Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
211 words
A water-in-oil emulsion fluid for use in the drilling, completion or workover of a subterranean well comprising: (1) a liquid hydrocarbon base; (2) an aqueous phase; and (3) a surfactant, said surfactant comprising: an oligamide prepared by reacting from between about 20 mole percent and about 35 mole percent of a polyalkylene polyamine having two or more alkylene groups separated by nitrogen atoms, and from between about 30 mole percent and about 70 mole percent of a fatty acid having from between about 6 to about 20 carbon atoms therein, said polyamine and fatty acid being reacted to form a diamide intermediate product, said diamide intermediate product being further reacted with from between about 15 mole percent to about 35 mole mole percent of a tricarboxylic acid selected from citric acid and trimellitic acid to form an oligamide, said surfactant, when diluted to 70 percent w/w concentration with a suitable solvent, having an acid value from about 26 to about 46, said surfactant having a total amine value from between about 10 to about 30, the drilling fluid produced with said surfactant having an ES 3 of at least about 400 volts, and an ES 5 greater than the ES 4 thereof, the ES 5 being greater than about 1,000 volts.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
211 words
A water-in-oil emulsion fluid for use in the drilling, completion or workover of a subterranean well comprising: (1) a liquid hydrocarbon base; (2) an aqueous phase; and (3) a surfactant, said surfactant comprising: an oligamide prepared by reacting from between about 20 mole percent and about 35 mole percent of a polyalkylene polyamine having two or more alkylene groups separated by nitrogen atoms, and from between about 30 mole percent and about 70 mole percent of a fatty acid having from between about 6 to about 20 carbon atoms therein, said polyamine and fatty acid being reacted to form a diamide intermediate product, said diamide intermediate product being further reacted with from between about 15 mole percent to about 35 mole mole percent of a tricarboxylic acid selected from citric acid and trimellitic acid to form an oligamide, said surfactant, when diluted to 70 percent w/w concentration with a suitable solvent, having an acid value from about 26 to about 46, said surfactant having a total amine value from between about 10 to about 30, the drilling fluid produced with said surfactant having an ES 3 of at least about 400 volts, and an ES 5 greater than the ES 4 thereof, the ES 5 being greater than about 1,000 volts.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
The water-in-oil fluid of claim 1 wherein the polyamine is diethylenetriamine.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The water-in-oil fluid of claim 1 wherein the fatty acid is tall oil.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The water-in-oil fluid of claim 1 wherein the tricarboxylic acid is citric acid.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
242 words
A method of drilling a well into a subsurface formation in which an invert emulsion drilling fluid having present therein a water-in-oil emulsion forming surfactant is circulated into, through and out of said well, comprising the steps of: forming a water-in-oil emulsion employing said surfactant in said fluid by adding at least about 1.5 ppb of a surfactant-to oil and water, said surfactant comprising: an oligamide prepared by reacting from between about 20 mole percent and about 35 mole percent of a polyalkylene polyamine having two or more alkylene groups separated by nitrogen atoms, and from between about 30 mole percent and about 70 mole percent of a fatty acid having from between about 6 to about 20 carbon atoms therein, said polyamine and fatty acid being reacted to form a diamide intermediate product, said diamide intermediate product being reacted with from between about 15 mole percent and about 35 mole percent of a tricarboxylic acid selected from citric acid and trimellitic acid to form an oligamide, said surfactant, when diluted to about 70 percent w/w concentration with a suitable solvent, having an acid value from between 26 to about 46, said surfactant having a total amine value from between about 10 to about 30, the invert drilling fluid produced with said surfactant having an ES3 of at least about 400 volts, and an E5 being greater than about 1,000 volts; and circulating said fluid into, through, and out of said well.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
242 words
A method of drilling a well into a subsurface formation in which an invert emulsion drilling fluid having present therein a water-in-oil emulsion forming surfactant is circulated into, through and out of said well, comprising the steps of: forming a water-in-oil emulsion employing said surfactant in said fluid by adding at least about 1.5 ppb of a surfactant-to oil and water, said surfactant comprising: an oligamide prepared by reacting from between about 20 mole percent and about 35 mole percent of a polyalkylene polyamine having two or more alkylene groups separated by nitrogen atoms, and from between about 30 mole percent and about 70 mole percent of a fatty acid having from between about 6 to about 20 carbon atoms therein, said polyamine and fatty acid being reacted to form a diamide intermediate product, said diamide intermediate product being reacted with from between about 15 mole percent and about 35 mole percent of a tricarboxylic acid selected from citric acid and trimellitic acid to form an oligamide, said surfactant, when diluted to about 70 percent w/w concentration with a suitable solvent, having an acid value from between 26 to about 46, said surfactant having a total amine value from between about 10 to about 30, the invert drilling fluid produced with said surfactant having an ES3 of at least about 400 volts, and an E5 being greater than about 1,000 volts; and circulating said fluid into, through, and out of said well.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
The water-in-oil fluid of claim 5 wherein the polyamine is diethylenetriamine.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The water-in-oil fluid of claim 5 wherein the tricarboxylic acid is citric acid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The water-in-oil fluid of claim 5 wherein the fatty acid is tall oil.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
