Dispersant in cement formulations for oil and gas wells

• US 10,640,695 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2018
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Original Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Inventors: Al-Yami, Abdullah, AlBahrani, Hussain, Wagle, Vikrant, Safran, Ali
• Primary Examiner(s): Hutton, Jr., William D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Skaist, Avi T
• Application Number:
  US16/002,669
• Publication Number:
  US 20180312439A1
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 14/06 Quartz; Sand
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 18/08 Flue dust , i.e. fly ash
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 18/141 Slags
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 18/146 Silica fume
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 2103/12 Set accelerators
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 2103/22 Set retarders
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 2103/40 Surface-active agents, dispersants
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 2103/46 Water-loss or fluid-loss reducers, hygroscopic or hydrophilic agents, water retention agents
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 2103/50 Defoamers, air detrainers
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 2111/00068 Mortar or concrete mixtures with an unusual water/cement ratio
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 2201/20 for the density
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 24/02 Alcohols; Phenols; Ethers
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 24/026 Fatty alcohols
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 24/04 Carboxylic acids; Salts, anhydrides or esters thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 24/08 Fats; Fatty oils; Ester type waxes; Higher fatty acids, i.e. having at least seven carbon atoms in an unbroken chain bound to a carboxyl group; Oxidised oils or fats
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 24/085 Higher fatty acids
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 24/32 Polyethers, e.g. alkylphenol polyglycolether
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 28/02 containing hydraulic cements other than calcium sulfates
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 28/04 Portland cements
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 28/08 Slag cements
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 38/02 : by adding chemical blowing agents
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 7/02 : Portland cement
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 7/527 : obtaining cements characterised by fineness, e.g. by multi-modal particle size distribution
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2208/12 : Swell inhibition, i.e. using additives to drilling or well treatment fluids for inhibiting clay or shale swelling or disintegrating
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2208/34 : Lubricant additives
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 23/018 : Mixtures of two or more different organic oxygen-containing compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 23/38 : Alcohols, e.g. oxidation products of paraffins
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 23/42 : Ethers, e.g. polyglycol ethers of alcohols or phenols
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/03 : Specific additives for general use in well-drilling compositions
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/032 : Inorganic additives
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/035 : Organic additives
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/04 : Aqueous well-drilling compositions
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/08 : containing natural organic compounds, e.g. polysaccharides, or derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/20 : Natural organic compounds or derivatives thereof, e.g. polysaccharides or lignin derivatives
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/22 : Synthetic organic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/24 : Polymers
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/28 : containing organic additives
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/32 : Non-aqueous well-drilling compositions, e.g. oil-based
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/36 : Water-in-oil emulsions
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/40 : Spacer compositions, e.g. compositions used to separate well-drilling from cementing masses
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/424 : using "spacer" compositions
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/46 : containing inorganic binders, e.g. Portland cement
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/467 : containing additives for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/48 : Density increasing or weighting additives
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/487 : Fluid loss control additives; Additives for reducing or preventing circulation loss
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/506 : containing organic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/508 : macromolecular compounds C09K8/512 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/514 : of natural origin, e.g. polysaccharides, cellulose C09K8/512 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/74 : combined with additives added for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 105/18 : Ethers, e.g. epoxides
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 105/62 : containing hydroxy groups
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 107/34 : Polyoxyalkylenes
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 111/04 : at least one of them being a macromolecular organic compound
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 173/00 : Lubricating compositions containing more than 10% water
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 173/02 : not containing mineral or fatty oils
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2201/062 : Oxides; Hydroxides; Carbonates or bicarbonates
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2201/08 : Inorganic acids or salts thereof of phosphorus C10M2201/085, of chromium C10M2201/086, of boron C10M2201/087; metal carbonates or bicarbonates C10M2201/062
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2201/103 : Clays; Mica; Zeolites
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2207/003 : used as base material
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2207/046 : Hydroxy ethers
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2209/104 : of alkylene oxides containing two carbon atoms only
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2209/1045 : used as base material
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2209/108 : etherified
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2215/042 : containing hydroxy groups; Alkoxylated derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2215/08 : Amides
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2215/265 : used as base material
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2215/28 : Amides; Imides
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2217/044 : Polyamides
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2020/017 : Specific gravity or density
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2020/02 : Viscosity; Viscosity index
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2020/04 : Molecular weight; Molecular weight distribution
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2030/06 : Oiliness; Film-strength; Anti-wear; Resistance to extreme pressure
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2040/22 : with essential removal of material , e.g. cutting, grinding or drilling
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2040/40 : Generators or electric motors in oil or gas winning field
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2050/013 : Water-in-oil
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 21/00 : Methods or apparatus for flushing boreholes, e.g. by use of exhaust air from motor freeing objects stuck in boreholes by flushing E21B31/03
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 21/002 : Down-hole drilling fluid separation systems containers comprising collecting means with a strainer E21B27/005; subsoil filtering E21B43/02; down-hole production separators E21B43/38
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 21/003 : Means for stopping loss of drilling fluid plastering the borehole wall E21B33/138
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/14 : for cementing casings into boreholes
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/25 : Methods for stimulating production by vibrating earth formations E21B43/003
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/91 : Use of waste materials as fillers for mortars or concrete

