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Patent US4012329A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4012329A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Water-in-oil microemulsion drilling fluids
Assignee: Marathon Oil Co
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Filing: 1975-09-22
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Granted: 1977-03-15
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Expires: 1995-09-22
Abstract
Abstract An oil-external microemulsion drilling fluid having a wide range of tolerance for salinity, having good gel strength and low fluid loss characteristics, and also obtained by mixing about 1% to about 30% of a sodium petroleum sulfonate having an average equivalent weight within the range of about 350 to about 525, about 5% to about 84% of a hydrocarbon (e.g. diesel fuel), about 15% to about 90% of an aqueous medium (can contain water soluble salts), about 0.01 to about 20% of a cosurfactant (e.g. alcohols such as primary amyl alcohol) and about 0.1 to about 15% of bentonite clay. Weighting agents, e.g. barite, and other desired additives can be added to the microemulsion.
Inventors
- 👤 John B. Hayes
- 👤 Gerald W. Haws
- 👤 William B. Gogarty
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 14:36
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/02; C09K8/04; C09K8/26; C09K8/32; C09K8/36; F; F02; F02B; F02B3/00; F02B3/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
An oil-external microemulsion drilling fluid which will conduct sufficient electrical current needed for electrical logging of a subterranean formation, the microemulsion comprised of about 15% to about 90% by volume water, about 5 to about 84% by volume liquid hydrocarbon, about 1% to about 30% by volume of a sodium petroleum sulfonate having an average equivalent weight of about 350 to about 525, and about 0.1% to about 15% by weight, based on the water, of a water-dispersible clay, said clay having been incorporated in the microemulsion by mixing it with the water phase and then mixing the clay-water mixture with the remaining ingredients of the microemulsion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
107 words
An oil-external microemulsion drilling fluid which will conduct sufficient electrical current needed for electrical logging of a subterranean formation, the microemulsion comprised of about 15% to about 90% by volume water, about 5 to about 84% by volume liquid hydrocarbon, about 1% to about 30% by volume of a sodium petroleum sulfonate having an average equivalent weight of about 350 to about 525, and about 0.1% to about 15% by weight, based on the water, of a water-dispersible clay, said clay having been incorporated in the microemulsion by mixing it with the water phase and then mixing the clay-water mixture with the remaining ingredients of the microemulsion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The microemulsion of claim 1 wherein it contains about 0.01 to about 20% by volume cosurfactant.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The composition of claim 2 wherein the cosurfactant is an alcohol containing about 1 to about 20 carbon atoms.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The composition of claim 1 wherein the liquid hydrocarbon is a refined fraction of crude oil.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The composition of claim 1 wherein the petroleum sulfonate is present in concentrations of about 2% to about 20%.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The composition of claim 1 wherein the petroleum sulfonate is present in concentrations of about 5 to about 10% by volume.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The composition of claim 1 wherein the average equivalent weight of the petroleum sulfonate is about 400 to about 470.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The composition of claim 1 wherein the microemulsion contains about 2 to about 6% by weight, based on the water, of the water-dispersible clay.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The composition of claim 1 wherein the microemulsion contains about 1 to about 10% by weight, based on the water, of a water-dispersible clay.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
10 words
The composition of claim 1 wherein the clay is bentonite.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The composition of claim 1 wherein the clay is comprised of montmorillonite.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
10 words
The composition of claim 1 wherein the microemulsion contains barite.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The composition of claim 1 wherein it contains about 20% to about 75% water.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
An oil-external microemulsion drilling liquid which will conduct sufficient electrical current needed for electrical logging of a subterranean formation, the microemulsion comprised of: 1. about 5% to about 78% by volume of liquid hydrocarbon which is crude oil, partially refined fraction(s) of crude oil or refined fraction(s) of crude oil,
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
50 words
An oil-external microemulsion drilling liquid which will conduct sufficient electrical current needed for electrical logging of a subterranean formation, the microemulsion comprised of: 1. about 5% to about 78% by volume of liquid hydrocarbon which is crude oil, partially refined fraction(s) of crude oil or refined fraction(s) of crude oil,
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
134 words
about 20% to about 75% by volume of water containing about 0.1% to about 15% by weight, based on the water, of a water-dispersible clay, 3. about 2% to about 20% by volume of a sodium petroleum sulfonate having an average equivalent weight of about 350 to about 525, 4. about 0.01% to about 25% by volume of a cosurfactant selected from the group consisting of alcohol, amine, ester, aldehyde, ketone, ether, and mixtures of said cosurfactant, the cosurfactant which is a semi-polar compound containing about 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, and 5. about 0.001% to about 5% by weight of electrolyte which is an inorganic base, inorganic acid, or inorganic salt or combination thereof said clay and said water having been premixed prior to admixture with the remaining components of said microemulsions.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
134 words
about 20% to about 75% by volume of water containing about 0.1% to about 15% by weight, based on the water, of a water-dispersible clay, 3. about 2% to about 20% by volume of a sodium petroleum sulfonate having an average equivalent weight of about 350 to about 525, 4. about 0.01% to about 25% by volume of a cosurfactant selected from the group consisting of alcohol, amine, ester, aldehyde, ketone, ether, and mixtures of said cosurfactant, the cosurfactant which is a semi-polar compound containing about 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, and 5. about 0.001% to about 5% by weight of electrolyte which is an inorganic base, inorganic acid, or inorganic salt or combination thereof said clay and said water having been premixed prior to admixture with the remaining components of said microemulsions.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The microemulsion of claim 14 wherein the cosurfactant contains about 3 to about 16 carbon atoms.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
11 words
The microemulsion of claim 14 wherein the cosurfactant is an alcohol.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The microemulsion of claim 14 wherein the petroleum sulfonate has an average equivalent weight within the range of about 380 to about 470.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The microemulsion of claim 14 wherein the cosurfactant has a water solubility of about 0.01% to about 20% at ambient temperature.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The microemulsion of claim 14 wherein the hydrocarbon is a refined fraction of crude oil.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The microemulsion of claim 14 wherein the water-dissible clay is present in concentrations of about 2 to about 6%.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
13 words
The microemulsion of claim 14 wherein the water-dispersible clay is comprised of bentonite.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
13 words
The microemulsion of claim 14 wherein the water-dispersible clay is comprised of montmorillonite.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
10 words
The microemulsion of claim 14 wherein the water is soft.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
10 words
The microemulsion of claim 14 wherein the microemulsion contains barite.
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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) | 1980-03-14 | 1980-09-13 | 1981-03-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-03-14 | 1984-09-13 | 1985-03-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-03-14 | 1988-09-13 | 1989-03-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |