Alkyl Polyglycoside Derivative as Biodegradable Spacer Surfactant

Abstract

A spacer fluid comprising: (a) water; and (b) an alkyl polyglycoside derivative, wherein the alkyl polyglycoside derivative is selected from the group consisting of sorbitan fatty acids; functionalized sulfonates, functionalized betaines, an inorganic salt of any of the foregoing, and any combination of any of the foregoing. Preferably, the spacer fluid additionally comprises a solid particulate, such as a weighting agent. A method of displacing an oil-based drilling mud from a portion of a well comprising the steps of: (A) forming the spacer fluid; and (B) introducing the spacer fluid into the well.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of displacing an oil-based drilling mud from a portion of a well, the method comprising the steps of:
 (A) forming a spacer fluid comprising:   (a) water; and   (b) an alkyl polyglycoside derivative comprising an inorganic salt of a sorbitan fatty acid; and   (B) introducing the spacer fluid into the well.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the alkyl polyglycoside derivative is an alkyl polyglucoside having a chemical structure: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein n for the alkyl is 8 or greater; and 
         wherein m for the polyglucoside is 2 or greater. 
       
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein n is in the range of 8 to 24. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein m is in the range of 2 to 20. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the inorganic salt of the sorbitan fatty acid is selected from the group consisting of alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, and ammonium salts. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the alkyl polyglycoside derivative is selected from the group consisting of: Sorbitan oleate decylpolyglucoside; Sorbitan laurate decylpolyglucoside; Sorbitan stearate decylpolyglucoside; Sorbitan palmitate decylpolyglucoside; and any combination of thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the alkyl polyglycoside derivative comprises a sorbitan oleate decylpolyglucoside. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the spacer fluid additionally comprises a solid particulate. 
     
     
         9 . A method of displacing an oil-based drilling mud from a portion of a well, the method comprising the steps of:
 (A) forming a spacer fluid comprising water and an alkyl polyglycoside derivative selected from the group consisting of functionalized sulfonates, inorganic salts thereof, and any combination thereof; and   (B) introducing the spacer fluid into the well.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the functionalized sulfonate comprises one or more sulfonate functionalities selected from the group consisting of hydroxyalkylsulfonates. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the alkyl group of the hydroxylalkylsulfonate functionality is selected from the group consisting of short-chain alkyl groups having in the range of 1 to 6 carbons. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the inorganic salt of the alkyl polyglycoside derivative is selected from the group consisting of alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, and ammonium salts. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the alkyl polyglycoside derivative is selected from the group consisting of: Decyl polyglucoside hydroxypropylsulfonate sodium salt; Lauryl polyglucoside hydroxypropylsulfonate sodium salt; Coco polyglucoside hydroxypropylsulfonate sodium salt; Lauryl polyglucoside sulfosuccinate disodium salt; Decyl polyglucoside sulfosuccinate disodium salt; and any combination of thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the spacer fluid additionally comprises a weighting agent. 
     
     
         15 . A method of displacing an oil-based drilling mud from a portion of a well, the method comprising the steps of:
 (A) forming a spacer fluid comprising water and an alkyl polyglycoside derivative selected from the group consisting of functionalized betaines, an inorganic salt of a functionalized betaine, and any combination of the foregoing; and   (B) introducing the spacer fluid into the well.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the inorganic salt of the sorbitan fatty acid is selected from the group consisting of alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, and ammonium salts. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the alkyl polyglycoside derivative is selected from the group consisting of: Lauryl polyglucoside bis-hydroxyethylglycinate sodium salt; Coco polyglucoside bis-hydroxyethylglycinate sodium salt; and any combination of thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the spacer fluid additionally comprises a solid particulate. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the weight concentration of the alkyl polyglycoside by volume of water is between about 1% and about 10%.