Degradable Polymer Particulates for Fluid Loss Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional fluid loss control additives in subterranean operations often permanently reduce formation permeability, negatively affect fluid rheology, and are difficult to reverse, while particulates used for fluid loss and diversion may not be effective in low-permeability formations and require costly remedial treatments for removal.

Innovation Solution

The use of deformable particulates comprising a degradable polymer combined with a plasticizer, which transform from a rigid to a malleable form at downhole temperatures to provide fluid loss control, sealing, and diversion, and degrade over time, allowing for controlled permeability restoration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional fluid loss control additives are used, then fluid loss is controlled, but formation permeability is permanently reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid loss controlVSAvoidformation permeability reduction

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses degradable polymers that change their physical and chemical properties over time. The polymer particles are designed to degrade under specific downhole conditions (temperature, pressure, chemical environment), transforming from a fluid loss control state to a permeable state, thus changing the parameter of formation permeability dynamically rather than permanently

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention employs temporary, degradable polymer particles that serve their fluid loss control function for the duration of the treatment operation and then naturally degrade and disappear. This eliminates the need for costly remedial operations to remove conventional additives, as the degradable particles break down into harmless byproducts that do not permanently affect formation permeability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Object-generated harmful factors

If degradable particulates are used, then permeability is restored after treatment, but the particulates require cryogrinding to achieve necessary small sizes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepermeability restorationVSAvoidparticulate size preparation

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The degradable polymer particles are pre-synthesized with controlled sizes and degradation rates before being injected into the formation. This preliminary preparation allows the particles to be delivered ready-to-use without requiring complex on-site cryogrinding operations, simplifying the manufacturing and deployment process while maintaining the ability to restore permeability after treatment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If particulates are used for fluid loss control, then fluid loss is reduced, but remedial treatments are required to remove the particulates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid loss controlVSAvoidremedial treatment time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs temporary, degradable polymer particles that serve their fluid loss control function for the duration of the treatment operation and then naturally degrade and disappear. This eliminates the need for costly and time-consuming remedial operations to remove conventional additives, as the degradable particles break down into harmless byproducts that do not permanently affect formation permeability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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 deformable particulates effectively seal and divert fluids across a range of formation pore sizes, reducing the need for cryogrinding and enabling efficient fluid management in subterranean operations, while degrading to restore permeability after treatment.

Implementation Method 1

the polymeric particulates exhibit a glass transition temperature (Tg) greater than -15°C, and the polymeric particulates transform from a rigid form to a malleable form

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGlass transition:

Implementation Method 2

the polymeric particulates comprise a degradable polymer and a plasticizer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPlasticization:

Implementation Method 3

Particulates may be used as fluid loss control materials in treatment fluids to fill and seal the pore spaces and natural and manmade fractures in a subterranean formation or to contact the surface of a formation face or proppant pack, thereby forming a filter cake

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFilter cake formation:

Implementation Method 4

degrading the malleable particulates over time in the subterranean formation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDegradation:

Data Source

PatentEP2748275B1Methods of fluid loss control, diversion, and sealing using deformable particulates

Publication Date: 2016.09.28 HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES INC

AI summary

Method including the steps of providing a treatment fluid that comprises a base fluid and polymeric particulates wherein the polymeric particulates comprise a degradable polymer and a plasticizer and exhibit a Tg above about -15°C; introducing the treatment fluid into a subterranean formation having a temperature above about 65°C such that the particulates transform from rigid to malleable form and are able to provide fluid loss, seal the rock surfaces for fluid diversion, or plug an area along the annulus of a well bore; and, degrading the malleable particulates over time in the subterranean formation.