e.g., each of) a cross-sectional dimension (e.g., a diameter), a length, an aspect ratio, and a Young’s Modulus of Elasticity of the first fibers may be selected to impart desired properties (e.g., stiffness) to the first fibers.

[0021] In some embodiments, the second fibers are relatively softer than the first fibers. The second fibers may include glass, such as chopped glass. The combination of the first fibers and the second fibers may be selected to facilitate plugging and reduction of lost circulation and fluid loss of binder slurries including the fibers. The size and shape of the first fibers and the second fibers may be selected to facilitate plugging and reduction of lost circulation and fluid loss of binder slurries formed from the binder composition. The second fibers may have an average length less than the average length of the first fibers.

[0022] In some embodiments, the lost circulation composition including the first fibers and the second fibers may be used in a geopolymer composition. In some such embodiments, the geopolymer composition includes at least one aluminosilicate source, at least one activator, and the lost circulation composition.

[0023] The lost circulation composition may facilitate reducing (e.g., preventing, substantially reducing) fluid loss and lost circulation of binder slurries (e.g., cement slurries and / or geopolymerFILED ELECTRONICALLY Docket No. IS240709-WO-PCT slurries) that include the lost circulation composition. Tn addition, the lost circulation composition may not substantially affect the rheological properties of the binder slurries such that the binder slurries are pumpable and are configured to be circulated similar to other cement slurries and / or geopolymer slurries.

[0024] In some embodiments, a silicate material may be used to improve the performance of the first fibers and the second fibers in reducing the fluid loss of the binder slurry by reacting the silicate material with a salt that can precipitate solids. In some embodiments, the binder slurry is provided to contact a fluid including a silicate material, for example an alkali metal silicate such as sodium silicate. In some embodiments, a brine is provided to a location where a cement operation is to be performed. A solution including silicate material (e.g., sodium silicate or other alkali metal silicate) that is reactive with the brine, such as a silicate pill, is provided to the brine to form one or more precipitates. After providing the silicate material to the brine, the binder composition is provided to the silicate material and brine (or the formed precipitates), which may improve the fluid loss properties of the first fibers and the second fibers of the binder composition. It is believed that interaction of the precipitates with fibers in the binder composition can improve the fluid loss properties of the binder slurry.

[0025] FIG. 1 shows one example of a drilling system 100 for drilling an earth formation 101 to form a wellbore 102 during a drilling operation. The drilling system 100 includes a drill rig 103 used to turn a drilling tool assembly 104 which extends downward into the wellbore 102. The drilling tool assembly 104 may include a drill string 105, a bottomhole assembly (“BHA”) 106, and a bit 110 attached to the downhole end of drill string 105.

[0026] The drill string 105 may include several joints of drill pipe 108 connected end-to-end through tool joints 109. The drill string 105 transmits drilling fluid through a central bore and transmits rotational power from the drill rig 103 to the BHA 106. In some embodiments, the drill string 105 may further include additional components such as subs, pup joints, etc. The drill pipe 108 provides a hydraulic passage through which drilling fluid is pumped from the surface. The drilling fluid discharges through selected-size nozzles, jets, or other orifices in the bit 110 for the purposes of cooling the bit 110 and cutting structures thereon, and for lifting cuttings out of the wellbore 102 as it is being drilled.

[0027] After a section of the wellbore 102 has been drilled, the drill string 105 may be tripped (removed from the wellbore 102) and at least a portion of the earth formation 101 may be linedFILED ELECTRONICALLY Docket No. IS240709-WO-PCT with a casing 107. After placing the casing 107, a cement or geopolymer operation may be performed during which a binder slurry (e.g., a cement slurry, a geopolymer slurry, a combination thereof) is pumped through the casing 107, through the bottom of the casing, and out of the annulus between the casing 107 and the earth formation 101. After the cement sets, additional wellbore operations (e.g., additional drilling, completion) may be performed. As used herein, a “cement operation” or a “cementing operation” includes forming a sheath including cement, a geopolymer, or a combination thereof, such as using one or more of the binder compositions and binder slurries described herein. In addition, and as described in additional detail herein, in some embodiments, the drilling fluids used to drill a borehole and / or the wellbore 102 may include a lost circulation composition including first fibers and second fibers.

[0028] FIG. 2 is a simplified, partial cross-sectional view illustrating a portion of a downhole system 200 including the earth formation 101 after one or more cementing operations have been performed in the wellbore 102 (FIG. 1), in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure. The downhole system 200 may include multiple sections of casing, each extending from the surface (at the drill rig 103 (FIG. 1)) through a portion of the earth formation 101 and progressively extending farther into the earth formation 101. For example, the casing may include a conductor casing 202 extending from the surface through a portion of the earth formation 101, a surface casing 204 extending from the surface beyond the conductor casing 202, an intermediate casing 206 extending beyond the surface casing 204, and a production casing 208 (also referred to as a “production liner”) extending from the intermediate casing 206. The conductor casing 202 may be configured to protect shallow portions of the earth formation 101 from contamination, such as by drilling fluids. The surface casing 204 may facilitate maintaining integrity of the wellbore 102 (FIG. 1) and / or prevent (substantially prevent) contamination of groundwater by hydrocarbons, subterranean brines, and drilling fluids. The intermediate casing 206 may be configured to isolate hydrocarbon -bearing portions of the earth formation 101 and fractured and lost circulation zones. The production casing 208 may be configured to isolate zones of the earth formation 101 above and within a production zone.

[0029] The sections of casing may individually be isolated from the earth formation 101 by a sheath 210. For example, the sheath 210 may be located in the annular space between the earth formation 101 and each of the conductor casing 202, the surface casing 204, the intermediate casing 206, and the production casing 208. In some embodiments, the sheath 210 may be locatedFILED ELECTRONICALLY Docket No. IS240709-WO-PCT in the annular space between neighboring sections of the casing, such as between the conductor casing 202 and the surface casing 204, between the surface casing 204 and the intermediate casing 206, and between the intermediate casing 206 and the production casing 208.

[0030] The sheath 210 may include cement formed from a cement composition and / or cement slurry described herein. In some embodiments, the sheath 210 includes a geopolymer formed from a geopolymer composition and / or a geopolymer slurry described herein. As described herein, the sheath 210 may be formed by mixing a binder composition (a cement composition, a geopolymer composition, or a combination thereof) with water or an aqueous solution to form a binder slurry (also referred to as a “slurry composition”). The binder slurry may be pumped through sections of casing and into the annulus between the individual casing sections and the earth formation 101. After setting, the binder slurry forms the sheath 210 including cement and / or geopolymer.

[0031] As described above, the sheath 210 may be formed by a binder slurry comprising a binder composition mixed with water or an aqueous solution. The binder composition includes a base composition and a lost circulation composition. In some embodiments, the binder composition and / or binder slurry includes one or more additives, such as one or more of additional binders, one or more additional fibers, an additional fluid loss agent, a filler material (e.g., an aggregate material), a retarder, an accelerator, a surfactant, a viscosifier, an extender, a dispersant, a defoamer (antifoam additive, antifoam agent), a foamer, a density-reducing material, a density-increasing material, silicon, a swelling additive, an expanding agent, a flexible additive, a latex or latex -based additive, or another additive.

[0032] In embodiments wherein the binder composition includes a cement composition, the base composition may include one or more cement binders (also referred to as a “binder” or “cement particles.”). In embodiments wherein the binder composition includes a geopolymer composition, the base composition includes at least one solid reactive material comprising aluminum, silicon, and oxygen, which may be an aluminosilicate source (at least one aluminosilicate material). The binder slurry is a settable composition formulated and configured to harden and develop compressive strength during setting. Accordingly, the binder composition may include a settable material that can set when mixed with an alkaline solution.

