Composition for use in conducting downhole operations in oil and gas wells
A composition for viscosifying a nonaqueous base liquid. The composition has glycerin carbonate and optionally an alkoxylated alcohol having the formula: wherein R is a linear or branched alkyl from 2 to 18 carbon atoms, or an aromatic radical having the structure: where R 1 is a branched or linear alkyl having from 2 to 18 carbon atoms R 2 is H or CH 3 R 3 is H or CH 3 a is from 0 to 12 and b is from 1 to 12. The base liquid having greater than 20% naphthenics and about 10% to about 35% isoparaffins.
1. A wellbore fluid comprising:
a hydrocarbon base oil comprising greater than 20% by weight naphthenics and 10 to 35% by weight isoparaffins;
an exfoliating agent comprising glycerin carbonate and an alkoxylated alcohol having the general formula general formula:
wherein R is a linear or branched alkyl from 2 to 18 carbon atoms or an aromatic radical having the structure:
wherein R 1 is a branched or linear alkyl having from 2 to 18 carbon atoms,
R 2 is H or CH 3 ,
R 3 is H or CH 3 ,
a is from 0 to 12,
and b is from 1 to 12; and
an organophilic clay.
2. The wellbore fluid of claim 1 , wherein said glycerin carbonate is present in an amount of 10 wt % to 100 wt % and said alkoxylated alcohol is present in an amount of up to 90 wt % based on the total exfoliating agent.
3. The wellbore fluid of claim 1 , wherein said glycerin carbonate is present in an amount of 80 wt % and said alkoxylated alcohol is present in an amount of 20 wt % based on the total exfoliating agent.
4. The wellbore fluid of claim 1 , wherein said glycerin carbonate is present in an amount of 70 wt % and said alkoxylated alcohol is present in an amount of 30 wt % based on the total exfoliating agent.
5. The wellbore fluid of claim 1 , wherein said glycerin carbonate is present in an amount of 60 wt % and said alkoxylated alcohol is present in an amount of 40 wt % based on the total exfoliating agent.
6. The wellbore fluid of claim 1 , wherein said organophilic clay is a smectite-type clay selected from the group consisting of bentonite, hectorite, montmorillonite, nontronite, biedellite, saponite, stevensite, and mixtures thereof.
7. The wellbore fluid of claim 1 , wherein said organophilic clay is present in an amount of from 1 wt % to 5 wt % and said exfoliating agent is present in an amount of from 0.005 wt % to 1 wt % based on the total composition.
8. The wellbore fluid of claim 1 , further comprising:
water in an amount of 30 to 50 wt % based on said organophilic clay.
9. The wellbore fluid of claim 1 , further comprising:
an additive comprising at least one of emulsifiers, wetting agents, viscosifiers, weighting agents, fluid loss control agents, proppants, and particulate agents for forming gravel packs.