Use of nanoparticles as lubricity additive in well fluids

Abstract

A use of nanoparticles in a well fluid for improved lubricity is disclosed herein. The nanoparticles are present in the well fluid in low amounts below 5 wt %. The nanoparticles may be formed ex situ and added to the fluid or in situ in the fluid. In one aspect, the well fluid is a drilling fluid. In a further aspect, the well fluid is an invert emulsion based fluid or an aqueous based fluid.

1 - 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . A method of making a well fluid, the method comprising steps of:
 forming an emulsion that includes an oil phase and a water phase;   preparing a plurality of precursor materials separately from the emulsion, the precursor materials including hydrophilic reagents that are capable of reacting   to form nanoparticles upon mixing of the precursor materials,   adding the precursor materials to the emulsion; and   thereafter mixing to distribute reagents from the plurality of water-based precursor solutions for in-situ reaction within the water phase,   the nanoparticles formed by virtue of the in-situ reaction being present in an amount of less than 5% by weight of the well fluid but which are also effective amounts to improve lubricity of the well fluid.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the step of forming an emulsion includes forming the well fluid as a water-in-oil emulsion where oil is a continuous phase of the emulsion, and the step of adding the plurality of water-based precursor solutions leaves oil as the continuous phase. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the step of forming an emulsion includes adding a primary emulsifier and a secondary emulsifier to stabilize the emulsion. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the step of forming an emulsion includes adding a primary emulsifier and a secondary emulsifier to stabilize the emulsion. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the step of preparing the plurality of precursor materials includes dissolving at least one of the reagents in water prior to the step of adding the precursor materials. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the step of preparing the plurality of precursor materials includes dissolving all of the reagents in water prior to the step of adding the precursor materials. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the step of preparing the plurality of precursor materials includes preparing at least one of the reagents as a solid material for direct addition to the well fluid during the step of adding the precursor materials to the emulsion. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the step of preparing the plurality of precursor materials includes preparing all of the reagents as solid materials for direct addition to the well fluid during the step of adding the precursor materials to the emulsion. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 35 , further including a step of introducing additional materials to formulate the well fluid as a type of drilling fluid. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 35 , further including a step of introducing additional materials as needed to formulate the well fluid as a type of well kill fluid. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 35 , further including a step of introducing additional materials as needed to formulate the well fluid as a type of well completion fluid. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 35 , further including a step of introducing additional materials as needed to formulate well fluid as a type of well pre-stimulation fluid. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 35 , further including a step of introducing hydrophilic clay. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the water phase utilized in the step of forming the emulsion is a brine. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the brine is a calcium chloride brine. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the oil utilized in the step of forming the emulsion is a low aromatic hydrotreated oil. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the nanoparticles are formed as the reaction products of iron chloride and sodium hydroxide. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the reagents react to form iron hydroxide nanoparticles. 
     
     
         53 . A well fluid made according to the method of  claim 35 . 
     
     
         54 . A well fluid made according to the method of  claim 36 . 
     
     
         55 . A well fluid made according to the method of  claim 39 . 
     
     
         56 . A well fluid made according to the method of  claim 41 . 
     
     
         57 . A well fluid made according to the method of  claim 35 , the well fluid being formulated as a type of well fluid selected from the group consisting of a well drilling fluid, a well kill fluid, a well pre-stimulation fluid and a well completion fluid. 
     
     
         58 . A well fluid made according to the method of  claim 49 . 
     
     
         59 . A well fluid made according to the method of  claim 52 .