Liquid crystals for drilling, completion and production fluids
US8356667B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 14, 2010 |
| Grant date | Jan 22, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 18, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC09K2208/28
- WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Fluids containing liquid crystal-forming surfactants or polymeric surfactants, or polymers, or complex polymers or copolymers, or graphite nanotubes or Janus particles in a polar and/or non polar liquid, and optionally, co-surfactants, are useful in drilling, completion and production operations to give increased viscosity (solids suspension ability) and/or decreased fluid loss, as compared to otherwise identical fluids absent the liquid crystals. These liquid crystal compositions contain organized micelles. The liquid crystal-containing fluids are useful in completion fluids, fracturing fluids, formation damage remediation, waste management, lost circulation, drilling optimization, reducing trapped annular pressure during the hydrocarbon production process, well strengthening, friction and drag reducers, fluids introduced through an injection well, for geothermal wells, and the controlled release of additives into a wellbore, at a subterranean formation or at the oil production facilities.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.