Apparatus and Methods for Improved Fluid Compatibility in Subterranean Environments

Abstract

A device for and method of testing fluid compatibility may include placing a first fluid in a fixed-volume testing chamber and placing a second fluid in a sample chamber. The method may also include heating the fixed-volume testing chamber to about a temperature of a subterranean environment and pressurizing the fixed-volume testing chamber to about a pressure of the subterranean environment. The method may further include determining, at a temperature and pressure of about the temperature and pressure of the subterranean environment, a first rheology value of the fluid within the fixed-volume testing chamber, moving a portion of the second fluid from sample chamber into the fixed-volume testing chamber, and determining, at a temperature and pressure of about the temperature and pressure of the subterranean environment, a second rheology value of the fluid within the fixed-volume testing chamber.

1 . A method of testing fluid compatibility, comprising:
 placing a first fluid in a fixed-volume testing chamber;   placing a second fluid in a sample chamber;   heating the fixed-volume testing chamber to about a temperature of a subterranean environment;   pressurizing the fixed-volume testing chamber to about a pressure of the subterranean environment;   determining, at a temperature and pressure of about the temperature and pressure of the subterranean environment, a first rheology value of the fluid within the fixed-volume testing chamber;   moving a portion of the second fluid from the sample chamber into the fixed-volume testing chamber; and   determining, at a temperature and pressure of about the temperature and pressure of the subterranean environment, a second rheology value of the fluid within the fixed-volume testing chamber.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising heating the sample chamber to about the temperature of the subterranean environment. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising pressurizing the sample chamber to about the pressure of the subterranean environment. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first fluid is a drilling fluid and the second fluid is a spacer fluid. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first rheology value is determined when the fluid within the fixed-volume testing chamber comprises approximately 100% first fluid. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second rheology value is determined when the fluid within the fixed-volume testing chamber comprises approximately 95% first fluid and 5% second fluid. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first rheology value is determined when the fluid within the fixed-volume testing chamber comprises approximately 100% first fluid; and wherein the second rheology value is determined when the fluid within the fixed-volume testing chamber comprises a portion of the first fluid and a portion of the second fluid. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first rheology value is determined when the fluid within the fixed-volume testing chamber comprises a percentage of the first fluid and a percentage of the second fluid; and wherein the second rheology value is determined when the fluid within the fixed-volume testing chamber comprises a smaller percentage of the first fluid and a larger percentage of the second fluid. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 emptying the fixed-volume testing chamber and the sample chamber; and   repeating all steps with the first fluid taking the place of the second fluid and the second fluid taking the place of the first fluid.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 moving a second portion of the second fluid from the sample chamber into the fixed-volume testing chamber; and   determining, at a temperature and pressure of about the temperature and pressure of the subterranean environment, a third rheology value of the fluid within the fixed-volume testing chamber.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the third rheology value is determined when the fluid within the fixed-volume testing chamber comprises approximately 75% first fluid and 25% second fluid. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , comprising:
 moving a third portion of the second fluid from the sample chamber into the fixed-volume testing chamber; and   determining, at a temperature and pressure of about the temperature and pressure of the subterranean environment, a fourth rheology value of the fluid within the fixed-volume testing chamber.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the fourth rheology value is determined when the fluid within the fixed-volume testing chamber comprises approximately 50% first fluid and 50% second fluid. 
   
   
       14 . A method of testing fluid wettability, comprising:
 placing a first fluid in a fixed-volume testing chamber;   placing a second fluid in a sample chamber;   heating the fixed-volume testing chamber to about a temperature of a subterranean environment;   pressurizing the fixed-volume testing chamber to about a pressure of the subterranean environment;   determining, at a temperature and pressure of about the temperature and pressure of the subterranean environment, a first rheology value of the fluid within the fixed-volume testing chamber;   determining, at a temperature and pressure of about the temperature and pressure of the subterranean environment, a first wettability value of the fluid within the fixed-volume testing chamber;   moving a portion of the second fluid from the sample chamber into the fixed-volume testing chamber;   determining, at a temperature and pressure of about the temperature and pressure of the subterranean environment, a second rheology value of the fluid within the fixed-volume testing chamber; and   determining, at a temperature and pressure of about the temperature and pressure of the subterranean environment, a second wettability value of the fluid within the fixed-volume testing chamber.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising heating the sample chamber to about the temperature of the subterranean environment. 
   
   
       16 . An apparatus for testing fluid compatibility, comprising:
 a fixed-volume testing chamber;   a sample chamber in fluid communication with the fixed-volume testing chamber;   a heating element for heating the fixed-volume testing chamber to about a temperature of a subterranean environment;   a stepper motor for pressurizing the fixed-volume testing chamber to about a pressure of the subterranean environment; and   a viscometer for determining rheology within the fixed-volume testing chamber.   
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , comprising a potentiometer for determining wettability within the fixed-volume testing chamber. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , comprising a controller for regulating pressure of the sample chamber. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , comprising an actuator for continual testing. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , comprising a casing; wherein the fixed-volume testing chamber and the sample chamber are generally contained within the casing.