Methods, apparatus and products for drilling wells

Abstract

A well fluid additive having a heavier first bead and a lighter second bead, with the first bead having a specific gravity that exceeds the specific gravity of the second bead by at least 1 percent.

1 . A well fluid additive comprising:
 a heavier first bead; and   a lighter second bead;   wherein first bead has a specific gravity that exceeds the specific gravity of the second bead by at least 1 percent.   
   
   
       2 . The well fluid additive of  claim 1 , wherein the first bead and the second bead are independently selected from the group of beads consisting of polymeric drilling beads, silicone beads, graphite beads, metal beads, ceramic beads, diamond beads, fullerene beads, metallofullerene beads, composite material beads, glass drilling beads, and any bead combination thereof, and beads made from a combination of any of the foregoing materials. 
   
   
       3 . The well fluid additive of  claim 1 , wherein the first bead has a specific gravity that exceeds the specific gravity of the second bead by at least 10 percent. 
   
   
       4 . The well fluid additive of  claim 1 , wherein the first bead has a specific gravity that exceeds the specific gravity of the second bead by at least 30 percent. 
   
   
       5 . The well fluid additive of  claim 1 , wherein the first bead has a specific gravity that exceeds the specific gravity of the second bead by at least 100 percent. 
   
   
       6 . A well fluid additive for a well fluid having a well fluid specific gravity, the additive comprising:
 a heavier first bead having a first specific gravity; and   a lighter second bead having a second specific gravity;   wherein first bead first specific gravity exceeds the well fluid specific gravity, and the second bead second specific gravity is less than the well fluid specific gravity.   
   
   
       7 . The well fluid additive of  claim 6 , wherein the first bead and the second be ad are independently selected from the group of beads consisting of polymeric drilling beads, silicone beads, graphite beads, metal beads, ceramic beads, diamond beads, fullerene beads, metallofullerene beads, composite material beads, glass drilling beads, and any bead combination thereof, and beads made from a combination of any of the foregoing materials. 
   
   
       8 . The well fluid additive of  claim 6 , wherein the first bead has a specific gravity that exceeds the specific gravity of the second bead by at least 10 percent. 
   
   
       9 . The well fluid additive of  claim 6 , wherein the first bead has a specific gravity that exceeds the specific gravity of the second bead by at least 30 percent. 
   
   
       10 . The well fluid additive of  claim 6 , wherein the first bead has a specific gravity that exceeds the specific gravity of the second bead by at least 100 percent. 
   
   
       11 . A method of modifying a well fluid, comprising:
 contacting the well fluid with a well fluid additive, wherein, the well fluid additive comprises:
 a heavier first bead; and 
 a lighter second bead; 
 wherein first bead has a specific gravity that exceeds the specific gravity of the second bead by at least 1 percent. 
   
   
   
       12 . The well fluid additive of  claim 11 , wherein the first bead and the second bead are independently selected from the group of beads consisting of polymeric drilling beads, silicone beads, graphite beads, metal beads, ceramic beads, diamond beads, fullerene beads, metallofullerene beads, composite material beads, glass drilling beads, and any bead combination thereof, and beads made from a combination of any of the foregoing materials. 
   
   
       13 . The well fluid additive of  claim 11 , wherein the first bead has a specific gravity that exceeds the specific gravity of the second bead by at least 10 percent. 
   
   
       14 . The well fluid additive of  claim 11 , wherein the first bead has a specific gravity that exceeds the specific gravity of the second bead by at least 30 percent. 
   
   
       15 . The well fluid additive of  claim 11 , wherein the first bead has a specific gravity that exceeds the specific gravity of the second bead by at least 100 percent 
   
   
       16 . A method of modifying a well fluid having a well fluid specific gravity, comprising:
 contacting the well fluid with a well fluid additive, wherein, the well fluid additive comprises:
 a heavier first bead having a first specific gravity; and 
 a lighter second bead having a second specific gravity; 
 wherein first bead first specific gravity exceeds the well fluid specific gravity, and the second bead second specific gravity is less than the well fluid specific gravity. 
   
   
   
       17 . The well fluid additive of  claim 16 , wherein the first bead and the second bead are independently selected from the group of beads consisting of polymeric drilling beads, silicone beads, graphite beads, metal beads, ceramic beads, diamond beads, fullerene beads, metallofullerene beads, composite material beads, glass drilling beads, and any bead combination thereof, and beads made from a combination of any of the foregoing materials. 
   
   
       18 . The well fluid additive of  claim 16 , wherein the first bead has a specific gravity that exceeds the specific gravity of the second bead by at least 10 percent. 
   
   
       19 . The well fluid additive of  claim 16 , wherein the first bead has a specific gravity that exceeds the specific gravity of the second bead by at least 30 percent. 
   
