High Efficiency Radiation-Induced Triggering for Set-On-Command Compositions and Methods of Use

Abstract

Compositions and methods for hydrocarbon exploration and production operations, such as subterranean cementing operations that allow for greater control over the setting of fluids or slurries used during such operations including placing a sealant composition having a polymerizable additive into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, and subjecting the sealant composition to a radiation dose of from about 1 to about 1000 grays, so as to form a seal therein.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 placing a sealant composition comprising a polymerizable additive into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation; and   subjecting the sealant composition to a radiation dose of from about 1 gray to about 1000 grays, so as to form a seal therein.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the radiation dose is from bremsstrahlung photons that result from electron scattering, and where the photons initiate setting of the sealant composition. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polymerizable additive comprises one selected from the group consisting of acrylate, methacrylate, polyalkylene oxide, alkeneoxide, vinyl pyrrolidone, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, acrylamido-methyl-propane sulfonate, vinyl alcohol, acrylamide, vinyl methyl ether, isobutylene, a fluoroelastomer, an ester, tetrafluoroethylene, an acetal, propylene, ethylene, methylpentene, methylmethacrylate, fluorinated ethylene propylene, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the sealant composition further comprises a crosslinking agent capable of crosslinking a polymer formed by polymerization of the polymerizable additive. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the crosslinking agent comprises one selected from the group consisting of a poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate, a poly(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate, trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA), ethoxylated TMPTA, trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate, trimethylolpropanetriacrylate, hexanediol diacrylate, N,N-methylene bisacrylamide, hexanedioldivinylether, triethyleneglycol diacrylate, pentaeritritoltriacrylate, tripropyleneglycol diacrylate, 1,3,5-triallyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6(1H,3H,5H)-trione, 2,4,6-triallyloxy-1,3,5-triazine, alkoxylated bisphenol A diacrylate, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sealant composition is selected from the group consisting of a resin, a cement, a settable mud, a lost circulation fluid, a conformance fluid, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the radiation dose is generated by an electron accelerator. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the electron accelerator generates electrons having an energy of about 0.5 MeV to about 50 MeV. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the radiation dose is from about 5 grays to about 500 grays. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein subjecting the sealant composition to the radiation dose increases the mechanical strength of the sealant composition. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 preparing a cement composition comprising: hydraulic cement, a polymerizable additive, and sufficient water to form a slurry;   placing the cement composition into the wellbore; and   subjecting the cement composition to a radiation dose of from about 1 gray to about 1000 grays to activate setting of the cement composition.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the polymerizable additive is present in an amount of about 0.01% to about 25% by weight of the cement composition. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the cement composition further comprises a set retarder. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the set retarder is present in an amount of about 0.1% to about 20% by weight of the cement composition. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the radiation dose is from bremsstrahlung photons that result from electron scattering, and where the photons initiate setting of the cement composition. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the polymerizable additive comprises one selected from the group consisting of acrylate, methacrylate, polyalkylene oxide, alkeneoxide, vinyl pyrrolidone, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, acrylamido-methyl-propane sulfonate, vinyl alcohol, acrylamide, vinyl methyl ether, isobutylene, a fluoroelastomer, an ester, tetrafluoroethylene, an acetal, propylene, ethylene, methylpentene, methylmethacrylate, fluorinated ethylene propylene, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the cement composition further comprises a crosslinking agent capable of crosslinking a polymer formed by polymerization of the polymerizable additive. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the crosslinking agent comprises one selected from the group consisting of a poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate, a poly(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate, trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA), ethoxylated TM PTA, trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate, trimethylolpropanetriacrylate, hexanediol diacrylate, N,N-methylene bisacrylamide, hexanedioldivinylether, triethyleneglycol diacrylate, pentaeritritoltriacrylate, tripropyleneglycol diacrylate, 1,3,5-triallyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6(1H,3H,5H)-trione, 2,4,6-triallyloxy-1,3,5-triazine, alkoxylated bisphenol A diacrylate, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the radiation dose is generated by an electron accelerator located downhole. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the electron accelerator generates electrons having an energy of about 0.5 MeV to about 50 MeV.