Methods and oil-based settable spotting fluid compositions for cementing wells

• US 6,668,929 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2002
• Issued: 12/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Chatterji, Jiten, King, Bobby J., Griffith, James E., Dennis, John L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): MARCANTONI, PAUL D
• Application Number:
  US10/320,079
• Publication Number:
  US 20030121660A1
• Time in Patent Office: 379 Days
• Field of Search: 166/292, 166/293
• US Class Current: 166/292
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 12/04 Alkali metal or ammonium silicate cements ; Alkyl silicate cements; Silica sol cements; Soluble silicate cements alkali metal silicates per se, their preparation C01B33/32; ammonium silicates per se, their preparation C01C1/00
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 18/141 Slags
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 18/146 Silica fume
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 2103/0088 Compounds chosen for their latent hydraulic characteristics, e.g. pozzuolanes
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 22/062 of the alkali or alkaline-earth metals
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 22/064 of the alkaline-earth metals
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 22/124 Chlorides of ammonium or of the alkali or alkaline earth metals, e.g. calcium chloride
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 24/04 Carboxylic acids; Salts, anhydrides or esters thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 28/04 Portland cements
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 28/08 Slag cements
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 28/18 containing mixtures of the silica-lime type
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/42 Compositions for cementing, e.g. for cementing casings into boreholes; Compositions for plugging, e.g. for killing wells compositions for plastering C09K8/50
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/46 containing inorganic binders, e.g. Portland cement
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/502 Oil-based compositions
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/91 Use of waste materials as fillers for mortars or concrete

Abstract

Methods for cementing a pipe string in a well bore containing oil-based drilling fluid using oil-based settable spotting fluid compositions are provided. The oil-based settable spotting fluid compositions basically comprise an oil external emulsion comprising oil, water and an emulsifying surfactant; a hydraulically settable component; and a de-emulsifying surfactant for de-emulsifying the oil-external emulsion when the emulsion is cured.

Claims

1. A method of cementing a pipe string in a well bore containing oil-containing drilling fluid comprising the steps of:

preparing an oil-containing settable spotting fluid composition comprising an oil external emulsion which comprises oil, water and an emulsifying surfactant;

a hydraulically settable component; and

a de-emulsifying surfactant for de-emulsifying said oil-external emulsion when the emulsion is cured;

pumping said oil-containing settable spotting fluid composition into the annulus between said pipe string and the walls of said well bore to displace at least a portion of said drilling fluid out of said annulus;

pumping said cement composition into said armulus whereby said drilling fluid and said settable spotting fluid are displaced except for portions of said settable spotting fluid which remain in fractures or other permeable zones therein; and

allowing said cement composition in said annulus and any settable spotting fluid composition remaining in said fractures or other permeable zones therein to set.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said oil is selected from the group consisting of diesel oil, internal olefins, mineral oil and long chain esters and is present in said oil external emulsion in an amount in the range of from about 50% to about 90% by weight thereof.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said water is selected from the group consisting of fresh water and salt water and is present in said oil external emulsion in an amount in the range of from about 5% to about 45% by weight thereof.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said emulsifying surfactant is a tall oil diethanolarnide and is present in said oil external emulsion in an amount in the range of from about 2.3% to about 7.5% by weight thereof.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said emulsifying surfactant is oxidized tall oil containing oxidized fatty acids and is present in said oil external emulsion in an amount in the range of from about 1.0% to about 1.6% by weight thereof.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said hydraulically settable component is selected from the group consisting of ASTM Class F fly ash together with lime, Portland cement, blast furnace slag, a mixture of silica fume, pozzolan and lime, a mixture of Portland cement and blast furnace slag, and a mixture of Portland cement and pozzolan, said hydraulically settable component being present in said composition in an amount in the range of from about 100% to about 250% by weight of said oil external emulsion.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said de-emulsifying surfactant is an ethoxylated nonylphenol and is present in said composition in an amount in the range of from about 0.3% to about 2.5% by weight of said oil external emulsion therein.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said de-emulsifying surfactant is selected from the group consisting of triethanolamine condensate polymer and quaternized triethanolamine condensate polymer and is present in said composition in an amount in the range of from about 0.3% to about 3.0% by weight of said oil external emulsion therein.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said settable spotting fluid composition has a density in the range of from about 11 to about 13 pounds per gallon.

