Method and materials to convert a drilling mud into a solid gel based lost circulation material

    公开(公告)号:US11124691B2

    公开(公告)日:2021-09-21

    申请号:US16865719

    申请日:2020-05-04

    Abstract: A method for controlling loss circulation and a convertible drilling mud operable to convert into a solid gel lost circulation material. The method includes introducing into a wellbore a nanosilica drilling fluid comprising water, an alkaline nanosilica dispersion, and at least one additive. The method further includes introducing into the nanosilica drilling fluid an amount of a chemical activator comprising a water soluble hydrolysable polyester to produce a convertible drilling mud where the convertible drilling mud has an initial pH between 8 and 11 upon formation. The method also includes allowing the chemical activator to hydrolyze to produce an acid and reduce the pH of the convertible drilling mud to less than a gel pH, thereby converting the convertible drilling mud into a solid gel lost circulation material.

    Method and composition for sealing a subsurface formation

    公开(公告)号:US10745610B2

    公开(公告)日:2020-08-18

    申请号:US15981998

    申请日:2018-05-17

    Abstract: A method for plugging and sealing subsurface formations using alkaline nanosilica dispersion and a delayed activation chemistry includes introducing a mixture with a first pH into the subsurface formation. The mixture comprises an aqueous solution, an alkaline nanosilica dispersion and a water-insoluble hydrolyzable compound. The method further includes allowing the water-insoluble hydrolyzable compound to hydrolyze in the subsurface formation to form an acid at 70° C. or greater, thereby acidizing the mixture to a reduced second pH and causing the alkaline nanosilica dispersion to gel into a solid and seal the subsurface formation. A composition for sealing a subsurface formation includes an aqueous mixture including water, an alkaline nanosilica dispersion, and a water-insoluble hydrolyzable compound.

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