Emulsified resin-based loss circulation materials for low pressure formations
Lost circulation material (LCM) compositions may include an epoxy resin, an emulsifier comprising a polyaminated fatty acid, water, a crosslinker, and an optional cementitious and/or weighting agent. These LCM compositions may have a density of from about 63 pounds per cubic foot (pcf) to about 99 pcf and may be capable of being injected through a drill bit of a drill string into a lost circulation zone in wellbores. Corresponding methods of eliminating or reducing lost circulation in a lost circulation zone from a well may include introducing these LCM compositions into the well.
1. A lost circulation material (LCM) composition comprising:
5 to 75 wt % of an emulsified epoxy resin;
0.1 to 20 wt % of an emulsifier comprising a polyaminated fatty acid;
5 to 25 wt % water;
1.4 to 1.7 wt % of a crosslinker; and
wherein the LCM composition has a thickening time ranging from 2 hours to 3 hours and 45 minutes; and
wherein the LCM composition has a density of from about 63 pounds per cubic foot (pcf) to about 99 pcf and is capable of being injected through a drill bit of a drill string into a lost circulation zone in wellbores.
2. The LCM composition of claim 1 , where the LCM composition has a density of from about 70 pcf to about 79 pcf.
3. The LCM composition of claim 1 , where the epoxy resin comprises at least one of bisphenol-A-epichlorohydrin epoxy resin, C12-C14 alkyl glycidyl ether derivatives, 2,3-epoxypropyl o-tolyl ether, 1,6-hexanediol diglycidyl ether, butyl glycidyl ether, cyclohexanedimethanol diglycidyl ether, or combinations of these.
4. The LCM composition of claim 1 , where the epoxy resin comprises bisphenol -A-epichlorohydrin epoxy resin and C12-C14 alkyl glycidyl ether.
5. The LCM composition of claim 1 further comprising a reactive diluent comprising oxirane mono [(C12-C14)-alkyloxy) methyl] derivatives.
6. The LCM composition of claim 1 , where the crosslinker comprises at least one of diethylenetriamine (DETA), diethyltoluenediamine (DETDA), polyoxypropylene diamine, or combinations of these.
7. The LCM composition of claim 1 , where the LCM composition comprises from about 0 wt % to about 70 wt % cementitious and/or weighting agent.
8. The LCM composition of claim 1 , where the LCM composition includes a cementitious and/or weighting agent.
9. The LCM composition of claim 1 , where the cementitious and/or weighting agent comprises class G cement, barite (barium sulfate), calcium carbonate (CaCO3), ilmenite, or combinations of these.
10. A method of eliminating or reducing lost circulation in a lost circulation zone from a well, the method comprising:
introducing a first lost circulation material (LCM) composition into the well, the first LCM composition comprising:
an emulsified epoxy resin;
an emulsifier comprising a polyaminated fatty acid;
water;
1.4 to 1.7 wt % of a crosslinker; and
an optional cementitious and/or weighting agent selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate (CaCO3), ilmenite, and a combination thereof,
wherein the LCM composition has a thickening time ranging from 2 hours to 3 hours and 45 minutes: and
wherein the first LCM composition has a density of from about 63 pounds per cubic foot (pcf) to about 99 pcf.
11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising thickening the first LCM composition in the well.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising introducing a second LCM composition in the well after the thickening of the first LCM composition.
13. The method of claim 10 , where the first LCM composition has a density of from about 70 pcf to about 79 pcf.
14. The method of claim 10 , where the lost circulation zone is located in formations having pressures of from about 63 pcf to about 99 pcf.
15. The method of claim 10 , where the lost circulation zone is located at a depth of up to 5000 feet.