Thermal extenders for well fluid applications involving synthetic polymers

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods and compositions for increasing the effective temperature range for viscosified fluids, including particularly fluids that have been viscosified by the addition of a synthetic polymer. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method for increasing the effective temperature range for a synthetic polymer-viscosified fluid used as a well fluid, which includes adding a miscible tertiary, secondary, and/or primary amine compound into a polymer solution. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a thermally stable well fluid, which includes a synthetic polymer, a solvent, and a tertiary, secondary, and/or primary amine miscible in the solvent.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 ] A method for increasing the thermal stability of a well fluid comprising: 
 mixing an effective amount of a miscible amine in the well fluid, wherein the well fluid comprises a synthetic polymer.    
     
     
         2 ] The method of claim  1 , wherein the miscible amine comprises an amine selected from the group consisting of primary, secondary and tertiary amines, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         3 ] The method of claim  1 , wherein the miscible amine comprises about 0.2% to about 20% by weight of the well fluid.  
     
     
         4 ] The method of claim  3 , wherein the miscible amine comprises about 0.6% to about 12% by weight of the well fluid.  
     
     
         5 ] The method of claim  3 , wherein the synthetic polymer comprises about 0.3% to about 5% by weight of the well fluid.  
     
     
         6 ] The method of claim  4 , wherein the synthetic polymer comprises about 0.6% to about 2.6% by weight of the well fluid.  
     
     
         7 ] The method of claim  1 , wherein the synthetic polymer comprises polyethylene glycol.  
     
     
         8 ] The method of claim  1 , wherein the miscible amine comprises triethanol amine.  
     
     
         9 ] A method for increasing the thermal stability of a well fluid comprising: 
 mixing about 0.2% to about 20% by weight of a miscible amine into the well fluid, wherein the well fluid comprises a synthetic polymer.    
     
     
         10 ] The method of claim  9 , wherein the miscible amine comprises an amine selected from the group consisting of primary, secondary and tertiary amines, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         11 ] The method of claim  9 , wherein the synthetic polymer comprises polyethylene glycol.  
     
     
         12 ] The method of claim  10 , wherein the synthetic polymer comprises about 0.3% to about 5% by weight of the well fluid.  
     
     
         13 ] The method of claim  9 , wherein the miscible amine comprises triethanol amine.  
     
     
         14 ] A thermally stable well fluid comprising: 
 a synthetic polymer; and    an effective amount of miscible amine.    
     
     
         15 ] The well fluid of claim  14 , wherein the miscible amine comprises an amine selected from the group consisting of primary, secondary and tertiary amines, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         16 ] The well fluid of claim  14 , wherein the synthetic polymer comprises polyethylene glycol.  
     
     
         17 ] The well fluid of claim  14 , wherein the miscible amine comprises triethanol amine.  
     
     
         18 ] The well fluid of claim  14 , wherein the miscible amine comprises about 0.2% to about 20% by weight of the well fluid.  
     
     
         19 ] The well fluid of claim  18 , wherein the miscible amine comprises about 0.6% to about 12% by weight of the well fluid.  
     
     
         20 ] The well fluid of claim  18 , wherein the synthetic polymer comprises about 0.3% to about 5% by weight of the well fluid.  
     
     
         21 ] The well fluid of claim  19 , wherein the synthetic polymer comprises about 0.6% to about 2.6% by weight of the well fluid.  
     
     
         22 ] A method of treating a well comprising: 
 injecting a well treating fluid into the well, wherein the well treating fluid comprises a synthetic polymer and an effective amount of a miscible amine.    
     
     
         23 ] The method of claim  22 , wherein the miscible amine comprises an amine selected from the group consisting of primary, secondary and tertiary amines and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         24 ] The method of claim  22 , wherein the synthetic polymer comprises polyethylene glycol.  
     
     
         25 ] The method of claim  22 , wherein the miscible amine comprises triethanol amine.  
     
     
         26 ] The method of claim  22 , wherein the miscible amine comprises about 0.2% to about 20% by weight of the well treating fluid.  
     
     
         27 ] The method of claim  26 , wherein the miscible amine comprises about 0.6% to about 12% by weight of the well treating fluid.  
     
     
         28 ] The method of claim  26 , wherein the synthetic polymer comprises about 0.3% to about 5% by weight of the well treating fluid.  
     
     
         29 ] The method of claim  27 , wherein the synthetic polymer comprises about 0.6% to about 2.6% by weight of the well treating fluid.