Fluid pressure transmission pill
A pill for wellbore operations, that includes a base fluid; and at least two polymers that interact to form a gelatinous structure characterized as isolating and controllably transmitting hydrostatic pressure between a first wellbore fluid above the pill in a wellbore and a second wellbore fluid below the pill in the wellbore is disclosed.
1. A pill for wellbore operations, comprising:
a base fluid; and
at least two polymers that interact to form a gelatinous structure characterized as isolating and controllably transmitting hydrostatic pressure between a first wellbore fluid above the pill in a wellbore and a second wellbore fluid below the pill in the wellbore, wherein a first of the at least two polymers comprises an anionic polysaccharide.
2. The pill of claim 1 , wherein the base fluid comprises an aqueous fluid selected from at least one of fresh water, sea water, a brine containing organic or inorganic dissolved salts, a liquid containing water-miscible organic compounds, and combinations thereof.
3. The pill of claim 2 , wherein the brine comprises a halide or carboxylate salt of at least one of cesium, potassium, calcium, zinc, and sodium.
4. The pill of claim 1 , wherein the base fluid comprises an oleaginous fluid selected from diesel oil, mineral oil, synthetic oil, esters, ethers, acetals, dialkylcarbonates, olefins, and combinations thereof.
5. The pill of claim 1 , wherein a first of the at least two polymers comprises xanthan gum.
6. The pill of claim 1 , wherein a second of the at least two polymers comprises at least one polyetheramine and salts thereof.
7. The pill of claim 1 , wherein the pill is further characterized as maintaining integrity following mechanical interruption.
8. The pill of claim 1 , wherein the pill is solids free.
9. The pill of claim 1 , wherein the pill is elastomeric.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the base fluid has a density substantially identical to the first wellbore fluid.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the pill comprises:
a base fluid; and
at least two polymers that interact to form the gelatinous structure.
12. The method claim 10 , wherein the pill comprises:
a brine comprising a halide or carboxylate salt of at least one of cesium, potassium, calcium, zinc, and sodium;
a xanthan gum or derivatives thereof; and
a polyetheramine or salts thereof.
13. The pill of claim 1 , wherein the at least two polymers interact by crosslinking or ionic interaction.
14. A pill for wellbore operations, comprising:
a base fluid; and
at least two polymers that interact to form a gelatinous structure isolating and transmitting hydrostatic pressure between two fluids within a wellbore, wherein a first of the at least two polymers comprises an anionic polysaccharide.
15. The pill of claim 14 , wherein the at least two polymers interact by crosslinking or ionic interaction.
16. The pill of claim 14 , wherein a first of the at least two polymers comprises xanthan gum.
17. The pill of claim 14 , wherein a second of the at least two polymers comprises at least one polyetheramine and salts thereof.
18. The pill of claim 14 , wherein the pill is characterized as maintaining integrity following mechanical interruption.
19. The pill of claim 14 , wherein the pill is solids free.
20. The pill of claim 14 , wherein the at least two polymers have distinct chemical structures.
21. The pill of claim 14 , wherein the pill is disposed in a wellbore, wherein a first wellbore fluid is in a lower region of the wellbore than the pill and a second wellbore fluid is an upper region of the wellbore than the pill, and wherein the first wellbore fluid has a density substantially identical to the base fluid, and the second wellbore fluid has a density greater than the first fluid.