[0033] The cement binders may include portland cement, fly ash extended portland cement, slag extended portland cement, and pozzolan extended portland cement. The one or more cement binders may include one or more of portland cement, a low density cementitious cement clinkerFILED ELECTRONICALLY Docket No. IS240709-WO-PCT blend, fly ash (siliceous fly ash, calcareous fly ash), slag (a by-product of smelting metal ores and including a mixture of metal oxides and silicon dioxide), tricalcium silicate (3CaO SiCh; CaaSiOs) (alite), dicalcium silicate (2CaO SiCh; Ca2SiO4) (belite), tricalcium aluminate (3CaO AI2O3; CaaAhOe), calcium aluminoferrite (4CaO AI2O3 Fe2Os; Ca2(Al,Fe)20s) (brownmillerite), silica fume, at least one pozzolan material (a material including at least one siliceous or siliceous and aluminous material), diatomaceous earth, pumice, biomass ashes, ground granulated blast furnace slag (hereinafter “GGBS”), and one or more pozzolanic additives. Portland cement may be obtained by pulverizing clinker comprising or consisting of hydraulic calcium silicates. The portland cement may include gray or white portland cement. The pozzolanic additives may include one or more of fly ash, D-Dust, glass powder pozzolan, zeolite, rice husk ash, micro-slag, and calcinated clay. In some embodiments, the cement binder may include a geopolymer material and / or an alkali activated material. Alkali activators for such materials include potassium hydroxide (KOH), calcium hydroxide (Ca(0H)2), magnesium hydroxide (M (0H)2), a sodium silicate (e.g., sodium metasilicate (Na2SiOs), sodium orthosilicate (Na^Si), and / or sodium pyrosilicate (NaeSizO?)), a potassium silicate (e.g., potassium metasilicate (K2SiOa), potassium orthosilicate (K^Si), and / or potassium pyrosilicate (KeSi2O?)), calcium silicate (Ca2SiO4), calcium metasilicate (CaSiO3), calcium pyrosilicate (CasSi?©?), and sodium carbonate (Na2COs), and the like. Mixtures of such activators can be used.

[0034] In some embodiments, the one or more cement binders includes first binder particles and second binder particles having a relatively smaller size than the first binder particles. In some embodiments, the second binder particles include so-called “micro fine cement” including microfine particles. The second binder particles may have a specific surface area greater than about 800 m2 / g, such as greater than about 850 m2 / g, or greater than about 900 m2 / g. The second binder particles may include one or more of the materials described above with reference to the binder materials. In some embodiments, the second binder particles include blast furnace slag. A median particle size of the second binder particles may be less than about 3.0 pm, such as less than about2.5 pm, or less than about 2.0 pm. In some embodiments, the second binder particles exhibit a higher compressive strength than the first binder particles and increases the rate of development of compressive strength as a binder slurry including the second binder particles sets.

[0035] The one or more cement binders may constitute from about 10.0 weight percent to about99.5 weight percent of the cement composition (by weight of blend; BWOB), such as from aboutFILED ELECTRONICALLY Docket No. IS240709-WO-PCT10.0 weight percent to about 20.0 weight percent, from about 20.0 weight percent to about 30.0 weight percent, from about 30.0 weight percent to about 40.0 weight percent, from about 40.0 weight percent to about 50.0 weight percent, from about 50.0 weight percent to about 60.0 weight percent, from about 60.0 weight percent to about 70.0 weight percent, from about 70.0 weight percent to about 80.0 weight percent, from about 80.0 weight percent to about 90.0 weight percent, from about 90.0 weight percent to about 95.0 weight percent, from about 95.0 weight percent to about 97.0 weight percent, from about 97.0 weight percent to about 98.0 weight percent, from about 98.0 weight percent to about 99.0 weight percent, or from about 99.0 weight percent to about 99.5 weight percent of the cement composition. In some embodiments, the one or more cement binders constitute at least about 99.0 weight percent of the cement composition. However, the disclosure is not so limited, and the one or more cement binders may be present in the cement composition at different amounts than that described.

[0036] In some embodiments, the cement binder includes only one of the first particles or the second particles. In embodiments wherein the cement binder includes both first particles and second particles, the second particles may constitute from about 1.0 weight percent to about 50.0 weight percent of the cement binder, such as from about 1.0 weight percent to about 5.0 weight percent, from about 5.0 weight percent to about 15.0 weight percent, from about 15.0 weight percent to about 25.0 weight percent, from about 25.0 weight percent to about 30.0 weight percent, from about 30.0 weight percent to about 35.0 weight percent, from about 35.0 weight percent to about 40.0 weight percent, from about 40.0 weight percent to about 45.0 weight percent, or from about 45.0 weight percent to about 50.0 weight percent. However, the disclosure is not so limited, and the weight percent of the second particles in the cement binder may be different than that described.

[0037] In embodiments where the binder composition includes a geopolymer composition, the base material may include an aluminosilicate source and / or another solid alkaline reactive material comprising aluminum, silicon, and oxygen. The alkaline reactive component of the base material may be in the form of a solid or may be dispersed in an aqueous solution of metal silicate. Aluminosilicate sources that can be used may include, but are not limited to, fly ashes such as ASTM type C fly ash, ASTM type F fly ash, and fly ashes not classified by ASTM, volcanic ash, volcanic glass, slag, ferrous slag, ferroalloy slag, non-ferrous slag (e.g., copper slag, nickel slag, tin slag, zinc slag), blast furnace slag, basic oxygen furnace slag, electric arc furnace slag, groundFILED ELECTRONICALLY Docket No. IS240709-WO-PCT blast furnace slag (GGBS), diatomaceous earths, pumice, calcined or partially calcined clays (such as metakaolin), aluminum-containing silica fume, natural aluminosilicate, feldspars (which may be dehydrated), alumina and silica sols, synthetic aluminosilicate glass powder, zeolite, scoria, allophone (also known as allophane), bentonite, red mud, which may be calcined, and pumice. Such materials may include a significant proportion of an amorphous aluminosilicate phase, which reacts in strong alkaline solutions. In embodiments from which the aluminosilicate source is formed from, or includes, a clay such as bentonite or metakaolin, the aluminosilicate source may be amorphous. For example, the bentonite or metakaolin may be calcined to convert the material from a crystalline state to an amorphous material. In general, these raw materials may have various morphologies including crystalline, partially crystalline, non-crystalline, and amorphous components.

[0038] In some embodiments, the aluminosilicate source includes fly ash (such as ASTM type C fly ash), metakaolin, and / or blast furnace slag. In some embodiments, the aluminosilicate source can be, or can include, a mixture of two or more aluminosilicate sources. In addition, an aluminosilicate material can be formed as a mixture of alumina and silica sources, for example, as a blend of bauxite and silica fume. Other silica sources can also be used to make a solid alkaline reactive material comprising aluminum, silicon, and oxygen, for example an aluminosilicate source. Such silica sources may include soda-lime glass dust, borosilicate glass dust, microsilica, fumed silica, precipitated silica, nanosilica, rice husk ash, or a combination thereof. It should be noted that some of the aluminosilicate sources mentioned above, such as GGBS and ASTM Class C fly ash, also contain calcium oxide, so these materials can also be considered activator sources. Suitable aluminosilicate sources for purposes herein can have at least 2%, at least 7%, at least 12%, at least 18%, at least 25%, at least 30%, at least 35%, at least 40%, at least 45%, or at least 50% by weight calcium oxide. These aluminosilicate sources become reactive when placed in strongly alkaline environments, typically at pH greater than 11. The aluminosilicate sources, and other solid alkaline reactive materials comprising aluminum, silicon, and oxygen, described above react under such conditions to form geopolymers and other materials derived from alkali active materials.

[0039] An aluminosilicate source may be present in the binder composition at a weight percent within a range of from about 20 weight percent to about 99 weight percent, such as from about 20 weight percent to about 30 weight percent, from about 30 weight percent to about 40 weight percent, from about 40 weight percent to about 50 weight percent, from about 50 weight percentFILED ELECTRONICALLY Docket No. IS240709-WO-PCT to about 60 weight percent, from about 60 weight percent to about 70 weight percent, from about 70 weight percent to about 80 weight percent, from about 80 weight percent to about 90 weight percent, from about 90 weight percent to about 95 weight percent, from about 95 weight percent to about 97 weight percent, or from about 97 weight percent to about 99 weight percent, based on the weight of the blend (BWOB), wherein the weight of the blend includes the weight of the binder composition (including the alkaline reactive materials and other materials in the binder composition). However, the disclosure is not so limited, and the weight percent of the aluminosilicate source in the binder composition may be different than that described.

[0040] In embodiments including the aluminosilicate source, the base composition may further include an activator. In general, an activator is needed to raise pH of the binder slurry to a level sufficient to cause polymerization of the binder slurry. The activator may be provided as a solid material with the base composition or as a solute in the carrier fluid, or both. The at least one activator for inclusion in the base composition may include an alkali activator or an alkali activator precursor. The alkali activator may be an alkali metal hydroxide, an alkaline-earth metal hydroxide, an alkaline earth metal oxide, an alkaline earth metal peroxide, at least one alkali salt, or combinations thereof. Alkali metal hydroxides that can be used include lithium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, and potassium hydroxide. Alkaline earth metal hydroxides that can be used include calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, strontium hydroxide, and barium hydroxide. Alkaline earth metal oxides that can be used include calcium oxide (e.g., lime), magnesium oxide, strontium oxide, barium oxide, and combinations thereof. The alkaline earth metal peroxide may be calcium peroxide or magnesium peroxide. The at least one alkali salt may be a metal carbonate (e.g., M2CO3, such as sodium carbonate), a metal sulfate (e.g., M2SO4), a metal sulfite (e.g., M2SO3), a metal phosphate (e.g., M3PO4), a metal oxalate (e.g., M2C2O4), a metal silicate (e.g., M2XSiyO(2y+X), wherein x is 1, 2, or 3, and y is 1 or 2), a metal fluoride (e.g., MF), a metal hexafluoride (e.g., M2SiFe), a metal iodate (e.g., MIO3), a metal molybdate (e.g., M2MOO4), wherein M is a metal such as lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, and / or cesium in each of the above examples. Mixtures of the above materials can be used.

