Application of Microemulsion Systems in the Formulation of Biodegradable Pre-Flush Fluid for Primary Cementing

Elayne A. Araújo, Thaine T. Caminha, Evanice M. Paiva, Raphael R. Silva, Júlio Cézar O. Freitas, Alfredo Ismael C. Garnica and Fabíola D. S. Curbelo
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Elayne A. Araújo: Postgraduate Program in Chemical Engineering, Federal University of Paraiba, João Pessoa 58051-900, Brazil
Thaine T. Caminha: Postgraduate Program in Chemical Engineering, Federal University of Paraiba, João Pessoa 58051-900, Brazil
Evanice M. Paiva: Postgraduate Program in Chemical Engineering, Federal University of Paraiba, João Pessoa 58051-900, Brazil
Raphael R. Silva: Postgraduate Program in Chemical Engineering, Federal University of Paraiba, João Pessoa 58051-900, Brazil
Júlio Cézar O. Freitas: Chemical Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59078-970, Brazil
Alfredo Ismael C. Garnica: Postgraduate Program in Chemical Engineering, Federal University of Paraiba, João Pessoa 58051-900, Brazil
Fabíola D. S. Curbelo: Postgraduate Program in Chemical Engineering, Federal University of Paraiba, João Pessoa 58051-900, Brazil

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 18, 1-14

Abstract: Oil well cleanup fluids (pre-flushes) are intermediate fluids pumped ahead of the cement slurry; they are able to clean the well walls by removing the filter cake formed by the drilling fluid, and leave the surface water-wet. This work’s main objective was to use biodegradable microemulsion systems as cleanup fluids in order to reduce the environmental impact. Three microemulsion systems were formulated, each composed of an oil phase, a surfactant and three different aqueous phases: glycerol, glycerol:water (mass ratio 1:1), and fresh water. The results show that all microemulsion systems were effective with 100% filter cake removal, with a removal time of less than 60 s. The wettability test and fluid compatibility analyses exhibited advantageous performances, without phase separation, variations in viscosity, gelation, or flocculation. The compressive strength and X-ray diffractometry (XRD) analysis showed the influence of the glycerol on the cement slurry properties, with the compressive strength resistance ranging from 8.0 to 10.7 MPa, and resulted in the formation of portlandite.

Keywords: glycerol; microemulsion; cleanup fluid; filter cake; cementing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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