High-Flashpoint Diluent for Solids-Control Fluid Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current solids-control fluids used in wellbore operations often have low flashpoints, posing safety risks and requiring excessive resources, and are inefficient in controlling solids flow in subterranean formations, leading to increased costs and operational challenges.
Innovation Solution
A high-flashpoint diluent composition, including a mutual solvent and ethylene glycol, is used to create a solids-control fluid that effectively controls the flow of solids by adhering to them, using a curable resin or tackifying agent, thereby enhancing safety and reducing resource consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional solids-control fluids are used, then solids flow can be controlled, but the flashpoint is low causing safety risks and unwanted combustion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the diluent by replacing traditional low-flashpoint solvents (like isopropyl alcohol or furfural) with a high-flashpoint diluent composition containing ethylene glycol and a mutual solvent. This parameter change increases the flashpoint above 110°F, directly resolving the safety risk and combustion hazard while maintaining the fluid's effectiveness in controlling solids flow in the subterranean formation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite diluent composition made of ethylene glycol combined with a mutual solvent that is substantially soluble in both water and organic solvents. This composite material approach creates a synergistic effect where the combination provides both high flashpoint safety characteristics and effective solids control performance, overcoming the limitations of single-component traditional diluents.
2Reliability
If traditional solids-control fluids are used, then solids flow can be controlled, but excessive resources and chemicals are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical parameters of the diluent to improve interaction with solids in the formation. The high-flashpoint diluent composition with ethylene glycol and mutual solvent changes the fluid's solubility, adhesion, and coating properties, allowing more efficient solids control with reduced chemical consumption and longer treatment intervals, thereby reducing resource loss.
3Productivity
If traditional solids-control fluids are used, then solids flow can be controlled, but the treatment interval length is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the diluent to extend the treatment interval. The high-flashpoint composition provides enhanced stability and effectiveness over time, allowing treatments to last longer between interventions while maintaining reliable solids control performance throughout the extended interval.
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 high-flashpoint diluent composition provides a safer and more economical solution for solids control, allowing for improved consolidation and extended operational intervals while maintaining or exceeding the performance of traditional compositions.
Implementation Method 1
a mutual solvent, and an ethylene glycol... wherein the mutual solvent is substantially soluble in an aqueous solution and in the ethylene glycol
Implementation Method 2
adhering to the solids to increase a critical flow rate or to increase a critical velocity that may cause the solids to flow
Data Source
AI summary
A solids-control fluid for controlling flow of solids in a subterranean formation is disclosed herein. The solids-control fluid can include a diluent and a curable resin. The diluent can include a mutual solvent and an ethylene glycol. The curable resin can be dispersed within the diluent for controlling flow of solids in the subterranean formation.