Lost circulation additive, lost circulation treatment fluid made therefrom, and method of minimizing lost circulation in a subterranean formation

Abstract

For lost circulation treatment for decreasing fluid loss from a borehole into a subterranean formation, a lost circulation additive including water soluble crosslinkable polymer, a crosslinking agent, a filter aid that is preferably diatomaceous earth, and optionally a reinforcing material. The method of forming a lost circulation fluid includes contacting the additive with water or an aqueous solution, with a method of lost circulation treatment of the formation further including the step of injecting the fluid into the formation thereby decreasing fluid loss from the borehole into the subterranean formation.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A lost circulation additive comprising a dry mixture of water soluble crosslinkable polymer, a crosslinking agent, and a filter aid.  
     
     
         2 . The additive of  claim 1 , wherein the filter aid is selected from the group consisting of diatomaceous earth, perlite, glass beads, magnesium silicate, solid thermoplastic or thermoset polymers, talc, and calcium silicate.  
     
     
         3 . The additive of  claim 2 , wherein the polymer is an a carboxylate-containing polymer, and the crosslinking agent is selected from the group consisting of chromium (III) carboxylate complexes, aldehydes, dialdehydes, formaldehydes, glutaraldehyde, dichromates, titanium chelates, phenols, substituted phenols, ethers, aluminum citrate, and aluminates.  
     
     
         4 . The additive of  claim 3 , wherein the filter aid comprises at least one of diatomaceous earth or pearlite.  
     
     
         5 . The additive of  claim 4 , wherein the polymer comprises a low molecular weight polymer having a molecular weight less than 200,000, and a high molecular weight polymer having a molecular weight of at least 200,000.  
     
     
         6 . The additive of  claim 4 , wherein the polymer is a water soluble, carboxylate containing acrylamide, and the crosslinking agent is a chromium (III) carboxylate complex.  
     
     
         7 . The additive of  claim 6 , wherein the filter aid is diatomaceous earth.  
     
     
         8 . The additive of  claim 6 , wherein the filter aid is pearlite.  
     
     
         9 . The additive of  claim 6 , further comprising reinforcing material selected from the group consisting of hydrophilic fibers, hydrophobic fibers, and comminuted plant material.  
     
     
         10 . A well fluid comprising a lost circulation fluid, water soluble crosslinkable polymer, a crosslinking agent, and a filter aid.  
     
     
         11 . The well fluid of  claim 10 , wherein the filter aid is selected from the group consisting of diatomaceous earth, perlite, glass beads, magnesium silicate, solid thermoplastic or thermoset polymers, talc, and calcium silicate.  
     
     
         12 . The well fluid of  claim 11 , wherein the polymer is an a carboxylate-containing polymer, and the crosslinking agent is selected from the group consisting of chromium (III) carboxylate complexes, aldehydes, dialdehydes, formaldehydes, glutaraldehyde, dichromates, titanium chelates, phenols, substituted phenols, ethers, aluminum citrate, and aluminates.  
     
     
         13 . The well fluid of  claim 12 , wherein the filter aid comprises at least one of diatomaceous earth or pearlite.  
     
     
         14 . The well fluid of  claim 13 , wherein the polymer comprises a low molecular weight polymer having a molecular weight less than 200,000, and a high molecular weight polymer having a molecular weight of at least 200,000.  
     
     
         15 . The well fluid of  claim 13 , wherein the polymer is a water soluble, carboxylate containing acrylamide, and the crosslinking agent is a chromium (III) carboxylate complex.  
     
     
         16 . The well fluid of  claim 15 , wherein the filter aid is diatomaceous earth.  
     
     
         17 . The well fluid of  claim 15 , wherein the filter aid is pearlite.  
     
     
         18 . The well fluid of  claim 15 , further comprising reinforcing material selected from the group consisting of hydrophilic fibers, hydrophobic fibers, and comminuted plant material.  
     
     
         19 . A method of modifying a lost circulation fluid comprising: 
 (a) contacting the lost circulation fluid with water soluble crosslinkable polymer, a crosslinking agent, and a filter aid to form a modified lost circulation fluid.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the filter aid is selected from the group consisting of diatomaceous earth, perlite, glass beads, magnesium silicate, solid thermoplastic or thermoset polymers, talc, and calcium silicate.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the polymer is an a carboxylate-containing polymer, and the crosslinking agent is selected from the group consisting of chromium (III) carboxylate complexes, aldehydes, dialdehydes, formaldehydes, glutaraldehyde, dichromates, titanium chelates, phenols, substituted phenols, ethers, aluminum citrate, and aluminates.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the filter aid comprises at least one of diatomaceous earth or pearlite.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the polymer comprises a low molecular weight polymer having a molecular weight less than 200,000, and a high molecular weight polymer having a molecular weight of at least 200,000.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the polymer is a water soluble, carboxylate containing acrylamide, and the crosslinking agent is a chromium (III) carboxylate complex.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the filter aid is diatomaceous earth.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the filter aid is pearlite.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein water soluble crosslinkable polymer, a crosslinking agent, and a filter aid.  
     
