Patent · US Expired

Low solids, high density fluids for well drilling

US5616541A · kind A · utility

27Cited by
6References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 10, 1995
Grant dateApr 1, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 10, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC09K2208/18
  • WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

Disclosed are low solids, high density fluids useful as drilling, workover, and completion fluids and the like in oil and gas well operations. The fluids comprise one or more brines having a density greater than about 1500 kg/m.sup.3, a viscosifier which is a high surface area silica, a fluid loss control additive which is preferably a starch derivative, one or more water soluble or acid soluble bridging agents, and, optionally, an alkaline buffer and a polar additive. Also disclosed is an additive for the preparation of low solids, high density fluids which comprises a fumed silica and a bridging agent in a weight ratio of bridging agent to fumed silica from about 2 to about 20, and optionally, an alkaline buffer in a weight ratio of alkaline buffer to fumed silica from about 0.03 to about 2.5.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.