Wellbore Fluids Comprising Mineral Particles and Methods Relating Thereto

Abstract

Mineral particles may provide for wellbore fluids with tailorable properties and capabilities, and methods relating thereto. Mineral particles may be utilized in methods that include introducing a wellbore fluid having a density of about 7 ppg to about 50 ppg into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, the wellbore fluid comprising a base fluid and a plurality of mineral particles, and the wellbore fluid having a first viscosity; contacting at least some of the mineral particles with a linking agent so as to link the at least some of the mineral particles, thereby increasing the first viscosity to a second viscosity.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 introducing a wellbore fluid having a density of about 7 ppg to about 50 ppg into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, the wellbore fluid comprising a base fluid and a plurality of mineral particles, and the wellbore fluid having a first viscosity;   contacting at least some of the mineral particles with a linking agent so as to link the at least some of the mineral particles, thereby increasing the first viscosity to a second viscosity.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mineral particles have a specific gravity of about 5.5 to about 20. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wellbore fluid further comprises a plurality of second mineral particles; and wherein the mineral particles and the second mineral particles have a multiparticle specific gravity of about 3 to about 20. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mineral particles have been formed by a precipitation method. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mineral particle is at least partially degradable. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising:
 contacting the wellbore fluid at the second viscosity with a second wellbore fluid comprising a degradation agent. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mineral particles comprise at least one selected from the group consisting of Al 2 O 3 , Al 2 SiO 5 , BaCO 3 , BaO, BeO, (BiO) 2 CO 3 , BiO 3 , Bi 2 O 3 , CaO, CaCO 3 , (Ca,Mg)CO 3 , CdS, CdTe, Ce 2 O 3 , (Fe,Mg)Cr 2 O 4 , Cr 2 O 3 , CuO, Cu 2 O, Cu 2 (AsO 4 )(OH), CuSiO 3 .H 2 O, Fe 3 Al 2 (SiO 4 ) 3 , Fe 2+ Al 2 O 4 , Fe 2 SiO 4 , FeCO 3 , Fe 2 O 3 , α-Fe 2 O 3 , α-FeO(OH), Fe 3 O 4 , FeTiO 3 , (Fe,Mg)SiO 4 , (Mn,Fe,Mg)(Al,Fe) 2 O 4 , CaFe 2+   2 Fe 3+ Si 2 O 7 O(OH), (YFe 3+ Fe 2+ U,Th,Ca) 2 (Nb,Ta) 2 O 8 , MgO, MnCO 3 , Mn 2 SiO 4 , Mn(II) 3 Al 2 (SiO 4 ) 3 , (Na 0.3 Ca 0.1 K 0.1 )(Mn 4+ ,Mn 3+ ) 2 O 4 .1.5H 2 O, (Mn,Fe) 2 O 3 , (Mn 2+ ,Fe 2+ ,Mg)(Fe 3+ ,Mn 3+ ) 2 O 4 , (Mn 2+ ,Mn 3+ ) 6 [O 8 |SiO 4 ], Ca(Mn 3+ ,Fe 3+ ) 14 SiO 24 , Ba(Mn 2+ )(Mn 4+ ) 8 O 16 (OH) 4 , CaMoO 4 , MoO 2 , MoO 3 , NbO 4 , (Na,Ca) 2 Nb 2 O 6 (OH,F), (Y,Ca,Ce,U,Th)(Nb,Ta,Ti) 2 O 6 , (Y,Ca,Ce,U,Th)(Ti,Nb,Ta) 2 O 6 , (Fe,Mn)(Ta,Nb) 2 O 6 , (Ce,La,ca)BSiO 5 , (Ce,La)CO 3 F, (Y,Ce)CO 3 F, MnO, MnO 2 , Mn 2 O 3 , Mn 3 O 4 , Mn 2 O 7 , MnO(OH), (Mn 2+ ,Mn 3+ ) 2 O 4 , NiO, NiAs 2 , NiAs, NiAsS, Ni 2 Fe to Ni 3 Fe, (Ni,Co) 3 S 4 , PbSiO 3 , PbCO 3 , (PbCl) 2 CO 3 , Pb 2+   2 Pb 4+ O 4 , PbCu[(OH) 2 |SO 4 ], (Sb 3+ ,Sb 5+ )O 4 , Sb 2 SnO 5 , Sc 2 O 3 , SnO, SnO 2 , Cu 2 FeSnS 4 , SrO, SrSO 4 , SrCO 3 , (Na,Ca) 2 Ta 2 O 6 (O,OH,F), ThO 2 , (Th,U)SiO 4 , TiO 2 , UO 2 , V 2 O 3 , VO 2 , V 2 O 5 , Pb 5 (VO 4 ) 3 Cl, VaO, Y 2 O 3 , ZnCO 3 , ZnO, ZnFe 2 O 4 , ZnAl 2 O 4 , ZnCO 3 , ZnO, ZrSiO 4 , ZrO 2 , ZrSiO 4 , allemontite, altaite, aluminum oxide, anglesite, tin oxide, antimony trioxide, barium carbonate, barium oxide, bastnaesite, beryllium oxide, birnessite, bismite, bismuth oxycarbonates, bismuth oxychloride, bismuth trioxide, bismuth (III) oxide, bixbyite, bournonite, braunite, cadimum sulfide, cadimum telluride, calayerite, calcium oxide, calcium carbonate, cassiterite, cerium oxide, cerussite, chromium oxide, clinoclase, columbite, copper, copper oxide, corundum, crocoite, cuprite, dolomite, euxenite, fergusonite, franklinite, gahnite, geothite, greenockite, hausmmanite, hematite, hercynite, hessite, ilvaite, Jacobsite, magnesium oxide, manganese carbonate, manganite, manganosite, magnetite, manganese dioxide, manganese (IV) oxide, manganese oxide, manganese tetraoxide, manganese (II) oxide, manganese (III) oxide, microlite, minium, molybdenum (IV) oxide, molybdenum oxide, molybdenum trioxide, nickel oxide, pearceite, phosgenite, psilomelane, pyrochlore, pyrolusite, rutile, scandium oxide, siderite, smithsonite, spessartite, stillwellite, stolzite, strontium oxide, tantalite, tenorite, tephroite, thorianite, thorite, tin dioxide, tin (II) oxide, titanium dioxide, uraninite, vanadium oxide, vanadium trioxide, vanadium (IV) oxide, vanadium (V) oxide, witherite, wulfenite, yttrium oxide, zinc carbonate, zincite, zircon, zirconium oxide, zirconium silicate, zinc oxide, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the linking agent comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of eugenol, guaiacol, methyl guaiacol, salicyladehyde, salicyladimine, salicylic acid, sodium salicylate, acetyl salicylic acid, methyl salicylic acid, methyl acetylsalicylic acid, anthranilic acid, acetyl anthranilic acid, vanillin, derivatized 1,2-dihydroxybenzene (catechol), derivatized or unsubstituted phthalic acid, ortho-phenylenediamine, ortho-aminophenol, ortho-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, alkylsilanes, esters, ethers, and the like, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . A method comprising:
 introducing a wellbore fluid having a density of about 7 ppg to about 50 ppg into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, the wellbore fluid comprising a base fluid and a plurality of mineral particles, and the wellbore fluid having a first viscosity; and   linking the mineral particles with a linking agent so as to yield a second viscosity that is greater than the first viscosity in the wellbore fluid, the wellbore fluid at the second viscosity thereby achieving at least one selected from the group consisting of bridging a fracture, reducing or blocking formation permeability, providing fluid loss control, sealing a rock surface, enabling fluid diversion, plugging a void, controlling water production, and any combination thereof within a first portion of the subterranean formation.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising:
 introducing a second wellbore fluid into a second portion of the subterranean formation such that the second wellbore fluid is diverted from the first portion of the subterranean formation. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the mineral particle is at least partially degradable. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 contacting the wellbore fluid at the second viscosity with a third wellbore fluid comprising a degradation agent. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the mineral particles have a specific gravity of about 5.5 to about 20. