Coiled tubing drilling with supercritical carbon dioxide
US6347675B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 9, 2000 |
| Grant date | Feb 19, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 9, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P20/54
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A method for increasing the efficiency of drilling operations by using a drilling fluid material that exists as supercritical fluid or a dense gas at temperature and pressure conditions existing at a drill site. The material can be used to reduce mechanical drilling forces, to remove cuttings, or to jet erode a substrate. In one embodiment, carbon dioxide (CO2) is used as the material for drilling within wells in the earth, where the normal temperature and pressure conditions cause CO2 to exist as a supercritical fluid. Supercritical carbon dioxide (SC—CO2) is preferably used with coiled tube (CT) drilling equipment. The very low viscosity SC—CO2 provides efficient cooling of the drill head, and efficient cuttings removal. Further, the diffusivity of SC—CO2 within the pores of petroleum formations is significantly higher than that of water, making jet erosion using SC—CO2 much more effective than water jet erosion. SC—CO2 jets can be used to assist mechanical drilling, for erosion drilling, or for scale removal. A choke manifold at the well head or mud cap drilling equipment can be used to control the pressure within the borehole, to ensure that the te…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.