Lost circulation composition

• US 20060237192A1
• Filed: 04/26/2005
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OMNOVA Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mano Shaarpour
• Inventors: Shaarpour, Mano
• Granted Patent: US 7,629,297 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/294
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2208/18 Bridging agents, i.e. particles for temporarily filling the pores of a formation; Graded salts
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/04 Aqueous well-drilling compositions
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/32 Non-aqueous well-drilling compositions, e.g. oil-based
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/502 Oil-based compositions
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/504 Compositions based on water or polar solvents C09K8/502 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 21/003 Means for stopping loss of drilling fluid plastering the borehole wall E21B33/138

Abstract

A composition of matter and a method of sealing a permeable formation is provided incorporating the composition to reduce or eliminate lost circulation in permeable formations. The composition comprises one or more sealing components, ranging in size from approximately 10 to approximately 750 microns, a wetting component, a viscosifier component and an activator or flocculent. A dry mixture of the components may be added directly from the bag to the drilling mud to the permeable formation and will not set up inside the drill string. The mixture will seal the formation in an aqueous or organic environment, thus removing the need to form a pill in a slugging pit prior to introduction. The mixture dewaters at a rapid rate without regard to the time and temperature required for curing agents or other additives. The mixture does not require additional agents such as defoamers, accelerators, retarders or spacers to dewater and set as a solid plug.

Claims

1. A composition of matter for sealing permeable formations comprising:

i. a sealing component;

ii. a wetting component;

iii. a viscosifier component; and

iv. an activator.

2. The composition of claim 1 wherein said sealing component further comprises one or more sealing or bridging components comprising a range of particulate densities from 4 to 80 ppb;

3. The composition of claim 1 wherein said sealing component further comprises one or more sealing components comprising a range of particulate sizes from 10 to 750 microns;

4. The composition of claim 1 wherein said sealing component is diatomaceous earth;

5. The composition of claim 1 wherein said sealing component further comprises a fibrous material;

6. The composition of claim 1 wherein said sealing component comprises shredded cellulose material;

7. The composition of claim 1 wherein said sealing component comprises fibrous cellulose material;

8. The composition of claim 1 wherein said sealing component fibrous material is nut shell fibers;

9. The composition of claim 1 wherein said sealing component fibrous material comprises wood flour;

10. The composition of claim 1 wherein said wetting component further comprises a organophilic material;

11. The composition of claim 1 wherein said wetting component further comprises a hydrophilic material;

12. The composition of claim 1 wherein said wetting component further comprises hydrophilic and organophilic properties;

13. The composition of claim 1 wherein said wetting component further comprises an omnibase wetting agent;

14. The composition of claim 1 wherein said wetting component is gilsonite;

15. The composition of claim 1 wherein said wetting component is a surfactant;

16. The composition of claim 1 wherein said viscosifier component is xanthum gum;

17. The composition of claim 1 wherein said viscosifier component is CMC;

18. The composition of claim 1 wherein said activator is an inorganic hydroxide;

19. The composition of claim 1 wherein said activator is lime;

20. A composition of matter for sealing permeable formations comprising:

i. between approximately 30% and approximately 95% by weight of sealing component;

ii. between approximately 5% and approximately 25% by weight of wetting component;

iii. between approximately 0.5% and approximately 4% by weight of a viscosifier component, and

iv. between approximately 1% and approximately 8% by weight of an activator component.

21. The composition of claim 20 further comprising:

i. between approximately 46% and approximately 56% by weight of a first sealing component;

ii. between approximately 8% and approximately 18% by weight of a second sealing component;

iii. between approximately 10% and approximately 20% by weight of a third sealing component;

iv. between approximately 10% and approximately 20% by weight of a wetting component;

v. between approximately 1% and approximately 3% by weight of a viscosifier component, and

vi. between approximately 2% and approximately 6% by weight of an activator component.

22. The composition of claim 20 wherein said sealing component further comprises one or more sealing or bridging components comprising a range of particulate densities from 4 to 80 ppb;

23. The composition of claim 20 wherein said sealing component further comprises one or more sealing components comprising a range of particulate sizes from 10 to 750 microns;

24. The composition of claim 20 further comprising:

i. between approximately 46% and approximately 56% by weight of diatomaceous earth;

ii. between approximately 8% and approximately 18% by weight of nut shells;

iii. between approximately 10% and approximately 20% by weight of wood flour;

iv. between approximately 10% and approximately 20% by weight of gilsonite;

v. between approximately 1% and approximately 3% by weight of xanthum gum, and

vi. between approximately 2% and approximately 6% by weight of lime.

25. The composition of claim 20 further comprising:

i. between approximately 50% and approximately 52% by weight of diatomaceous earth;

ii. between approximately 12% and approximately 14% by weight of nut shells;

iii. between approximately 14% and approximately 16% by weight of wood flour;

iv. between approximately 14% and approximately 16% by weight of gilsonite;

v. between approximately 1% and approximately 3% by weight of xanthum gum, and

vi. between approximately 3% and approximately 5% by weight of lime.

26. The composition of claim 20 further comprising:

i. 51% by weight of diatomaceous earth;

ii. 13% by weight of nut shells;

iii. 15% by weight of wood flour;

iv. 15% by weight of gilsonite;

v. 2% by weight of xanthum gum, and

vi. 4% by weight of lime.

27. A composition of matter for sealing permeable formations comprising:

i. a sealing component;

ii. a wetting component;

iii. a viscosifier component;

iv. an activator, and

v. a lubricant

28. The composition of claim 27 wherein said lubricant is graphite;

29. A method of sealing a permeable formation to restore lost circulation comprising:

i. Mixing a composition comprising a sealing component, a wetting component, a viscosifier and an activator;

ii. incorporating said mixture with a drilling fluid to form a pill;

iii. placing said pill at the permeable formation;

iv. sealing said formation; and

v. restoring lost circulation;