WIRELINE LUBRICANT FOR USE IN GREASELESS DOWNHOLE LOGGING

Abstract

A rubber friendly lubricant composition adapted for lubricating the cable in a greaseless down hole logging process including a general formulation: polypropylene glycol, poly alkylene glycol; amine borate; 1,3,4-Thiadiazolidine-2,5-dithione, disodium salt; and, deionized water. The lubricant being compatible with seals and rubbers, and other related materials, used on trucks and other oil field vehicles and equipment. Being water soluble, the lubricant also presents a low potential for fire risk, and is considered environmentally friendly. The lubricant also exhibiting superior freeze properties.

Claims

1. A water soluble wireline lubricant composition for greaseless down hole logging, comprising polypropylene glycol, poly alkylene glycol; amine borate; 1,3,4-Thiadiazolidine-2,5-dithione, disodium salt; and, deionized water.

2. The wireline lubricant composition of claim 1 wherein said polypropylene glycol is present at a concentration between about 25.0%-85% wt.

3. The wireline lubricant composition of claim 1 wherein said polypropylene glycol is present at a concentration between about 45%-85% wt.

4. The wireline lubricant composition of claim 1 wherein said polypropylene glycol is present at a concentration between about 65%-85% wt.

5. The wireline lubricant composition of claim 1 wherein said poly alkylene glycol is present at a concentration between about 0.1-80% wt.

6. The wireline lubricant composition of claim 1 wherein said poly alkylene glycol is present at a concentration between about 5%-25% wt.

7. The wireline lubricant composition of claim 1 wherein said amine borate is present at a concentration between about 0.1%-5.0% wt.

8. The wireline lubricant composition of claim 1 wherein said 1,3,4-thiadiazolidine-2,5-dithione disodium salt is present at a concentration between about 0.1%-5% wt.

9. The wireline lubricant composition of claim 1 wherein said deionized water is present at a concentration between about 0.1%-50.0% wt.

10. The wireline lubricant composition of claim 1 wherein said deionized water is present at a concentration between about 10.0%-20.0% wt.

11. The wireline lubricant composition of claim 1 wherein said deionized water is present at a concentration between about 7.0%-15.0% wt.

12. A water soluble wireline lubricant formulation, comprising: between about 25.0%-100% wt polypropylene glycol; between about 0.0%-80% wt poly alkylene glycol; between about 0.0%-5.0% wt amine borate; between about 0.0%-5% wt 1,3,4-thiadiazolidine-2,5-dithione disodium salt; between about 0.0%-50.0% wt deionized water.

13. The water soluble wireline lubricant formulation of claim 12 wherein said polypropylene concentration is between about 65%-85%.

14. The water soluble wireline lubricant formulation of claim 12 wherein said poly alkylene glycol concentration is between about 7%-15%.

15. The water soluble wireline lubricant formulation of claim 12 wherein said amine borate concentration is between about 0.0%-2.0%.

16. The water soluble wireline lubricant formulation of claim 12 wherein said 1,3,4-thiadiazolidine-2,5-dithione disodium salt concentration is between 0.0%-1.0%.

17. The water soluble wireline lubricant formulation of claim 12 wherein said deionized water concentration is between 7.0%-15.0%.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] The lubricant composition of the present invention is rubber friendly. While it still lubricates the cable as well as mineral oil, it is compatible with seals and rubbers, and other related materials, used on trucks and other oil field vehicles and equipment.

[0015] Another benefit of the lubricant formulation of the present disclosure is that it reduces the cost of maintenance for the operators relating to repair and replacement of vehicles and other equipment. In addition to this benefit, the lubricant of the present invention also provides additional advantages over traditional cable lubes, as described below. [0016] 1. Anti-freeze. The lubricant of the present disclosure provides anti-freeze benefits in winter operations as it has a low freeze point and anti-freeze properties. In winter operations, the operators commonly use anti-freeze or other glycols separately, first, downhole, depending on temperature, whereas it is contemplated that this product could double for both. [0017] 2. More fire resistant vs. mineral oils. This product contains water and components that are less flammable as compared to mineral oil. Mineral oil could be an issue if left on the truck or is deposited/collecting in hot applications on the trucks/vehicles, such as vehicle braking systems, exhaust systems, or even vehicle motors. [0018] 3. Environmentally friendly. The lubricant product of the present disclosure is water soluble, biodegradable and non-toxic. This is especially true since the lubricant material is used for downhole applications.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the lubricant formulation of the present disclosure includes the following:

[0020] 1. Propylene Glycol (PG) —25% to 100% (25.0%-85.0%). A person of skill in the art could use technical grade, but could also substitute USP. PG is commercially available from DOW Chemical Company.

