Water-Based Drilling Fluid Accelerator for Penetration Rate

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current water-based drilling fluids fail to efficiently improve drilling speed and often result in downhole accidents due to low well wall stability and environmental concerns, while existing accelerators do not adequately enhance penetration rates.

Innovation Solution

A water-based drilling fluid accelerator comprising sulfonated polyglycerol long-chain fatty acid ester, fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether, alcohol ether carboxylate, glycidyl ether, and polyoxyethylene alkylphenol ether, which lubricates drill cuttings, prevents accumulation, and maintains well wall stability by forming a hydrophobic film on drill bits and controlling clay swelling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If water-based drilling fluids are used widely, then cost is reduced and environmental protection is improved, but drilling speed is insufficient and well wall stability is poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrilling speedVSAvoidwell wall stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a composite accelerator system comprising sulfonated polyglycerol long-chain fatty acid ester in combination with other additives (fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether, alcohol ether carboxylate, glycidyl ether, and polyoxyethylene alkylphenol ether). This composite formulation synergistically improves drilling speed while maintaining well wall stability, overcoming the limitations of single-component accelerators in water-based drilling fluids.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention modifies the chemical composition parameters of water-based drilling fluids by introducing sulfonated polyglycerol long-chain fatty acid ester with specific molecular structure characteristics (polyglycerol backbone with long-chain fatty acid ester groups and sulfonate groups). This parameter change enables the fluid to simultaneously achieve higher drilling speed and improved well wall stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If conventional accelerators are used, then some lubrication and viscosity reduction effects are achieved, but penetration rate is not efficiently improved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepenetration rateVSAvoidlubrication effect
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical structure parameters of accelerator molecules by using sulfonated polyglycerol long-chain fatty acid ester, which contains multiple functional groups (hydroxyl groups from polyglycerol, ester groups from fatty acid, and sulfonate groups). This structural parameter change enables simultaneous achievement of strong lubrication effects and high penetration rates, overcoming the limitation of conventional accelerators that only provide moderate lubrication.

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 accelerator significantly improves drilling speed by reducing drill cutting sizes, preventing accumulation, and enhancing well wall stability, leading to a 28-55% increase in penetration rate and effective lubrication of drill bits, thus addressing the limitations of existing drilling fluids.

Implementation Method 1

maintains well wall stability by forming a hydrophobic film on drill bits

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrophobic film formation: Hydrophobe

Implementation Method 2

lubricates drill cuttings, prevents accumulation, and enhances well wall stability, leading to effective lubrication of drill bits

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLubrication: Lubrication

Data Source

PatentUS10266744B2Accelerator used for drilling fluids, water-based drilling fluid and usage thereof
Publication Date: 2019.04.23 CHINA UNIV OF PETROLEUM (BEIJING)

AI summary

The present invention relates to well drilling field in the petroleum industry, particularly to accelerator used for drilling fluids, water-based drilling fluid and usage thereof. The accelerator contains: sulfonated polyglycerol long-chain fatty acid ester, fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether, alcohol ether carboxylate, glycidyl ether, and polyoxyethylene alkylphenol ether; wherein, the weight ratio of the sulfonated polyglycerol long-chain fatty acid ester:the fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether:the alcohol ether carboxylate:the glycidyl ether:the polyoxyethylene alkylphenol ether is 100:1-10:0.5-10:1-10:1-10. The accelerator provided in the present invention can lubricate the drill bit and drilling tool, prevent accumulation of drill cuttings, reduce friction, and improve rate of penetrate.