Field-responsive fluids

• US 8,506,837 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2008
• Issued: 08/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Ocalan, Murat, Tu, Huilin, Wicks, Nathan, Robisson, Agathe, Guillot, Dominique
• Primary Examiner(s): Mellon, David C
• Application Number:
  US12/112,003
• Publication Number:
  US 20090211751A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,931 Days
• Field of Search: 252/62.52, 252/62.51 R, 252/62.54, 252/62.55, 252/62.56, 166/66.5, 166/387, 428/692.1, 210/222, 210/223, 210/695
• US Class Current: 252/62.56
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 171/001 Electrorheological fluids; smart fluids
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2030/60 Electro rheological properties
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2040/22 with essential removal of material , e.g. cutting, grinding or drilling
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2040/34 Lubricating-sealants
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 1/442 the magnetic component being a metal or alloy, e.g. Fe H01F1/447 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 1/445 the magnetic component being a compound, e.g. Fe3O4 H01F1/447 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 1/447 characterised by magnetoviscosity, e.g. magnetorheological, magnetothixotropic, magnetodilatant liquids electrorheological fluids C10M171/001
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/32 Composite [nonstructural laminate] of inorganic material having metal-compound-containing layer and having defined magnetic layer

Abstract

A field-responsive fluid which enters a semi-solid state in the presence of an energy field is improved by use of a plurality of energy field responsive particles which form chains in response to the energy field. The particles can be (a) composite particles in which at least one field-responsive member having a first density is attached to at least one member having a second density that is lower than the first density, (b) shaped particles in which at least one field-responsive member has one or more inclusions, and (c) combinations thereof. The particles improve the field-responsive fluid by reducing density without eliminating field-responsive properties which afford utility. Further, a multi-phase base fluid including a mixture of two or more substances, at least two of which are immiscible, may be used. The multi-phase base fluid improves the field-responsive fluid because surface tension between the boundaries of the immiscible substances in conjunction with chains formed by field-responsive particles tends to stop or retard creep flow, resulting an improved dynamic or static seal.

Claims

1. Apparatus for causing a fluid to enter a semi-solid state in the presence of a magnetic field, comprising:

a plurality of energy field responsive particles which form chains in response to the magnetic field, the particles selected from the group consisting of;

particles in which at least one field-responsive member having a first density is attached to at least one member having a second density that is lower than the first density;

shaped particles in which at least one field-responsive member has one or more inclusions; and

combinations thereof;

a multi-phase base fluid, the multi-phase base fluid mitigating fluid creep between the plurality of energy field responsive particles; and

wherein the plurality of energy field responsive particles comprises, a 55% particle volume fraction of particles having particle sizes between 100-300 μ

m, a 35% particle volume fraction of particles having particle sizes between 20-30 μ

m , a 10% particle volume fraction of particles having particle sizes between 2-5 μ

m and wherein the plurality of energy field responsive particles are 60% of a volume fraction of the fluid, the particle sizes reducing a size of a gap between the plurality of energy field responsive particles and mitigating fluid creep.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the multi-phase base fluid comprises a mixture of at least two immiscible substances.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of energy field responsive particles includes a particle characterized by a core of material of the second density surrounded by a shell of field-responsive material of the first density.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of energy field responsive particles includes a particle characterized by a field-responsive rod or plate coated with a second density material.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of energy field responsive particles includes a particle characterized by a field-responsive material core surrounded by a second density material shell.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of energy field responsive particles includes a particle characterized by a field-responsive material that is partially coated with a second density material.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of energy field responsive particles includes a particle characterized by field-responsive material fibers in a second density material matrix.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of energy field responsive particles includes a particle characterized by at least one second density material member attached to at least one field-responsive material member at an outside surface.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of energy field responsive particles includes a particle characterized by a hollow core of a second density material surrounded by a field-responsive material shell.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of energy field responsive particles includes a shaped particle characterized by a hollow shell of field-responsive material.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the hollow shell of field-responsive material encloses an empty inclusion.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of energy field responsive particles includes a shaped particle characterized by a porous field-responsive material.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein inclusions of the particle are hydraulically isolated from the fluid.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of energy field responsive particles includes a mixture of particles of differing shape.

15. A method for causing a fluid to enter a semi-solid state in a container in the presence of an energy field, comprising:

introducing a plurality of energy field responsive particles which form chains in response to the energy field, the particles selected from the group including;

particles in which at least one field-responsive member having a first density is attached to at least one member having a second density that is lower than the first density;

shaped particles in which at least one field- responsive member has one or more inclusions; and

combinations thereof;

the plurality of energy field responsive particles comprising a 55% particle volume fraction of particles having particle sizes between 100-300 μ

m, a 35% particle volume fraction of particles having particle sizes between 20-30 μ

m, a 10% particle volume fraction of particles having particle sizes between 2-5 μ

m and wherein the plurality of energy field responsive particles are 60% of a volume fraction of the fluid;

introducing a multi-phase base fluid, and

creating an energy field proximate to the particles, wherein the energy field is a magnetic energy field.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the multi-phase base fluid comprises a mixture of at least two immiscible substances.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the plurality of energy field responsive particles includes a particle characterized by a core of material of the second density surrounded by a shell of field-responsive material of the second density.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the plurality of energy field responsive particles includes a particle characterized by a field-responsive rod or plate coated with second density material.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the plurality of energy field responsive particles includes a particle characterized by a field-responsive material core surrounded by a second density material shell.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the plurality of energy field responsive particles includes a particle characterized by a field-responsive material that is partially coated with second density material.

21. The method of claim 15 wherein the plurality of energy field responsive particles includes a particle characterized by field-responsive material fibers in a second density material matrix.

22. The method of claim 15 wherein the plurality of energy field responsive particles includes a particle characterized by at least one second density material member attached to at least one field-responsive material member at an outside surface.

23. The method of claim 15 wherein the plurality of energy field responsive particles includes a particle characterized by a hollow core of second density material surrounded by a field-responsive material shell.

24. The method of claim 15 wherein the plurality of energy field responsive particles includes a shaped particle characterized by a hollow shell of field-responsive material.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the plurality of energy field responsive particles includes a shaped particle characterized by an empty inclusion.

26. The method of claim 15 wherein the plurality of energy field responsive particles includes a shaped particle characterized by a porous field-responsive material.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the plurality of energy field responsive particles includes a shaped particle characterized by inclusions which are hydraulically isolated from the fluid.

28. The method of claim 15 wherein the plurality of energy field responsive particles includes a mixture of particles of differing shape.

29. The method of claim 15 further including introducing a fluid loss agent.