[0041] The alkali activator may be provided to the binder slurry as a solid, an aqueous mixture, or an encapsulated liquid or solid material. In an encapsulated embodiment, the solid or liquid activator can be trapped in a capsule that will break when subjected to, for example, mechanical stress on the capsule, or coating degradation from temperature, radiation, and / or chemicalFILED ELECTRONICALLY Docket No. IS240709-WO-PCT exposure. The capsule can also naturally degrade if made from a biodegradable or self-destructive material. Furthermore, the alkali activator when in liquid state may be adsorbed into a porous material and may be released after a certain time or due to a predefined event. The alkali activator may be added to the geopolymer slurry at a concentration within a range of from about 1 M to about 10M, such as from about 3M to about 6M.

[0042] In some embodiments, the activator includes a metal silicate, such as an alkali metal silicate, such as sodium silicate (e.g., sodium metasilicate (NaiSiCh), sodium orthosilicate (Na4O4Si), and / or sodium pyrosilicate (NaeSi?©?)), potassium silicate (e g., potassium metasilicate (K^SiCE), potassium orthosilicate (I CbSi), and / or potassium pyrosilicate (KeSi?!)?)), calcium silicate (Ca2SiC>4), calcium metasilicate (CaSiCE), calcium pyrosilicate (Ca3Si2O?), sodium carbonate (Na2CCh), and combinations thereof. The activator may include silicates of lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, or combinations thereof.

[0043] The lost circulation composition may include first fibers (a first fiber material) and at least second fibers (a second fiber material) having a different material composition than the first fibers. As used herein, the terms “first fibers” and “first fiber materials” are used interchangeably, and the terms “second fibers” and “second fiber materials” are used interchangeably. In some embodiments, the first fibers exhibit a stiffness greater than a stiffness of the second fibers. The properties of the first fibers may be selected such that the first fibers are flexible enough to bend without breaking during cementing and / or geopolymer operations and conditions experienced within the wellbore 102. For example, the Young’s Modulus of Elasticity, the diameter (or other longest cross-sectional dimension), length, aspect ratio, and / or the shape of the first fibers may be selected such that the first fibers exhibit desired properties at conditions to which the first fibers are exposed in the binder slurry and during cementing and / or geopolymer operations.

[0044] The first fibers may exhibit a stiffness factor, S, within a range of from about 2 to about 400,000. The stiffness factor, S, may be defined as the product of the Modulus of Elasticity (Young’s Modulus of Elasticity) of the fiber (in kg / mm2) and the fiber width or breadth (in mm) to the fourth power, divided by the product of the weight or force causing deflection (in grams) and the length (or dimension) of the fiber (in mm) cubed. For example, the stiffness factor, S, may be determined according to Equation (1) below:FILED ELECTRONICALLY Docket No. IS240709-WO-PCT wherein E is the Young’s Modulus of Elasticity, d is the diameter (or the largest cross-sectional dimension) of the fiber, W is the force causing a deflection, and 1 is the length of the fiber. The stiffness factor, S, may be normalized to the stiffness of a glass fiber and W is equal to 1 in the equation above. The stiffness factor, S, of the first fibers may be within a range of from about 2 to about 400,000, such as from 2 to about 50, from about 50 to about 100, from about 100 to about 500, from about 500 to about 1,000, from about 1,000 to about 10,000, from about 10,000 to about 20,000, from about 20,000 to about 50,000, from about 50,000 to about 100,000, from about 100,000 to about 200,000, from about 200,000 to about 300,000, or from about 300,000 to about 400,000. In some embodiments, the stiffness factor, S, is within a range of from about 4 to about 12,000, such as from about 80 to about 2,500.

[0045] In some embodiments, the first fibers exhibit a Young’s Modulus of Elasticity within a range of from about 0.5 GPa to about 100 GPa, such as from about 0.5 GPa to about 1.0 GPa, from about 1.0 GPa to about 5.0 GPa, from about 5.0 GPa to about 10.0 GPa, from about 10.0 GPa to about 20.0 GPa, from about 20.0 GPa to about 40.0 GPa, from about 40.0 GPa to about 60.0 GPa, from about 60.0 GPa to about 80.0 GPa, or from about 80.0 GPa to about 100.0 GPa. In some embodiments, the Young’s Modulus of Elasticity of the first fibers is within a range of from about 1.0 GPa to about 80.0 GPa. In some embodiments, the Young’s Modulus of Elasticity of the first fibers is within a range of from about 1.5 GPa to about 4.0 GPa.

[0046] An average diameter or other cross-sectional dimension (e.g., longest cross-sectional dimension) of the first fibers may be within a range of from about 50 pm to about 400 qm, such as from about 50 qm to about 100 qm, from about 100 qm to about 150 qm, from about 150 qm to about 200 qm, from about 200 qm to about 250 qm, from about 250 qm to about 300 qm, from about 300 qm to about 350 qm, or from about 350 qm to about 400 qm. In some embodiments, the median diameter of the first fibers is within a range of from about 50 qm to about 400 qm. In some embodiments, the average diameter or cross-sectional dimension of the first fibers is within a range of from about 250 qm to about 300 qm, such as about 280 qm.

[0047] In some embodiments, the first fibers exhibit a substantially unimodal size distribution. In some embodiments, the first fibers exhibit a multimodal (e.g., a bimodal) size distribution. In some embodiments, the first fibers may include a first group of fibers having a first average diameter and a second group of first fibers having a second average diameter. For example, in some embodiments, the first fibers include a first group of first fibers having a average diameterFILED ELECTRONICALLY Docket No. IS240709-WO-PCT of about 280 gm and a second group of first fibers having a different (e.g., a smaller, a larger) average diameter than about 280 pm.

[0048] An average or median length of the first fibers may be within a range of from about 5.0 mm to about 25.0 mm, such as from about 5.0 mm to about 10.0 mm, from about 10.0 mm to about 15.0 mm, from about 15.0 mm to about 20.0 mm, or from about 20.0 mm to about 25.0 mm. In some embodiments, the average length of the first fibers is within a range of from about 15.0 mm to about 20.0 mm. In some embodiments, the average length of the first fibers is about 16.0 mm.

[0049] An aspect ratio of the first fibers, defined as the length of the first fibers divided by the diameter or the other cross-sectional dimension of the first fibers, may be within a range of from about 10 to about 300, such as from about 10 to about 30, from about 30 to about 50, from about 50 to about 100, from about 100 to about 200, or from about 200 to about 300. In some embodiments, the aspect ratio of the first fibers is within a range of from about 50 to about 70, such as from about 55 to about 65, or from about 55 to about 60.

[0050] The first fibers may include one or more of polypropylene (e.g., multifilament polypropylene fibers), nylon, glass, poly-paraphenylene terephthalamine (a reaction product of 1,4-phenylene-diamine (para-phenylenediamine) and terephthaloyl chloride) (e.g., Kevlar™), polyvinyl alcohol, crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol, aluminum fibers, iron fibers, a combination of aluminum fibers and iron fibers, fibers including aluminum and iron, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the first fibers include nylon. The first fibers may have an average diameter of about 280 pm and an average length of about 16 mm.

[0051] Nylon fibers of the first fibers may include one or more types of nylon, such as one or more of nylon 1,6; nylon 4,6; nylon 510; nylon 6; or nylon 6,6. In some embodiments, the first fibers include more than one type of nylon, such as at least two of nylon 1,6; nylon 4,6; nylon 510; nylon 6; or nylon 6,6. By way of non-limiting example, the nylon fibers may include Tynex™, commercially available from DuPont of Wilmington, Delaware, or PA66™, commercially available from Rhodia Polyamine of Saint Fons, France. In some embodiments, the average diameter of the nylon fibers is about 280 pm. In some embodiments, the average diameter of the nylon fibers is about 250 pm. In some embodiments, the average diameter of the nylon fibers is about 150 pm. In some embodiments, the average diameter of the nylon fibers is about 50 pm.

