Mud suspension control system

• US 5,975,220 A
• Filed: 05/28/1997
• Issued: 11/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: BJ Services Company
• Original Assignee: BJ Services Company
• Inventors: Johnston, Neil, Daulton, Daniel J., Rae, Phillip J., Mueller, Dan T., DiLullo, Gino
• Primary Examiner(s): SUCHFIELD, GEORGE A
• Application Number:
  US08/864,207
• Time in Patent Office: 888 Days
• Field of Search: 507/110, 507/269, 507/211, 507/209, 507/925, 507/926, 524/45, 426/276, 426/578, 426/584, 166/300, 175/61, 175/65, 536/123, 106/162.8, 44/280
• US Class Current: 175/65
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/08 containing natural organic compounds, e.g. polysaccharides, or derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/206 Derivatives of other natural products, e.g. cellulose, starch, sugars
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 507/925 Completion or workover fluid

Abstract

A drilling fluid additive for controlling solids comprising a carrageenan material, such as iota or kappa carrageenan. The drilling fluid additive may be used with other additives, such as a polyacrylate dispersant. Among other things, the drilling fluid additive may be used to drill deviated or horizontal wells, or wells having large diameter boreholes.

Claims

1. A method of conducting operations on a well having a borehole, comprising introducing into said well a drilling fluid comprising a carrageenan;

wherein said borehole is oriented at an angle of between about 30° and

about 90°

with respect to the vertical, wherein said borehole has a diameter of greater than about 16 inches, or wherein said borehole is oriented at an angle of between about 30° and

about 90°

with respect to the vertical and has a diameter of greater than about 16 inches.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said carrageenan is at least one of kappa carrageenan, iota carrageenan, or a mixture thereof.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said carrageenan is a carrageenan having a molecular weight of between about 75,000 and about 500,000.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said drilling fluid further comprises a dispersant, said dispersant being at least one of a polyacrylate, sulfonated styrene maleic anhydride, lignin, tannin, or a mixture thereof.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said drilling fluid comprises from about 0.2 kg/m³ to about 8.5 kg/m³ iota carrageenan.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said drilling fluid comprises from about 0.2 kg/m³ to about 8.5 kg/m³ iota carrageenan and further comprises from about 0.7 kg/m³ to about 28 kg/m³ polyacrylate dispersant.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said carrageenan is an iota carrageenan, and wherein said borehole is oriented at an angle of between about 30°

and about 90°

with respect to the vertical.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said carrageenan is an iota carrageenan, and wherein said borehole has a diameter of greater than about 16 inches.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein said drilling fluid has a viscosity reading of between about 175 centipoise and about 90 centipoise at 80°

F. as measured on a Fann 35A rheometer at between about 600 RPM and about 300 RPM; and

has a viscosity reading of between about 20 centipoise and about 15 centipoise at 80°

F. as measured on a Fann 35A rheometer at between about 6 RPM and about 3 RPM.

9. A method of drilling a well, comprising drilling a borehole oriented at an angle with respect to the vertical of between about 30°

and about 90°

in the presence of a drilling mud comprising a carrageenan.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said drilling mud comprises bentonite.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said carrageenan is at least one of kappa carrageenan, iota carrageenan, or a mixture thereof.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said carrageenan is an iota carrageenan having a molecular weight of between about 75,000 and about 500,000.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein said drilling mud further comprises a dispersant, said dispersant being at least one of a polyacrylate, sulfonated styrene maleic anhydride, lignin, tannin, or a mixture thereof.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein said drilling mud comprises from about 0.2 kg/m³ to about 8.5 kg/m³ iota carrageenan.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein said drilling mud comprises from about 0.2 kg/m³ to about 8.5 kg/m³ iota carrageenan and further comprises from about 0.7 kg/m³ to about 28 kg/m³ polyacrylate dispersant.

23. The method of claim 9 wherein said drilling mud has a viscosity reading of between about 175 centipoise and about 90 centipoise at 80°

F. as measured on a Fann 35A rheometer at between about 600 RPM and about 300 RPM; and

has a viscosity reading of between about 20 centipoise and about 15 centipoise at 80°

F. as measured on a Fann 35A rheometer at between about 6 RPM and about 3 RPM.

16. A method of conducting operations on a well having a borehole, comprising introducing into said well a drilling fluid comprising an iota carrageenan;

wherein said borehole is oriented at an angle of between about 30° and

about 90°

with respect to the vertical, said borehole has a diameter of greater than about 16 inches, or wherein said borehole is oriented at an angle of between about 30° and

about 90°

with respect to the vertical and has a diameter of greater than about 16 inches.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said iota carrageenan has a molecular weight of between about 150,000 and about 500,000.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said drilling fluid further comprises a dispersant, said dispersant being at least one of a polyacrylate, sulfonated styrene maleic anhydride, lignin, tannin, or a mixture thereof.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said drilling fluid comprises from about 0.2 kg/m³ to about 8.5 kg/m³ iota carrageenan.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said drilling fluid comprises from about 0.2 kg/m³ to about 8.5 kg/m³ iota carrageenan and from about 0.7 kg/m³ to about 28 kg/m³ polyacrylate dispersant.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said borehole is oriented at an angle of between about 30°

and about 90°

with respect to the vertical.

24. The method of claim 16 wherein said drilling fluid has a viscosity reading of between about 175 centipoise and about 90 centipoise at 80°

F. as measured on a Fann 35A rheometer at between about 600 RPM and about 300 RPM; and

has a viscosity reading of between about 20 centipoise and about 15 centipoise at 80°

F. as measured on a Fann 35A rheometer at between about 6 RPM and about 3 RPM.