Method for controlling lost circulation of drilling fluids with hydrocarbon absorbent polymers
A method is described of reducing lost circulation of drilling fluids in a borehole penetrating an underground formation, comprising: injecting a discrete slug of an aqueous fluid into a borehole, the aqueous fluid having dispersed therein a hydrocarbon absorbent polymer which expands upon absorbing a hydrocarbon. The polymer is dispersed in the aqueous fluid in proportions sufficient to seal off a lost circulation zone upon contact with a hydrocarbon; the hydrocarbon absorbent polymer selected from the group consisting of polymers and copolymers of styrenes and substituted styrenes, copolymers of vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate, polymers and copolymers of vinylidene chloride and acrylonitrile, polymers of methylmethacrylate and ethylacrylate, copolymers of styrene and divinylbenzene containing up to about 10 wt% of divinylbenzene, polymers and copolymers of alkylstyrenes, natural rubbers, and synthetic rubbers; forcing the aqueous polymer slug into a lost circulation zone; contacting the aqueous polymer slug with a hydrocarbon to allow the hydrocarbon absorbent polymer to absorb hydrocarbon and expand in the formation and borehole; and circulating undesired compounds out of the borehole.
- Assignee:
- Texaco, Inc., White Plains, NY
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4633950
- OSTI ID:
- 6841209
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: Filed date 28 May 1985
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
03 NATURAL GAS
DRILLING FLUIDS
LOST CIRCULATION
CONTROL
ACRYLATES
ACRYLONITRILE
ADSORBENTS
COPOLYMERS
DIVINYLBENZENE
METHACRYLATES
NATURAL GAS WELLS
NATURAL RUBBER
OIL WELLS
QUANTITY RATIO
SEALS
STYRENE
VINYL CHLORIDE
VINYLIDENE RADICALS
ALKYLATED AROMATICS
AROMATICS
CARBOXYLIC ACID SALTS
CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
ELASTOMERS
FLUIDS
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
HYDROCARBONS
NITRILES
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
POLYMERS
RADICALS
RUBBERS
WELLS
020300* - Petroleum- Drilling & Production
030300 - Natural Gas- Drilling
Production
& Processing