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the wellbore fluid further comprises a plurality of second mineral particles; and wherein the mineral particles and the second mineral particles have a multiparticle specific gravity of about 3 to about 20. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the mineral particle comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of Al 2 O 3 , Al 2 SiO 5 , BaCO 3 , BaO, BeO, (BiO) 2 CO 3 , BiO 3 , Bi 2 O 3 , CaO, CaCO 3 , (Ca,Mg)CO 3 , CdS, CdTe, Ce 2 O 3 , (Fe,Mg)Cr 2 O 4 , Cr 2 O 3 , CuO, Cu 2 O, Cu 2 (AsO 4 )(OH), CuSiO 3 .H 2 O, Fe 3 Al 2 (SiO 4 ) 3 , Fe 2+ Al 2 O 4 , Fe 2 SiO 4 , FeCO 3 , Fe 2 O 3 , α-Fe 2 O 3 , α-FeO(OH), Fe 3 O 4 , FeTiO 3 , (Fe,Mg)SiO 4 , (Mn,Fe,Mg)(Al,Fe) 2 O 4 , CaFe 2+   2 Fe 3+ Si 2 O 7 O(OH), (YFe 3+ Fe 2+ U,Th,Ca) 2 (Nb,Ta) 2 O 8 , MgO, MnCO 3 , Mn 2 SiO 4 , Mn(II) 3 Al 2 (SiO 4 ) 3 , (Na 0.3 Ca 0.1 K 0.1 )(Mn 4+ ,Mn 3+ ) 2 O 4 .1.5H 2 O, (Mn,Fe) 2 O 3 , (Mn 2+ ,Fe 2+ ,Mg)(Fe 3+ ,Mn 3+ ) 2 O 4 , (Mn 2+ ,Mn 3+ ) 6 [O 8 |SiO 4 ], Ca(Mn 3+ ,Fe 3+ ) 14 SiO 24 , Ba(Mn 2+ )(Mn 4+ ) 8 O 16 (OH) 4 , CaMoO 4 , MoO 2 , MoO 3 , NbO 4 , (Na,Ca) 2 Nb 2 O 6 (OH,F), (Y,Ca,Ce,U,Th)(Nb,Ta,Ti) 2 O 6 , (Y,Ca,Ce,U,Th)(Ti,Nb,Ta) 2 O 6 , (Fe,Mn)(Ta,Nb) 2 O 6 , (Ce,La, Ca)BSiO 5 , (Ce,La)CO 3 F, (Y,Ce)CO 3 F, MnO, MnO 2 , Mn 2 O 3 , Mn 3 O 4 , Mn 2 O 7 , MnO(OH), (Mn 2+ ,Mn 3+ ) 2 O 4 , NiO, NiAs 2 , NiAs, NiAsS, Ni 2 Fe to Ni 3 Fe, Ni, Co) 3 S 4 , PbSiO 3 , PbCO 3 , (PbCl) 2 CO 3 , Pb 2+   2 Pb 4+ O 4 , PbCu[(OH) 2 |SO 4 ], (Sb 3+ ,Sb 5+ )O 4 , Sb 2 SnO 5 , Sc 2 O 3 , SnO, SnO 2 , Cu 2 FeSnS 4 , SrO, SrSO 4 , SrCO 3 , (Na,Ca) 2 Ta 2 O 6 (O,OH,F), ThO 2 , (Th,U)SiO 4 , TiO 2 , UO 2 , V 2 O 3 , VO 2 , V 2 O 5 , Pb 5 (VO 4 ) 3 Cl, VaO, Y 2 O 3 , ZnCO 3 , ZnO, ZnFe 2 O 4 , ZnAl 2 O 4 , ZnCO 3 , ZnO, ZrSiO 4 , ZrO 2 , ZrSiO 4 , allemontite, altaite, aluminum oxide, anglesite, tin oxide, antimony trioxide, barium carbonate, barium oxide, bastnaesite, beryllium oxide, birnessite, bismite, bismuth oxycarbonates, bismuth oxychloride, bismuth trioxide, bismuth (III) oxide, bixbyite, bournonite, braunite, cadimum sulfide, cadimum telluride, calayerite, calcium oxide, calcium carbonate, cassiterite, cerium oxide, cerussite, chromium oxide, clinoclase, columbite, copper, copper oxide, corundum, crocoite, cuprite, dolomite, euxenite, fergusonite, franklinite, gahnite, geothite, greenockite, hausmmanite, hematite, hercynite, hessite, ilvaite, Jacobsite, magnesium oxide, manganese carbonate, manganite, manganosite, magnetite, manganese dioxide, manganese (IV) oxide, manganese oxide, manganese tetraoxide, manganese (II) oxide, manganese (III) oxide, microlite, minium, molybdenum (IV) oxide, molybdenum oxide, molybdenum trioxide, nickel oxide, pearceite, phosgenite, psilomelane, pyrochlore, pyrolusite, rutile, scandium oxide, siderite, smithsonite, spessartite, stillwellite, stolzite, strontium oxide, tantalite, tenorite, tephroite, thorianite, thorite, tin dioxide, tin (II) oxide, titanium dioxide, uraninite, vanadium oxide, vanadium trioxide, vanadium (IV) oxide, vanadium (V) oxide, witherite, wulfenite, yttrium oxide, zinc carbonate, zincite, zircon, zirconium oxide, zirconium silicate, zinc oxide, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         16 . A method comprising:
 introducing a wellbore fluid having a density of about 7 ppg to about 50 ppg into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, the wellbore fluid comprising a base fluid and a plurality of mineral particles; and   contacting at least some of the mineral particles with a linking agent so as to link the at least some of the mineral particles into a hardened mass, thereby forming a plug in the wellbore.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the mineral particles have an unconfined compressive strength of about 500 psi or greater. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the mineral particles are at least partially degradable. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising:
 contacting the hardened mass with a second wellbore fluid comprising a degradation agent. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the mineral particle comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of Al 2 O 3 , Al 2 SiO 5 , BaCO 3 , BaO, BeO, (BiO) 2 CO 3 , BiO 3 , Bi 2 O 3 , CaO, CaCO 3 , (Ca,Mg)CO 3 , CdS, CdTe, Ce 2 O 3 , (Fe,Mg)Cr 2 O 4 , Cr 2 O 3 , CuO, Cu 2 O, Cu 2 (AsO 4 )(OH), CuSiO 3 .H 2 O, Fe 3 Al 2 (SiO 4 ) 3 , Fe 2+ Al 2 O 4 , Fe 2 SiO 4 , FeCO 3 , Fe 2 O 3 , α-Fe 2 O 3 , α-FeO(OH), Fe 3 O 4 , FeTiO 3 , (Fe,Mg)SiO 4 , (Mn,Fe,Mg)(Al,Fe) 2 O 4 , CaFe 2+   2 Fe 3+ Si 2 O 7 O(OH), (YFe 3+ Fe 2+ U,Th,Ca) 2 (Nb,Ta) 2 O 8 , MgO, MnCO 3 , Mn 2 SiO 4 , Mn(II) 3 Al 2 (SiO 4 ) 3 , (Na 0.3 Ca 0.1 K 0.1 )(Mn 4+ ,Mn 3+ ) 2 O 4 .1.5H 2 O, (Mn,Fe) 2 O 3 , (Mn 2+ ,Fe 2+ ,Mg)(Fe 3+ ,Mn 3+ ) 2 O 4 , (Mn 2+ ,Mn 3+ ) 6 [O 8 |SiO 4 ], Ca(Mn 3+ ,Fe 3+ ) 14 SiO 24 , Ba(Mn 2+ )(Mn 4+ ) 8 O 16 (OH) 4 , CaMoO 4 , MoO 2 , MoO 3 , NbO 4 , (Na,Ca) 2 Nb 2 O 6 (OH,F), (Y,Ca,Ce,U,Th)(Nb,Ta,Ti) 2 O 6 , (Y,Ca,Ce,U,Th)(Ti,Nb,Ta) 2 O 6 , (Fe,Mn)(Ta,Nb) 2 O 6 , (Ce,La,ca)BSiO 5 , (Ce,La)CO 3 F, (Y,Ce)CO 3 F, MnO, MnO 2 , Mn 2 O 3 , Mn 3 O 4 , Mn 2 O 7 , MnO(OH), (Mn 2+ ,Mn 3+ ) 2 O 4 , NiO, NiAs 2 , NiAs, NiAsS, Ni 2 Fe to Ni 3 Fe, Ni,Co) 3 S 4 , PbSiO 3 , PbCO 3 , (PbCl) 2 CO 3 , Pb 2+   2 Pb 4+ O 4 , PbCu[(OH) 2 |SO 4 ], (Sb 3+ ,Sb 5+ )O 4 , Sb 2 SnO 5 , Sc 2 O 3 , SnO, SnO 2 , Cu 2 FeSnS 4 , SrO, SrSO 4 , SrCO 3 , (Na,Ca) 2 Ta 2 O 6 (O,OH,F), ThO 2 , (Th,U)SiO 4 , TiO 2 , UO 2 , V 2 O 3 , VO 2 , V 2 O 5 , Pb 5 (VO 4 ) 3 Cl, VaO, Y 2 O 3 , ZnCO 3 , ZnO, ZnFe 2 O 4 , ZnAl 2 O 4 , ZnCO 3 , ZnO, ZrSiO 4 , ZrO 2 , ZrSiO 4 , allemontite, altaite, aluminum oxide, anglesite, tin oxide, antimony trioxide, barium carbonate, barium oxide, bastnaesite, beryllium oxide, birnessite, bismite, bismuth oxycarbonates, bismuth oxychloride, bismuth trioxide, bismuth (III) oxide, bixbyite, bournonite, braunite, cadimum sulfide, cadimum telluride, calayerite, calcium oxide, calcium carbonate, cassiterite, cerium oxide, cerussite, chromium oxide, clinoclase, columbite, copper, copper oxide, corundum, crocoite, cuprite, dolomite, euxenite, fergusonite, franklinite, gahnite, geothite, greenockite, hausmmanite, hematite, hercynite, hessite, ilvaite, Jacobsite, magnesium oxide, manganese carbonate, manganite, manganosite, magnetite, manganese dioxide, manganese (IV) oxide, manganese oxide, manganese tetraoxide, manganese (II) oxide, manganese (III) oxide, microlite, minium, molybdenum (IV) oxide, molybdenum oxide, molybdenum trioxide, nickel oxide, pearceite, phosgenite, psilomelane, pyrochlore, pyrolusite, rutile, scandium oxide, siderite, smithsonite, spessartite, stillwellite, stolzite, strontium oxide, tantalite, tenorite, tephroite, thorianite, thorite, tin dioxide, tin (II) oxide, titanium dioxide, uraninite, vanadium oxide, vanadium trioxide, vanadium (IV) oxide, vanadium (V) oxide, witherite, wulfenite, yttrium oxide, zinc carbonate, zincite, zircon, zirconium oxide, zirconium silicate, zinc oxide, and any combination thereof.