Zeolite-containing drilling fluids

Abstract

Methods and compositions for wellbore treating fluids, especially drilling fluids, that comprise zeolite and a carrier fluid.

1 . A fluid comprising zeolite and a carrier fluid, wherein the zeolite is selected from analcime, bikitaite, brewsterite, chabazite, clinoptilolite, faujasite, harmotome, heulandite, laumontite, mesolite, natrolite, paulingite, phillipsite, scolecite, stellerite, stilbite, and thomsonite.  
     
     
         2 . The fluid of  claim 1  wherein the fluid comprises zeolite in an amount from about 1% to about 50% by volume.  
     
     
         3 . The fluid of  claim 1  wherein the fluid comprises zeolite in an amount from about 5% to about 20% by volume.  
     
     
         4 . The fluid of  claim 1  wherein the fluid comprises zeolite in an amount from about 8% to about 15% by volume.  
     
     
         5 . The fluid of  claim 1  further comprising at least one weighting agent.  
     
     
         6 . The fluid of  claim 5  wherein the weighting agent is selected from barite, hematite, manganese tetraoxide, ilmenite, calcium carbonate and galena.  
     
     
         7 . The fluid of  claim 5  wherein the weighting agent is present in an amount of up to about 97% by volume of the fluid.  
     
     
         8 . The fluid of  claim 5  wherein the weighting agent is present in an amount of from about 2% to about 57% by volume of the fluid.  
     
     
         9 . The fluid of  claim 1 , further comprising a viscosifier.  
     
     
         10 . The fluid of  claim 1 , further comprising a filtrate loss control agent comprising cellulose, and wherein the cellulose is present in an amount of from about 0.01% to about 2.5% by volume.  
     
     
         11 . The fluid of  claim 9 , wherein the viscosifier is present in an amount of up to about 5% by volume.  
     
     
         12 . The fluid of  claim 9 , wherein the viscosifier is selected from clays, polymeric additives, modified cellulose and derivatives thereof, guar gum, emulsion forming agents, diatomaceous earth and starches.  
     
     
         13 . The fluid of  claim 12  wherein the viscosifier comprises a clay selected from kaolinite, montmorillonite, bentonite, hydrous micas, attapulgite, sepiolite, and laponite.  
     
     
         14 . The fluid of  claim 12  wherein the viscosifier comprises a polymeric additive that contains one or more hydroxyl, cis-hydroxyl, carboxyl, sulfate, sulfonate, amino or amide functional groups.  
     
     
         15 . The fluid of  claim 12  wherein the viscosifier comprises a polymeric additive comprising polysaccharide and derivatives thereof which contain one or more of the following monosaccharide units: galactose, mannose, glucoside, glucose, xylose, arabinose, fructose, glucuronic acid or pyranosyl sulfate.  
     
     
         16 . The fluid of  claim 12  wherein the viscosifier comprises a polymeric additive selected from guar gum and derivatives thereof, locust bean gum, tara, konjak, starch, cellulose, karaya gum, xanthan gum, tragacanth gum, arabic gum, ghatti gum, tamarind gum, carrageenan and derivatives thereof, carboxymethyl guar, hydroxypropyl guar, carboxymethylhydroxypropyl guar, polyacrylate, polymethacrylate, polyacrylamide, maleic anhydride, methylvinyl ether copolymers, polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinylpyrrolidone.  
     
     
         17 . The fluid of  claim 12  wherein the viscosifier comprises a modified cellulose selected from carboxyalkylcellulose ethers, mixed ethers, hydroxyalkylcelluloses, alkylhydroxyalkylcelluloses, alkylcelluloses, alkylcarboxyalkylcelluloses, alkylalkylcelluloses and hydroxyalkylalkylcelluloses.  
     
     
         18 . The fluid of  claim 17  wherein the viscosifier is selected from carboxyethylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, carboxymethylhydroxyethylcellulose; hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, methylhydroxypropylcellulose, methylcellulose, ethylcellulose, propylcellulose, ethylcarboxymethylcellulose, methylethylcellulose, and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose.  
     
