Alkali Silicate Binder for Sand Control in Wellbores
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in wellbore operations such as drilling, treating, and secondary operations like fracturing is the migration and lodging of fine particulates, which reduces permeability and causes sand production, due to the inability of existing technologies to effectively consolidate and stabilize particulates in subterranean formations.
Innovation Solution
A binder composition comprising an aqueous fluid, an alkali metal silicate, and a silicate bonding activator, optionally with a salt-substituted clay stabilizer, is applied to particulate materials in the wellbore and formation to form consolidated, permeable aggregates that resist water and maintain stability during production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fine particulate material is left unconsolidated in the wellbore and formation, then the permeability is maintained at higher levels, but the fine particles migrate and lodge in interstices causing permeability reduction and sand production
Solution Approach 1:
The binder composition is applied to particulate material before it migrates and lodges in interstices. The binder consolidates fine particles into larger aggregates in advance, preventing the harmful lodging action from occurring during subsequent fluid flow operations
Solution Approach 2:
The binder composition acts as an intermediary substance that bridges fine particulate material and forms consolidated aggregates. This intermediary binder material enables fine particles to resist migration without requiring direct mechanical containment structures
2Stability of the object's composition
If binder composition is applied to consolidate particulate material, then particulate stability is improved, but the complexity of the treatment process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The binder composition utilizes pH-sensitive parameters to trigger consolidation. The binder remains inactive at certain pH levels and activates when exposed to formation water or drilling fluids with different pH characteristics, enabling consolidation without complex activation mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The binder composition is designed to self-consolidate upon contact with formation fluids or drilling fluids. The chemical reaction between the binder and formation water or pH changes in the wellbore environment automatically triggers the consolidation process without requiring additional external activation steps
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The binder composition effectively consolidates particulates, preventing migration and maintaining high permeability, thus enhancing well production by forming stable, hardened aggregates that resist water and maintain permeability.
Implementation Method 1
contacting a binder composition with particulate material, and binding the particulate material with the binder composition to form consolidated particulate material
Implementation Method 2
contacting a binder composition with particulate material, and binding the particulate material with the binder composition
Data Source
AI summary
A method of servicing a well having a wellbore extending from a surface wellsite and penetrating a subterranean formation, can include contacting a binder composition with particulate material, and binding the particulate material with the binder composition to form consolidated particulate material in the wellbore, in the formation, or both. The binder composition can include an aqueous fluid, an alkali metal silicate, and a silicate bonding activator.