   
       20 . The well fluid additive of  claim 16 , wherein the first bead has a specific gravity that exceeds the specific gravity of the second bead by at least 100 percent 
   
   
       21 . An apparatus comprising:
 a well; and,   a well fluid circulating in the well;   wherein the well fluid comprises a well fluid component and a well fluid additive,   wherein, the well fluid additive comprises:
 a heavier first bead; and 
 a lighter second bead; 
 wherein first bead has a specific gravity that exceeds the specific gravity of the second bead by at least 1 percent. 
   
   
   
       22 . The well fluid additive of  claim 21 , wherein the first bead and the second bead are independently selected from the group of beads consisting of polymeric drilling beads, silicone beads, graphite beads, metal beads, ceramic beads, diamond beads, fullerene beads, metallofullerene beads, composite material beads, glass drilling beads, and any bead combination thereof, and beads made from a combination of any of the foregoing materials. 
   
   
       23 . The well fluid additive of  claim 21 , wherein the first bead has a specific gravity that exceeds the specific gravity of the second bead by at least 10 percent. 
   
   
       24 . The well fluid additive of  claim 21 , wherein the first bead has a specific gravity that exceeds the specific gravity of the second bead by at least 30 percent. 
   
   
       25 . The well fluid additive of  claim 21 , wherein the first bead has a specific gravity that exceeds the specific gravity of the second bead by at least 100 percent 
   
   
       26 . An apparatus comprising:
 a well; and,   a well fluid having a well fluid specific gravity circulating in the well;   wherein the well fluid comprises a well fluid component and a well fluid additive, wherein, the well fluid additive comprises:
 a heavier first bead having a first specific gravity; and 
 a lighter second bead having a second specific gravity; 
 wherein first bead first specific gravity exceeds the well fluid specific gravity, and the second bead second specific gravity is less than the well fluid specific gravity. 
   
   
   
       27 . The well fluid additive of  claim 26 , wherein the first bead and the second bead are independently selected from the group of beads consisting of polymeric drilling beads, silicone beads, graphite beads, metal beads, ceramic beads, diamond beads, fullerene beads, metallofullerene beads, composite material beads, glass drilling beads, and any bead combination thereof, and beads made from a combination of any of the foregoing materials. 
   
   
       28 . The well fluid additive of  claim 26 , wherein the first bead has a specific gravity that exceeds the specific gravity of the second bead by at least 10 percent. 
   
   
       29 . The well fluid additive of  claim 26 , wherein the first bead has a specific gravity that exceeds the specific gravity of the second bead by at least 30 percent. 
   
   
       30 . The well fluid additive of  claim 26 , wherein the first bead has a specific gravity that exceeds the specific gravity of the second bead by at least 100 percent 
   
   
       31 . A method of operating a well comprising:
 circulating a well fluid in the well;   wherein the well fluid comprises a well fluid component and a well fluid additive,   wherein, the well fluid additive comprises:
 a heavier first bead; and 
 a lighter second bead; 
 wherein first bead has a specific gravity that exceeds the specific gravity of the second bead by at least 1 percent. 
   
   
   
       32 . The well fluid additive of  claim 31 , wherein the first bead and the second bead are independently selected from the group of beads consisting of polymeric drilling beads, silicone beads, graphite beads, metal beads, ceramic beads, diamond beads, fullerene beads, metallofullerene beads, composite material beads, glass drilling beads, and any bead combination thereof, and beads made from a combination of any of the foregoing materials. 
   
   
       33 . The well fluid additive of  claim 31 , wherein the first bead has a specific gravity that exceeds the specific gravity of the second bead by at least 10 percent. 
   
   
       34 . The well fluid additive of  claim 31 , wherein the first bead has a specific gravity that exceeds the specific gravity of the second bead by at least 30 percent. 
   
   
       35 . The well fluid additive of  claim 32 , wherein the first bead has a specific gravity that exceeds the specific gravity of the second bead by at least 100 percent. 
   
   
       36 . A method of operating a well comprising:
 circulating a well fluid having a well fluid specific gravity circulating in the well;   wherein the well fluid comprises a well fluid component and a well fluid additive,   wherein, the well fluid additive comprises:
 a heavier first bead having a first specific gravity; and 
 a lighter second bead having a second specific gravity; 
 wherein first bead first specific gravity exceeds the well fluid specific gravity, and the second bead second specific gravity is less than the well fluid specific gravity. 
   
   
   
       37 . The well fluid additive of  claim 36 , wherein the first bead and the second bead are independently selected from the group of beads consisting of polymeric drilling beads, silicone beads, graphite beads, metal beads, ceramic beads, diamond beads, fullerene beads, metallofullerene beads, composite material beads, glass drilling beads, and any bead combination thereof, and beads made from a combination of any of the foregoing materials. 
   
   
       38 . The well fluid additive of  claim 36 , wherein the first bead has a specific gravity that exceeds the specific gravity of the second bead by at least 10 percent. 
   
   
       39 . The well fluid additive of  claim 36 , wherein the first bead has a specific gravity that exceeds the specific gravity of the second bead by at least 30 percent. 
   
   
       40 . The well fluid additive of  claim 36 , wherein the first bead has a specific gravity that exceeds the specific gravity of the second bead by at least 100 percent.