Abstract:
A method for completing boreholes penetrating narrow gradient zones in a subterranean formation after drilling with an oil based drilling fluid for recovery of hydrocarbons. The method employs an epoxy-based resin composition with controllable density and rheology that provides a low equivalent circulating density and is compatible with the oil based drilling fluid. The composition acts as a substitute for cement in cementing operations including adhering casing to the borehole, zonal isolation, and consolidation.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to compositions and methods for drilling, cementing and casing boreholes in subterranean formations, particularly hydrocarbon bearing formations. More particularly, the present invention relates to cementing wellbores in narrow fracture gradient wells. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Relevant Art 
         [0004]    Global economic conditions require innovative and state-of-the art wellbore-stabilization methods to reduce the total cost associated with the construction and life cycle of a well. Stabilization includes preventing unwanted fluid or gas flow into or out of the wellbore, preventing the flow of particulates into the wellbore, and mitigating formation compressive or tensile failure. 
         [0005]    Wellbore stability depends on the mechanical and chemical interaction between the wellbore fluids and the walls of the wellbore itself. A stable wellbore is essential during the drilling, completion, and production phases for maximizing the well&#39;s economic potential. 
         [0006]    During drilling, wellbore instability can result from unintentional use of improper mud weights. Using mud weights that are too high can result in hydraulic fracturing of the formation and loss of drilling fluid into the formation. This problem can also occur during cementing when the hydrostatic pressure of long columns of cement exceeds the formation-fracturing pressure, potentially resulting in the total loss of cement slurry into the formation. Using mud weights that are too low can result in formation water and gas influx and in some cases the flow of unconsolidated particulates into the wellbore. This particulate flow can lead to hole enlargement and can make well completion difficult. Additionally, problems can arise during cementing that can lead to water/gas infiltration into the cement column. In severe cases, these fluids can migrate to the top of the cement column, resulting in inadequate or incomplete zonal isolation. Such fluid migration compromises the intent of the cementing operation and can lead to severe operating problems throughout the life of the well. 
         [0007]    These problems are amplified in situations where a small window exists between the formation-fracture pressure and the pore pressure. In such narrow fracture gradient zones, maintaining proper mud weight for controlling formation fluid flow without fracturing the formation becomes difficult. As used herein, the term “fracture gradient” means the hydraulic pressure per unit depth required to be exerted in a subterranean stratum to cause fractures therein. As used herein, the term “narrow fracture gradient zone” shall be understood to be an area of a subterranean formation where the formation has a formation-fracture pressure and a pore pressure that differ by less than 1 lb/gal in equivalent weight with respect to the narrow fracture gradient and less than 500 psi in other terms. 
         [0008]    The Gulf of Mexico has experienced extreme difficulties with narrow fracture gradient problems, although such problems exist worldwide. In the Gulf of Mexico, narrow fracture gradient zones have been found less than 2,000 ft below the mudline. Such “shallow-water-flow” (SWF) zones are formed from sand and silt that erodes from the Continental Shelf and settles over older deepwater formations. Over time, many layers formed as graded-sediment beds, with the heaviest particles settling to the bottom. The formation of successive layers undercompacted and overpressed the sediments. During drilling, penetration causes flow through the layers, creating a potential for casing wear, buckling, or collapse during drilling, cementing and production of the well. If SWF zones compromise wellbore stability, the entire well can be lost. 
         [0009]    Typically, operators closely monitor drilling and cementing operations to combat various problems associated with SWF zones, and other types of narrow fracture gradient zones. The cementing operations focus on providing a competent seal between the cement and the formation, and between the cement and the casing, and on providing a competent sheath to last the life of the well. A principal challenge in slurry design is the small fracture-gradient/pore-pressure window. For example, the zone&#39;s fracture gradient may limit the slurry density to 12 lb/gal, while formation pore pressure can wash away a slurry with a density less than 11.5 lb/gal. 
         [0010]    In primary cementing operations, a string of pipe such as casing is cemented in a wellbore. A hydraulic cement composition is pumped into the annular space between the walls of the wellbore and the exterior of a string of pipe disposed therein. The cement composition is permitted to set in the annular space thereby forming an annular sheath of hardened substantially impermeable cement therein. The cement sheath physically supports and positions the pipe in the wellbore and bonds the pipe to the walls of the wellbore preventing undesirable migration of fluids between zones or formations penetrated by the wellbore. 