[0052] Crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol fibers may be crosslinked with one or more of glutaraldehyde, formaldehyde, maleic acid, methacrylate, another crosslinker, or combinationsFILED ELECTRONICALLY Docket No. IS240709-WO-PCT thereof. In some embodiments, the crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol is physically crosslinked wherein crosslinking occurs between the same polyvinyl alcohol molecules via hydrogen bonding between hydroxyl groups and by entanglements between polyvinyl alcohol molecules. By way of nonlimiting example, the crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol fibers may include KURALON™ RF400 KURALON™ RESC 100 fibers, each of which is commercially available from Kuraray of Osaka, Japan.

[0053] Multifilament polypropylene fibers may include non-water-soluble fibers, such as FIBERMESH™ 150-12, commercially available from Propex, Inc. or Chattanooga, Tennessee, or SPECTER™ fibers, commercially available from PGI Performance Concrete Fibers of Kingman, Kansas.

[0054] Non-limiting examples of glass fibers of the first fibers may include fibers having an average length of about 12 mm and an average diameter of 20 pm and may include CEMFIL™ fibers, commercially available from Owens Corning of Toledo, Ohio.

[0055] The second fibers may include one or more of polypropylene, phenolic fibers (novoloid fibers formed from a phenolic novolac resin), terephthaloyl chloride) (e.g., Kevlar™), glass, nylon, polyamide, polylactic resin, polyvinyl alcohol, polyester, cellulose, and / or another material. In some embodiments, the second fibers include glass fibers, such as chopped glass fibers.

[0056] In some embodiments, the second fibers exhibit a Young’s Modulus of Elasticity within a range of from about 0.5 GPa to about 100 GPa, such as from about 0.5 GPa to about 1.0 GPa, from about 1.0 GPa to about 5.0 GPa, from about 5.0 GPa to about 10.0 GPa, from about 10.0 GPa to about 20.0 GPa, from about 20.0 GPa to about 40.0 GPa, from about 40.0 GPa to about 60.0 GPa, from about 60.0 GPa to about 80.0 GPa, or from about 80.0 GPa to about 100.0 GPa. In some embodiments, the Young’s Modulus of Elasticity of the first fibers is within a range of from about 1.0 GPa to about 80.0 GPa. In some embodiments, the Young’s Modulus of Elasticity of the second fibers is within a range of from about 0.5 GPa to about 4.0 GPa. In some embodiments, the Young’s Modulus of Elasticity of the second fibers is less than the Young’s Modulus of Elasticity of the first fibers. In some embodiments, the Young’s Modulus of Elasticity of the second fibers is greater than the Young’s Modulus of Elasticity of the first fibers.

[0057] An average diameter or other cross-sectional dimension (e.g., longest cross-sectional dimension) of the second fibers may be within a range of from about 10 pm to about 100 pm, such as from about 10 pm to about 20 pm, from about 20 pm to about 40 pm, from about 40 pm toFILED ELECTRONICALLY Docket No. IS240709-WO-PCT about 60 gm, from about 60 gm to about 80 gm, or from about 80 gm to about 100 gm. In some embodiments, the average diameter of the second fibers is less than the average diameter of the first fibers. In some embodiments, the median diameter of the second fibers is within a range of from about 10 gm to about 100 gm. In some embodiments, the average diameter of the second fibers is within a range of from about 15 gm to about 25 gm, such as about 20 gm.

[0058] An average or median length of the second fibers may be within a range of from about 5.0 mm to about 25.0 mm, such as from about 5.0 mm to about 10.0 mm, from about 10.0 mm to about 15.0 mm, from about 15.0 mm to about 20.0 mm, or from about 20.0 mm to about 25.0 mm. In some embodiments, the average length of the second fibers is within a range of from about 15.0 mm to about 20.0 mm. In some embodiments, the average length of the second fibers is from about 12.0 mm to about 14.0 mm. In some embodiments, the average length of the second fibers is about 12.0 mm. In some embodiments, the average length of the second fibers is less than the average length of the first fibers.

[0059] A weight percent of the first fibers in the binder composition may be within a range of from about 0.20 weight percent to about 1.50 weight percent, such as from about 0.20 weight percent to about 0.40 weight percent, from about 0.40 weight percent to about 0.60 weight percent, from about 0.60 weight percent to about 0.80 weight percent, from about 0.80 weight percent to about 1.00 weight percent, from about 1.00 weight percent to about 1.20 weight percent, or from about 1.20 weight percent to about 1.50 weight percent. In some embodiments, first fibers constitute from about 0.75 weight percent to about 1.00 weight percent of the binder composition.

[0060] A concentration of the first fibers in the binder composition may be within a range of from about 2.0 kg / m3(about 0.70 Ib / bbl) to about 10.0 kg / m3(about 3.51 Ib / bbl), such as from about 2.0 kg / m3(about 0.70 Ib / bbl) to about 4.0 kg / m3(about 1.40 Ib / bbl), from about 4.0 kg / m3(about 1.40 Ib / bbl) to about 6.0 kg / m3(about 2.10 Ib / bbl), from about 6.0 kg / m3(about 2.10 Ib / bbl) to about 8.0 kg / m3(about 2.80 Ib / bbl), or from about 8.0 kg / m3(about 2.80 Ib / bbl) to about 10.0 kg / m3(about 3.51 Ib / bbl). In some embodiments, the concentration of the first fibers in the binder composition is within a range of from about 4.50 kg / m3(about 1.58 Ib / bbl) to about 5.50 kg / m3(about 1.93 Ib / bbl), such as about 4.85 kg / m3(about 1.70 Ib / bbl).

[0061] A weight percent of the second fibers in the binder composition may be within a range of from about 0.20 weight percent to about 1.50 weight percent, such as from about 0.20 weight percent to about 0.40 weight percent, from about 0.40 weight percent to about 0.60 weight percent,FILED ELECTRONICALLY Docket No. IS240709-WO-PCT from about 0.60 weight percent to about 0.80 weight percent, from about 0.80 weight percent to about 1.00 weight percent, from about 1.00 weight percent to about 1.20 weight percent, or from about 1.20 weight percent to about 1.50 weight percent. In some embodiments, second fibers constitute from about 0.75 weight percent to about 1.00 weight percent of the binder composition.

[0062] A concentration of the second fibers in the binder composition may be within a range of from about 2.0 kg / m3(about 0.70 Ib / bbl) to about 10.0 kg / m3(about 3.51 Ib / bbl), such as from about 2.0 kg / m3(about 0.70 Ib / bbl) to about 4.0 kg / m3(about 1.40 Ib / bbl), from about 4.0 kg / m3(about 1.40 Ib / bbl) to about 6.0 kg / m3(about 2.10 Ib / bbl), from about 6.0 kg / m3(about 2.10 Ib / bbl) to about 8.0 kg / m3(about 2.80 Ib / bbl), or from about 8.0 kg / m3(about 2.80 Ib / bbl) to about 10.0 kg / m3(about 3.51 Ib / bbl). In some embodiments, the concentration of the second fibers in the binder composition is within a range of from about 4.50 kg / m3(about 1.58 Ib / bbl) to about 5.50 kg / m3(about 1.93 Ib / bbl), such as about 4.85 kg / m3(about 1.70 Ib / bbl).

[0063] In some embodiments, the binder composition includes a greater weight percent of the first fibers than of the second fibers. A ratio of the first fibers to the second fibers by weight (a weight ratio) may be within a range of from about 1.0: 1.0 to about 6.0: 1.0, such as from about 1.0: 1.0 to about 2.0: 1.0, from about 2.0: 1.0 to about 3.0:1.0, from about 3.0:1.0 to about 4.0: 1.0, from about 4.0: 1.0 to about 5.0: 1.0, or from about 5.0: 1.0 to about 6.0: 1.0 by weight. In other words, for every about 1.0 part by weight of the second fiber, the binder composition may include from about 1.0 part to about 6.0 parts by weight of the first fiber. In some embodiments, the weight ratio of the first fiber to the second fiber is from about 4.0: 1.0 to about 5.0: 1.0, such as about 4.5: 1.0.

