Settable spacer fluids comprising pumicite and methods of using such fluids in subterranean formations

• US 9,512,345 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2012
• Issued: 12/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Lende, Gunnar, Karcher, Jeffery Dwane
• Primary Examiner(s): Bland, Alicia
• Application Number:
  US13/630,507
• Publication Number:
  US 20130180716A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,530 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 28/18 containing mixtures of the silica-lime type
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/40 Spacer compositions, e.g. compositions used to separate well-drilling from cementing masses
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/424 using "spacer" compositions
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/52 Compositions for preventing, limiting or eliminating depositions, e.g. for cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/13 Methods or devices for cementing, for plugging holes, crevices or the like

Abstract

Methods and compositions for the treatment of subterranean formations, and more specifically, treatment fluids containing pumicite and methods of using these treatment fluids in subterranean formations, are provided. An example of a method is a method of displacing a fluid in a well bore. Another example of a method is a method of separating fluids in a well bore in a subterranean formation. An example of a composition is a settable spacer fluid comprising pumicite, an activating agent, and a base fluid.

Claims

1. A method of using a settable fluid in a well bore, comprising:

providing a well bore having a first fluid disposed therein;

placing a second fluid into the well bore to displace at least a portion of the first fluid therefrom, wherein the second fluid comprises pumicite, an activating agent, and a base fluid;

placing a third fluid comprising a cement composition into the well bore to displace at least a first portion of the second fluid therefrom, wherein the third fluid is incompatible with the first fluid;

allowing the third fluid comprising the cement composition to at least partially set in the well bore; and

allowing a portion of the second fluid to at least partially set in the well bore.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the activating agent comprises at least one activating agent selected from the group consisting of:

lime;

calcium chloride;

calcium bromide;

sodium hexametaphosphate;

sodium silicate;

sodium sulfate; and

a combination thereof.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second fluid further comprises a set accelerator.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first fluid comprises a drilling fluid.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the pumicite is present in the second fluid in an amount from about 0.01% to about 90% by weight of the second fluid.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the activating agent is present in the second fluid in an amount from about 0.01% to about 35% by weight of the second fluid.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second fluid has a 300/3 ratio of from about 5 to about 50.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second fluid comprises at least one of base fluid selected from the group consisting of:

an aqueous-based fluid, an emulsion, a synthetic fluid, an oil based fluid, and a combination thereof.