         [0011]    In wells that penetrate formations with narrow fracture gradient zones, operators often employ light weight cement compositions such as cement foams in an effort to prevent the hydrostatic pressure exerted on the walls of the wellbore from exceeding the fracture gradient of the stratum. Operators may also decrease the permeabilities of such strata to prevent inflow or outflow of fluids into the wellbores by pumping cement or resin compositions into the stratum and allowing those compositions to harden in the stratum. 
         [0012]    Another problem exacerbated in narrow fracture gradient zones is the incompatibility of cement with oil based drilling fluids. Oil based drilling fluids are normally used to drill swelling or sloughing shales, salt, gypsum, anhydrite or other evaporate formations, hydrogen sulfide-containing formations, and hot or high temperature (greater than about 300 degrees Fahrenheit (“° F.”)) holes, and may be used in other holes penetrating a subterranean formation as well. Thus, oil based drilling fluids are commonly used in drilling through formations having narrow fracture gradient zones. Cement on the other hand is mixed and used as a water based slurry and thus is inherently incompatible with oil based drilling fluids. Consequently, spacers must be used to change the wettability of rock and casing from oil-wet to water-wet in wells drilled with oil-based drilling fluids prior to placing cement. Otherwise, poor bonding between the cement and casing and/or formation will occur when the casing/formation are not water-wet. 
         [0013]    There continues to be a need for compositions and methods for improved drilling and cementing operations through narrow gradient zones. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    The present invention provides improved methods of conducting completion operations through narrow fracture gradients in subterranean formations, following drilling with oil-based drilling fluids or muds. As used herein, the term “cementing” or “cementing operations” shall be generally understood to include operations for casing a borehole as well as operations for cementing a borehole unless stated otherwise. More particularly, the present invention provides a cement-alternative composition and method that allows for improved equivalent circulating density (ECD) control in narrow fracture gradient zones or wellbores and that is compatible with oil-based drilling fluids. 
         [0015]    The present invention provides an epoxy-based resin system comprising an epoxy resin. Densities are controlled with added solids. According to the method of the invention, through a combination of solids of varying densities and particle sizes, resin density is adjusted to approximate that of the drilling fluid used in the drilling. 
         [0016]    In all, the resin system of the present invention is highly tunable, with controllable density and rheology that is compatible with oil based drilling fluids. This compatibility reduces the need for spacers that commonly must be used when using cement in a well drilled with oil-based mud to render the surfaces touched by the oil-based mud water-wet. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0017]    The epoxy-based resin system used in well completion operations in the present invention comprises an epoxy resin. In one embodiment, the epoxy-based resin system also comprises an amine hardener and an amine accelerator. While various epoxide containing liquids can be used in making the resin composition, preferred such liquids are the diglycidyl ether of 1,4-butanediol, the diglycidyl ether of neopentylglycol, the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A, and the diglycidyl ether of cyclohexanedimethanol. A suitable epoxide containing liquid comprised of the diglycidyl ether of 1,4-butanediol is commercially available from the Shell Chemical Company under the trade name “HELOXY®67.” This epoxide containing liquid has a viscosity at 25° C. in the range of from about 13 to about 18 centipoises, a molecular weight of 202 and a one gram equivalent of epoxide per about 120 to about 130 grams of the liquid. A suitable diglycidyl ether of neopentylglycol is commercially available from Shell Chemical Company under the trade name “HELOXY®68.” This epoxide containing liquid has a viscosity at 25° C. in the range of from about 13 to about 18 centipoises, a molecular weight of 216 and a one gram equivalent of epoxide per about 130 to about 140 grams of the liquid. A suitable diglycidyl ether of cyclohexanedimethanol is commercially available from Shell Chemical Company under the trade name “HELOXY®107.” This epoxide containing liquid has a viscosity at 25° C. in the range of from about 55 to about 75 centipoises, a molecular weight of 256 and a one gram equivalent of epoxide per about 155 to about 165 grams of the liquid. When an epoxide containing liquid or mixture is used as the only epoxide source in an epoxy-based resin composition of this invention, the epoxide containing liquid or mixture is generally present in an amount in the range of from about 20% to about 80% by weight of the epoxy composition, and preferably in an amount of about 50%. 
         [0018]    A variety of hardening agents including, but not limited to, aliphatic amines, amide amines, amido amines, imidazoles, aliphatic tertiary amines, aromatic amines, cycloaliphatic amines, heterocyclic amines, polyamides, polyethylamines and carboxylic acid anhydrides can be used in the epoxy-based resin compositions of this invention containing the above described epoxide containing materials. Of these, aliphatic amines, aromatic amines and carboxylic acid anhydrides are the most suitable. 
