Water-soluble linear polyphosphazenes in water-based fluids for use in wells or pipelines
Methods of drilling a wellbore into a subterranean formation or of treating a treatment zone along a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation or of treating a pipeline, the methods comprising steps of: (A) forming a fluid, the fluid comprising: (i) water; and (ii) a water-soluble linear polyphosphazene; and (B) introducing the fluid into the well or into the pipeline. In addition, a well system and methods are provided including such a fluid.
1. A method of drilling a wellbore into a subterranean formation or of treating a treatment zone along a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, the method comprising:
(A) forming a fluid, the fluid comprising:
(i) water; and
(ii) a water-soluble linear polyphosphazene; and
(B) introducing the fluid into the wellbore;
wherein (a) the water-soluble polyphosphazene is at least 90% by weight stable, (b) the water-soluble polyphosphazene is at least 90% by weight non-degradable, (c) the water-soluble polyphosphazene comprises a plurality of functional groups, at least 90% of which are non-hydrolyzable, or combinations thereof.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the fluid additionally comprises: more than one water-soluble linear polyphosphazene.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the polyphosphazene is at least 2% by weight soluble in deionized water.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the polyphosphazene has a chain length in the range of 1,000 to about 100,000 monomeric units.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the polyphosphazene is of the type that can be formed by a reaction between a poly(dichloropolyphosphazene) and at least one other molecule to form at least one type of a substituent for the chlorine of the poly(dichlorpolyphosophazene).
6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the other molecule is selected from the group consisting of: a molecule having at least one —OH group or —O − M + group, where M is a alkali metal cation.
7. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the other molecule is a polymer oxide.
8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the chain length of the polymer oxide is in the range of about 20 to about 100.
9. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the other molecule is selected from the group consisting of: a molecule having a least one primary or secondary amine group.
10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the other molecule is selected from the group consisting of: poly primary amines and poly secondary amines.
11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the polyphosphazene is:
wherein n is in the range of about 10,000 to about 20,000.
12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the polyphosphazene is:
wherein “x” can vary or be anywhere is in the range of about 20 to about 100 wherein n is in the range of about 10,000 to about 20,000.
13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the polyphosphazene is:
wherein “x” is in the range of about 1 to about 10 wherein n is in the range of about 10,000 to about 20,000.
14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the polyphosphazene is:
wherein “x” is in the range of 1 to 5 wherein n is in the range of about 1,000 to about 8,000.
15. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the polyphosphazene is:
wherein “x” is in the range of 1 to 5 wherein n is in the range of about 10,000 to about 20,000.
16. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the polyphosphazene is ionically crosslinked.