Abstract

Cement slurries, cured cements, and methods of making cured cement and methods of using cement slurries are provided. The cement slurries have, among other attributes, improved rheology, such as improved flowability and pumpability and may be used, for instance, in the oil and gas drilling industry. The cement slurry contains water, a cement precursor material and a surfactant having the formula R—(OC₂H₄)_x—OH where R is a hydrocarbyl group comprising from 10 to 20 carbon atoms and x is an integer from 1 and 10. The cured cement have improved strength and density properties due to reduced fluid loss and even placement during curing. The cured cement contains a surfactant having the formula R—(OC₂H₄)_x—OH where R is a hydrocarbyl group comprising from 10 to 20 carbon atoms and x is an integer from 1 and 10.

Claims

1. A method of cementing a casing in a wellbore, the method comprising:

combining water with a cement precursor material to form a cement slurry;

adding a surfactant to the cement slurry, thereby reducing a viscosity of the cement slurry to less than 100 centiPoises (cP) after 10 minutes at 600 rotations per minute (RPM), where;

the surfactant comprises the formula;

R—

(OC₂H₄)_x—

OH, where;

R is a hydrocarbyl group comprising from 10 to 20 carbon atoms, and x is an integer from 1 to 10;

pumping the cement slurry into an annulus between the casing and the wellbore, where the viscosity of the cement slurry is less than 100 cP after 10 minutes at 600 RPM and ensures proper placement of the cement slurry; and

curing the cement slurry to cement the casing in the wellbore.

2. The method of claim 1, where the surfactant has a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) of from 12 to 13.5.

3. The method of claim 1, where the cement slurry contains from 10 wt.% to 50 wt.% BWOC (By Weight of Cement Precursor) of the water.

4. The method of claim 1, where the cement slurry contains from 0.1 wt.% to 10 wt.% BWOC of the surfactant.

5. The method of claim 2, where the cement slurry contains from 0.1 to 10 wt% BWOC of one or more additives selected from the group consisting of accelerators, retarders, extenders, weighting agents, fluid loss control agents, lost circulation control agents, other surfactants, antifoaming agents, and combinations of these.

6. The method of claim 2, where the cement precursor material comprises one or more components selected from the group consisting of calcium hydroxide, silicates, belite (Ca₂SiO₅), alite (Ca₃SiO₄), tricalcium aluminate (Ca₃Al₂O₆), tetracalcium aluminoferrite (Ca₄Al₂Fe₂O₁₀), brownmilleriate (4CaO·

Al₂O₃·

Fe₂O₃), gypsum (CaSO₄·

2H₂O) sodium oxide, potassium oxide, limestone, lime (calcium oxide), hexavalent chromium, calcium alluminate, and combinations thereof.

7. The method of claim 2, where the cement precursor material comprises Portland cement precursor, siliceous fly ash, calcareous fly ash, slag cement, silica fume, or combinations thereof.

8. The method of claim 2, where the cement precursor material comprises Portland cement precursor.

9. The method of claim 1, where R is:

an alkyl group comprising 12 to 15 carbons;

or

an alkenyl group comprising from 12 to 15 carbon atoms.

10. The method of claim 1, where R comprises 13 carbon atoms.

11. The method of claim 1, where R is an isotridecyl (C₁₃H₂₇) group.

12. The method of claim 1, where x is from 5 to 10.

13. The method of claim 1, where x is from 7 to 9.

14. The method of claim 1, where the surfactant has an HLB of from 12.5 to 13.

15. The method of claim 2, where the surfactant comprises ethylene oxide condensate of branched isotridecyl alcohol.

16. A method of cementing a casing in a wellbore, the method comprising:

combining water with a cement precursor material to form a cement slurry;

adding a surfactant to the cement slurry, thereby reducing a viscosity of the cement slurry to less than 100 centiPoises (cP) after 10 minutes at 600 rotations per minute (RPM), where;

the surfactant comprises the formula;

R—

(OC₂H₄)_x—

OH, where;

R is a hydrocarbyl group comprising from 10 to 20 carbon atoms, x is an integer from 1 to 10, and the surfactant has a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) of from 12 to 13.5;

pumping the cement slurry into an annulus between the casing and the wellbore, where the viscosity of the cement slurry is less than 100 cP after 10 minutes at 600 RPM and ensures proper placement of the cement slurry; and

curing the cement slurry to cement the casing in the wellbore.

17. The method of claim 16, where the surfactant has an HLB of from 12.5 to 13.

18. The method of claim 16, where the surfactant comprises ethylene oxide condensate of branched isotridecyl alcohol.

19. The method of claim 16, where the cement slurry contains from 0.1 wt.% to 10 wt.% BWOC of the surfactant.