[0064] A shape of each of the first fibers and the second fibers may individually be cylindrical, flake, plate, ribbon-like, coil or spiral, trilobed, star, cuboid, rectangular prism, and / or another shape. A cross-sectional shape of the first fibers and the second fibers may individually be circular, oval, square, rectangular, triangular, dog-bone, multi-lobal, or another shape. In some embodiments, the cross-sectional shape of the first fibers and the second fibers is individually circular (e.g., substantially circular) and the first fibers and second fibers individually exhibit a cylindrical shape. In some embodiments, the shape of the second fibers is different from the shape of the first fibers (e.g., the first fibers exhibit a cylindrical shape and the second fibers exhibit a different shape). Fibers having different shapes, as described above, can be included in one binder slurry.FILED ELECTRONICALLY Docket No. IS240709-WO-PCT

[0065] The lost circulation composition may constitute from about 0.50 weight percent to about 2.0 weight percent of the binder composition, such as from about 0.50 weight percent to about 0.75 weight percent, from about 0.75 weight percent to about 1.0 weight percent, from about 1.0 weight percent to about 1.25 weight percent, from about 1.25 weight percent to about 1.50 weight percent, or from about 1.50 weight percent to about 2.0 weight percent. In some embodiments, the lost circulation composition constitutes from about 0.90 weight percent to about 1.20 weight percent of the binder composition.

[0066] A concentration of the lost circulation composition in the binder composition may be within a range of from about 3.0 kg / m3(about 1.05 Ib / bbl) to about 15.0 kg / m3(about 5.26 Ib / bbl), such as from about 3.0 kg / m3(about 1.05 Ib / bbl) to about 5.0 kg / m3(about 1.75 Ib / bbl), from about 5.0 kg / m3(about 1.75 Ib / bbl) to about 7.0 kg / m3(about 2.45 Ib / bbl), from about 7.0 kg / m3(about 2.45 Ib / bbl) to about 9.0 kg / m3(about 3.15 Ib / bbl), from about 9.0 kg / m3(about 3.15 Ib / bbl) to about 11.0 kg / m3(about 3.86 Ib / bbl), from about 11.0 kg / m3(about 3.86 Ib / bbl) to about 13.0 kg / m3(about 4.56 Ib / bbl), or from about 13.0 kg / m3(about 4.56 Ib / bbl) to about 15.0 kg / m3(about 5.26 Ib / bbl). In some embodiments, the concentration of the lost circulation composition in the binder composition is within a range of from about 8.0 kg / m3(about 2.80 Ib / bbl) to about 10.0 kg / m3(about 3.51 Ib / bbl).

[0067] As described above, the binder composition may further include one or more additives, such as one or more of additional binders, one or more additional fibers, an additional fluid loss agent, a filler material (e.g., an aggregate material), a retarder, an accelerator, a surfactant, a viscosifier, an extender, a dispersant, a defoamer (antifoam additive, antifoam agent), a foamer, a density-reducing material, a density -increasing material, silicon, a swelling additive, an expanding agent, a flexible additive, a latex or latex -based additive, and / or another additive.

[0068] The additional fibers may include one or more of natural fibers (e.g., animal fiber, such as wool), plant fiber (e.g., cotton fiber, jute fiber, wood fiber), inorganic fibers, such as mineral fiber (e.g., Wolasstonite), semi-synthetic fibers (e.g., rayon, artificial silk, Modal, Lycocell), regenerated fibers (cellulose acetate), polymer fibers (e.g., polyolefin fiber, polyester fibers, polylactic acid fibers, polyamide fibers), glass fibers (e.g., borosilicate glass fibers), carbon fibers, other fibers, or combinations thereof.

[0069] The additional fibers may constitute from about 0.5 weight percent to about 2.0 weight percent of the binder composition, such as from about 0.5 weight percent to about 1.0 weightFILED ELECTRONICALLY Docket No. IS240709-WO-PCT percent, from about 1.0 weight percent to about 1.5 weight percent, or from about 1.5 weight percent to about 2.0 weight percent of the binder composition.

[0070] The additional fluid loss material may include cellulose, bridging materials (e.g., calcium carbonate), a polymeric latex material, an alkali-swellable latex, an acrylic polymer, a styrene butadiene latex material, a carbonate powder, carbon black, silica, asphaltenes, thermoplastic resins, crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), hydroxy ethyl cellulose (HEC), a cellulose polymer containing anionic carboxymethyl and nonionic hydroxyethyl groups added by ether linkages to hydroxyl groups on the cellulose backbone (CMHEC), hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), a galactomannan, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), a mixture of polyvinylpyrrolidone and maleic anhydride-N-vinylpyrrolidone copolymer, poly(aryl-vinylbenzyl) ammonium chloride, a copolymer of N-vinylpyrrolidone and styrene sulfonate (SS), and / or another fluid loss control material. In some embodiments, the additional fluid loss control material includes a styrene butadiene latex material. In some embodiments, the additional fluid loss control material includes an alkali-swellable latex. In some embodiments, the additional fluid loss control material includes a crosslinked polymer and bridging materials. The bridging materials may include particles of at least one of calcium carbonate, zinc carbonate, barium carbonate, a coated metal oxide (e.g., hemalite, ilmenite, magnesium oxide), dolomite (calcium magnesium carbonate), colemanite, ulexite, analcite, apatite, bauxite, brucite, gibbsite, hydrotalcite, galena, hematite, magnetite, iron oxides, siderite, celestite, magnesium citrate, calcium citrate, calcium succinate, calcium maleate, calcium tartrate, magnesium tartrate, bismuth citrate, other suspended salts, mica, nutshells, and / or fibers.

[0071] The additional fluid loss control material may constitute from about 0.10 weight percent to about 5.0 weight percent of the binder composition, such as from about 0.10 weight percent to about 0.50 weight percent, from about 0.50 weight percent to about 1.0 weight percent, from about 1.0 weight percent to about 2.0 weight percent, from about 2.0 weight percent to about 3.0 weight percent, or from about 3.0 weight percent to about 5.0 weight percent of the binder composition.

[0072] The filler material may include one or more aggregate materials (e.g., silica sand, gravel), barite, and / or one or more pozzolanic materials (e.g., a siliceous material or a siliceous material and an aluminous material). In some embodiments, the filter material includes silica sand. The filler material may constitute from about 1.0 weight percent to about 50.0 weight percent of the cement material, such as from about 1.0 weight percent to about 10.0 weight percent, from aboutFILED ELECTRONICALLY Docket No. IS240709-WO-PCT10.0 weight percent to about 20.0 weight percent, from about 20.0 weight percent to about 30.0 weight percent, from about 30.0 weight percent to about 40.0 weight percent, or from about 40.0 weight percent to about 50.0 weight percent of the binder composition.

[0073] The retarder may include one or more of ferric sulfate (F 62(804)3), sodium lignosulfonate (C2oH24Na2OioS2), sodium pentaborate decahydrate, borax, boric acid, lignosulphonates, sodium glucoheptonate tartaric acid, citric acid, sucrose, or phosphorus containing compounds such as phosphoric acid, salts thereof, or mixtures thereof. In some embodiments, the retarder includes ferric sulfate. In some embodiments, the retarder may also act as a coagulant, such as, for instance, when the retarder comprises iron sulfate (e.g., ferric sulfate). A concentration of the retarder in the binder composition may be within a range of from about 0.5 weight percent to about 3.0 weight percent, such as from about 0.5 weight percent to about 1.0 weight percent, from about 1.0 weight percent to about 1.5 weight percent, from about 1.5 weight percent to about 2.0 weight percent, from about 2.0 weight percent to about 2.5 weight percent, or from about 2.5 weight percent to about 3.0 weight percent by weight of aluminosilicate. In some embodiments, the retarder is present in the binder composition at a concentration within a range of from about 1.1 weight percent to about 2.3 weight percent.

[0074] The accelerator may include lithium salts such as, for example, lithium chloride, lithium hydroxide, or a mixture thereof. The accelerator may be present in the binder composition at a concentration within a range of from about 0.5 weight percent to about 3.0 weight percent, such as from about 0.5 weight percent to about 1.0 weight percent, from about 1.0 weight percent to about 1.5 weight percent, from about 1.5 weight percent to about 2.0 weight percent, from about 2.0 weight percent to about 2.5 weight percent, or from about 2.5 weight percent to about 3.0 weight percent of the binder composition.

[0075] The viscosifier may include one or more of a polysaccharide (e g., xanthan gum, diutan gum, welan gum), polyanionic cellulose (PAC), a carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), and / or another material. In some embodiments, the viscosifier includes diutan gum having a molecular weight higher than about 1 x 106. The viscosifier may be present in the cement slurry at a concentration between 0.14 g / L and 1.4 g / L (0.05 Ib / bbl and 0.5 Ib / bbl). The molecular weight of the polysaccharides, which may be biopolymers, may be between 100,000 g / mol and 1,000,000 g / mol.

