Well fluid formulation and method

Abstract

A method for improving bonding and sealing in a well, comprising providing a wellbore, providing a pipe, coating an outside surface of the pipe with an adhesive thermoplastic resin, running the coated pipe into the wellbore, and causing the temperature of said wellbore to increase to a temperature greater than a melting temperature of said adhesive thermoplastic resin.

1 . A well fluid formulation comprising a well fluid and at least one adhesive thermoplastic resin.  
   
   
       2 . The well fluid formulation of  claim 1  wherein the well fluid is selected from the group consisting of drilling fluid, spotting fluid, and cement slurry.  
   
   
       3 . The well fluid formulation of  claim 2  wherein the adhesive thermoplastic resin is a copolymer selected from the group consisting of ethylene-acrylic acid copolymers, ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymers, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene-vinylphosphonic acid copolymers, ionomers or salts of acid forms of acidic copolymers, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       4 . The well fluid formulation of  claim 3  wherein the ionomer or salt is of a metal selected the group consisting of from sodium, calcium, magnesium, and zinc.  
   
   
       5 . The well fluid formulation of  claim 2  wherein the adhesive thermoplastic resin is a homopolymer selected from the group consisting of high molecular weight acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, vinyl phosphonic acid, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       6 . The well fluid formulation of  claim 5  wherein the adhesive thermoplastic is selected from an ionomer or salt of at least one homopolymer or a combination thereof.  
   
   
       7 . The well fluid formulation of  claim 6  wherein the ionomer or salt is of a metal selected from sodium, calcium, magnesium, and zinc.  
   
   
       8 . The well fluid formulation of  claim 2  further comprising the adhesive thermoplastic resin is selected from a blend of polyethylene with a compound selected from the group consisting of acrylic, methacrylic, polyacrylic, polymethacrylic, vinyl phosphonic, polyvinylphosphonic acids, and ionomers and salts thereof, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       9 . The well fluid formulation of  claim 2  further comprising the adhesive thermoplastic material is in a form selected from the group consisting of powders, prills, pellets, pills, and dispersions.  
   
   
       10 . A method for improving bonding and sealing in a well, comprising: 
 a. providing a wellbore;    b. providing a pipe;    c. coating an outside surface of the pipe with an adhesive thermoplastic;    d. running the coated pipe into the wellbore; and    e. causing the temperature of said wellbore to increase to a temperature greater than a melting temperature of said adhesive thermoplastic resin.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising heating the well with hot injectants.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the adhesive thermoplastic material melts between the circulating temperature of the wellbore and the undisturbed geothermal temperature of the well.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the adhesive thermoplastic resin melts between the undisturbed geothermal temperature of the well and the operating temperature of the well.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the adhesive thermoplastic resin is a copolymer selected from the group consisting of ethylene-acrylic acid copolymers, ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymers, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene-vinylphosphonic acid copolymers, ionomers or salts of acid forms of acidic copolymers, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the ionomer or salt is of a metal selected from sodium, calcium, magnesium, and zinc.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the adhesive thermoplastic resin is a homopolymer selected from the group consisting of high molecular weight acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, vinyl phosphonic acid, ionomers or salts of acid forms thereof, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the ionomer or salt is of a metal selected from sodium, calcium, magnesium, and zinc.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the adhesive thermoplastic resin is selected from a blend of polyethylene with a compound selected from the group consisting of acrylic, methacrylic, polyacrylic, polymethacrylic, vinyl phosphonic, polyvinylphosphonic acids, and ionomers and salts thereof, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising the adhesive thermoplastic material is in a form selected from the group consisting of powders, prills, pellets, pills, and dispersions.