Method for foam drilling using a biodegradable foaming agent

Patent · Tue Oct 24 04:00:00 EDT 1978

OSTI ID:6569210

Fischer, P W; Pye, D S

A method for conducting foam drilling and workover operations in a bore hole penetrating a subterranean reservoir employs an aqueous solution of a biodegradable foaming agent composition containing about 0.3 to 3 parts by weight of an N-fatty ethyl sulfonic acid salt having the formula RNHCH/sub 2/CH/sub 2/SO/sub 2/OM per part by weight of an N-fatty propionic acid salt having the formula R/sub 1/NHCH/sub 2/CH/sub 2/COOM/sub 1/, wherein R and R/sub 1/ are straight chain alkyl radicals having from 10 to 16 carbon atoms, and M and M/sub 1/ are alkali metal or ammonium cations. A particularly preferred foaming agent composition contains sodium 2-(N-lauryl) ethyl sulfonic acid and sodium 2-(N-lauryl) propionic acid.

• Assignee: Union Oil Co. of California
• Patent Number(s): US 4121674
• OSTI ID: 6569210
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
03 NATURAL GAS
030300 -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
BIODEGRADATION
BOREHOLES
CAVITIES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COLLOIDS
DECOMPOSITION
DISPERSIONS
DRILLING
DRILLING FLUIDS
FOAMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFONATES
WELL DRILLING