Well Fluid-Loss Blocking Composition for Permeable Formations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drilling muds fail to prevent fluid loss in highly permeable formations and formations with abnormally low or high formation pressure due to low viscosity, poor adhesion, and hydrophilization, leading to uncontrollable infiltration and process complications.
Innovation Solution
A method using an emulsion-suspension system comprising diesel fuel, emulsifiers, nanoparticles of silicon dioxide, and microparticles, injected with an aqueous solution of calcium or potassium chloride, forms a blocking screen with high adhesion and rheological characteristics to control fluid loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional drilling methods are used without specialized equipment, then drilling cost is reduced, but fluid loss into the formation increases causing stuck pipe and operational delays
Solution Approach 1:
A packer is introduced as an intermediary device between the drilling fluid system and the formation. The packer isolates the annulus to prevent fluid loss into the formation, while allowing the drilling operation to continue with conventional equipment. This mediator resolves the contradiction by blocking the harmful fluid loss path without requiring complex modifications to the drilling system.
Solution Approach 2:
The packer utilizes a flexible element that can be inflated to create a seal against the formation wall. This flexible membrane approach provides an effective barrier against fluid loss while maintaining a relatively simple device structure that can be deployed within the existing drilling apparatus.
2Reliability
If a packer is deployed to prevent fluid loss, then fluid loss is reduced, but the complexity of the drilling system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The packer is designed as a nested structure where the flexible sealing element is contained within a deployable housing that fits inside the existing drill string. This nesting approach allows the packer to be stored and transported compactly within conventional drilling equipment, minimizing the increase in system complexity while maintaining wellbore stability functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The packer is designed to be self-deploying and self-sealing through inflation of the flexible element. Once deployed, it automatically creates the seal without requiring additional complex control systems or manual intervention, thereby improving reliability while keeping the operational complexity manageable.
3Productivity
If drilling continues without addressing fluid loss, then operational simplicity is maintained, but pipe gets stuck and operations are delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The packer is deployed in advance during the drilling operation to prevent fluid loss before it can cause stuck pipe conditions. By taking preliminary action to seal the annulus, the system maintains operational simplicity while preventing future productivity losses from stuck pipe and associated delays.
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 method effectively controls fluid loss by forming a radial screen that withstands high pressure differences, prevents irreversible clogging, and simplifies composition preparation under field conditions, allowing adjustment of rheological parameters during drilling.
Implementation Method 1
isolating the annulus with a packer to eliminate fluid loss
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to the oil and gas industry, and more particularly to techniques for eliminating fluid loss during the drilling of oil and gas wells. The method includes successively pumping a blocking agent and a displacement fluid into a formation. The blocking agent is comprised of an emulsion-suspension system containing diesel fuel or processed oil from a central processing facility, an emulsifier, a colloidal solution of nanoparticles of silicon dioxide, dry amorphous silicon dioxide, microparticles of ilmenite or trimanganese tetraoxide, and an aqueous solution of calcium chloride or potassium chloride. The displacement fluid is comprised of an aqueous solution of calcium chloride or potassium chloride.