Anionic Nanoparticle Based Formulation to Control and Cure Moderate to Severe Losses

Abstract Moderate to severe losses can be treated using the loss circulation composition involving nanomaterial-based dispersion and a chemical activator. The nanomaterial employed is an environmentally friendly type of nanosilica. The composition facilitates delayed gelling of nanomaterial-based dispersion. One key benefit of this technology is that it can place the composition into the target loss circulation zone before the nanomaterial-based dispersion gels up. This ensures that the treatment fluid does not set prematurely before reaching the target zone. It is possible to effectively use the newly developed system up to 300°F. In this study, experiments have been carried out on three different types of nanomaterials that have varying surface charges and particle sizes. Two of the nanomaterials have negatively charged nanomaterial-based dispersions and particles measuring 5nm and 17nm in size, whilst the remaining nanomaterial has a positively charged nanomaterial-based dispersion and particles that are larger than 17nm. Moreover, two different types of chemical activators have been employed, namely organic and inorganic activators, whilst their impacts on gelling times have also been assessed. The gelling time experiments were carried out at four different temperatures starting from 150 °C to 300 °C with increment of 50 °C in each experiment. This research also examined the impacts of activator concentration and different shear rates on the gelling times of the three nanomaterial-based dispersions, whilst permeability plugging tests were carried out using 2mm slotted disks in order to assess their effectiveness in controlling moderate to severe losses.