Carboxylic Acid-Polyamine Additive for Drilling Fluid Rheology

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Solution Overview

Problem

Drilling fluids face challenges in maintaining a consistent rheological profile over broad temperature ranges, particularly in deep water and horizontal drilling environments, where viscosity changes significantly with temperature.

Innovation Solution

A drilling fluid additive composed of a reaction product of a carboxylic acid with at least two carboxylic moieties and a polyamine having an amine functionality of two or more is added to the drilling fluid, which helps maintain a substantially constant rheological profile from 120°F to 40°F, with optional inclusion of emulsifiers, organoclays, and fluid loss reducing additives.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If conventional drilling fluids are used, then the fluid provides basic drilling functions, but the rheological profile changes significantly with temperature variations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverheological profile stabilityVSAvoidtemperature range variation
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the chemical composition parameters of the drilling fluid through the reaction product of carboxylic acid and polyamine. This chemical modification changes the rheological parameters of the fluid to maintain stability across temperature variations from 40°F to 120°F, directly addressing the contradiction between temperature variation and rheological stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite materials by creating a reaction product from two different chemical components (carboxylic acid with at least two carboxylic moieties and polyamine with amine functionality of two or more). This composite additive provides superior temperature-resistant rheological control compared to single-component additives, resolving the contradiction between temperature stability and rheological consistency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If drilling fluid viscosity is increased to prevent sag, then formation damage risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesag preventionVSAvoidformation damage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the rheological parameters of the drilling fluid through the carboxylic acid-polyamine reaction product, which provides temperature-resistant viscosity control. This allows the fluid to maintain appropriate viscosity at low temperatures without requiring excessive viscosity increases that would cause formation damage, thus resolving the contradiction between sag prevention and formation damage risk.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 additive ensures a viscosity increase of less than 75% at high shear rates when the drilling fluid cools from 120°F to 40°F, providing stable rheological properties and reducing the risk of mud sag and formation damage, while being environmentally acceptable with low toxicity and biodegradability.

Implementation Method 1

provides a substantially constant rheological profile of drilling fluid over a temperature range from about 120° F. to about 40° F.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRheology control:

Implementation Method 2

the increase in high shear rate viscosity of the drilling fluid is less than about 75% when the drilling fluid is cooled from about 120° F. to about 40° F.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectViscosity stabilization:

Data Source

PatentUS8809240B2Equivalent circulating density control in deep water drilling
Publication Date: 2014.08.19 ELEMENTIS SPECIALTIES INC

AI summary

A method of providing a substantially constant rheological profile of a drilling fluid over a temperature range of about 120° F. to about 40° F. includes adding a drilling fluid additive to the drilling fluid, wherein the drilling fluid additive includes the reaction product of a carboxylic acid with at least two carboxylic moieties; and a polyamine having an amine functionality of two or more. A composition, such as an oil based drilling fluid, includes the reaction product of a carboxylic acid with at least two carboxylic moieties and a polyamine having an amine functionality of two or more.