Aqueous-Based Insulating Fluids and Related Methods

Abstract

Provided herein are methods and compositions that include a method comprising providing an annulus between a first tubing and a second tubing; providing an aqueous-based insulating fluid that comprises an aqueous base fluid, a water-miscible organic liquid, and a layered silicate; and placing the aqueous-based insulating fluid in the annulus. A composition provided includes an aqueous-based insulating fluid comprising an aqueous base fluid, a water-miscible organic liquid, and a layered silicate.

1 . A method comprising:
 providing an annulus between a first tubing and a second tubing;   providing an aqueous-based insulating fluid that comprises an aqueous base fluid, a water-miscible organic liquid, and a layered silicate; and   placing the aqueous-based insulating fluid in the annulus.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the aqueous-based insulating fluid further comprises a polymer. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the aqueous-based insulating fluid further comprises at least one additive selected from the group consisting of: a corrosion inhibitor, a pH modifier, a biocide, a glass bead, a hollow sphere, a hollow microsphere, a rheology modifier, a buffer, a hydrate inhibitor, a breaker, a tracer, an additional weighting agent, a viscosifier, and a surfactant. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the aqueous base fluid comprises at least one brine selected from the group consisting of: NaCl, NaBr, KCl, CaCl 2 , CaBr 2 , ZrBr 2 , sodium carbonate, sodium formate, potassium formate, and cesium formate, and a derivative thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the water-miscible organic liquid comprises at least one liquid selected from the group consisting of: an ester, an amine, an alcohol, a polyol, a glycol ether, and a derivative thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the polyol comprises at least one polyol selected from the group consisting of: a water-soluble diol; ethylene glycol; propylene glycol; polyethylene glycol; polypropylene glycol; diethylene glycol; triethylene glycol; dipropylene glycol; tripropylene glycol; a reaction product formed by reacting ethylene and propylene oxide with an active hydrogen base compound; a reaction product formed by reacting polyethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol with an active hydrogen base compound; neopentyl glycol; a pentanediol; a butanediol; an unsaturated diol; a butyne diol; a butene diol; a triol; glycerol; an ethylene adduct, a propylene oxide adduct; pentaerythritol; a sugar alcohol; and a derivative thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the layered silicate comprises at least one layered silicate selected from the group consisting of: smectite, vermiculite, swellable fluoromica, montmorillonite, beidellite, hectorite, and saponite. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the layered silicate is a synthetic layered silicate. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the layered silicate is present in the fluid in an amount in the range of from about 0.1% to about 15% by weight of the fluid. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the water-miscible organic liquid is present in the fluid in an amount in the range of from about 40% to about 99% by weight of the fluid. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 providing an apparatus comprising a tubing that comprises a first fluid located within a well bore such that an annulus is formed between the tubing and a surface of the well bore;   providing an aqueous-based insulating fluid that comprises an aqueous base fluid, a water-miscible organic liquid, and a layered silicate; and   placing the aqueous-based insulating fluid in the annulus.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the aqueous-based insulating fluid further comprises a polymer. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the aqueous base fluid comprises at least one brine selected from the group consisting of: NaCl, NaBr, KCl, CaCl 2 , CaBr 2 , ZrBr 2 , sodium carbonate, sodium formate, potassium formate, cesium formate, and a derivative thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the water-miscible organic liquid comprises at least one liquid selected from the group consisting of: an ester, an amine, an alcohol, a polyol, a glycol ether, and a derivative thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the polyol comprises at least one polyol selected from the group consisting of: a water-soluble diol; ethylene glycol; propylene glycol; polyethylene glycol; polypropylene glycol; diethylene glycol; triethylene glycol; dipropylene glycol; tripropylene glycols a reaction product formed by reacting ethylene and propylene oxide with an active hydrogen base compound, a reaction product formed by reacting polyethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol with an active hydrogen base compound; neopentyl glycol; a pentanediol; a butanediol; an unsaturated diol; a butyne diol; a butene diol; a triol; glycerol; an ethylene oxide adduct, a propylene oxide adduct; pentaerythritol; a sugar alcohol; and any derivative thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the layered silicate comprises at least one layered silicate selected from the group consisting of: smectite, vermiculite, swellable fluoromica, montmorillonite, beidellite, hectorite, and saponite. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the layered silicate is a synthetic layered silicate. 
     
     
         18 . A method comprising:
 providing a first tubing that comprises at least a portion of a pipeline that contains a first fluid;   providing a second tubing that substantially surrounds the first tubing thus creating an annulus between the first tubing and the second tubing;   providing an aqueous-based insulating fluid that comprises an aqueous base fluid, a water-miscible organic liquid, and a layered silicate; and   placing the aqueous-based insulating fluid in the annulus.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the aqueous-based insulating fluid further comprises a polymer. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the layered silicate comprises at least one layered silicate selected from the group consisting of: smectite, vermiculite, swellable fluoromica, montmorillonite, beidellite, hectorite, and saponite. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the water-miscible organic liquid comprises at least one liquid selected from the group consisting of: an ester, an amine, an alcohol, a polyol, a glycol ether, and a derivative thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the polyol comprises at least one polyol selected from the group consisting of: a water-soluble diol; ethylene glycol; propylene glycol; polyethylene glycol; polypropylene glycol; diethylene glycol; triethylene glycol; dipropylene glycol; tripropylene glycol; a reaction product formed by reacting ethylene and propylene oxide with an active hydrogen base compound; a reaction product formed by reacting polyethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol with an active hydrogen base compound; neopentyl glycol; a pentanediol; a butanediol; an unsaturated diol; a butyne diol; a butene diol; a triol; a glycerol; an ethylene oxide adduct; a propylene oxide adduct; pentaerythritol; a sugar alcohol; and a derivative thereof. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the layered silicate is present in the fluid in an amount in the range of from about 0.1% to about 15% by weight of the fluid and the water-miscible organic liquid is present in the fluid in an amount in the range of from about 40% to about 99% by weight of the fluid. 
     
     
         24 . An aqueous-based insulating fluid comprising:
 an aqueous base fluid,   a water-miscible organic liquid, and   a layered silicate.