[0076] The extender may include a sodium silicate (e.g., sodium metasilicate (ISfeSiCh), sodium orthosilicate (Na4O Si), and / or sodium pyrosilicate (NaeSi?©?)), perlite, another material, orFILED ELECTRONICALLY Docket No. IS240709-WO-PCT combinations thereof. The defoamer may include one or more of a propylene glycol, such as polypropylene glycol, a polyglycol ether, a silicone, and / or another material. The defoamer may be present in the binder composition at a weight percent from about 0.01 weight percent to about 0.50 weight percent by weight of blend, such as from about 0.01 weight percent to about 0.05 weight percent, from about 0.05 weight percent to about 0.10 weight percent, from about 0.10 weight percent to about 0.20 weight percent, from about 0.20 weight percent to about 0.30 weight percent, from about 0.30 weight percent to about 0.40 weight percent, or from about 0.40 weight percent to about 0.50 weight percent by weight of the blend.

[0077] The dispersant may include a sodium polynaphthalene sulfonate-based, carboxylic acids including gluconic acid and soluble salts thereof, glucoheptonic acid and soluble salts thereof, tartaric acid and soluble salts thereof, citric acid and soluble salts thereof, glycolic acid and soluble salts thereof, lactic acid and soluble salts thereof, formic acid and soluble salts thereof, acetic acid and soluble salts thereof, proprionic acid and soluble salts thereof, oxalic acid and soluble salts thereof, malonic acid and soluble salts thereof, succinic acid and soluble salts thereof, adipic acid and soluble salts thereof, malic acid and soluble salts thereof, nicotinic acid and soluble salts thereof, benzoic acid and soluble salts thereof, ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) and soluble salts thereof, phosphoric acid, or combinations thereof. The dispersant may be present in the binder composition at a weight percent from about 0.01 weight percent to about 0.50 weight percent by weight of blend, such as from about 0.01 weight percent to about 0.05 weight percent, from about 0.05 weight percent to about 0.10 weight percent, from about 0.10 weight percent to about 0.20 weight percent, from about 0.20 weight percent to about 0.30 weight percent, from about 0.30 weight percent to about 0.40 weight percent, or from about 0.40 weight percent to about 0.50 weight percent by weight of the blend.

[0078] The density-reducing material may include density reducing particles. The density reducing particles may include surfactant stabilized gas bubbles, such as nitrogen or air gas bubbles in foams, or may include particles having a low specific gravity and having densities lower than 2 g / cm3, or lower than 1.3 g / cm3. Density reducing particles may include microspheres (glass, ceramic, polymer materials, cenospheres), hollow glass or ceramic microspheres (cenospheres), plastic particles such as polypropylene beads, rubber particles, uintaite (sold as GILSONITE™), vitrified shale, petroleum coke or coal, or combinations thereof. The particle size range of the density reducing material may be between about 37 pm and 3350 pm (6 mesh and 400 mesh). TheFILED ELECTRONICALLY Docket No. IS240709-WO-PCT density reducing particles may constitute from about 0.10 weight percent to about 30.0 weight percent of the binder composition, such as from about 0.10 weight percent to about 1.0 weight percent, from about 1.0 weight percent to about 5.0 weight percent, from about 5.0 weight percent to about 10.0 weight percent, from about 10.0 weight percent to about 20.0 weight percent, or from about 20.0 weight percent to about 30.0 weight percent of the binder composition.

[0079] The density increasing material may include particles having densities exceeding 2 g / cm3, or more than 3 g / cm3. The density increasing material may include particles such as hematite, barite, ilmenite, silica (e.g., crystalline silica sand), crushed granite, and manganese tetroxide commercially available under the trade names of MicroMax™ and MicroMax FF™. The density increasing material may constitute from about 0.10 weight percent to about 30.0 weight percent of the binder composition, such as from about 0.10 weight percent to about 1.0 weight percent, from about 1.0 weight percent to about 5.0 weight percent, from about 5.0 weight percent to about 10.0 weight percent, from about 10.0 weight percent to about 20.0 weight percent, or from about 20.0 weight percent to about 30.0 weight percent of the binder composition.

[0080] The expanding agent may include calcium sulfate hemihydrate, metal oxides such as calcium oxide (CaO), magnesium oxide (MgO), or combinations thereof. The expanding agent may constitute from about 0.01 weight percent to about 1.0 weight percent of the binder composition, such as from about 0.01 weight percent to about 0.10 weight percent, from about 0.10 weight percent to about 0.30 weight percent, from about 0.30 weight percent to about 0.50 weight percent, from about 0.50 weight percent to about 0.75 weight percent, or from about 0.75 weight percent to about 1.0 weight percent of the binder composition.

[0081] In some embodiments, the binder composition further includes silica, which may function as a strength enhancer. The silica may constitute from about 1.0 weight percent to about 30.0 weight percent of the binder composition, such as from about 1.0 weight percent to about 5.0 weight percent, from about 5.0 weight percent to about 10.0 weight percent, from about 10.0 weight percent to about 20.0 weight percent, or from about 20.0 weight percent to about 30.0 weight percent of the binder composition.

[0082] The binder composition may be mixed with a carrier fluid (e.g., water, brine, seawater, or another aqueous material) to form a binder slurry including the binder composition and the carrier fluid (e.g., water). The binder slurry may be a pumpable composition. In use and operation, the binder slurry may be pumped into the annular space between one or more sections of casingFILED ELECTRONICALLY Docket No. IS240709-WO-PCT202, 204, 206, 208 (FIG. 2) and the earth formation 101 (FIG. 2) and / or between neighboring sections of casing 202, 204, 206, 208. After setting, the geopolymer slurry may form the sheath 210.

[0083] A weight percent of the carrier fluid (e.g., water, seawater) in the binder slurry may be within a range of from about 20.0 weight percent to about 40.0 weight percent, such as from about 20.0 weight percent to about 25.0 weight percent, from about 25.0 weight percent to about 30.0 weight percent, from about 30.0 weight percent to about 35.0 weight percent, or from about 35.0 weight percent to about 40.0 weight percent. However, the disclosure is not so limited, and the weight percent of water in the binder slurry may be different than those described.

[0084] A density of the binder slurry may be within a range of from about 800 kg / m3(about 6.69 pounds per gallon (Ib / gal) (ppg)) to about 2,900 kg / m3(about 24.2 ppg), such as from about 800 kg / m3(about 6.69 ppg) to about 1,000 kg / m3(about 8.35 ppg), from about 1,000 kg / m3(about 8.35 ppg) to about 1,200 kg / m3(about 10.0 ppg), from about 1,200 kg / m3(about 10.0 ppg) to about 1,400 kg / m3(about 11.7 ppg), from about 1,400 kg / m3(about 11.7 ppg) to about 1,600 kg / m3(about 13.4 ppg), from about 1,600 kg / m3(about 13.4 ppg) to about 1,800 kg / m3(15.0 ppg), from about 1,800 kg / m3(about 15.0 ppg) to about 2,000 kg / m3(about 16.7 ppg), from about 2,000 kg / m3(about 16.7 ppg) to about 2,300 kg / m3(about 19.2 ppg), from about 2,300 kg / m3(about 19.2 ppg) to about 2,600 kg / m3(about 21.7 ppg), or from about 2,600 kg / m3(about 21.7 ppg) to about 2,900 kg / m3(about 24.2 ppg). In some embodiments, the density of the binder slurry is about 1,920 kg / m3(about 16.0 ppg). In some embodiments, the density of the binder slurry is about 2,037 kg / m3(about 17.0 ppg). However, the disclosure is not so limited, and the density of the geopolymer slurry may be different than those described. The density of the binder slurry may be modified by incorporating one or more of the density reducing particles, density increasing particles, or by altering an amount of the binder (e.g., cement, aluminosilicate) in the binder composition.

[0085] A solid volume fraction (SVF) (defined as the volumetric fraction of the binder slurry comprised of solid particles) of the binder slurry may be within a range of from about 25% to about 60%, such as from about 40% to about 55%. The carrier fluid (in which the solid materials of the binder composition are dissolved) may constitute from about 40% to about 75% by volume of the binder slurry and may be referred to as a liquid volume fraction (LVF). The carrier fluid may be present in the binder slurry at a volume percent within a range of from about 40.0 volume percentFILED ELECTRONICALLY Docket No. IS240709-WO-PCT to about 75.0 volume percent, such as from about 40.0 volume percent to about 50.0 volume percent, from about 50.0 volume percent to about 60.0 volume percent, from about 60.0 volume percent to about 70.0 volume percent, or from about 70.0 volume percent to about 75.0 volume percent. However, the disclosure is not so limited, and the SVF of the binder composition may be different than those described.

