IP Library Granted Patent US 12662620
Granted Patent B1
US 12662620 · App. 19/057,363 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Completion fluid for injection into wellbore

Inventors: Naji Ali Mohammed Al-Radhi (Dhahran, SA); Mobeen Murtaza (Dhahran, SA); Muhammad Shahzad Kamal (Dhahran, SA); Umer Zahid (Dhahran, SA); Syed Muhammad Shakil Hussain (Dhahran, SA)
Assignee: KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS
C09K8/584C09K8/588E21B43/16E21B33/14E21B43/116
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12662620
App. No.
19/057,363
Granted
Jun 23, 2026
Kind
B1
Abstract

A method of completing a wellbore in a hydrocarbon-containing subterranean formation includes injecting a completion fluid into the wellbore to form a hydrostatic gradient at a hydrocarbon-producing depth in the wellbore. The completion fluid is an aqueous solution including 10 to 20 w/v % of a dicationic surfactant of Formula (I) having an alkyl linker and a lipophilic tail. The completion fluid reduces a torque of the wellbore by at least 25% at a temperature of at least 150° F.

Claims (32)

1 . A method of completing a wellbore in a hydrocarbon-containing subterranean formation, comprising:

injecting a completion fluid into the wellbore to form a hydrostatic gradient at a hydrocarbon-producing depth in the wellbore,

wherein the completion fluid is an aqueous solution comprising 10 to 20 w/v % of a dicationic surfactant of Formula (I) having an alkyl linker and a lipophilic tail

where:

c is from 1 to 20 and represents the alkyl linker,

X represents an anionic counterion,

a is from 1 to 20 and represents the lipophilic tail, and

b is from 1 to 20, and

wherein the completion fluid reduces a torque of the wellbore by at least 25% at a temperature of 150 to 300° F. at a surfactant loading of 10 wt./vol. % based on the total volume of the completion fluid.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the completion fluid is an aqueous solution comprising a brine comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal salt and an alkaline earth metal salt, and

wherein a is from 10 to 20, b is from 10 to 16, and c is from 6 to 8.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the completion fluid has a density of 1 to 3 g/cm 3 .

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the completion fluid has a viscosity of 1 to 20 cP.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprises, before the injecting:

inserting a steel casing string into the wellbore, then sealing a perimeter of the wellbore formed by the casing string by pumping a cement slurry into an annulus between the wellbore wall and the steel casing string;

curing the cement slurry to encase the perimeter of the wellbore in a cement coating; and

inserting a perforating gun into the wellbore and shooting the perforating gun to create a plurality of openings in the perimeter of the wellbore and the cement coating.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the anionic counterion is at least one selected from the group consisting of chlorine and bromine.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the completion fluid is an aqueous solution comprising a brine comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of NaCl, KCl, NaHCO 3 , NaOH, CaCl 2 , CaCO 3 , MgSO 4 , BaSO 4 , SrCl 2 , KOH, LiHCO 3 , Na 2 CO 3 , and KNO 3 .

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the completion fluid has a density of 1.2 to 2 g/cm 3 .

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the anionic counterion is bromine.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the completion fluid has a lubricity coefficient of 0.05 to 0.3 at a temperature of 150 to 300° F.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the completion fluid further comprises at least one additive selected from the group consisting of emulsifiers, viscosifiers, fluid-loss control agents, corrosion inhibitors, defoamers, anti-scalants, deflocculants, lubricants, wellbore strengthening materials, high temperature/high pressure control additives, and coating enhancement agents.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the completion fluid is an aqueous solution comprising a brine comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of NaCl and CaCl 2 .

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the completion fluid is an aqueous solution comprising a brine comprising NaCl.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the completion fluid has a lubricity coefficient of 0.06 to 0.13 at a temperature of 150 to 300° F.

15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the completion fluid reduces a torque of the wellbore by at least 50% at a temperature of 150 to 300° F.

16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the completion fluid is an aqueous solution comprising a brine comprising CaCl 2 .

17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the completion fluid has a density of 1.2 to 1.6 g/cm 3 .

18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the completion fluid has a viscosity of 1 to 6 cP.

19 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the completion fluid has a density of 50 to 75.

20 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the completion fluid has a lubricity coefficient of 0.07 to 0.19 at a temperature of 150 to 300° F.