Sultone-Amide Emulsifiers for Stable Wellbore Fluids at High pH
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing emulsifiers for non-aqueous drilling fluids, such as amidoamines and imidazolines, negatively impact the rheology of drilling fluids, leading to wellbore integrity issues and increased circulating density, and are unstable at high pH, requiring expensive purification processes.
Innovation Solution
Forming an emulsifier as a reaction product of an amide, specifically a bis-amide or imidazoline-amide, with a sultone, which stabilizes the emulsifier and avoids undesired reaction by-products, maintaining fluid performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional emulsifiers (amidoamines and imidazolines) are used to stabilize non-aqueous drilling fluids, then the drilling fluid achieves stable emulsion formation, but the low shear rate viscosity increases and wellbore integrity issues occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical structure of conventional emulsifiers by changing the molecular parameters - specifically using sultone compounds with defined molecular weight ranges (150-300 g/mol) and specific functional groups (sulfonate, carboxylate, or phosphate). This parameter change allows the emulsifier to achieve stable emulsion formation while avoiding the excessive viscosity increase and wellbore integrity issues associated with conventional amidoamine and imidazoline emulsifiers.
2Stability of the object's composition
If imidazolines are used as emulsifiers, then emulsion stability is improved, but the emulsifier becomes unstable at high pH and requires expensive purification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs sultone compounds that are inherently stable at high pH levels, eliminating the need for expensive purification processes required by imidazoline emulsifiers. The sultone structure provides inherent chemical stability that persists in high pH environments, making the emulsifier reliable without requiring costly post-synthesis purification to remove reaction by-products.
3Stability of the object's composition
If conventional emulsifiers are used, then drilling fluid stabilization is achieved, but manufacturing becomes energy intensive and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the synthesis parameters by using sultone compounds with controlled molecular weights (150-300 g/mol) that can be manufactured through more efficient processes. The simplified molecular structure of sultone-based emulsifiers reduces the energy intensity and time required for manufacturing compared to the complex synthesis pathways required for conventional amidoamine and imidazoline emulsifiers.
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 emulsifier stabilizes wellbore fluids, reducing interfacial tension and forming stable emulsions, thereby improving drilling efficiency and reducing wellbore integrity issues without the need for costly purification.
Implementation Method 1
The emulsifier stabilizes wellbore fluids, reducing interfacial tension and forming stable emulsions
Data Source
AI summary
A wellbore fluid includes an oleaginous base fluid, and an emulsifier including a reaction product of an amide and a sultone. The amide may include a bis-amide, an imidazoline-amide, or a mixture including the bis-amide and the imidazoline-amide. The bis-amide may include a reaction product of one or more fatty acids and one or more sultones. The imidazoline-amide may include a condensation product of the bis-amide. Related methods of forming the emulsifier and using the emulsifier in a wellbore fluid while drilling an earth formation are also disclosed.