[0086] Forming the binder slurry using a binder composition that includes the lost circulation composition may facilitate reducing the fluid loss and lost circulation of the binder slurry during cementing operations using cement and / or geopolymer compositions. It is believed that the first fibers facilitate forming a fiber mesh network bridge across loss zone(s) in the earth formation. The first fibers may be sized, selected, and shaped to plug fractures as large as about 10 mm, as large as about 15 mm, or even as large as about 20 mm. In some embodiments, the combination of the first fibers and the second fibers facilitate the plugging of the loss zones.

[0087] FIG. 3 is a simplified flow chart illustrating a method 300 of performing a cementing or geopolymer operation, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. The method 300 includes drilling at least a portion of an earth formation to form a borehole, as shown in act 302. A drilling fluid may be circulated through the borehole during drilling of the earth formation.

[0088] The method 300 further includes placing a section of casing within the borehole, as shown in act 304. Responsive to placing the section of casing within the borehole, the method 300 may optionally further include circulating a brine through a drill string and to an annular space between the casing and surfaces of the earth formation, as shown in act 306. The brine may include a divalent brine (e.g., a divalent halide, such as an alkaline earth halide (e.g., calcium chloride (CaCh), calcium bromide (CaB^)), or a zinc halide)), a trivalent brine, or a combination thereof. The brine may be referred to as a spacer fluid and may be provided to the drill string and annular space between the drilling fluid and a binder slurry.

[0089] In some embodiments, the method 300 optionally further includes placing an alkali metal silicate material in the annular space, as shown in act 308. Placing the alkali metal silicate material in the annular space may include contacting the brine with the alkali metal silicate material (e.g., in the annular space). The alkali metal silicate material may be provided as a pill (e.g., a volume of the alkali metal silicate material corresponding to the volume of the annular space at the desired location).FILED ELECTRONICALLY Docket No. IS240709-WO-PCT

[0090] The alkali metal silicate material may include, for example, sodium silicate (e.g., (Na2O)x(SiO2)y, wherein x and y may depend on the molar ratio of sodium oxide and silicon dioxide in the sodium silicate). In some embodiments, the alkali metal silicate material includes sodium silicate having the formula Na2SiOs. The alkali metal silicate material may be a material having the general formula (M2O)x(SiO2)y, where x and y are as above and M is lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, or cesium. Mixtures of alkali metal silicates can be used.

[0091] In some embodiments, contacting the brine with the alkali metal silicate material includes forming one or more precipitates including reaction products of the brine and the alkali metal silicate material. For example, where the brine includes calcium chloride, contacting the brine with sodium silicate, or any of the alkali metal silicates set forth above, may form calcium silicate. In some embodiments, the alkali metal silicate material is provided only at desired locations of the annular space (e.g., only portions to be cemented). In some embodiments, the alkali metal silicate material is circulated through the drill string and the annular space.

[0092] The method 300 may further include circulating a binder slurry through the drill string and to the annular space between the casing and the surfaces of the earth formation, as shown in act 310. The binder slurry may include any of the binder slurries formed from any of the binder compositions described above. The binder slurry may be formed from and include the binder, the lost circulation composition, and the alkali metal silicate material. The binder slurry may further include one or more of the additives described above.

[0093] Accordingly, in some embodiments, prior to providing the binder slurry to the annular space between the casing and the earth formation, the brine is provided to the borehole and the annular space after drilling (e.g., between the drilling fluid and the binder slurry). After providing the spacer fluid to the annulus, a fluid including, for example, sodium silicate may be provided to the annular space to displace at least some of the spacer fluid. The alkali metal silicate material may react with the divalent brine and / or the trivalent brine in the spacer fluid to form a precipitate (e.g., a divalent silicate, a trivalent silicate, or combinations thereof). After providing the alkali metal silicate to the annular space, the binder slurry may be provided and may contact the precipitates in the annular space. Without being bound by any particular theory, it is believed that the alkali metal silicate and / or precipitates thereof improve the performance of the lost circulation composition of the binder slurry in reducing fluid loss and lost circulation. In some embodiments, the method 300 does not include act 306 or act 308.FILED ELECTRONICALLY Docket No. IS240709-WO-PCT

[0094] Responsive to circulating a binder slurry through a drill string and to an annular space between the casing and the surfaces of the earth formation, the geopolymer slurry may set to form cement and / or a geopolymer including the lost circulation composition.

[0095] As described above, in some embodiments, the lost circulation material including the first fibers and the second fibers may be used in a drilling fluid. For example, the lost circulation material may be provided while drilling a borehole (e.g., an open borehole), such as during drilling one or more zones of the earth formation that exhibit high fluid loss and / or lost circulation. The lost circulation composition may be provided in the drilling fluid in a pill to treat such zones exhibiting the high fluid loss and / or lost circulation.EXAMPLESExample 1

[0096] The fluid loss of different binder slurries formed from a binder composition including the lost circulation material was measured. The composition of each of the binder slurries is shown in Table 1. In Table 1, “S” followed by a number represents a slurry. For example, “SI” is slurry 1, “S2” is slurry 2, etc.Table 1FILED ELECTRONICALLY Docket No. IS240709-WO-PCT

[0097] In this example, the first fibers are nylon with average length of 16 mm and the second fibers are chopped glass with average length of 12 mm. Each of the binder slurries were placed into a syringe with a 10.0 mm diameter opening at the outlet. The binder slurries were placed under pressure from the piston of the syringe to test whether the binder slurry would seal the 10.0 mm opening or flow out of the 10.0 mm opening. Each of the binder slurries sealed the 10.0 mm opening and did not exhibit any fluid loss when exerted to pressure due to action of the piston of the syringe.

[0098] The rheology of Slurry 6 after mixing and after conditioning was measured. The results of the rheology testing are shown in Table 2 below.Table 2FILED ELECTRONICALLY Docket No. IS240709-WO-PCT

[0099] With reference to Table 2, Slurry 6 exhibited suitable rheology similar to other cement slurries and geopolymer slurries and may be suitable for use downhole in a wellbore. In addition, the thickening time of the slurry did not appear to be substantially affected by the presence of the first fibers or the second fibers.

[0100] The embodiments of binder compositions, binder slurries, and cements and / or geopolymers formed from the binder slurries including the lost circulation compositions and the silicate materials described herein have been primarily described with reference to borehole and wellbore drilling operations; the binder compositions, binder slurries, and cements and / or geopolymers described herein may be used in applications other than the drilling of a wellbore or borehole. In other embodiments, binder compositions, binder slurries, and cements and / or geopolymers including the lost circulation composition and the silicate material according to the present disclosure may be used outside a wellbore, borehole, or other downhole environment used for the exploration or production of natural resources. Accordingly, the terms “wellbore,” “borehole,” and the like should not be interpreted to limit tools, systems, assemblies, or methods of the present disclosure to any particular industry, field, or environment. In addition, the drilling fluids may be used in cased completion wellbores and in open hole completion wellbores.

[0101] In some embodiments, the binder compositions, binder slurries, and cements and / or geopolymers formed from the binder slurries including the lost circulation compositions and the silicate materials may be used during formation of a borehole and / or wellbore to be used for carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) and / or for recovery and use of geothermal energy. Geothermal energy is a promising source of renewable energy that captures energy from heat generated within the earth. For example, geothermal energy may be used to heat structures (e.g., buildings) and / or to generate electricity (e.g., by heating water to generate steam and drive a turbine with the steam). The geopolymer compositions, geopolymer slurries, and geopolymers described herein may be used to form boreholes and / or wellbores used to circulate a fluid that is heated within the earth formation through which the borehole and / or wellbore extends. The heated fluid may be circulated to the surface where the captured heat may be recovered to heat a structure and / or generate electricity, followed by recirculation of the fluid to the earth formation to continue the cycle.

[0102] CCUS facilitates the capture, use, and / or storage of carbon (e.g., carbon dioxide), which has a goal of achieving carbon neutrality and / or net zero carbon emissions (NZE). CCUS mayFILED ELECTRONICALLY Docket No. IS240709-WO-PCT facilitate the capture of carbon dioxide from large point sources (e.g., power plants, refineries, cement plants, other industrial processing plants, or other industrial facilities that use fossil fuels, biomass fuels, or other fuels that generate carbon dioxide). The captured carbon dioxide may be converted into valuable products such as, for example, ethanol, sustainable aviation fuel, chemicals, and mineral aggregates. Alternatively, the carbon dioxide may be stored in geologic formations, such as in depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs. The carbon dioxide may be introduced into the earth formation through a borehole and / or wellbore formed using the drilling fluids described herein. In the earth formation, the carbon dioxide may be dispersed in an aqueous phase and stored as carbon dioxide, in mineral form (e.g., as a carbonate, such as calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, iron(II) carbonate), or as another form of carbon. The binder compositions, binder slurries, and cements and / or geopolymers formed from the binder slurries described herein may be used in CCUS, such as in wellbores used for carbon storage.

