Controllably tuning properties of a fluid using modified nanoparticles

Abstract

Properties of a base fluid may be controllably tuned to a pre-determined range of measurements by adding modified nanoparticles to a base fluid. The property to be modified may be or include, but is not limited to, electrical conductivity, dielectric strength, thermal conductivity, and combinations thereof. The modified nanoparticles may be or include modified graphene nanoparticles, modified graphene platelets, modified electrically-conductive nanotubes, modified electrically-conductive nanorods, nanospheres, single-walled nanotubes, double walled nanotubes, multiwalled nanotubes, nano-onions, fullerenes, nanodiamonds, and combinations thereof. The base fluid may be or include, but is not limited to a non-aqueous based fluid, an aqueous fluid, and combinations thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for controllably improving at least one property of a fluid comprising:
 adding modified nanoparticles to a base fluid, wherein the modified nanoparticles are selected from the group consisting of modified graphene nanoparticles, modified graphene platelets, modified electrically-conductive nanotubes, modified electrically-conductive nanorods, nanospheres, single-walled nanotubes, double walled nanotubes, multiwalled nanotubes, nano-onions, fullerenes, nanodiamonds, and combinations thereof; wherein the modified nanoparticles are nanoparticles that were modified by a method selected from the group consisting of chemical modification, covalent modification, functionalization, ionic associations, and combinations thereof; and wherein the base fluid comprises a non-aqueous based fluid, an aqueous based fluid, and combinations thereof; and   improving the at least one property selected from the group consisting of electrical conductivity, dielectric strength, thermal conductivity, and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid has a thermal conductivity ranging from about 0.1 W/m-K to about 1.2 W/m-K after adding the modified nanoparticles. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid has a dielectric strength ranging from about 6 MV/m to about 100 MV/m after adding the modified nanoparticles. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising modifying nanoparticles to form the modified nanoparticles prior to the adding the modified nanoparticles to the base fluid. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the modified nanoparticles improve the at least one property of the fluid as compared to an otherwise identical fluid absent the modified nanoparticles. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the modified nanoparticles have at least one functional group selected from the group consisting of a sulfonate, a sulfate, a sulfosuccinate, a thiosulfate, a succinate, a carboxylate, a hydroxyl, a glucoside, an ethoxylate, a propoxylate, a phosphate, an ether, an amine, an amide, a hydrocarbon, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the modified nanoparticles have at least one covalent modification selected from the group consisting of oxidation; fluorination; free radical additions; addition of carbenes, nitrenes and other radicals; arylamine attachment via diazonium chemistry; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the improved properties of the fluid may improve the performance of the downhole tools by improving the resolution of these tools as compared to an otherwise identical fluid absent the nanoparticles. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the modified nanoparticles have at least one dimension no greater than 1000 nm. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the base fluid is selected from the group consisting of a drilling fluid, a completion fluid, a production fluid, and a stimulation fluid. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the non-aqueous based fluid is selected from the group consisting of an all oil fluid, a brine-in-oil emulsion, a water-in-oil emulsion, and combinations thereof; wherein the aqueous fluid is selected from the class consisting of a water-based fluid, an oil-in-water emulsion, an oil-in-brine emulsion, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the amount of modified nanoparticles in the fluid ranges from about 0.0001 wt % to about 15 wt %. 
     
     
         13 . A method comprising:
 circulating a tuned fluid in a subterranean reservoir wellbore; wherein the tuned fluid comprises a base fluid and an effective amount of modified nanoparticles to improve the at least one property of the fluid; wherein the modified nanoparticles are selected from the group consisting of modified graphene nanoparticles, modified graphene platelets, modified electrically-conductive nanotubes, modified electrically-conductive nanorods, nanospheres, single-walled nanotubes, double walled nanotubes, multiwalled nanotubes, nano-onions, fullerenes, nanodiamonds, and combinations thereof; and wherein the base fluid comprises a non-aqueous based fluid, an aqueous based fluid, and combinations thereof; and wherein the modified nanoparticles are modified by a method selected from the group consisting of chemical modification, covalent modification, functionalization, ionic associations, and combinations thereof; and   improving performance of a downhole tool as compared to an otherwise identical fluid absent the modified nanoparticles.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the tuned fluid has a resistivity ranging from about 0.02 ohm-m to about 1,000,000 ohm-m; wherein the tuned fluid has a dielectric strength ranging from about 6 MV/m to about 100 MV/m; wherein the tuned fluid has a thermal conductivity ranging from about 0.1 W/m-K to about 1.2 W/m-K, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The fluid composition of  claim 13 , wherein the base fluid is selected from the group consisting of a drilling fluid, a completion fluid, a production fluid, a stimulation fluid, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The fluid composition of  claim 13 , wherein the amount of modified nanoparticles in the base fluid ranges from about 0.0001 wt % to about 15 wt %. 
     
     
         17 . A fluid composition comprising:
 a base fluid selected from the group consisting of a non-aqueous base fluid, an aqueous base fluid, and combinations thereof;   modified nanoparticles selected from the group consisting of modified graphene nanoparticles, modified nanotubes, modified graphene platelets, modified electrically-conductive nanorods, nanospheres, single-walled nanotubes, double walled nanotubes, multiwalled nanotubes, nano-onions, fullerenes, nanodiamonds, and combinations thereof; wherein the modified nanoparticles are modified by a method selected from the group consisting of chemical modification, covalent modification, functionalization, ionic associations, and combinations thereof; and   wherein the fluid composition has a resistivity ranging from about 0.02 ohm-m to about 1,000,000 ohm-m, a thermal conductivity ranging from about from about 0.1 W/m-K to about 1.2 W/m-K, a dielectric strength ranging from about 6 MV/m to about 100 MV/m, and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         18 . The fluid composition of  claim 17 , wherein the base fluid is selected from the group consisting of a drilling fluid, a completion fluid, a production fluid, a stimulation fluid, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The fluid composition of  claim 17 , wherein the amount of modified nanoparticles in the base fluid ranges from about 0.0001 wt % to about 15 wt %.