Patent · US Expired

Buffered well fluids

US6499546B1 · kind B1 · utility

8Cited by
4References
6Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 20, 2001
Grant dateDec 31, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 20, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
  • CPC primaryE21B21/068
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

The present invention relates to the use of a buffered acid wash to reduce the amount of oil in cuttings associated with the use of an invert emulsion well fluid. The buffered acid wash is sufficiently acidic as to convert all of the surfactant in the invert oil emulsion from one charge species into another, but substantially prevents the fluid from becoming so acidic as to generate carbon dioxide.

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