[0103] Polysialate systems, which include a polysialate matrix (a polymer of silicon, oxygen, and aluminum), include geopolymers and other materials polymerized in alkaline solution. In addition to raw materials derived from other industrial and / or natural processes, as described herein, raw materials can be synthesized for use in making polysialate systems. Such raw materials are generally synthesized from materials containing aluminum, silicon, and / or oxygen using application of energy to render the raw material alkaline reactive. Synthetic raw materials can be made from mixtures containing aluminum, silicon, and oxygen by heating (e.g. by combustion), application of electrical or mechanical energy, or any combination thereof, to transform the mixture at the atomic level into an aluminum, silicon, oxygen material suitable for polymerization in alkaline solution. Elemental aluminum and silicon can be processed in the presence of oxygen to make such materials. Oxides of aluminum and silicon, and generic aluminosilicate materials, whether alkaline reactive or not, can also be used to synthesize alkaline reactive raw materials. The combination of materials can be tailored to provide a desired elemental composition, for example silicon to aluminum ratio, and the processing of the materials can be tailored to provide a polysialate precursor having desired physical and chemical properties such as particle size distribution, particle morphology (e.g. shape, roundness, aspect ratio, etc.), particle specific gravity, compositional homogeneity, alkaline reactivity, and crystallinity.

[0104] In general, polysialate raw materials, synthetic or otherwise, may contain elements other than silicon, oxygen, and aluminum provided that silicon, oxygen, and aluminum are present inFILED ELECTRONICALLY Docket No. IS240709-WO-PCT sufficient quantity, and proper atomic arrangement, to be reactive in alkaline solution to form a polysialate matrix or system. Materials that can be used to form synthetic polysialate raw materials may thus include other elements such as alkali metals (e.g. Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs), alkaline earth metals (e.g. Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba), transition metals, which may be common metals such as Fe, Co, Ni, V, Zr, Cu, Cr, Zn, and Ti, noble metals, rare earth metals, and / or lanthanoid metals, and elements of Groups 5-9 of the periodic table, including metalloids and non-metals such as B, Al, Ga, In, Tl, C, Si, Ge, Sn, Pb, N, P, As, Sb, Bi, S, Se, Te, F, Cl, Br, and I, and actinides such as U and Th. These additional elements may be dopants (e.g. purposely added) or naturally occurring elements, and may occupy positions in the crystal lattice of a material before processing to make the material polysialation-reactive, or after such processing. Such elements may be present in any reasonable quantity, so long as the material, before or after processing, has enough silicon, oxygen, and aluminum to form an alkaline reactive material that can participate in a polysialation reaction.

[0105] One or more specific embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein. These described embodiments are examples of the presently disclosed techniques. Additionally, in an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, not all features of an actual embodiment may be described in the specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous embodimentspecific decisions will be made to achieve the developers’ specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one embodiment to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure.

[0106] The articles “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements in the preceding descriptions. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Additionally, it should be understood that references to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” of the present disclosure are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. For example, any element described in relation to an embodiment herein may be combinable with any element of any other embodiment described herein. Numbers, percentages, ratios, or other values stated herein are intended to include that value, and also other values that are “about” or “approximately” the statedFILED ELECTRONICALLY Docket No. IS240709-WO-PCT value, as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art encompassed by embodiments of the present disclosure. A stated value should therefore be interpreted broadly enough to encompass values that are at least close enough to the stated value to perform a desired function or achieve a desired result. The stated values include at least the variation to be expected in a suitable manufacturing or production process, and may include values that are within 5%, within 1%, within 0.1%, or within 0.01% of a stated value.

[0107] A person having ordinary skill in the art should realize in view of the present disclosure that equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, and that various changes, substitutions, and alterations may be made to embodiments disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Equivalent constructions, including functional “means-plus-function” clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function, including both structural equivalents that operate in the same manner, and equivalent structures that provide the same function. It is the express intention of the applicant not to invoke means-plus-function or other functional claiming for any claim except for those in which the words ‘means for’ appear together with an associated function. Each addition, deletion, and modification to the embodiments that falls within the meaning and scope of the claims is to be embraced by the claims.

[0108] The terms “approximately,” “about,” and “substantially” as used herein represent an amount close to the stated amount that still performs a desired function or achieves a desired result. For example, the terms “approximately,” “about,” and “substantially” may refer to an amount that is within less than 5% of, within less than 1% of, within less than 0.1% of, and within less than 0.01% of a stated amount. Further, it should be understood that any directions or reference frames in the preceding description are merely relative directions or movements. For example, any references to “up” and “down” or “above” or “below” are merely descriptive of the relative position or movement of the related elements.

[0109] The present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the disclosure is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. Changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

Claims

1. FILED ELECTRONICALLY Docket No. IS240709-WO-PCTCLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A method of cementing a subterranean borehole, the method comprising: circulating a brine material comprising a divalent brine, a trivalent brine, or a mixture thereof into an annular space between a casing and surfaces of an earth formation defining the subterranean borehole; placing an alkali metal silicate material in the annular space in contact with the brine material; mixing water with a binder composition to form a settable binder slurry, the binder composition including: a binder material including a cement, a solid alkaline reactive material comprising aluminum, silicon, and oxygen, or a mixture thereof; a lost circulation composition comprising: first fibers including nylon having an average length within a range of from about 5.0 mm to about 25.0 mm and an average diameter within a range of from about 50 pm to about 400 pm; and second fibers including chopped glass having an average length less than the average length of the first fibers; and pumping the binder slurry into the annular space.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the lost circulation composition is present in the binder composition at a concentration of about 3.0 kg / m3to about 15.0 kg / m3.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the alkali metal silicate material includes sodium silicate.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first fibers have an average length within a range of rom about 15.0 mm to about 20.0 mm and the second fibers have average length within a range of from about 12.0 mm to about 14.0 mm.FILED ELECTRONICALLY Docket No. IS240709-WO-PCT5. The method of claim 1 , wherein an average diameter of the second fibers is less than the average diameter of the first fibers6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first fibers comprise one or more of: nylon 1,6; nylon 4,6; nylon 510; nylon 6; or nylon 6,6.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first fibers comprise at least two of: nylon 1,6; nylon 4,6; nylon 510; nylon 6; or nylon 6,6.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first fibers have a Young’s Modulus of Elasticity within a range of from about 0.5 GPa to about 100 GPa.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first fibers have an average length of about 16.0 mm.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first fibers have a unimodal size distribution.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the binder composition comprises from about 0.20 weight percent to about 1.50 weight percent of the first fibers.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the binder composition comprises from about 0.20 kg / m3to about 10.0 kg / m3of the first fibers.FILED ELECTRONICALLY Docket No. IS240709-WO-PCT13. The method of claim 1, wherein the binder composition comprises from about 0.20 weight percent to about 1.50 weight percent of the second fibers.

14. A geopolymer composition comprising: at least one aluminosilicate source; at least one alkali activator; and a lost circulation composition comprising: first fibers including nylon fibers having an average length within a range of from about 15.0 mm to about 20.0 mm, an average diameter within a range of from about 250 pm to about 300 pm, and a Young’s Modulus of Elasticity within a range of from about 1.5 GPa to about 4.0 GPa; and second fibers including chopped glass having an average length within a range of from about 12.0 mm to about 14.0 mm.

15. The geopolymer composition of claim 14, wherein a weight ratio of the first fibers to the second fibers is within a range of from about 1.0: 1.0 to about 6.0: 1.0.

16. The geopolymer composition of claim 14, wherein the second fibers have an average diameter within a range of from about 15 pm to about 25 pm.

17. The geopolymer composition of claim 14, wherein the geopolymer composition includes a greater weight percent of the first fibers than of the second fibers.

18. The geopolymer composition of claim 14, wherein a concentration of the lost circulation composition in the geopolymer composition is within a range of from about 3.0 kg / m3to about 15.0 kg / m3.

19. The geopolymer composition of claim 14, wherein the first fibers exhibit a multimodal size distribution.

20. A binder composition, comprising:FILED ELECTRONICALLY Docket No. IS240709-WO-PCT a binder material including a cement, an aluminosilicate source, or a mixture thereof; a lost circulation composition comprising: first fibers including nylon having an average length within a range of from about 15.0 mm to about 20.0 mm and an average diameter within a range of from about 50 pm to about 400 pm; and second fibers including chopped glass having an average length less than the average length of the first fibers.

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