201 words
A water-in-oil emulsion fluid for use in the drilling, completion or workover of a subterranean well comprising: (1) a liquid hydrocarbon base; (2) an aqueous phase; and (3) a surfactant, said surfactant comprising: an oligamide prepared by reacting from between about 20 mole percent and about 35 mole percent of a polyalkylene polyamine having two or more alkylene groups separated by nitrogen atoms and from between about 30 mole percent and about 70 mole percent of a fatty acid having from between about 6 to about 20 carbon atoms therein, said polyamine and fatty acid being reacted to form a diamide intermediate product, said diamide intermediate product being further reacted with from between about 15 mole percent to about 35 mole percent of a tricarboxylic acid selected from citric acid and trimellitic acid to form an oligamide, said surfactant, when diluted to about 70 percent w/w concentration with a suitable solvent, having an acid value from about 26 to about 46, said surfactant having a total amine value from between about 10 to about 30, the drilling fluid produced with said surfactant having an electrical stability measurement in accordance with the API Electrical Stability Test of at least about 1,000 volts.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
201 words
A water-in-oil emulsion fluid for use in the drilling, completion or workover of a subterranean well comprising: (1) a liquid hydrocarbon base; (2) an aqueous phase; and (3) a surfactant, said surfactant comprising: an oligamide prepared by reacting from between about 20 mole percent and about 35 mole percent of a polyalkylene polyamine having two or more alkylene groups separated by nitrogen atoms and from between about 30 mole percent and about 70 mole percent of a fatty acid having from between about 6 to about 20 carbon atoms therein, said polyamine and fatty acid being reacted to form a diamide intermediate product, said diamide intermediate product being further reacted with from between about 15 mole percent to about 35 mole percent of a tricarboxylic acid selected from citric acid and trimellitic acid to form an oligamide, said surfactant, when diluted to about 70 percent w/w concentration with a suitable solvent, having an acid value from about 26 to about 46, said surfactant having a total amine value from between about 10 to about 30, the drilling fluid produced with said surfactant having an electrical stability measurement in accordance with the API Electrical Stability Test of at least about 1,000 volts.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
11 words
The water-in-oil fluid of claim 9 wherein the polyamine is diethylenetriamine.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The water-in-oil fluid of claim 9 wherein the fatty acid is tall oil.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The water-in-oil fluid of claim 9 wherein the tricarboxylic acid is citric acid.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
238 words
A method of drilling a well in a subsurface formation in which an invert emulsion drilling fluid having present therein a water-in-oil emulsion forming surfactant is circulated into, through, and out of said well, comprising the steps of: forming a water-in-oil emulsion employing a surfactant in said fluid by adding at least about 1.5 ppb of a surfactant-to oil and water, said surfactant comprising: an oligamide prepared by reacting from between about 20 mole percent and about 35 mole percent of a polyamine having two or more alkylene groups separated by nitrogen atoms, and from between about 30 mole percent and about 70 mole percent of a fatty acid having from about 6 to about 20 carbon atoms therein, said polyamine and fatty acid being reacted to form a diamide intermediate product, said diamide intermediate product being further reacted with from between about 15 mole percent and about 35 mole percent of a tricarboxylic acid selected from citric acid and trimellitic acid, said surfactant when diluted to about 70 w/w percent concentration with solvent having an acid value from between about 26 to about 46, said surfactant having a total amine value of from between about 10 and about 30, the invert drilling fluid produced with said surfactant having an Electrical Stability measurement in accordance with the API Electrical Stability Test of at least about 1,000 volts; and circulating said fluid into, through, and out of said well.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
238 words
A method of drilling a well in a subsurface formation in which an invert emulsion drilling fluid having present therein a water-in-oil emulsion forming surfactant is circulated into, through, and out of said well, comprising the steps of: forming a water-in-oil emulsion employing a surfactant in said fluid by adding at least about 1.5 ppb of a surfactant-to oil and water, said surfactant comprising: an oligamide prepared by reacting from between about 20 mole percent and about 35 mole percent of a polyamine having two or more alkylene groups separated by nitrogen atoms, and from between about 30 mole percent and about 70 mole percent of a fatty acid having from about 6 to about 20 carbon atoms therein, said polyamine and fatty acid being reacted to form a diamide intermediate product, said diamide intermediate product being further reacted with from between about 15 mole percent and about 35 mole percent of a tricarboxylic acid selected from citric acid and trimellitic acid, said surfactant when diluted to about 70 w/w percent concentration with solvent having an acid value from between about 26 to about 46, said surfactant having a total amine value of from between about 10 and about 30, the invert drilling fluid produced with said surfactant having an Electrical Stability measurement in accordance with the API Electrical Stability Test of at least about 1,000 volts; and circulating said fluid into, through, and out of said well.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the polyamine is diethylenetriamine.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the fatty acid is tall oil.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the tricarboxylic acid is citric acid.