IP Library Granted Patent US 8,592,350
Granted Patent B2
US 8,592,350 · App. 13/101,300 · Granted Nov 26, 2013

Surfactant additives used to retain producibility while drilling

Inventors: Ryan van Zanten (Spring, TX); David Horton (Houston, TX); Per-Bjarte Tanche-Larsen (Sandnes, NO)
Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,592,350
App. No.
13/101,300
Granted
Nov 26, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

Of the many embodiments provided herein, one embodiment includes a method comprising: providing a drilling fluid comprising: an aqueous fluid; and a surfactant; and drilling a well bore in a subterranean formation comprising an oleaginous fluid using the drilling fluid, wherein the surfactant forms a micelle within the well bore; and removing an oil block in the formation.

Claims (27)

1. A method comprising:

providing a drilling fluid comprising:

an aqueous fluid; and

a surfactant selected from the group consisting of a block copolymer surfactant, a di-block polymer surfactant, a hydrophobically modified surfactant, a fluoro-surfactant, and any combination thereof; and

drilling a well bore in a subterranean formation comprising an oleaginous fluid using the drilling fluid, wherein the surfactant forms a micelle within the well bore; and

removing an oil block in the formation.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the subterranean formation has a retained producibility greater than about 20%.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the drilling fluid further comprises a fluid loss control agent, wherein the fluid loss control agent forms a layer disposed on the subterranean formation.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the surfactant is present in the drilling fluid in an amount of from about 0.01% to about 20% by weight of the drilling fluid.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the micelle has a worm-like structure or a rodlike structure.

6. A method comprising:

providing a drilling fluid comprising:

an aqueous base fluid;

a surfactant selected from the group consisting of a block copolymer surfactant, a di-block polymer surfactant, a hydrophobically modified surfactant, a fluoro-surfactant, and any combination thereof;

a non-polar fluid; and

drilling a well bore in a subterranean formation comprising an oleaginous fluid using the drilling fluid, wherein the surfactant forms a micelle that is capable of removing an oil block and the subterranean formation has a retained producibility greater than about 20%.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the drilling fluid further comprises a fluid loss control agent, wherein the fluid loss control agent forms a layer disposed on the subterranean formation.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the surfactant is present in the drilling fluid in an amount of from about 0.01% to about 20% by weight of the drilling fluid.

9. A method comprising:

providing a drilling fluid comprising:

an aqueous base fluid; and

a surfactant selected from the group consisting of a block copolymer surfactant, a di-block polymer surfactant, a hydrophobically modified surfactant, a fluoro-surfactant, and any combination thereof; and

drilling a well bore in a subterranean formation that comprises a pore throat; and

allowing the surfactant to remove an oil block, a water block, or both from the pore throat.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the subterranean formation has a retained producibility greater than about 20%.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the drilling fluid further comprises a fluid loss control agent, wherein the fluid loss control agent forms a layer disposed on the subterranean formation.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the surfactant is present in the drilling fluid in an amount of from about 0.01% to about 20% by weight of the drilling fluid.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 5, 2011
From: VAN ZANTEN, RYAN; HORTON, DAVID; TANCHE-LARSEN, PER-BJARTE
To: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 026229/0690 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation In Part 12827451 · Jun 30, 2010
Related Publication 20120000708A1 · Jan 5, 2012