     
         28 . A method for decreasing fluid loss from a borehole into a subterranean formation comprising: 
 (a) providing a lost circulation fluid comprising water or an aqueous solution, water soluble crosslinkable polymer, a crosslinking agent, and a filter aid;    (b) injecting the lost circulation fluid into the wellbore; and    (c) dewatering the lost circulation fluid to force the polymer and crosslinking agent into the formation, and to form the filter aid into a plug.    
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the filter aid is selected from the group consisting of diatomaceous earth, perlite, glass beads, magnesium silicate, solid thermoplastic or thermoset polymers, talc, and calcium silicate.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the polymer is an a carboxylate-containing polymer, and the crosslinking agent is selected from the group consisting of chromium (III) carboxylate complexes, aldehydes, dialdehydes, formaldehydes, glutaraldehyde, dichromates, titanium chelates, phenols, substituted phenols, ethers, aluminum citrate, and aluminates.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the filter aid comprises at least one of diatomaceous earth or pearlite.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the polymer comprises a low molecular weight polymer having a molecular weight less than 200,000, and a high molecular weight polymer having a molecular weight of at least 200,000.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the polymer is a water soluble, carboxylate containing acrylamide, and the crosslinking agent is a chromium (III) carboxylate complex.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the filter aid is diatomaceous earth.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the filter aid is pearlite.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising reinforcing material selected from the group consisting of hydrophilic fibers, hydrophobic fibers, and comminuted plant material.  
     
     
         37 . A method for decreasing fluid loss from a borehole into a subterranean formation comprising: 
 (a) providing a lost circulation fluid comprising water or an aqueous solution, water soluble crosslinkable polymer, a crosslinking agent, and a filter aid;    (b) injecting the lost circulation fluid into the formation and into the opening to be plugged; and    (c) applying pressure to dewater the lost circulation fluid to force the polymer and crosslinking agent into the formation, and to form the filter aid into a plug.    
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the filter aid is selected from the group consisting of diatomaceous earth, perlite, glass beads, magnesium silicate, solid thermoplastic or thermoset polymers, talc, and calcium silicate.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the polymer is an a carboxylate-containing polymer, and the crosslinking agent is selected from the group consisting of chromium (III) carboxylate complexes, aldehydes, dialdehydes, formaldehydes, glutaraldehyde, dichromates, titanium chelates, phenols, substituted phenols, ethers, aluminum citrate, and aluminates.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the filter aid comprises at least one of diatomaceous earth or pearlite.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the polymer comprises a low molecular weight polymer having a molecular weight less than 200,000, and a high molecular weight polymer having a molecular weight of at least 200,000.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the polymer is a water soluble, carboxylate containing acrylamide, and the crosslinking agent is a chromium (III) carboxylate complex.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the filter aid is diatomaceous earth.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the filter aid is pearlite.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising reinforcing material selected from the group consisting of hydrophilic fibers, hydrophobic fibers, and comminuted plant material.  
     
     
         46 . A method of circulating a lost circulation fluid in a welbore penetrating a subterranean formation, comprising: 
 (a) providing a lost circulation fluid comprising water or an aqueous solution, water soluble crosslinkable polymer, a crosslinking agent, and a filter aid;    (b) circulating the lost circulation fluid in the wellbore.    
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the filter aid is selected from the group consisting of diatomaceous earth, perlite, glass beads, magnesium silicate, solid thermoplastic or thermoset polymer beads, talc, and calcium silicate.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the polymer is an a carboxylate-containing polymer, and the crosslinking agent is selected from the group consisting of chromium (III) carboxylate complexes, aldehydes, dialdehydes, formaldehydes, glutaraldehyde, dichromates, titanium chelates, phenols, substituted phenols, ethers, aluminum citrate, and aluminates.  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the filter aid comprises at least one of diatomaceous earth or pearlite.  
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the polymer comprises a low molecular weight polymer having a molecular weight less than 500,000, and a high molecular weight polymer having a molecular weight of at least 500,000.  
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the polymer is a water soluble, carboxylate containing acrylamide, and the crosslinking agent is a chromium (III) carboxylate complex.  
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the filter aid is diatomaceous earth.  
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the filter aid is pearlite.  
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising reinforcing material selected from the group consisting of hydrophilic fibers, hydrophobic fibers, and comminuted plant material.  
     
     
         55 . A method of modifying a lost circulation fluid circulating in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, comprising: 
 (a) introducing a water soluble crosslinkable polymer, crosslinking agent, and filter aid to the circulating lost circulation fluid.    
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the filter aid is selected from the group consisting of diatomaceous earth, perlite, glass beads, magnesium silicate, solid thermoplastic or thermoset polymer beads, talc, and calcium silicate.  
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein the polymer is an a carboxylate-containing polymer, and the crosslinking agent is selected from the group consisting of chromium (III) carboxylate complexes, aldehydes, dialdehydes, formaldehydes, glutaraldehyde, dichromates, titanium chelates, phenols, substituted phenols, ethers, aluminum citrate, and aluminates.  
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the filter aid comprises at least one of diatomaceous earth or pearlite.  
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the polymer comprises a low molecular weight polymer having a molecular weight less than 500,000, and a high molecular weight polymer having a molecular weight of at least 500,000.  
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the polymer is a water soluble, carboxylate containing acrylamide, and the crosslinking agent is a chromium (III) carboxylate complex.  
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the filter aid is diatomaceous earth.  
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the filter aid is pearlite.  
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the water soluble crosslinkable polymer, crosslinking agent, and filter aid, are all in solid form.