Modified Asphalt Particles for Drilling Fluid Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing asphalt products for drilling fluids lack high softening point, deformability, and stability, leading to poor performance in high-temperature applications and complex, costly production processes that may cause environmental pollution.
Innovation Solution
Modified asphalt particles are produced with a core-shell structure containing poly-sulfur and free sulfur, which are formed through a process involving sulfur polymerization and asphalt treatment, resulting in particles with a high softening point and improved deformability, and can be stored stably at normal temperatures without agglomeration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If asphalt is milled into fine particles to achieve small particle size, then the particle size requirement is met, but the temperature rise causes asphalt to become soft and sticky, leading to agglomeration into large particles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-cooling the asphalt to 0-10°C before milling, and continuing cooling during and after the milling process. This preliminary temperature control prevents the asphalt from becoming soft and sticky due to friction heating, thereby avoiding agglomeration and maintaining fine particle size stability throughout the process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temperature parameter from ambient or elevated temperatures to a controlled low temperature range (0-10°C) during the entire milling process. This parameter change fundamentally alters the physical state of asphalt, preventing softening and agglomeration while enabling successful production of fine particles.
2Temperature
If high softening point asphalt is used to improve high-temperature resistance, then the softening point increases, but the deformability decreases, preventing embedding in pore canals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite material system by combining high softening point asphalt with specific additives and controlling the molecular structure through sulfur content (10-30 wt%). This composite approach allows the asphalt to achieve both high softening point (100-200°C) and adequate deformability by balancing the properties of the base asphalt with modifying components.
3Quantity of substance
If asphalt sulfonating is used to improve water solubility, then water solubility increases, but oil solubility decreases, and the process becomes complex with environmental pollution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the complex sulfonating process steps (acid treatment, neutralization, separation) while retaining the essential function of improving water solubility. Instead, it uses a simplified approach with controlled sulfur content (10-30 wt%) and additive modification, achieving water solubility enhancement without the complexity and environmental issues of traditional sulfonating.
4Quantity of substance
If asphalt particles are dried to remove moisture, then water content is reduced, but the asphalt particles may be melted partially and agglomerated again
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter during drying to a controlled low range (0-10°C) rather than using high temperature. This parameter change prevents partial melting and agglomeration of the fine asphalt particles while still achieving effective moisture removal, maintaining particle stability throughout the drying process.
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 modified asphalt particles exhibit enhanced high-temperature resistance and deformability, improving their performance in drilling fluids, particularly in water-in-oil based systems, with reduced plastic viscosity and increased emulsion-breaking voltage, ensuring better drilling fluid stability and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
heating sulfur to a molten state in which the sulfur can have a polymerization reaction
Implementation Method 2
controlling the liquid modifier obtained in the step (1) to contact with the molten asphalt obtained in the step (2)
Implementation Method 3
spraying the product obtained in the step (3) into a quenching liquid that contains a stabilizer for quenching
Data Source
AI summary
Modified asphalt particles contain asphalt and a modifier. The modifier comprises poly-sulfur and free sulfur. The sulfur element accounts for 10-40 weight percent of the total amount of the modified asphalt particles, and the poly-sulfur accounts for 30-70 weight percent of the total amount of the sulfur element. The total particle size of the modified asphalt particle is smaller than or equal to 150 μm. The modified asphalt particles have an excellent high temperature performance, and can be used for preparing drilling fluids. Water-in-oil based drilling fluid obtained from the modified asphalt particles has low plastic viscosity, high dynamic shear force, high dynamic plastic ratio, and high emulsion-breaking voltage, and improves the high temperature resistance and cutting carrying capability of a system.