10. A method of cementing a pipe string in a well bore containing an oil-containing drilling fluid comprising the steps of:

preparing an oil-containing settable spotting fluid composition comprising an oil external emulsion which comprises oil, water and an emulsifying surfactant;

a hydraulically settable component;

an activator for said hydraulically settable component selected from the group consisting of calcium chloride, zinc acetate, zinc formate and mixtures thereof and a de-emulsifying surfactant for de-emulsifying said oil-external emulsion when said emulsion is cured;

pumping said oil-containing settable spotting fluid composition into the annulus between said pipe string and the walls of said well bore to displace at least a portion of said drilling fluid out of said annulus;

pumping said cement composition into said annulus whereby said drilling fluid and said settable spotting fluid are displaced except for portions of said settable spotting fluid which remain in fractures or other penneable zones therein; and

allowing said cement composition in said annulus and any settable spotting fluid composition remaining in said fractures or other permeable zones therein to set.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said oil is selected from the group consisting of diesel oil, internal olefins, mineral oil and long chain esters and is present in said oil external emulsion in an amount in the range of from about 50% to about 90% by weight thereof.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein said water is selected from the group of fresh water and salt water and is present in said oil external emulsion in an amount in the range of from about 5% to about 45% by weight thereof.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein said emulsifying surfactant is a tall oil diethanolamide and is present in said oil external emulsion in an amount in the range of from about 2.3% to about 7.5% by weight thereof.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein said emulsifying surfactant is oxidized tall oil containing oxidized fatty acids and is present in said oil external emulsion in an amount in the range of from about 1.0% to about 1.6% by weight thereof.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein said hydraulically settable component is Portland cement and is present in said composition in an amount in the range of from about 100% to about 250% by weight of said oil external emulsion therein.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein said activator is present in said composition in an amount in the range of from about 2% to about 4% by weight of said hydraulically settable component therein.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein said de-emulsifying surfactant is an ethoxylated nonylphenol and is present in said composition in an amount in the range of from about 0.3% to about 2.5% by weight of said oil external emulsion therein.

18. The method of claim 10 wherein said de-emulsifying surfactant is selected from the group consisting of triethanolamine condensate polymer and quaternized triethanolamine condensate polymer and is present in said composition in an amount in the range of from about 0.3% to about 3.0% by weight of said oil external emulsion therein.

19. A method of cementing a pipe string in a well bore containing an oil-containing drilling fluid comprising the steps of:

preparing an oil-containing settable spotting fluid composition comprising an oil external emulsion which comprises oil, water and an emulsifying surfactant;

a hydraulically settable component;

an activator for said hydraulically settable component selected from the group consisting of calcium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, sodium silicate and mixtures thereof and a de-emulsifying surfactant for de-emulsifying said oil-external emulsion when said emulsion is cured;

pumping said oil-containing settable spotting fluid composition into the annulus between said pipe string and the walls of said well bore to displace at least a portion of said drilling fluid out of said annulus;

pumping said cement composition into said annulus whereby said drilling fluid and said settable spotting fluid are displaced except for portions of said settable spotting fluid which remain in fractures or other permeable zones therein; and

allowing said cement composition in said annulus and any settable spotting fluid composition remaining in said fractures or other permeable zones therein to set.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said oil is selected from the group consisting of diesel oil, internal olefins, mineral oil and long chain esters and is present in said oil external emulsion in an amount in the range of from about 50% to about 90% by weight thereof.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein said water is selected from the group of fresh water and salt water and is present in said oil external emulsion in an amount in the range of from about 5% to about 45% by weight thereof.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein said emulsifying surfactant is a tall oil diethanolamide and is present in said oil external emulsion in an amount in the range of from about 2.3% to about 7.5% by weight thereof.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein said emulsifying surfactant is oxidized tall oil containing oxidized fatty acids and is present in said oil external emulsion in an amount in the range of from about 1.0% to about 1.6% by weight thereof.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein said hydraulically settable component is blast furnace slag and is present in said composition in an amount in the range of from about 100% to about 250% by weight of said oil external emulsion therein.

