Well Completion Fluid Displacement and Mud Treatment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Drilling muds, with their specific properties, are inefficient for well completion operations like fracturing and acidizing, requiring costly and time-consuming surface recovery and replacement with fluids better suited for these tasks.

Innovation Solution

A well completion system that involves pumping treating fluid into a tool string to displace drilling mud, using specialized surfactant blends to separate and remove mud, and recirculating the mud to treat and plug fractures, thereby eliminating the need for surface recovery and enhancing operational efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If drilling mud is used during drilling operations, then the borehole can be effectively drilled with proper viscosity and density properties, but the mud becomes inefficient for subsequent well completion operations like fracturing and acidizing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrilling efficiencyVSAvoidfluid suitability for completion operations

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the chemical composition and properties of the drilling mud through the addition of specific surfactants and chemicals. This transforms the mud from a drilling-optimized fluid to a completion-optimized fluid, enabling it to perform effectively in fracturing and acidizing operations while maintaining its drilling performance characteristics

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent achieves universality by creating a multi-functional fluid that can serve both drilling and completion operations. Through chemical modification with surfactants and additives, the drilling mud gains the ability to perform multiple functions: drilling, fracturing, acidizing, and well cleaning, eliminating the need for fluid replacement between operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If drilling mud is replaced with treating fluid for completion operations, then the treating fluid has properties better suited for fracturing and acidizing, but this requires costly and time-consuming surface recovery and replacement operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid properties for completion operationsVSAvoidtime for fluid replacement

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuity of useful action by enabling the drilling mud to transition seamlessly from drilling operations to completion operations without removal or replacement. The chemical treatments applied downhole allow the same fluid to continue serving useful functions throughout both drilling and completion phases, eliminating idle time for fluid recovery and replacement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies self-service by allowing the drilling mud to treat and clean itself through the in-situ application of surfactants and chemicals during the completion process. The fluid performs its own cleaning and preparation functions that would otherwise require separate operations, reducing both time and operational complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid properties for completion operationsVSAvoidcost of fluid replacement

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies discarding and recovering by eliminating the need to discard (remove) the drilling mud after drilling operations. Instead, the mud is recovered and reused in-place for completion operations after receiving chemical treatments, transforming what would be waste into a valuable multi-functional fluid and avoiding the costs of fluid disposal and replacement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

4Adaptability or versatility

If drilling mud is displaced and removed from the well, then treating fluid can be introduced for formation treatment, but this requires additional equipment and procedures for fluid management

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid compatibility for treatmentVSAvoidequipment for fluid recovery and replacement

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies merging by combining the drilling and completion fluid operations into a single continuous process. The same fluid system serves both drilling and completion functions, merging what would traditionally be separate fluid management systems into one integrated operation, thereby reducing equipment complexity and procedural steps

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 allows for efficient displacement and treatment of drilling mud, reducing surface recovery costs and time, while enabling independent zone treatment and effective fracture penetration, and reduces fluid losses by recirculating the mud to plug fractures.

Implementation Method 1

using specialized surfactant blends to separate and remove mud

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurfactant: Surfactant

Data Source

PatentUS9617842B2Method of completing a well

Publication Date: 2017.04.11 BAKER HUGHES CO

AI summary

A method of completing a well includes, pumping treating fluid into a tool string in the well, displacing drilling mud within the tool string with the treating fluid, and treating an earth formation with the treating fluid.