     
         19 . The fluid of  claim 12  wherein the viscosifier is selected welan gum, xanthan gum, galactomannan gums, succinoglycan gums, scleroglucan gums, and cellulose and its derivatives.  
     
     
         20 . The fluid of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one dispersant.  
     
     
         21 . The fluid of  claim 20 , further comprising at least one dispersant selected from the group consisting of sulfonated styrene maleic anhydride copolymer, sulfonated vinyltoluene maleic anhydride copolymer, sodium naphthalene sulfonate condensed with formaldehyde, sulfonated acetone condensed with formaldehyde, lignosulfonates and interpolymers of acrylic acid, allyloxybenzene sulfonate, allyl sulfonate and non-ionic monomers.  
     
     
         22 . The fluid of  claim 20  further comprising from about 0.2% to about 6% by volume of dispersant.  
     
     
         23 . The fluid of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier fluid is selected from aqueous fluids, water, water-based gels, oil-based fluids, synthetic-based fluids, emulsions, acids, or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         24 . The fluid of  claim 23  wherein the carrier fluid comprises water selected from fresh water, unsaturated salt solution, brine, seawater, and saturated salt solution.  
     
     
         25 . The fluid of  claim 23  wherein the carrier fluid comprises an oil-based fluid selected from canola oil, kerosene, diesel oil, fish oil, mineral oil, sunflower oil, corn oil, soy oil, olive oil, cottonseed oil, peanut oil and paraffin.  
     
     
         26 . The fluid of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier fluid is present in an amount of from about 3% to about 98% by volume of the fluid.  
     
     
         27 . The fluid of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier fluid is present in an amount of from about 50% to about 92% by volume of the fluid.  
     
     
         28 . The fluid of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier fluid is present in an amount of from about 80% to about 90% by volume of the fluid.  
     
     
         29 . The fluid of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of a surfactant, an emulsifier, a foaming agent, a de-air entraining agent, loss circulation material, and a lubricant.  
     
     
         30 . A composition comprising: 
 a first fluid and a second fluid, wherein 
 the first fluid is located in a subterranean zone, and comprises at least one carrier fluid, and a zeolite selected from analcime, bikitaite, brewsterite, chabazite, clinoptilolite, faujasite, harmotome, heulandite, laumontite, mesolite, natrolite, paulingite, phillipsite, scolecite, stellerite, stilbite, and thomsonite, and  
 the second fluid comprises a compressive strength-developing amount of an activator;  
   wherein the composition is formed when the second fluid contacts the first fluid in the subterranean zone.    
     
     
         31 . The composition of  claim 30 , wherein the second fluid comprises one of a cement slurry, a mud, a spotting fluid, and a pill comprising a compressive-strength developing amount of an activator.  
     
     
         32 . The composition of  claim 30 , wherein the activator is selected from calcium hydroxide, sodium silicate, sodium fluoride, sodium silicofluoride, magnesium silicofluoride, zinc silicofluoride, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium sulfate, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         33 . The composition of  claim 30 , wherein the activator is present in the second fluid in a weight percent greater than about 7 percent of the weight of the zeolite in the first fluid.  
     
     
         34 . The composition of  claim 30 , wherein the zeolite is selected from analcime, bikitaite, brewsterite, chabazite, clinoptilolite, faujasite, harmotome, heulandite, laumontite, mesolite, natrolite, paulingite, phillipsite, scolecite, stellerite, stilbite, and thomsonite.  
     
     
         35 . The composition of  claim 30 , wherein the first fluid comprises zeolite in an amount from about 1% to about 50% by volume.  
     
     
         36 . The composition of  claim 30 , wherein the first fluid comprises zeolite in an amount from about 5% to about 20% by volume.  
     
     
         37 . The composition of  claim 30 , wherein the first fluid comprises zeolite in an amount from about 8% to about 15% by volume.