         [0019]    Examples of aliphatic and aromatic amine hardening agents are triethylenetetraamine, ethylenediamine, N-cocoalkyltrimethylenediamine, isophoronediamine, diethyltoluenediamine, and tris(dimethylaminomethylphenol). Examples of suitable carboxylic acid anhydrides are methyltetrahydrophthalic anhydride, hexahydrophthalic anhydride, maleic anhydride, polyazelaic polyanhydride and phthalic anhydride. Of these, triethylenetetraamine, ethylenediamine, N-cocoalkyltrimethylenediamine, isophoronediamine, diethyltoluenediamine and tris(dimethylaminomethylphenol) are preferred, with isophoronediamine, diethyltoluenediamine and tris(dimethylaminomethylphenol) being the most preferred. The hardening agent or agents used are included in the epoxy-based resin compositions of the present invention in an amount in the range of from about 20% to about 50% by weight of the compositions. 
         [0020]    In one embodiment, the epoxy-based composition of the present invention comprises an amine accelerator such as diethyltoluenediamine for a non-limiting example. The epoxy-based composition of the invention may also include a particulate filler such as crystalline silicas, amorphous silicas, clays, calcium carbonate or barite. A commercial product, STEELSEAL®, resilient carbon based lost circulation material available from Halliburton Inc. in Duncan, Okla. and Houston, Tex. might also be used as a filler in the present invention. When a filler is used, it is added to an epoxy composition of this invention in an amount in the range of from about 100% to about 300% by weight of the composition. An organosilane compound can optionally be included in the epoxy-based resin composition. The organosilane functions in the resin to impart high subterranean strata surface bond strengths to the compositions. The organosilane compound undergoes hydrolysis in the presence of trace quantities of water whereby trialkoxysilanols are formed which dehydrate and form strong bonds. That is, the dehydration results in the formation of bonds with silica in the strata. Suitable organosilane compounds include 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, N-2-(aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane and 3-glycidoxy-propyltrimethoxysilane. Of these, 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane is preferred. When used, the organosilane compound is included in an epoxy-based resin composition of this invention in an amount in the range of from about 0.1% to about 5% by weight of the resin composition, preferably in an amount of about 0.5%. 
         [0021]    Density of the epoxy-resin based composition is controlled with added solids. According to the method of the invention, through a combination of solids of varying densities and particle sizes, along with suspension agents, the resin density is adjusted to approximate that of the drilling fluid used in the drilling. Generally, smaller particles and higher volume percentages of solids cause increased or higher rheology. Larger particles contribute less to the rheology of the resins but are more prone to settling out at the cure temperature of the epoxy. Thus, a balance in the particles is obtained to reach the desired density. Non-limiting examples of solids that might be used for this purpose in the invention are silica flour, micronized sand, sand of several mesh sizes, barite, calcium carbonate, polystyrene beads, hematite, manganese tetroxide, graphite. Hollow glass spheres may also be used to lower density, even below the density of the neat resin. To aid in displacement, cement is often 0.5 to 1.0 lb/gal heavier than the drilling fluid used. However, ideally, the rheology of the drilling fluid and cement or the drilling fluid and the resin of the invention will be the same. 
         [0022]    An advantage of the present invention is the flexibility the epoxy-based resin composition of the invention affords to adjusting the density and rheology of the composition. This flexibility enables the composition to be used in completing wellbores penetrating narrow gradient zones with substantial reduction in or even elimination of the risk of fracturing the zone that would be associated with cementing the borehole with cement of the prior art. Another advantage of the present invention is its compatibility with oil based muds, so that in use, spacers or treatments of surfaces which the oil based muds have contacted to render them water wet may not be needed. As noted previously, prior art cement used in cementing is aqueous based and must have removal of traces of oil based mud for proper adhesion. 
         [0023]    The present invention provides improved methods of conducting completion operations through narrow fracture gradients in subterranean formations, following drilling with oil-based drilling fluids. 
         [0024]    The efficacy of the invention is demonstrated further by the following examples. 
         [0025]    A base or neat epoxy resin composition was prepared comprising 100 grams of epoxy resin, in this example a diglycidyl ether of cyclohexanedimethanol, 28 grams of amine hardener, in this example diethyltoluenediamine, and 3.5 grams of amine accelerator, in this example 2,4,6 tridimethylaminomethylphenol. This base formulation (also called “neat resin” herein) had a density of 8.9 lb/gal. To this base formulation, various solids were added to modify and adjust the density of the formulation, as indicated below in Table 1, to comprise different epoxy-resin based compositions of the invention. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Resin Compositions with Variable Density 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 SAMPLE 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 A 
                 B 
                 C 
                 D 
                 E 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Neat Resin, vol. % 
                 92 
                 85 
                 78 
                 75 
                 74 
               
               
                 Silica Flour (200 mesh), vol. % 
                 — 
                 — 
                 20 
                 19 
                 13 
               
               
                 D 50  is about 75 μm 
               
               
                 Micronized sand, vol. % 
                 8 
                 15 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
               
               
                 D 50  is about 10 μm 
               
               
                 Barite, vol. % 
                 — 
                 — 
                 2 
                 6 
                 13 
               
               
                 Polyamide resin suspension agent, 
                 2 
                 2 
                 2 
                 2 
                 2 
               
               
                 lb/bbl 
               
               
                 Fluid Density, lb/gal 
                 10.0 
                 11.0 
                 12.1 
                 13.0 
                 14.1 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0026]    Each of the formulations in Table 1 used different combinations of solid particles to achieve desired resin densities. At the same time these formulations showed minimal observable settling and maintained reasonable, “mud-like” or drilling fluid type rheology, as indicated in Table 2 below. Table 2 also provides the experimentally determined compressive strength for each sample. Compressive strength is a measure of the strength of the cured material and was measured after the sample was cured in a cube mold for 24 hours at 160° F. A compressive strength of greater than about 500 psi is considered acceptable for the purposes of this invention. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Fann 35 Rheology at 120° F. and 
               
               
                 Compressive Strength of Resin Compositions 
               
             
          
           
               
                 SAMPLE 
                 Neat 
                 A 
                 B 
                 C 
                 D 
                 E 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 600 rpm 
                 83 
                 158 
                 291 
                 159 
                 198 
                 201 
               
               
                 300 rpm 
                 41 
                 82 
                 104 
                 83 
                 102 
                 104 
               
               
                 200 rpm 
                 26 
                 56 
                 70 
                 56 
                 69 
                 71 
               
               
                 100 rpm 
                 11 
                 30 
                 36 
                 30 
                 35 
                 37 
               
               
                  6 rpm 
                 2 
                 3 
                 3 
                 4 
                 3 
                 3 
               
               
                  3 rpm 
                 1 
                 2 
                 2 
                 3 
                 2 
                 2 
               
               
                 Plastic 
                 42 
                 76 
                 100 
                 76 
                 96 
                 97 
               
               
                 Viscosity, cP 
               
               
                 Yield Point, 
                 0 
                 6 
                 4 
                 7 
                 6 
                 7 
               
               
                 lb/100 ft 2   
               
               
                 Compressive 
                 &gt;3750 
                 &gt;3750 
                 &gt;3750 
                 &gt;3750 
                 &gt;3750 
                 &gt;3750 
               
               
                 Strength, psi 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0027]    The results in Table 2 show that settable compositions of high compressive strength are able to be prepared with controlled density and rheology, and consequent ECD advantages, according to the present invention. These results are examples and by no means represent the only acceptable compositions that may be formulated according to the invention. 
         [0028]    Further examples demonstrate the compatibility of the compositions of the invention with oil based drilling fluids (OBM) and the consequent potential of the compositions to accomplish enhanced bonding. 
         [0029]    A base or neat epoxy resin composition was prepared as discussed above (see Table 1) and then contaminated with oil based drilling fluid and cured at 160° F. for 24 hours in a cube mold. Results for the mud compatibility testing are given in Table 3. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 3 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Compatibility of Resin Systems with OBM 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 SAMPLE 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 F 
                 G 
                 H 
                 I 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Neat Resin, vol. % 
                 67.5 
                 65 
                 68 
                 50 
               
               
                 Silica Flour (200 mesh), vol. % 
                 27.5 
                 25 
                 12 
                 20 
               
               
                 D 50  is about 75 μm 
               
               
                 ENCORE ® 14 lb/gal. OBM, vol. % 
                 5 
                 10 
                 20 
                 30 
               
               
                 Available from Halliburton 
               
               
                 Energy Services, Inc. 
               
               
                 In Duncan, OK and Houston, TX 
               
               
                 Polyamide resin suspension agent, 
                 2 
                 2 
                 2 
                 2 
               
               
                 lb/bbl 
               
               
                 Compressive Strength 
                 &gt;3750 
                 &gt;3750 
                 &gt;3750 
                 1750 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0030]    Table 3 demonstrates that even at 30% by volume drilling mud contamination, the epoxy-based resin compositions of the invention maintained an acceptable compressive strength. In the samples with substantial mud (20% and 30%), some degree of separation was observed between the mud and the resin formulation. However, despite this separation, the cured cube was solid with no liquid component remaining. The separation then only resulted in a visual distinction between layers of the cured cube. 
         [0031]    The foregoing description of the invention is intended to be a description of preferred embodiments. Various changes in the details of the described fluids and methods of use can be made without departing from the intended scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.