US-12624271-B2 - Methods for freeing differentially stuck pipes

Abstract

Methods for freeing differentially stuck pipes may comprise introducing a spotting fluid composition in the vicinity of a portion of a differentially stuck pipe in a well, such that the spotting fluid contacts a material surrounding the portion of the differentially stuck pipe. The spotting fluid may comprise about 0.01 M to about 5 M of an oxidative agent comprising a metal ferrate(VI) and an aqueous solution.

Inventors

• Hasmukh A. Patel
• Ahmet Atilgan
• Nicolas Osorio LABRADOR
• Qusai Darugar

Assignees

• SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20240619

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A method comprising: introducing a spotting fluid composition in the vicinity of a portion of a differentially stuck pipe in a well, such that the spotting fluid contacts a material surrounding the portion of the differentially stuck pipe, the spotting fluid composition comprising: about 0.01 M to about 5 M of an oxidative agent comprising a metal ferrate(VI); and an aqueous alkaline solution.
2. 2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the metal ferrate(VI) comprises potassium ferrate, sodium ferrate, or a combination thereof.
3. 3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a pH of the spotting fluid composition is about 4 to about 11.
4. 4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the aqueous alkaline solution comprises potassium hydroxide.
5. 5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the spotting fluid composition is able to withstand a temperature of about 70° F. to about 250° F.
6. 6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a downhole pressure of the well is about 50 psi to about 1,500 psi.
7. 7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising allowing the spotting fluid composition to interact with the material surrounding the portion of the differentially stuck pipe over a period of time.
8. 8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein after the period of time, the spotting fluid composition contributes to a degradation of the material surrounding the portion of differentially stuck pipe.
9. 9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the material comprises a filter cake, the filter cake comprising a drilling mud.
10. 10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the drilling mud comprises a water-based mud, a brine-based mud, or a combination thereof.
11. 11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the drilling mud comprises a swellable clay, a polymer viscosifier, a weighting material, a chemical additive, a pH modifier, or any combination thereof.
12. 12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the polymer viscosifier comprises a natural polymer, a synthetic polymer, or a combination thereof.
13. 13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the polymer viscosifier comprises a natural polymer, and the natural polymer comprises xanthan gum, starch, or a combination thereof.
14. 14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the polymer viscosifier comprises a synthetic polymer, and the synthetic polymer comprises an acrylamide-based polymer.
15. 15 . A method comprising: introducing a spotting fluid composition in the vicinity of a portion of a differentially stuck pipe in a well having a downhole pressure of about 50 psi to about 1,500 psi, such that the spotting fluid contacts a filter cake surrounding the portion of the differentially stuck pipe, the spotting fluid composition comprising: about 0.01 M to about 5 M of an oxidative agent comprising potassium ferrate, sodium ferrate, or a combination thereof; and an aqueous alkaline solution comprising potassium hydroxide; wherein the spotting fluid has a pH of about 4 to about 11 and is able to withstand a temperature of about 70° F. to about 250° F.; and allowing the spotting fluid composition to interact with the filter cake surrounding the portion of the differentially stuck pipe over a period of time, wherein after the period of time, the spotting fluid composition contributes to a degradation of the filter cake surrounding the portion of differentially stuck pipe.
16. 16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the filter cake comprises a drilling mud, the drilling mud comprising a water-based mud, a brine-based mud, or a combination thereof.
17. 17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the drilling mud comprises a swellable clay, a polymer viscosifier, a weighting material, a chemical additive, a pH modifier, or any combination thereof.
18. 18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the polymer viscosifier comprises a natural polymer, a synthetic polymer, or a combination thereof.
19. 19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the polymer viscosifier comprises a natural polymer, and the natural polymer comprises xanthan gum, starch, or a combination thereof.
20. 20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the polymer viscosifier comprises a synthetic polymer, and the synthetic polymer comprises an acrylamide-based polymer.

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates generally to downhole treatment fluids and, more particularly, to spotting fluids used to free differentially stuck pipes. BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE Drilling operations are utilized to access and retrieve hydrocarbons from reservoirs within subterranean formations. The process of establishing oil and gas wells is a costly endeavor, with expenses potentially spanning from several million to hundreds of millions of dollars. Delays in the completion of drilling operations, often resulting from instances of stuck pipes, are frequently identified as leading contributors to non-productive time (NPT). Throughout the drilling of oil and gas wells, the tubulars introduced into the well can become lodged in a way that prevents them from rotating or reciprocating. A differentially stuck pipe, which can include drill strings or casings, emerges when a pressure differential across a permeable section of the formation generates a vacuum seal. This seal immobilizes the drill string or another tubular component. In many cases, the deployment of lubricating fluids, dehydrating agents such as anhydrous glycols, and acids, either singularly or in combination, can be employed to dislodge the differentially stuck pipe. Spotting fluid facilitates the release of a stuck pipe by dehydrating the filter cake on the wellbore wall, subsequently inducing cracks in the wellbore wall. This, in turn, alleviates the differential pressure, ensuring the pipe is no longer pressed against the formation. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE Various details of the present disclosure are hereinafter summarized to provide a basic understanding. This summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure and is neither intended to identify certain elements of the disclosure, nor to delineate the scope thereof. Rather, the primary purpose of this summary is to present some concepts of the disclosure in a simplified form prior to the more detailed description that is presented hereinafter. According to an embodiment consistent with the present disclosure, methods for freeing differentially stuck pipes may comprise introducing a spotting fluid composition in the vicinity of a portion of a differentially stuck pipe in a well, such that the spotting fluid contacts a material surrounding the portion of the differentially stuck pipe, the spotting fluid composition comprising about 0.01 M to about 5 M of an oxidative agent comprising a metal ferrate(VI) and an aqueous alkaline solution. In another embodiment, methods for freeing differentially stuck pipes may comprise introducing a spotting fluid composition in the vicinity of a portion of a differentially stuck pipe in a well having a downhole pressure of about 50 psi to about 1,500 psi, such that the spotting fluid contacts a filter cake surrounding the portion of the differentially stuck pipe, the spotting fluid composition comprising about 0.01 M to about 5 M of an oxidative agent comprising potassium ferrate, sodium ferrate, or a combination thereof and an aqueous alkaline solution comprising potassium hydroxide, wherein the spotting fluid has a pH of about 4 to about 11 and is able to withstand a temperature of about 70° F. to about 250° F.; and allowing the spotting fluid composition to interact with the filter cake surrounding the portion of the differentially stuck pipe over a period of time, wherein after the period of time, the spotting fluid composition contributes to a degradation of the filter cake surrounding the portion of the differentially stuck pipe. Any combinations of the various embodiments and implementations disclosed herein can be used in a further embodiment, consistent with the disclosure. These and other aspects and features can be appreciated from the following description of certain embodiments presented herein in accordance with the disclosure and the accompanying drawings and claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following descriptions, claims, and accompanying drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the drawings illustrate only several embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of the invention's scope as it can admit to other equally effective embodiments. The FIGURE depicts the mechanism of oxidative degradation of xanthan gum by potassium ferrate in an aqueous environment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure generally relate to downhole treatment fluids and, more particularly, to spotting fluids used to free differentially stuck pipes. Differential sticking, characterized by a vacuum-like adherence resulting from pressure disparities between the formation and the wellbore, is a predominant cause of pipe immobilization. Optimal drilling fluids are designed to preclude differential sticking by facilitating the formation of a f