Turbidity Measurement for Formation Stabilizer Ranking

Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for determining formation stability in the oil and gas industry are capital-intensive, require specialized equipment and trained personnel, and are inefficient in evaluating the performance of formation stabilizers, especially in clay-rich formations, which are prone to water sensitivity and damage.

Innovation Solution

A turbidity measurement method using drill cuttings to rank formation stabilizers, which involves grinding and sieving the cuttings, adding a stabilizer solution, agitating, and measuring turbidity to assess mechanical and chemical stability without the need for expensive equipment or core samples, allowing for quick and cost-effective field testing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional formation stability tests (Quad cell embedment test or Brinell hardness test) are used, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveformation stability measurementVSAvoidtesting equipment

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses drill cuttings as a substitute (copy) for core samples in formation stability testing. Instead of requiring expensive core samples and complex laboratory equipment, the method uses readily available drill cuttings that can be processed and tested with simpler apparatus, achieving comparable formation stability assessment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical testing systems (Quad cell embedment test, Brinell hardness test) with a simpler chemical interaction-based testing method. The new method uses formation stabilizer solutions interacting with drill cuttings and measures turbidity changes, substituting mechanical property measurement with optical property measurement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If core samples are obtained for each well and zone, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time and difficulty of operation increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveformation stability measurementVSAvoidsample acquisition time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses drill cuttings as a substitute (copy) for core samples in formation stability testing. Instead of requiring expensive core samples and complex laboratory equipment, the method uses readily available drill cuttings that can be processed and tested with simpler apparatus, achieving comparable formation stability assessment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The drilling process itself generates the test samples (drill cuttings) as a byproduct, eliminating the need for separate core sampling operations. The cuttings are already being produced during normal drilling operations, so no additional time or specialized equipment is needed to obtain test material

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If clay-rich formations are tested using traditional methods, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveformation stability measurementVSAvoidtesting method implementation

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses drill cuttings as a substitute (copy) for core samples in formation stability testing. Instead of requiring expensive core samples and complex laboratory equipment, the method uses readily available drill cuttings that can be processed and tested with simpler apparatus, achieving comparable formation stability assessment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the measurement parameter from mechanical properties (embedment, hardness) to optical properties (turbidity). This parameter change allows testing of clay-rich formations using simple turbidity measurements instead of complex mechanical testing, making the method easier to implement while maintaining precision

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

This method provides a rapid, low-cost, and field-deployable means to determine the optimal formation stabilizer, correlating turbidity with rock stability, enabling improved wellbore stability and reduced formation damage, and offering a practical alternative to traditional core sample-based tests.

Implementation Method 1

measuring turbidity of the agitated mixture

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTurbidity measurement: Scattering

Implementation Method 2

Clays in the formation can swell, disperse, disintegrate or otherwise become disrupted in the presence of aqueous fluids

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectClay swelling: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 3

Clays in the formation can swell, disperse, disintegrate or otherwise become disrupted in the presence of aqueous fluids

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectClay dispersion: Dispersion (of waves)

Data Source

PatentUS10663448B2Methods of ranking formation stabilizer performance

Publication Date: 2020.05.26 HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES INC

AI summary

Methods of ranking formation stabilizer performance are described. The methods include obtaining drill cuttings from a subterranean formation, grinding and sieving the drill cuttings to a particle size larger than 200 mesh, adding a formation stabilizer solution to the ground and sieved drill cuttings to form a mixture, agitating the mixture, and measuring turbidity of the agitated mixture.