25. The method of claim 19 wherein said activator is present in said composition in an amount in the range of from about 2.5% to about 15% by weight of said hydraulically settable component therein.

26. The method of claim 19 wherein said de-emulsifying surfactant is an ethoxylated nonylphenol and is present in said composition in an amount in the range of from about 0.3% to about 2.5% by weight of said oil external emulsion therein.

27. The method of claim 19 wherein said de-emulsifying surfactant is selected from the group consisting of triethanolamine condensate polymer and quaternized triethanolamine condensate polymer and is present in said composition in an amount in the range of from about 0.3% to about 3.0% by weight of said oil external emulsion therein.

28. A method of cementing a pipe string in a well bore containing an oil-containing drilling fluid comprising the steps of:

preparing an oil-containing settable spotting fluid composition comprising an oil external emulsion which comprises oil, water and an emulsifying surfactant;

a mixture of silica fume and pozzolan wherein the weight ratio of silica fume to pozzolan is about 40;

60; and

activator for said mixture of silica fume and pozzolan comprising lime; and

a de-emulsifying surfactant for de-emulsifying said oil-external emulsion when said emulsion is cured;

pumping said oil-containing settable spotting fluid composition into the annulus between said pipe string and the walls of said well bore to displace at least a portion of said drilling fluid out of said annulus;

pumping said cement composition into said annulus whereby said drilling fluid and said settable spotting fluid are displaced except for portions of said settable spotting fluid which remain in fractures or other permeable zones therein; and

allowing said cement composition in said annulus and any settable spotting fluid composition remaining in said fractures or other permeable zones therein to set.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein said oil is selected from the group consisting of diesel oil, internal olefins, mineral oil and long chain esters and is present in said oil external emulsion in an amount in the range of from about 50% to about 90% by weight thereof.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein said water is selected from the group of fresh water and salt water and is present in said oil external emulsion in an amount in the range of from about 5% to about 45% by weight thereof.

31. The method of claim 28 wherein said emulsifying surfactant is a tall oil diethanolamide and is present in said oil external emulsion in an amount in the range of from about 2.3% to about 7.5% by weight thereof.

32. The method of claim 28 wherein said emulsifying surfactant is oxidized tall oil containing oxidized fatty acids and is present in said oil external emulsion in an amount in the range of from about 1.0% to about 1.6% by weight thereof.

33. The method of claim 28 wherein said mixture of silica fume and pozzolan is present in said composition in an amount in the range of from about 100% to about 200% by weight of said oil external emulsion therein.

34. The method of claim 28 wherein said lime activator is present in said composition in an amount of about 15% by weight of said silica fume and pozzolan therein.

35. The method of claim 28 wherein said de-emulsifying surfactant is an ethoxylated nonylphenol and is present in said composition in an amount in the range of from about 0.3% to about 2.5% by weight of said oil external emulsion therein.

36. The method of claim 28 wherein said de-emulsifying surfactant is selected from the group consisting of triethanolamine condensate polymer and quaternized triethanolamine condensate polymer and is present in said composition in an amount in the range of from about 0.3% to about 3.0% by weight of said oil external emulsion therein.

37. A method of cementing a pipe string in a well bore containing an oil-containing drilling fluid comprising the steps of:

preparing an oil-containing settable spotting fluid composition comprising an oil external emulsion which comprises oil, water and an emulsifying surfactant;

a mixture of Portland cement and blast furnace slag having a weight ratio of Portland cement to blast furnace slag in the range of from about 80;

20 to about 60;

40;

an activator for said mixture of Portland cement and blast furnace slag comprising lime; and

a de-emulsifying surfactant for de-emulsifying said oil-external emulsion when said emulsion is cured;

pumping said oil-containing settable spotting fluid composition into the annulus between said pipe string and the walls of said well bore to displace at least a portion of said drilling fluid out of said annulus;

pumping said cement composition into said annulus whereby said drilling fluid and said settable spotting fluid are displaced except for portions of said settable spotting fluid which remain in fractures or other permeable zones therein; and

allowing said cement composition in said annulus and any settable spotting fluid composition remaining in said fractures or other permeable zones therein to set.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein said oil is selected from the group consisting of diesel oil, internal olefins, mineral oil and long chain esters and is present in said oil external emulsion in an amount in the range of from about 50% to about 90% by weight thereof.

