Electrocrushing Drilling Fluid Dielectric Properties
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drilling fluids are not suitable for electrocrushing drilling due to their inability to maintain high dielectric constant and low electrical conductivity, which are necessary for effective rock fracturing and efficient drilling operations.
Innovation Solution
An electrocrushing drilling fluid with a base fluid comprising non-polar oil, a hydroxyl alcohol, water, and an emulsifier in an invert emulsion, formulated to have a high dielectric constant, high dielectric strength, and low electrical conductivity, along with additives to enhance drilling efficiency and resistance to cavitation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional drilling fluid is used, then the drilling operation can proceed with standard fluid properties, but the dielectric constant is insufficient and electrical conductivity is too high, preventing effective rock fracturing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by formulating a drilling fluid with specific compositional parameters (non-polar oil, hydroxyl alcohol, water, emulsifier in inverted emulsion) to achieve the required dielectric constant of at least 6 at 100 kHz frequency and dielectric strength of at least 100 kV/cm, while maintaining electrical conductivity below 10^-4 mho/cm. This resolves the contradiction by adjusting the fluid's electrical parameters to enable effective rock fracturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining multiple components (non-polar oil, hydroxyl alcohol, water, and emulsifier) in a specific inverted emulsion structure. This composite formulation achieves the necessary high dielectric constant and low electrical conductivity properties that cannot be obtained with conventional single-phase drilling fluids, thereby enabling effective electrocrushing drilling.
2Reliability
If conventional drilling fluid is used, then the fluid can circulate and remove rock fragments, but electrical discharge occurs through the fluid instead of into the rock formation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the electrical parameters of the drilling fluid by controlling its composition to achieve low electrical conductivity (less than 10^-4 mho/cm) and high dielectric strength (at least 100 kV/cm). These parameter changes prevent electrical discharge through the fluid, ensuring that electrical current is directed into the rock formation for effective fracturing rather than being lost through the drilling fluid.
3Reliability
If drilling fluid with high dielectric constant is formulated, then rock fracturing effectiveness improves, but the fluid composition becomes complex with multiple components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite materials by formulating an inverted emulsion containing non-polar oil, hydroxyl alcohol, water, and emulsifier. This composite structure achieves the required high dielectric constant and low electrical conductivity properties through the synergistic interaction of components, resolving the contradiction between performance effectiveness and compositional complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating an inverted emulsion structure where the continuous non-polar oil phase provides the necessary dielectric properties, while the dispersed aqueous phase contains hydroxyl alcohol and emulsifier. This localized arrangement of different phases with distinct properties enables the fluid to achieve high dielectric constant and low conductivity while maintaining functional effectiveness.
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 fluid effectively directs electric current into the rock formation, fractures the rock, and maintains drilling efficiency by preventing electrical discharge through the fluid, thus ensuring economically viable drilling operations.
Implementation Method 1
drilling fluids suitable for use with an electrocrushing drill bit are typically not suitable for use with an electrocrushing drill bit. Electrocrushing drilling fluids have a sufficiently high frequency dependent dielectric constant (also referred to as dielectric constant herein) and dielectric strength
Implementation Method 2
Electrocrushing drilling fluids have a sufficiently high frequency dependent dielectric constant (also referred to as dielectric constant herein) and dielectric strength
Implementation Method 3
Electrocrushing drilling uses pulsed power technology to repeatedly apply a high electric potential across the electrodes of an electrocrushing drill bit, which ultimately causes the surrounding rock to fracture
Implementation Method 4
allow an electrocrushing drill bit to direct an arc of electric current through a portion of the rock in the formation, heating water and other materials in the rock and causing that rock and surrounding rock to fracture
Implementation Method 5
direct an arc of electric current through a portion of the rock in the formation, heating water and other materials in the rock
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to an electrocrushing drilling fluid with an electrocrushing drilling base fluid including a non-polar oil, —OH, —(OH)2, or —(OH)3 alcohol, water, and an emulsifier in proportional amounts by weight or volume in that order. The electrocrushing drilling fluid may further contain at least one additive. The electrocrushing drilling fluid may have a dielectric constant or dielectric strength of at least a set amount, an electric conductivity or viscosity less than a set amount, or a combination of these properties. The disclosure further relates to an electrocrushing drilling system containing the electrocrushing drilling fluid and an electrocrushing drill bit and a method of electrocrushing drilling.