Sulfonated Asphalt
Sodium sulfonated asphalt – Sulphonated Asphalt drilling mud additive
Sodium sulfonated asphalt is shale control additives are used to inhibit the swelling and caving of shales caused by hydrous disintegration. Sulphonated asphalt is lost circulation additives and used to plug a zone into which the drilling fluid is being lost, to prevent a complete loss of the drilling fluid is being lost, to prevent loss of the drilling fluid into the formation being drilled, and hence as lost of drilling fluid circulation from the bottom of the drill hole to the top. The sulfonated asphalt agents used to plug such a zone include inorganic chemical grouts or cement containing mixtures of silicates, metallic oxides, and limestone. Our drilling fluid is HTHP sodium sulfonated asphalt is very good shale control additives in the water-based mud.
Sulfonated Asphalt is sodium asphalt sulfonated made water-soluble by a unique sulfonation process. It is a versatile, total mud conditioner that stabilizes shale formations, significantly increases lubricity, lowers high-temperature high-pressure fluid loss (HTHP) water loss and enhances filter cake properties in both oil-based drilling fluids and water-based drilling fluids. Sulfonated asphalt product can be mixed in most water-based and all oil-based and synthetic muds. Sulfonated asphalt additive is available in two different forms: Regular and Potassium enhanced. Potassium sulfonated asphalt additive is a specially prepared potassium salt of sulfonated asphalt. In addition to providing the same unique qualities as regular Sulfonated asphalt additive, it contributes water-soluble potassium ions at approximately 400ppm/lb of product carried in the mud system. This is beneficial in those areas that require the specific action of potassium to adequately minimize water induced clay swelling.
Sulfonated Asphalt is a proven extensively used drilling fluid additive with many fine properties. Oil asphalt is basal raw material. It appears brown in easy breakable pieces or fluidized powder. Its density is 0.98g/cm3. It’s partly water-soluble partly oil soluble for every kind of drilling fluid.
The main consumer of sulfonated asphalt is the oil industry. Sulfonated asphalt is a component of water- or oil-based drilling. As part of solutions, sulfonated asphalt performs several important functions:
• Acts as an inhibitor of clay shale; strengthens the walls of the wells, and prevents them from shattering; promotes rapid sealing of cracks;
• Reduces water loss in the conditions of high pressure and high heating;
• Imparts better lubricity to the solution; makes filter cake less sticky;
• Allows mixing solutions of high quality without the additional use of emulsifiers
Technical Data of Sulfonated Asphalt
Water-soluble content %: ≥90.0
Oil soluble content %:≥18.0
HTHP FL reducing rate %: ≥40.0
PH： 8-10
Moisture %: ≤10.0
Advantage of Sulfonated Gilsonite Additive
For over 52 years, the unique chemistry of Sulfonated Gilsonite additives has delivered extraordinary results in all types of drilling fluids offering the following advantages:
- Stabilize shale stratum
- Reduce rotative torque and prevent jamming
- Substitute of oil, including crude oil, waste engine oil and diesel oil
- Depress the solid expansion of drill chips
- Produce thin and tenacious mud cakes
- Reacts with shale to prevent or stop sloughing and swelling
- Reduces high-temperature high-pressure fluid loss (HTHP) see case history
- Produces thin compressible filter cakes
- Significantly increases lubricity; either alone or synergistically with small amounts of oils, synthetic oils, or glycol
- Prevents stuck drill pipe
- Extremely temperature stable – does not have the softening point typically associated with un-reacted asphaltic additives
- Minimal and easily distinguishable fluorescence – does not hamper well logging or core analysis
- Will not leave oil slick, sheen or rainbow on water at offshore locations
- No emulsifiers needed to ensure proper mixing
- Do not need to bypass the solids control equipment while mixing
- Reduces high-temperature gelation and stabilizes mud properties
- Recommended quantity to be added: 1-4%
Usage of sodium sulfonated asphalt
Sulphonated asphalt is blended of Gilsonite, blown asphalt, lignite, caustic soda, and the mixture of latter compounds.
This additive using because of foaming in water and it is partially soluble in water and fully emulsion in the fluids.
Liquid additives have therefore been developed to overcome some of the problems associated with the use of dry additives. However, liquid compositions containing polyglycols can give rise of stability problem.
How to use sulfonated asphalt.
Sulfonated asphalt is fully emulsion in water while gilsonite will remain on top.
Packing & Shipping
25KG or 50LB net sealed in the 4-in-1 compound paper bag with plastic lining. During storage and transport see that the bag is intact as the product is water soluble.
Gilsonite processing to sulfonated asphalt and pellets
Our company is the producer of sulfonated asphalt by Gilsonite also liquid gilsonite which is emulsion shape and modified Gilsonite and widely using in drilling fluids. Sulphonated asphalt disperses the solid the solid expansion of drill chips. Apart from RAHA Gilsonite is able to make pellet from gilsonite and it is using as bitumen modifier in road construction business. Pellet of Gilsonite is available in the 25Kg bag and using right now in the ministry of road construction in large amount. While adding Gilsonite pellet to asphalt it is increasing softening point and asphalt also will become hard and in cold temperature even –40 C the asphalt has till flexibility and prevent the break.
SULFONATED GILSONITE DRILLING MUD ADDITIVE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates, in general, to the process of drilling a well, and, more particularly, to drilling mud used in the drilling process, and, still more particularly, to a drilling mud containing sulfonated gilsonite.
2. Prior Art
In the course of drilling oil and gas wells and the like by means of a rotary well drilling apparatus, circulation fluid or drilling mud is pumped down through a rotary drill pipe and discharged at or adjacent the bit at the lower end thereof. In normal drilling operations, a portion of this circulation fluid returns upward through the well bore and is conducted to a sump where it is filtered and returned to the pump and again pumped down the drill pipe.
