Method for drilling and completing boreholes with electro-rheological fluids
First Claim
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1. A method for controlling or modifying the viscosity of an oil or synthetic fluid based wellbore fluid in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation to fracture said formation, said method comprising:
- determining the amount of viscosity desired to effect said fracture;
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 fracture in the formation is desired;
continuing said application or contact of said electrical potential to said fluid until said fracture is effected.
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Abstract
A method is described for using an electro-rheological fluid as a drilling and completion fluid or as a well service or fracturing fluid. By adjusting the viscosity of the fluid through application of an electrical potential to the fluid, the fluid has enhanced flexibility and multiplicity of purpose over prior art fluids.
67 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for controlling or modifying the viscosity of an oil or synthetic fluid based wellbore fluid in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation to fracture said formation, said method comprising:
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determining the amount of viscosity desired to effect said fracture;
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 fracture in the formation is desired;
continuing said application or contact of said electrical potential to said fluid until said fracture is effected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for fracturing a subterranean formation, said method comprising:
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introducing into a borehole penetrating said formation an electro-rheological fluid;
allowing said fluid to enter said formation from said borehole in the zone of said formation to be fractured;
applying an electrical potential to said fluid at the fracture point of the formation so as to increase the viscosity of said fluid in said zone to facilitate fracturing;
fracturing said formation;
reducing or eliminating said potential such that the viscosity of said fluid decreases in said formation after fracturing of said formation; and
removing said fluid from said formation and said borehole. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for drilling a borehole penetrating a subterranean formation, and for fracturing said formation, during said drilling, said method comprising:
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fitting said borehole with electrical sources or transmitters;
using an electro-rheological fluid as a drilling and fracturing fluid in said borehole;
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 facilitate fracturing of the formation; and
reducing said electrical potential to facilitate pumping of said fluid or removal of said fluid from the formation or the borehole. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification