Method for drilling and completing boreholes with electro-rheological fluids
First Claim
1. A method for controlling or modifying the viscosity of a synthetic wellbore fluid in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, said method comprising:
- determining the amount of viscosity desired for said fluid;
determining the electrical potential that, when applied to or contacted with said fluid, will cause said fluid to have said viscosity desired;
providing said electrical potential to said fluid or contacting said fluid with said electrical potential, at the point in the wellbore at which the wellbore fluid is desired to have said viscosity;
continuing said application or contact of said electrical potential to said fluid for as long as said viscosity is desired.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method is provided for drilling, completing and fracturing a subterranean formation. In the method, an electrical potential is applied to oil or synthetic based drilling fluid to increase the viscosity of the fluid and enable the fluid to entrain drill cuttings and proppant. The same base fluid may be used for drilling, completion and fracturing by adjusting the electrical potential and consequently the viscosity of the fluid for the particular application. In fracturing, little or no potential is applied until the fluid enters the zone of the formation to be fractured. High potential is then applied at the fracture point of the formation to effect fracturing and to enable the fluid to transport proppant into the fracture.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for controlling or modifying the viscosity of a synthetic wellbore fluid in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, said method comprising:
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determining the amount of viscosity desired for said fluid;
determining the electrical potential that, when applied to or contacted with said fluid, will cause said fluid to have said viscosity desired;
providing said electrical potential to said fluid or contacting said fluid with said electrical potential, at the point in the wellbore at which the wellbore fluid is desired to have said viscosity;
continuing said application or contact of said electrical potential to said fluid for as long as said viscosity is desired. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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- 13. A method for drilling or completing a borehole penetrating a subterranean formation, said method comprising employing an electro-rheological synthetic fluid whose viscosity varies with application and level of an electrical potential on the fluid, such that the viscosity of said fluid is adjusted by adjusting said electrical potential.
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18. The method of claim 18 wherein less potential is applied to decrease the viscosity of said fluid for ease of removal of said fluid after well-cleanup.
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19. A method for drilling a borehole penetrating a subterranean formation, said method comprising:
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introducing an electro-rheological synthetic fluid into said borehole during said drilling;
applying an electrical potential to said fluid to increase the viscosity of said fluid;
circulating said fluid in the formation;
entraining drill cuttings in said fluid;
decreasing said potential to decrease the viscosity of said fluid; and
removing said fluid from said borehole. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A method for drilling or completing a borehole penetrating a subterranean formation, or for fracturing said formation, said method comprising:
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(a) fitting said borehole with electrical sources or transmitters;
using a synthetic electro-rheological fluid as a drilling or completing fluid in said borehole;
(b) using said electrical sources or transmitters to selectively apply an electrical potential to said fluid to selectively increase the viscosity of said fluid to entrain drill cuttings, or to effect borehole completion, or to facilitate fracturing of the formation; and
(c) reducing said electrical potential to facilitate pumping of said fluid or removal of said fluid from the formation or the borehole. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification