Borate Particulate Fluid Loss Control and Diversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fluid loss control and diversion additives in subterranean operations are often toxic, non-degradable, and require costly and time-consuming procedures for removal, causing environmental concerns and negatively affecting permeability.
Innovation Solution
The use of relatively insoluble borate material particulates, such as anhydrous sodium tetraborate and anhydrous boric acid, which provide temporary fluid loss control and diversion by creating a physical barrier that degrades over time, allowing permeability restoration without the need for clean-up fluids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional fluid loss control additives are used, then fluid loss is controlled, but permeability is permanently reduced and removal requires costly procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses water-hydrolysable materials that temporarily control fluid loss and then naturally degrade in the formation, eliminating the need for costly removal procedures and restoring permeability automatically through hydrolysis and biodegradation processes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the fluid loss control material by using water-hydrolysable compounds that transform from intact polymer chains to degraded smaller molecules through hydrolysis, enabling temporary control followed by natural breakdown and permeability restoration
2Ease of operation
If conventional diverting agents are used, then treatment fluid diversion is achieved, but environmental harm occurs due to toxicity and non-degradability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs biodegradable diverting agents that perform their diversion function and then naturally break down through hydrolysis and microbial degradation, eliminating long-term environmental toxicity and the need for specialized disposal procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the previously harmful property of non-degradability into a benefit by using water-hydrolysable materials that naturally degrade, turning what was an environmental liability into an automatic restoration mechanism that eliminates toxicity concerns
3Reliability
If materials requiring hydrocarbon treatments or high temperature for removal are used, then fluid loss control is achieved, but operational complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the fluid loss control material to self-degrade through natural hydrolysis and biodegradation processes in the formation, eliminating the need for complex external removal procedures such as hydrocarbon treatments or high-temperature operations
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 borate material particulates effectively control fluid loss and diversion while degrading to restore permeability, reducing environmental impact and operational costs, and are suitable for high-temperature subterranean zones.
Implementation Method 1
provide temporary fluid loss control and diversion by creating a physical barrier
Implementation Method 2
water-hydrolysable materials such a polylactic acid, may be used in subterranean operations
Data Source
AI summary
Methods of controlling fluid loss, providing fluid diversion, or plugging a portion of a well bore using a treatment fluid including relatively insoluble borate material particulates that are placed into a subterranean formation to provide the desired action and then degrade over time in the subterranean formation in the presence of an aqueous fluid such as water.