Sugar-Based Drilling Fluid Additive for Wellbore Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current drilling fluids face challenges with environmental safety, efficiency, and wellbore stability due to the use of water, diesel oil, and synthetic hydrocarbons as continuous liquid phases, which often result in toxicity and inefficiency.

Innovation Solution

A drilling fluid additive system comprising corn syrup solids or syrup solids in combination with a liquid medium, such as water, which improves lubrication, reduces clay hydration, and maintains wellbore stability, while being environmentally friendly and non-toxic.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If water is used as the continuous liquid phase of drilling fluid, then environmental safety and economy are improved, but lubrication efficiency and wellbore stability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental safetyVSAvoidlubrication efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the water-based drilling fluid by incorporating specific additives (sugar-based polymers, surfactants, and lubricants) to modify the fluid's lubrication properties and stability without compromising its environmental safety or water-based nature

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite drilling fluid system by combining water with multiple functional additives including sugar-based polymers for viscosity control, surfactants for fluid loss control, and specialized lubricants to achieve both environmental safety and adequate lubrication performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of manufacture

If diesel oil is used as the continuous liquid phase of drilling fluid, then economy is improved, but environmental safety and efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveeconomyVSAvoidenvironmental safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs biodegradable sugar-based polymers and environmentally friendly additives that are inexpensive to produce and rapidly break down in the environment, replacing costly synthetic oils while maintaining economic viability through low material costs and reduced remediation expenses

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the traditionally harmful aspect of water-based fluids (poor lubrication) into a benefit by using the water's high heat capacity combined with specialized additives to achieve both environmental safety and improved lubrication through controlled fluid mechanics and additive chemistry

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Reliability

If synthetic hydrocarbons are used as the continuous liquid phase of drilling fluid, then lubrication efficiency is improved, but cost and availability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelubrication efficiencyVSAvoidcost and availability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces sugar-based polymers and surfactants as intermediary substances that mediate between water and drill cuttings, providing lubrication and stability functions traditionally performed by expensive synthetic hydrocarbons, thereby achieving similar performance at lower cost

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the physical and chemical parameters of the water-based fluid by adjusting additive concentrations, molecular weights of polymers, and surfactant ratios to optimize lubrication efficiency and wellbore stability without relying on expensive synthetic hydrocarbon bases

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 additive system enhances lubrication, suppresses clay hydration, maintains wellbore stability, and is environmentally safe with an LC50 rating greater than 1,000,000, demonstrating improved efficiency and safety compared to traditional drilling fluids.

Implementation Method 1

The present invention provides for an economically efficient and environmentally safe drilling fluid additive that can also function as the continuous liquid phase of the drilling fluid. The present invention also provides for a drilling fluid additive that provides the advantages of lubrication and wellbore stability.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOsmotic pressure: Osmotic Pressure

Implementation Method 2

The present invention provides for a drilling fluid additive that provides the advantages of lubrication and wellbore stability.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLubrication: Lubrication

Data Source

PatentUSRE47362E1Drilling fluid additive with low freezing point

Publication Date: 2019.04.23 MUD MASTERS ACQUISITION CORP

AI summary

A drilling fluid additive, is provided, and the additive comprises: syrup solids and a liquid medium; and the sugar content of the additive is directly proportionate to the freezing point of the additive.