H2S Scavenging Drilling Mud with pH Control and Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for removing hydrogen sulfide during drilling operations fail to effectively monitor and control its concentration, leading to safety and environmental issues, and some scavengers can cause formation damage or harm the environment with harmful components like zinc or iron compounds.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the creation of scavenger-containing drilling mud with a target pH between 10.5 and 11.0, using a scavenger like triazine that irreversibly reacts with hydrogen sulfide, and a system for monitoring and maintaining the scavenging capacity, including a treatment loop with pH buffer and scavenger injection points to neutralize hydrogen sulfide in both wellbore and surface muds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current H2S removal methods are used, then H2S can be removed from drilling mud, but the concentration of H2S removal compounds cannot be monitored or controlled, leading to insufficient H2S removal and potential H2S release
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous monitoring of H2S concentration in drilling mud using sensors and establishes feedback control mechanisms. The system measures actual H2S levels and automatically adjusts the dosage of H2S removal compounds to maintain H2S concentration below release thresholds, ensuring reliable H2S removal while optimizing chemical usage.
2Reliability
If traditional H2S scavengers containing zinc or iron compounds are used, then H2S can be neutralized, but harmful components can harm the environment and formation damage can occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of H2S scavengers by formulating new compounds without zinc or iron content. The invention uses alternative chemistry approaches, such as organic amine-based scavengers or other non-toxic metal-free compounds, to achieve H2S neutralization while eliminating environmental harm and formation damage associated with traditional scavengers.
3Productivity
If H2S is allowed to accumulate in drilling mud, then drilling operations can proceed without additional treatment, but H2S release to surface causes safety issues and environmental problems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by proactively adding H2S removal compounds to drilling mud before H2S accumulation reaches dangerous levels. The system continuously monitors H2S concentrations and initiates removal treatment when threshold levels are approached, preventing H2S release before it occurs and ensuring safe drilling operations continue without interruption.
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
This approach effectively neutralizes hydrogen sulfide in drilling muds, preventing its release to the surface, minimizing corrosion, and ensuring safe and environmentally friendly drilling operations by maintaining hydrogen sulfide in solution and continuously monitoring and adjusting scavenger levels.
Implementation Method 1
the amount of scavenger in the scavenger-containing drilling mud is operable to irreversibly react with hydrogen sulfide present in the drilling mud to produce a scavenged hydrogen sulfide
Implementation Method 2
adding pH buffer to the drilling mud before the step of mixing an amount of scavenger into a drilling mud such that the pH target of the scavenger-containing drilling mud is in a range between 10.5 and 11.0
Data Source
AI summary
A method to neutralize hydrogen sulfide in a wellbore during drilling operations is provided. The method comprising the steps of mixing an amount of scavenger into a drilling mud to produce a scavenger-containing drilling mud such that the scavenger-containing drilling mud has a scavenging capacity, wherein the drilling mud is at a target pH, and introducing the scavenger-containing drilling mud into the wellbore during drilling operations, where the scavenger-containing drilling mud is operable to work with a drill bit to drill the wellbore, where the amount of scavenger in the scavenger-containing drilling mud is operable to irreversibly react with hydrogen sulfide present in the drilling mud to produce a scavenged hydrogen sulfide.