Methods of drilling and consolidating subterranean formation particulates

Abstract

The present invention relates to improved methods for drilling well bores penetrating producing zones while controlling formation particulates. Some embodiments of the present invention provide methods of drilling a well bore into a subterranean formation comprising the steps of providing a drilling composition comprising a drilling fluid and a consolidating material; and, using the drilling composition while drilling the well bore and allowing the consolidating material in the drilling composition to penetrate into the walls of the well bore.

1 . A method of consolidating formation particulates surrounding a well bore comprising the steps of: 
 providing a drilling composition comprising a drilling fluid and a consolidating material; and    using the drilling composition to drill at least a portion of the well bore;    allowing the consolidating material in the drilling composition to penetrate into the walls of the well bore; and    allowing the consolidating material in the drilling composition to consolidate at least a portion of the formation particulates surrounding the well bore.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the consolidating material has a viscosity of less than about 100 cP.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the consolidating material comprises 
 a hardenable resin component that comprises a hardenable resin, and    a liquid hardening agent component that comprises a hardening agent, a silane coupling agent, and a surfactant.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the consolidating material has a viscosity of less than about 100 cP.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the hardenable resin in the hardenable resin component is an organic resin selected from the group consisting of bisphenol A-epichlorohydrin resins, polyepoxide resins, novolak resins, polyester resins, phenol-aldehyde resins, urea-aldehyde resins, furan resins, urethane resins, glycidyl ethers, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the hardening agent in the liquid hardening agent component is selected from the group consisting of amines, aromatic amines, aliphatic amines, cyclo-aliphatic amines, piperidine, triethylamine, benzyldimethylamine, N,N-dimethylaminopyridine, 2-(N 2 N-dimethylaminomethyl)phenol, tris(dimethylaminomethyl) phenol, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the silane coupling agent in the liquid hardening agent component is selected from the group consisting of N-2-(aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane, n-beta-(aminoethyl)-gamma-aminopropyl trimethoxysilane, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the surfactant in the liquid hardening agent component is selected from the group consisting of ethoxylated nonyl phenol phosphate esters, mixtures of one or more cationic surfactants, C 12 -C 22  alkyl phosphonate surfactants, mixtures of one or more non-ionic surfactants and alkyl phosphonate surfactants, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the hardenable resin is a furan-based resin selected from the group consisting of furfuryl alcohol, mixtures of furfuryl alcohol with aldehydes, mixtures of furan resins and phenolic resins, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the hardenable resin component further comprises a solvent selected from the group consisting of 2-butoxy ethanol, butyl acetate, furfuryl acetate, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the consolidating material is a phenolic-based resin selected from the group consisting of terpolymers of phenol, phenolic formaldehyde resins, mixtures of phenolic and furan resins, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the consolidating material further comprises a solvent selected from the group consisting of butyl acetate, butyl lactate, furfuryl acetate, 2-butoxy ethanol, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the consolidating material is a HT epoxy-based resin selected from the group consisting of bisphenol A-epichlorohydrin resins, polyepoxide resins, novolac resins, polyester resins, glycidyl ethers, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the consolidating material further comprises a solvent selected from the group consisting of dimethyl sulfoxide, dimethyl formamide, dipropylene glycol methyl ether, dipropylene glycol dimethyl ether, dimethyl formamide, diethylene glycol methyl ether, ethylene glycol butyl ether, diethylene glycol butyl ether, propylene carbonate, d-limonene, fatty acid methyl esters, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the consolidating material comprises: 
 from about 5% to about 30% phenol;    from about 40% to about 70% phenol formaldehyde;    from about 10 to about 40% furfuryl alcohol;    from about 0.1% to about 3% of a silane coupling agent; and    from about 1% to about 15% of a surfactant.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the hardenable resin component further comprises a solvent selected from the group consisting of 2-butoxy ethanol, butyl acetate, furfuryl acetate, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the fluid component of the drilling fluid is an aqueous gel or an emulsion.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the consolidating material penetrate into the walls of the well bore from about 0.1 to about 3 inches.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the drilling composition further comprises a fluid loss control material.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the fluid loss control material is selected from the group consisting of aliphatic polyesters, polylactic acid, poly(lactides), and combinations thereof.