Ground Elastomer Pills for Drilling Mud Lubricity and Lost Circulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current drilling muds face challenges with lubricity, wellbore hole cleaning, bit balling, and severe lost circulation, particularly in water-based systems which have lower performance compared to oil-based systems, and existing remedies often require frequent chemical treatments or result in contamination and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
Preparation and introduction of customized pills containing ground elastomers pretreated with non-aqueous fluids into drilling muds to enhance lubricity, hole cleaning, and address severe lost circulation, with the elastomers acting as scouring agents, reducing friction, and forming a flexible seal to prevent fluid loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If water-based drilling mud is used, then cost is reduced and environmental acceptance is improved, but lubricity and hole cleaning performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces ground elastomer particles as an intermediary substance in water-based drilling mud to mediate between the water-based fluid and the drill bit/rock interface. These elastomer particles provide the lubricity and hole cleaning performance typically associated with oil-based muds, while allowing the base fluid to remain water-based for cost and environmental benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite drilling mud system by combining water-based drilling mud with ground elastomer particles. This composite material integrates the cost and environmental advantages of water-based mud with the performance benefits of elastomer-containing systems, achieving both economic and performance objectives simultaneously.
2Reliability
If chemical treatments are applied frequently to maintain API mud properties, then performance is maintained, but operational complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ground elastomer particles in the drilling mud provide self-service functionality by continuously maintaining lubricity and hole cleaning performance throughout the drilling operation. Unlike traditional chemical treatments that require frequent addition and monitoring, the elastomer particles remain effective throughout the mud system, reducing the need for frequent interventions and simplifying operational procedures.
3Reliability
If ground elastomer is added to drilling fluid, then lubricity and hole cleaning improve, but fluid viscosity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the concentration and particle size parameters of ground elastomer addition to achieve the desired balance between lubricity improvement and viscosity increase. By carefully controlling these parameters, the system maximizes performance benefits while minimizing the adverse effect on fluid viscosity and flow characteristics.
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 use of ground elastomer pills improves lubricity and hole cleaning in both water and oil-based systems, reduces bit balling, and effectively seals fractures to prevent severe lost circulation without contaminating the drilling fluid or increasing hydrostatic pressure, allowing for safer and more efficient drilling operations.
Implementation Method 1
the use of a high concentration of elastomer added to the base fluid in a pre-engineered manner can result in a pill that will 'lock-up' downhole by absorbing the available oil and thus stopping the flow of free oil into the thief zone
Implementation Method 2
the expansion capability of the elastomer, as taught by Wood will then have time to take effect within the fractures to form a flexible seal that allows drilling to resume
Implementation Method 3
the elastomers acting as scouring agents, reducing friction
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to the use of pre-engineered pills for use with drilling mud. By introducing pills of ground elastomer into the well, the pills can improve the lubricity of the mud as well as aiding in wellbore cleaning, prevention of bit balling and reduction of fluid loss to thief zones.