The primary functions of the circulation fluid or drilling mud are: (1) to lubricate and cool the drilling bit; (2) to suspend the cuttings from the drilling opera tions so that they are carried to the surface and re moved; (3) to prevent excessive amounts of fluids from flowing from the hole into surrounding formations by depositing on the wall of the hole a thin, but substantial, impervious filter cake; (4) to serve as a weighting material exerting sufficient pressure to counterbalance any pressure exerted by water, gas, oil, or other earth fluid; and (5) to prevent caving or other intrusions into the drill hole.
Thus, an efficient drilling mud must exhibit numerous characteristics, including, for example, viscosity, initial and 10-minute gel strength, thixotropy, fluid loss prevention, stability under various temperature and pressure operating conditions, stability against contaminating fluids, such as salt water, calcium sulfate, cement, and potassium contaminated fluids, etc.
To achieve a drilling mud exhibiting the above characteristics and properties, extensive research has been conducted, resulting in a multitude of drilling muds having a variety of additives to help a particular problem.
However, none of the present day drilling muds provide at both high and low temperatures, as well as a broad spectrum of actual drilling conditions, the desired degree of function performance needed by the industry.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide a drilling mud having improved fluid loss control at high temperature, high pressure operating conditions.
Another object of this invention is to produce a drilling fluid additive which will give stability to the well base, and reduce the possibility of shale intrusion.
A still further object is to provide a simplified process for sulfonation of gilsonite.
A still further object of this invention is to produce a drilling fluid additive which is compatible and readily dispersible in water-based fluid and does not require the addition of emulsifying agents which are commonly used with regular unreacted gilsonite to keep the material in suspension.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a drilling mud additive that enhances the lubrication characteristics of the drilling mud.
Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the ensuing descriptions of the invention.
Accordingly, a sulfonated gilsonite for use in well-drilling mud is provided, which sulfonated gilsonite is produced by reacting together at a temperature between 210-280‘ F., a mixture of gilsonite having a softening point of at least 300‘ F., lignite, sulfonating compound, water-soluble base compound and water for a period of time sufficient to sulfonate the gilsonite, and then removing any remaining water.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
In a common reaction zone, a mixture of water, gilsonite, having a softening point of at least 300 F., gilsonite, a sulfonating compound, preferably sodium sulfite, and a water-soluble base compound, preferably sodium hydroxide, are stirred at a temperature between 210-280 F. for a period of time sufficient to sulfonate the gilsonite, preferably 0.5-3 hours. Once the sulfonation is completed, the remaining water is removed by spray drying or other conventional drying means.
In a preferred embodiment, water is mixed in a reaction zone with a mixture of components having the percent by weight ratios of:
Gilsonite 55-60%
Lignite 15-25%
Sodium Sulfite 15-20%
Sodium Hydroxide 5-10%
for a period of time between 0.5-3.0 hours.
In another preferred embodiment, the reaction zone temperature is maintained between 230-260‘ F.
The drilling fluids of this invention can be prepared by any conventional method. The amount of sulfonated gilsonite and water employed are dependent upon several variables, such as the density of the drilling fluid desired, the nature of the formation penetrated, as well as other well-known factors. In addition, other materials can be added to the drilling mud for weighting purposes, etc.
There are, of course, other obvious embodiments of the invention not specifically disclosed, but which are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as defined in the following Claims.
What I claim is:
1. A process for making sulfonated gilsonite to be
used as an additive in a drilling fluid which comprises: (a) reacting in a reaction zone water with a mixture of gilsonite having a softening point of at least 300 F.,
lignite, sodium sulfite and a water-soluble base compound at a temperature between 210-280 F.
for a period of time sufficient to achieve sulfonation of said gilsonite, wherein the percent by weight of the components of said mixture introduced into the said reaction is:
Gilsonite 55-60%
Lignite 15-25%
Sodium Sulfite 15-20%
Water Soluble Base Compound 5-10%;
and,
(b) removing from the reacted mixture by drying said water remaining.
2. A process according to claim 1, wherein said water comprises 25%-50% by weight of the mixture of the said reaction zone.
3. A process according to claim 1, wherein said temperature is between 230-260 F.
4. A process according to claim 1, wherein said period of time is 0.5-3 hours.
5. A water base drilling fluid comprising water and sulfonated gilsonite, said sulfonated gilsonite being prepared by reacting at a temperature between 210 280F., a mixture of water, gilsonite having a softening point of at least 300 F., lignite sodium sulfite and water-soluble base compound for a period of time sufficient to achieve sulfonation of said gilsonite wherein the percent by weight of the components of said mixture is:
Gilsonite 55-60%
Lignite 15-25%
Sodium Sulfite 15-20%
Water-soluble Base Compound 5-10%.
6. A drilling fluid according to claim 5, wherein said temperature is between 230-260‘ F.
7. In a process of drilling a well, the improvement of which comprises the step of circulating in said well water drilling fluid comprising an aqueous fluid medium and sulfonated gilsonite, said sulfonated gilsonite being prepared by reacting at a temperature between 210′-280 F., a mixture of water, gilsonite having a softening point of at least 300‘ F., lignite, sodium sulfite and water soluble base compound for a period of time sufficient to achieve sulfonation of said gilsonite, wherein the percent by weight of the components of said mixture is:
Gilsonite 55-60%
Lignite 15-25%
Sodium Sulfite 15-20%
Water Soluble Base Compound 5-10%.
8. In a process according to claim 7, wherein said temperature is between 230-260′ F.
9. A sulfonated gilsonite prepared according to claim
