Air Drilling Fluid Syrup Additive Wellbore Stability

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current drilling fluids face challenges with environmental sustainability, efficiency, and wellbore stability due to the use of water, diesel oil, and synthetic hydrocarbons, which are either polluting, costly, or inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A drilling fluid additive comprising corn syrup solids or syrup solids in combination with a liquid medium, such as water, that improves lubrication, reduces friction, and suppresses clay hydration, providing a non-toxic and biodegradable solution with a high LC50 rating, effectively functioning as a continuous liquid phase.

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 and wellbore stability are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental safetyVSAvoidlubrication and wellbore stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the water-based drilling fluid by adding carbohydrate-based additives (such as starch, cellulose, or their derivatives) to modify the fluid's lubrication properties and wellbore stability without compromising environmental safety. This allows water to achieve performance characteristics previously only attainable with oil-based fluids.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite drilling fluid system by combining water (continuous phase) with carbohydrate-based additives and other functional components. This composite approach enables the fluid to simultaneously exhibit the environmental benefits of water-based systems and the performance characteristics of oil-based systems through synergistic interactions between components.

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 are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveeconomyVSAvoidenvironmental safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs biodegradable carbohydrate-based additives that can be easily disposed of or broken down naturally, replacing persistent and toxic diesel oil components. These additives provide the necessary drilling fluid performance while being environmentally benign and economically viable, as they can be derived from renewable resources like corn starch or cellulose.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Reliability

If synthetic hydrocarbon is used as the continuous liquid phase of drilling fluid, then wellbore stability is improved, but cost and availability are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewellbore stabilityVSAvoidcost and availability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and utilizes the beneficial wellbore stability properties from complex synthetic hydrocarbon systems by isolating and employing specific carbohydrate-based additives that provide similar stabilization effects. This extraction approach allows achieving wellbore stability without requiring expensive and scarce synthetic hydrocarbons, using instead abundant and economical natural polymers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 enhances lubrication, maintains wellbore stability, reduces fluid loss, and is environmentally friendly, achieving results comparable to oil-based fluids while being economically efficient and non-polluting.

Implementation Method 1

the additive improves the lubrication and reduces the coefficient of friction on the water phase of the drilling fluid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLubrication: Lubrication

Implementation Method 2

the additive suppresses and restricts hydration of clays and shales when deposed into a wellbore

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydration suppression:

Data Source

PatentUS7964537B2Air drilling misting fluid contains syrups

Publication Date: 2011.06.21 MUD MASTERS ACQUISITION CORP

AI summary

An air drilling misting fluid is provided and the fluid comprises: a continuous liquid phase solution comprising syrup, syrup solids and a first liquid medium, the syrup and syrup solids are derived from a group consisting essentially of agave syrup, barley syrup, sugar syrup, beets syrup, birch syrup, rice syrup, cane syrup, chocolate syrup, coconut syrup, corn syrup, date syrup, fruit syrup, golden syrup, high fructose corn syrup, inverted sugar syrup, karo syrup, citrus fruit syrup, maple syrup, molasses, Muscavado syrup, palm syrup, rice syrup, sorghum syrup, Turbinado syrup, vanilla syrup and mixtures and blends thereof; and a second liquid medium.