39. The composition of claim 37 wherein said water is selected from the group of fresh water and salt water and is present in said oil external emulsion in an amount in the range of from about 5% to about 45% by weight thereof.

40. The method of claim 37 wherein said emulsifying surfactant is a tall oil diethanolamide and is present in said oil external emulsion in an amount in the range of from about 2.3% to about 7.5% by weight thereof.

41. The method of claim 37 wherein said emulsifying surfactant is oxidized tall oil containing oxidized fatty acids and is present in said oil external emulsion in an amount in the range of from about 1.0% to about 1.6% by weight thereof.

42. The method of claim 37 wherein said mixture of Portland cement and blast furnace slag is present in said composition in an amount in the range of from about 100% to about 250% by weight of said oil external emulsion therein.

43. The method of claim 37 wherein said lime activator is present in said composition in an amount in the range of from about 2.5% to about 15% by weight of said mixture of Portland cement and blast furnace slag.

44. The method of claim 37 wherein said de-emulsifying surfactant is an ethoxylated nonylphenol and is present in said composition in an amount in the range of from about 0.3% to about 2.5% by weight of said oil external emulsion therein.

45. The method of claim 37 wherein said de-emulsifying surfactant is selected from the group consisting of triethanolamine condensate polymer and quaternized triethanolamine condensate polymer and is present in said composition in an amount in the range of from about 0.3% to about 3.0% by weight of said oil external emulsion therein.

46. A method of cementing a pipe string in a well bore containing an oil-containing drilling fluid comprising the steps of:

preparing an oil-containing settable spotting fluid composition comprising an oil external emulsion which comprises oil, water and an emulsifying surfactant;

a mixture of Portland cement and pozzolan having a weight ratio of Portland cement to pozzolan of about 50;

50;

an activator for said mixture of Portland cement and pozzolan comprising lime;

and a de-emulsifying surfactant for de-emulsifying said oil-external emulsion when said emulsion is cured;

pumping said oil-containing settable spotting fluid composition into the annulus between said pipe string and the walls of said well bore to displace at least a portion of said drilling fluid out of said annulus;

pumping said cement composition into said annulus whereby said drilling fluid and said settable spotting fluid are displaced except for portions of said settable spotting fluid which remain in fractures or other permeable zones therein; and

allowing said cement composition in said annulus and any settable spotting fluid composition remaining in said fractures or other permeable zones therein to set.

47. The method of claim 46 wherein said oil is selected from the group consisting of diesel oil, internal olefins, mineral oil and long chain esters and is present in said oil external emulsion in an amount in the range of from about 50% to about 90% by weight thereof.

48. The method of claim 46 wherein said water is selected from the group of fresh water and salt water and is present in said oil external emulsion in an amount in the range of from about 5% to about 45% by weight thereof.

49. The method of claim 46 wherein said emulsifying surfactant is a tall oil diethanolamide and is present in said oil external emulsion in an amount in the range of from about 2.3% to about 7.5% by weight thereof.

50. The method of claim 46 wherein said emulsifying surfactant is oxidized tall oil containing oxidized fatty acids and is present in said oil external emulsion in an amount in the range of from about 1.0% to about 1.6% by weight thereof.

51. The method of claim 46 wherein said mixture of Portland cement and pozzolan is present in said composition in an amount in the range of from about 100% to about 200% by weight of said oil external emulsion therein.

52. The method of claim 46 wherein said lime activator is present in said composition in an amount in the range of from about 2.5% to about 15% by weight of said mixture of Portland cement and pozzolan therein.

53. The method of claim 46 wherein said de-emulsifying surfactant is an ethoxylated nonylphenol and is present in said composition in an amount in the range of from about 0.3% to about 2.5% by weight of said oil external emulsion therein.

54. The method of claim 46 wherein said de-emulsifying surfactant is selected from the group consisting of triethanolamine condensate polymer and quaternized triethanolamine condensate polymer and is present in said composition in an amount in the range of from about 0.3% to about 3.0% by weight of said oil external emulsion therein.