Non-cryogenic nitrogen for on-site downhole drilling and post drilling operations

• US 6,443,245 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2001
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb Incorporated (Weatherford International PLC)
• Original Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb Incorporated (Weatherford International PLC)
• Inventors: Michael, Keith P.
• Primary Examiner(s): NEUDER, WILLIAM P
• Application Number:
  US09/817,715
• Publication Number:
  US 20010017223A1
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 175/71, 166/292, 95/47, 951/38
• US Class Current: 175/71
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 7/08 Oxygen-containing compounds
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 21/14 using liquids and gases, e.g. foams
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 21/16 using gaseous fluids E21B21/14 takes precedence

Abstract

A method for enhancing gas or oil production by delivering a nitrogen rich gas produced from a non-cryogenic source into the well and/or reservoir where the gas and/or oil is located.

Claims

1. A method for producing an inert rich gas for use in removing cuttings from a drilling region of a well comprising:

removing at least a substantial portion of oxygen contained within a feed stream of air to produce the inert rich gas and an oxygen enriched waste gas; and

supplying the inert rich gas to equipment for direction to the drilling region of the well at a pressure and flow rate sufficient to remove cuttings from the drilling region.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the well is an oil well, gas well, or combination thereof.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the equipment comprises a surface equipment installation.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of supplying the inert rich gas comprises boosting the pressure of the inert rich gas to a level sufficient to remove the cuttings from the drilling region of the well.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the pressure of the inert rich gas is boosted to at least 200 psig.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the pressure of the inert rich gas is boosted to at least 1000 psig.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the inert rich gas is nitrogen rich gas.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the supplying step comprises compressing the inert rich gas.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the compressing step comprises boosting the pressure of the inert rich gas to a level sufficient for use as the drilling fluid.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the drilling fluid is used to remove cuttings from a drilling region and the pressure is boosted to at least 200 psig.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein tie drilling fluid is used to remove cuttings from a drilling region and the pressure is boosted to at least 1000 psi.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the inert rich gas is nitrogen rich gas.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the nitrogen rich gas contains at least 85 percent nitrogen.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the nitrogen rich gas contains at least 95 percent nitrogen.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the removing step comprises passing a feed stream of air through a membrane which preferentially separates nitrogen gas from other components of the air stream.

16. A method for producing an inert rich gas for use in lightening a drilling fluid comprising;

removing at least a substantial portion of oxygen contained within a food stream of air by passing the feed stream of air through a membrane which preferentially separates the inert rich gas from other components of the feed stream to produce the inert rich gas and an oxygen enriched waste gas; and

supplying the inert rich gas to an equipment for combination with a drilling fluid, wherein the inert rich gas has a flow rate up to 2000 scfm.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the inert rich gas is nitrogen rich gas.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the equipment comprises a surface equipment installation.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of supplying the inert rich gas comprises compressing the inert rich gas.

20. A method for producing an inert rich gas for use as a drilling fluid comprising:

providing a feed stream of air;

separating at least a substantial portion of the inert rich gas by passing tho feed stream of air through a membrane which preferentially separates inert rich gas from other components of the feed stream of air; and

supplying the inert rich gas to an equipment for use as a drilling fluid, wherein the inert gas has a purity level up to 96%.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the inert rich gas is nitrogen rich gas.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the equipment comprises a surface equipment installation.

23. A method for producing nitrogen rich gas for use in reducing a density of a cement-like material used to secure casings in a well comprising:

removing at least a substantial portion of oxygen contained within a feed stream of air to produce the nitrogen rich gas and an oxygen enriched waste gas by passing the feed stream of air through a membrane which preferentially separates nitrogen gas from other components of the feed stream, and

supplying the nitrogen rich gas to an equipment fur combination with the cement-like material, wherein the nitrogen rich gas has a purity level up to 95%.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the wall is an oil or gas well.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the equipment comprises a surface equipment installation.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein the supplying step comprises compressing the nitrogen rich gas.

27. A method for producing a nitrogen rich gas for use in enhancing gas or oil production by assisting gas or oil to rise out of a well comprising;

removing at least a substantial portion of oxygen contained within a feed stream of air to produce a nitrogen rich gas and an oxygen enriched waste gas by passing the feed stream of air through a membrane which preferentially separates nitrogen gas from other components of the ford stream; and

supplying the nitrogen rich gas to an equipment for use in assisting the gas or oil to rise out of the well.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein said nitrogen rich gas contains at least 85 percent nitrogen.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein said nitrogen rich gas contains at least 95 percent nitrogen.

30. The method of claim 27 wherein the supplying step comprises boosting the pressure of the nitrogen rich gas to a level sufficient to assist the oil or gas to rise out of the well.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the pressure of the nitrogen rich gas is boosted to at least 200 psig.

32. The method of claim 27 wherein the equipment comprises a surface equipment installation.

33. A method of producing a nitrogen rich gas for use in carrying an additive into a well comprising:

removing at least a substantial portion of oxygen contained within a feed stream of air to produce a nitrogen rich gas and an oxygen enriched waste gas by passing the feed stream of air through a membrane which preferentially separates nitrogen gas from other components of the feed stream; and

supplying the inert rich gas to equipment for combination with the additive.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the additive is proppants.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the well contains cracks or tissues and wherein the proppants embed in the cracks or tissues.

36. The method of claim 34 wherein the proppants are selected from the group consisting of sand and glass beads.

37. The method of claim 33 wherein the additive is an acid.

38. The method of claim 33 wherein the supplying step comprises boosting the pressure of the nitrogen rich gas to a level sufficient to carry the additive into the wall.

39. The method of claim 33 wherein the well is an oil or gas well.

40. The method of claim 33 wherein the equipment comprises a surface equipment installation.

41. An apparatus for producing an inert rich gas for use in oil or gas drilling or completion operations comprising:

a membrane separator for separating at least a substantial portion of oxygen contained within a feed stream of air to produce an inert rich gas and an oxygen enriched waste gas; and

a booster compressor to increase the pressure of the inert rich gas to a level sufficient for use in oil or gas drilling or completion operations and to supply the inert rich gas to equipment for use in oil or gas drillings or completion operations.

42. The apparatus of claim 41 wherein aid inert gas is nitrogen rich gas.

43. The apparatus of claim 41 wherein said membrane separator comprises a plurality of bundles of hollow fiber semi-permeable membranes and a central core tube.

44. The apparatus of claim 41 further comprising a compressor for supplying the feed stream of air to the membrane separator.

45. The apparatus of claim 41 further comprising a conduit for supplying the pressurized inert rich gas from the booster compressor to equipment for use in oil or gas drilling or competition operations.

46. The apparatus of claim 41 wherein the equipment comprises a surface equipment installation.

47. A method for producing an inert rich gas for use in removing cuttings from a drilling region of a wall comprising:

removing at least a substantial portion of oxygen contained within a feed stream of air to produce an inert rich gas and an oxygen enriched waste gas; and

supplying the inert rich gas to equipment for direction to the drilling region of the well to remove cuttings from the drilling region.