Drilling Fluids Having Reduced Sag Potential and Related Methods
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- providing a drilling fluid that comprises;
an invert emulsion, the invert emulsion comprising an oleaginous fluid continuous phase, an aqueous fluid internal phase, and a surfactant;
a weighting agent; and
a plurality of colloidal particles;
wherein at least a portion of the plurality of colloidal particles interact with the surfactant to form an associative supporting structure that inhibits sag of the weighting agent; and
placing the drilling fluid in a subterranean formation via a wellbore penetrating the subterranean formation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Invert emulsion drilling fluids that have extended emulsion stability and reduced sag potential are described herein. The drilling fluids comprise an invert emulsion, a weighting agent, and a plurality of colloidal particles. The invert emulsion comprises an oleaginous fluid continuous phase, an aqueous fluid internal phase, and a surfactant. At least a portion of the plurality of colloidal particles interact with the surfactant to form an associative supporting structure that inhibits sag of the weighting agent. In some embodiments, the weighting agent comprises barite particles, particularly barite particles that are less than about 45 μm in size. Methods for placing the invert emulsion drilling fluids in a subterranean formation via a wellbore are also disclosed.
31 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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providing a drilling fluid that comprises; an invert emulsion, the invert emulsion comprising an oleaginous fluid continuous phase, an aqueous fluid internal phase, and a surfactant; a weighting agent; and a plurality of colloidal particles; wherein at least a portion of the plurality of colloidal particles interact with the surfactant to form an associative supporting structure that inhibits sag of the weighting agent; and placing the drilling fluid in a subterranean formation via a wellbore penetrating the subterranean formation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method comprising:
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providing a drilling fluid that is free of organophilic clays and comprises; an invert emulsion, the invert emulsion comprising an oleaginous fluid continuous phase, an aqueous fluid internal phase, and a surfactant; barite particles having a size of at most about 45 microns; and a plurality of colloidal particles; wherein the drilling fluid has a density that changes by less than about 5% over at least about 62 hours of static aging; and drilling a wellbore in a subterranean formation using the drilling fluid. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A method comprising:
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providing a drilling fluid that is free of organophilic clays and comprises; an invert emulsion, the invert emulsion comprising an oleaginous fluid continuous phase, an aqueous fluid internal phase, and a surfactant; barite particles having a size of at most about 45 microns; and a plurality of colloidal particles; wherein at least a portion of the plurality of the colloidal particles interact with the surfactant to form an associative supporting structure that inhibits sag of the barite particles; and drilling a wellbore in a subterranean formation using the drilling fluid. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. An organophilic clay-free drilling fluid comprising:
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an oleaginous fluid continuous phase; an aqueous fluid internal phase; a surfactant; barite particles; and a plurality of colloidal particles; wherein the drilling fluid has a density that changes by less than about 5% over at least about 62 hours of static aging. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. An organophilic clay-free drilling fluid comprising:
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an oleaginous fluid continuous phase; an aqueous fluid internal phase; a surfactant; a weighting agent; and a plurality of colloidal particles; wherein at least a portion of the plurality of colloidal particles interact with the surfactant to form an associative supporting structure that inhibits sag of the weighting agent. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification