Terpene-Based Spotting Fluid Compositions for Differential Sticking

Abstract

Terpene-based spotting fluid compositions and processes for freeing differentially stuck pipe are provided. A spotting fluid composition includes a terpene and an acid, such that the acid initiates an exothermic polymerization reaction of the terpene. Another spotting fluid composition includes an invert emulsion having a terpene external phase and a non-miscible organic hygroscopic fluid internal phase. The terpene emulsion spotting fluid composition may be introduced downhole in the vicinity of a portion of a differentially stuck pipe such that the spotting fluid composition contacts a filter cake surrounding the portion of the differentially stuck pipe. An acid may be introduced downhole in the vicinity of a portion of a differentially stuck pipe such that the acid initiates an exothermic polymerization reaction of the terpene of the terpene emulsion spotting fluid composition.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A spotting fluid composition for freeing differentially stuck pipe in a well, the spotting fluid composition comprising:
 an invert emulsion including:
 an external phase comprising a terpene; and 
 an internal phase comprising a hygroscopic fluid. 
   
     
     
         2 . The spotting fluid composition of  claim 1 , wherein the terpene comprises at least one of: d-limonene, α-pinene, β-pinene, myrecene, geraniol, carvone, crysanthemic acid, farnesol, humulene, squalene, careen, camphene, α-terpinene, γ-terpinene, and sabinene. 
     
     
         3 . The spotting fluid composition of  claim 1 , wherein the terpene is selected from the group consisting of d-limonene, α-pinene, β-pinene, myrecene, geraniol, carvone, crysanthemic acid, farnesol, humulene, squalene, careen, camphene, α-terpinene, γ-terpinene, and sabinene. 
     
     
         4 . The spotting fluid composition of  claim 1 , wherein the hygroscopic fluid comprises anhydrous glycol. 
     
     
         5 . The spotting fluid composition of  claim 4 , wherein the terpene consists of d-limonene and the hygroscopic fluid consists of anhydrous glycol. 
     
     
         6 . The spotting fluid of  claim 1 , wherein the invert emulsion consists of:
 the external phase comprising the terpene; and   the internal phase comprising the hygroscopic fluid.   
     
     
         7 . The spotting fluid composition of  claim 1 , wherein the terpene and hygroscopic fluid have a volumetric ratio in a range of 7:3 to 8:2. 
     
     
         8 . The spotting fluid composition of  claim 1 , comprising a viscosifier. 
     
     
         9 . The spotting fluid composition of  claim 1 , comprising an additive that acts as a wetting agent and an emulsifier. 
     
     
         10 . The spotting fluid composition of  claim 1 , comprising a lubricant. 
     
     
         11 . A method of freeing differentially stuck pipe in a well, comprising:
 introducing a spotting fluid composition in the vicinity of a portion of differentially stuck pipe, such that the spotting fluid contacts a material surrounding the portion of differentially stuck pipe, the spotting fluid composition comprising:
 an invert emulsion including:
 an external phase comprising a terpene; and 
 an internal phase comprising a hygroscopic fluid. 
 
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the terpene comprises at least one of: d-limonene, α-pinene, β-pinene, myrecene, geraniol, carvone, crysanthemic acid, farnesol, humulene, squalene, careen, camphene, α-terpinene, γ-terpinene, and sabinene. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising allowing the spotting fluid composition to interact with the material surrounding the portion of differentially stuck pipe over a time period. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising introducing a sulfonic acid in the vicinity of a portion of differentially stuck pipe such that the sulfonic acid contacts the spotting fluid composition and initiates a polymerization reaction of the terpene. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the polymerization reaction generates a temperature differential of up to 300° F. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the sulfonic acid comprises dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid (DDBSA). 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising introducing a Lewis acid in the vicinity of a portion of differentially stuck pipe such that the Lewis acid contacts the spotting fluid composition and initiates a polymerization reaction of the terpene. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the hygroscopic fluid comprises anhydrous glycol. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the invert emulsion consists of:
 the external phase comprising the terpene; and   the internal phase comprising the hygroscopic fluid.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the terpene consists of d-limonene and the hygroscopic fluid consists of anhydrous glycol. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the spotting fluid composition comprises a viscosifier. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the spotting fluid composition comprises an additive that acts as a wetting agent and an emulsifier. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the spotting fluid composition comprises a lubricant. 
     
     
         24 . A method of forming a spotting fluid composition for freeing differentially stuck pipe, comprising:
 providing an invert emulsion, the invert emulsion including:
 an external phase comprising a terpene; and 
 an internal phase comprising a hygroscopic fluid. 
   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the terpene comprises at least one of: d-limonene, α-pinene, β-pinene, myrecene, geraniol, carvone, crysanthemic acid, farnesol, humulene, squalene, careen, camphene, α-terpinene, γ-terpinene, and sabinene. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the terpene is selected from the group consisting of d-limonene, α-pinene, β-pinene, myrecene, geraniol, carvone, crysanthemic acid, farnesol, humulene, squalene, careen, camphene, α-terpinene, γ-terpinene, and sabinene. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the hygroscopic fluid comprises anhydrous glycol. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the terpene consists of d-limonene and the hygroscopic fluid consists of anhydrous glycol. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the invert emulsion consists of:
 the external phase comprising the terpene; and   the internal phase comprising the hygroscopic fluid.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 24 , comprising adding a viscosifier to the invert emulsion. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 24 , comprising adding an additive to the invert emulsion, the additive acting as a wetting agent and an emulsifier. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 24 , comprising adding a lubricant to the invert emulsion.