Patent US3948782A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3948782A
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US
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Drilling with low viscosity fluids
Assignee: Marathon Oil Co
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Filing: 1973-09-10
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Granted: 1976-04-06
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Expires: 1993-09-10
Abstract
Abstract An improved method of drilling a well is effected by circulating in the well a drilling fluid containing lamellar micelles at flow rates predetermined to produce retro-viscous behavior in the drilling fluid at noncryogenic temperatures. The composition contains 4-15% surfactant (preferably petroleum sulfonate having an average equivalent weight of 350-525), 30-70% liquid hydrocarbon, 15-66% water and optionally up to 20% cosurfactant (preferably an alcohol containing 1-20 carbon atoms) and/or electrolyte (preferably inorganic salt) and the micelles have an axial ratio of at least 3.5. Preferably, the composition has a viscosity of at least 75 cp at a shear rate of 10<->1 seconds at 23 DEG C. The composition is substantially optically clear, phase stable, birefrigent, and the flow properties are such that substantially large increases in flow rates, e.g., 20-fold, can be realized at very small pressure increases, e.g., 5%. Additional additives to impart desired drilling properties can be included with the composition.
Inventors
- 👤 Karl D. Dreher
- 👤 William B. Gogarty
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 23:06
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10M; C10M3/00; B; B65; B65G; B65G53/00; B65G53/30; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/02; C09K8/04; C09K8/14; C09K8/18; C09K8/22; C10M2201/00; C10M2201/02; C10M2201/06; C10M2201/063; C10M2201/08; C10M2201/081; C10M2201/082; C10M2201/084; C10M2203/00; C10M2203/10; C10M2203/102; C10M2203/104; C10M2203/106; C10M2203/108; C10M2207/00; C10M2207/02; C10M2207/021; C10M2207/023; C10M2207/04; C10M2207/042; C10M2207/046; C10M2207/08; C10M2207/10; C10M2207/14; C10M2207/142; C10M2209/00; C10M2209/10; C10M2209/103; C10M2209/104; C10M2211/00; C10M2211/02; C10M2215/00; C10M2215/02; C10M2215/04; C10M2215/24; C10M2215/26; C10M2219/00; C10M2219/04; C10M2219/044; C10N; C10N2010/00; C10N2010/02; C10N2040/00; C10N2040/20; C10N2040/22; C10N2050/00; C10N2050/01
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
In a process of drilling a well utilizing a circulating drilling fluid, the improvement comprising circulating a composition at flow rates predetermined to produce retroviscous behavior, the composition containing lamellar micelles, having an axial ratio of at least 3.5 and having a viscosity of at least 75 cp at a shear rate of 10.sup. -1 seconds at 23°C., and comprised of about 30 to about 70% of a liquid hydrocarbon, about 15 to about 66% of water, about 4 to about 15% of surfactant which is an alkaryl sulfonate having an average equivalent weight of about 350 to about 525, or a carboxylate having an average equivalent weight of about 200 to about 500, the percents based on weight, the composition being optically clear, phase stable, exhibiting birefringence and the composition exhibiting a substantial increase in flow rate at minor increase in pressure drop while the fluid is under flow conditions at a certain pressure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
155 words
In a process of drilling a well utilizing a circulating drilling fluid, the improvement comprising circulating a composition at flow rates predetermined to produce retroviscous behavior, the composition containing lamellar micelles, having an axial ratio of at least 3.5 and having a viscosity of at least 75 cp at a shear rate of 10.sup. -1 seconds at 23°C., and comprised of about 30 to about 70% of a liquid hydrocarbon, about 15 to about 66% of water, about 4 to about 15% of surfactant which is an alkaryl sulfonate having an average equivalent weight of about 350 to about 525, or a carboxylate having an average equivalent weight of about 200 to about 500, the percents based on weight, the composition being optically clear, phase stable, exhibiting birefringence and the composition exhibiting a substantial increase in flow rate at minor increase in pressure drop while the fluid is under flow conditions at a certain pressure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the surfactant is a petroleum sulfonate containing an alkali metal or ammonium cation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the composition contains up to about 20% by weight of a cosurfactant which is an alcohol, ether, aldehyde, ester, or ketone, and contains 1 to about 20 carbon atoms.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the composition contains 0.001 to about 5% by weight of an electrolyte which is an inorganic salt, inorganic base, inorganic acid, or a combination thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the surfactant is present in concentrations of about 5.5% to about 12%, the hydrocarbon is present in concentrations of about 40 to about 60% and the water is present in concentrations of about 20 to about 55%.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the axial ratio of the micelle is at least about 10.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
151 words
In a process of drilling a well utilizing a circulating drilling fluid, the improvement comprising circulating in said well as a drilling fluid and at flow rates predetermined to produce retro-viscous behavior, a composition containing lamellar micelles which have an axial ratio of at least about 3.5 and which have a viscosity of at least 75 cp at a shear rate of 10.sup. -1 seconds at 23°C., and which exhibit retro-viscous properties at the predetermined flow rates, the composition comprised of about 4 to about 15% of an alkaryl sulfonate having an average equivalent weight within the range of about 350 to about 525, about 30% to about 70% of a liquid hydrocarbon, about 15 to about 66% of water, and about 0.01 to about 20% of a cosurfactant containing 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, the percents based on weight, the composition being optically clear, phase stable and exhibiting birefringence.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
151 words
In a process of drilling a well utilizing a circulating drilling fluid, the improvement comprising circulating in said well as a drilling fluid and at flow rates predetermined to produce retro-viscous behavior, a composition containing lamellar micelles which have an axial ratio of at least about 3.5 and which have a viscosity of at least 75 cp at a shear rate of 10.sup. -1 seconds at 23°C., and which exhibit retro-viscous properties at the predetermined flow rates, the composition comprised of about 4 to about 15% of an alkaryl sulfonate having an average equivalent weight within the range of about 350 to about 525, about 30% to about 70% of a liquid hydrocarbon, about 15 to about 66% of water, and about 0.01 to about 20% of a cosurfactant containing 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, the percents based on weight, the composition being optically clear, phase stable and exhibiting birefringence.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 7 wherein the composition contains about 0.001 to about 5%, by weight, of an inorganic salt, inorganic acid, inorganic base or combination thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 7 wherein the sulfonate is a petroleum sulfonate having an average equivalent weight within the range of about 375 to about 500.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 7 wherein the hydrocarbon concentration is about 45 to about 55%.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 7 wherein the hydrocarbon is a crude oil, partially refined fraction of a crude oil, or a refined fraction of a crude oil.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 7 wherein the water concentration is about 25 to about 50%.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 7 wherein the axial ratio of the micelle is at least about 10.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-04-06 | 1979-10-06 | 1980-04-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-04-06 | 1983-10-06 | 1984-04-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-04-06 | 1987-10-06 | 1988-04-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |