Abstract A drilling liquid for use in abrasive jet drilling is formed by first dispensing microcrystalline cellulose in an aqueous liquid. The dispersion can be accomplished by severe shearing of the microcrystalline cellulose in the aqueous liquid. Thereafter, ferrous abrasive particles are suspended in the dispersion of microcrystalline cellulose in water to form the drilling liquid. The microcrystalline cellulose is ordinarily in a concentration in the range of 4 to 7 percent by weight of the abrasives-free liquid, but a portion of the cellulose can be replaced with clay to form a liquid capable of suspending ferrous abrasive particles and thereby form a drilling liquid suitable for use in the abrasive jet drilling process.
A DRILLING LIQUID FOR ABRASIVE JET DRILLING OF WELLS COMPRISING WATER, MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE DISPERSED IN THE WATER IN A CONCENTRATION OF ABOUT 4 TO 7 PERCENT BY WEIGHT OF THE WATER, AND FERROUS ABRASIVE PARTICLES SUSPENDED IN THE DISPERSION IN A CONCENTRATION OF 4 TO 20 PERCENT, BY BULK VOLUME, OF THE
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
52 words
A DRILLING LIQUID FOR ABRASIVE JET DRILLING OF WELLS COMPRISING WATER, MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE DISPERSED IN THE WATER IN A CONCENTRATION OF ABOUT 4 TO 7 PERCENT BY WEIGHT OF THE WATER, AND FERROUS ABRASIVE PARTICLES SUSPENDED IN THE DISPERSION IN A CONCENTRATION OF 4 TO 20 PERCENT, BY BULK VOLUME, OF THE
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
A drilling liquid as set forth in claim 1 in which the microcrystalline cellulose comprises mechanically fragmented crystallites of cellulose that has been acid hydrolyzed to a level-off degree of polymerization in the range of 40 to 300.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
A drilling liquid as set forth in claim 2 in which the microcrystalline cellulose particles have a diameter in the range of 0.15 to 10.0 microns, with the diameter of most of the particles being less than 1 micron, and have a length in the range of 10 to 200 microns.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
A drilling liquid as set forth in claim 1 in which the 10 second gel strength as measured on the Fann Viscosimeter is in the range of 30 to 70 and the 600 RPM Viscosity as measured on the Fann Viscosimeter is less than 120.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
A drilling liquid as set forth in claim 4 including attapulgite clay suspended in the drilling liquid in a concentration by weight on an abrasives-free basis in the range of 1 to 3 percent, and the microcrystalline cellulose is in a concentration by weight of 4 to 6 percent of the water.