[0021] 2. Water—0%-50% (0.1%-50.0%) —In a most preferred embodiment, water must be de-ionized. De-ionization can be accomplished using filtration of local tap water.

[0022] 3. Water soluble poly alkylene glycol (PAG), consisting of 40-80% ethylene monomer is 0-80% (0.1%-80.0%) by weight. Water soluble PAG is widely available commercially from suppliers such as DOW, BASF, Novitas, Shrieve, and others.

[0023] Amine Borate Rust inhibitor 0-5% (0.1%-5.0%) by weight. Amine borate is available commercially from Colonial Chemical Cola Cor RP and Lubrizol Addco CP-B-2.

[0024] Disodium 2,5-dimercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole in water 0-5% (0.1%-5.0%) by weight. Protects yellow metals under conditions, such as in the presence of high hydrogen sulfide (H.sub.2S) concentrations. Disodium 2,5-dimercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole is available commercially, such as from RT Vanderbilt Vanchem NATD.

[0025] Another, more preferred embodiment of the lubricant formulation of the present disclosure is as follows:

TABLE-US-00002 Propylene Glycol Base material 45.0-85% wt.  Polyalkylene Glycol Polymeric glycol, used 5.0-25% wt.  for lubricity Amine borate Rust and corrosion 0-5.0% wt. inhibitor (for steel) 1,3,4-Thiadiazolidine-2,5- Acid scavenger and 0-5.0% wt. dithione, disodium salt yellow metal inhibitor Deionized Water Coupler, solubility aid 5.0-20.0% wt.  

[0026] A most preferred embodiment of the wireline lubricant formulation of the present disclosure is as follows:

TABLE-US-00003 Propylene Glycol Base material 65.0-85% wt.  Polyalkylene Glycol Polymeric glycol, used 7.0-15% wt.  for lubricity Amine borate Rust and corrosion 0-2.0% wt. inhibitor 1,3,4-Thiadiazolidine-2,5- Acid scavenger and 0-1.0% wt. dithione, disodium salt yellow metal inhibitor Deionized Water Coupler, solubility aid 7.0-15.0% wt.  

[0027] The lubricant product of the present disclosure is completely water soluble. At levels of propylene glycol and water above 50%, the lubricant product of the present disclosure is expected to be readily biodegradable. Propylene glycol is the preferred base for environmentally friendly anti-freezes and coolants. It is also used in many household products that could be ingested. There is published data on non-toxicity and biodegradability of propylene glycol neat and as a base in formulations.

Example 1

Testing:

[0028] The following samples were obtained: [0029] 1. A sample of the lubricant product formulated according to the most preferred embodiment (hereinafter the “Green sample”). [0030] 2. A sample of a mineral based cable lube—DX Cable Lube 70, available commercially from Industrial Oils Unlimited, LLC (hereinafter the “Mineral based sample”).
The samples were tested for the following: [0031] 1. Seal testing with commercially available window seal material. [0032] 2. Flash Point. [0033] 3. Pour Point.

Results:

[0034]

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 1 Sample Results Comparison DX ™ Cable DX ™ Cable Lube 70 Green Lube 70 Fluid: Green sample Mineral based sample Sample ID: 20916 20755 Test Results: Viscosity @ 40 C., 15.8 12.7 cSt Viscosity @ 100 C., N/A 3.01 cSt Viscosity Index* N/A 89 Water, ppm 10% <100 ppm Seal Testing 21 days; 150° F. Volume Change, % <1% −20% Hardness Change Unchanged Significant from new Brittling and hardening Pour Point, C.(F.) −66 −30 Flash Point, C. 271 (520) 251 (484) *Calculated

Interpretation of Results:

[0035] The results can be interpreted as follows: [0036] 1. Viscosity @ 40 C—Both samples are similar in viscosity. [0037] 2. Viscosity @ 100 C—Due to water content in the Green sample, a viscosity @ 100 C cannot be obtained. [0038] 3. Viscosity Index—Because a viscosity @ 100 C cannot be obtained on the Green sample, a VI also cannot be calculated. [0039] 4. Water, ppm—The Green sample contains 10% water by weight. The Mineral based sample contains less than 100 ppm water. [0040] 5. Seal Testing—The Mineral based sample significantly shrinks and hardens the window seal material, duplicating what is seen in the field. The window seal material remains virtually new with the Green sample under the same lab conditions, indicating a compatibility with the rubber. [0041] 6. Pour point—The Green sample will stay fluid down to −66 C in its neat form. As it takes on water, the freeze point will lower, however, even by absorbing 50% its weight in water, it will still not freeze above −40 C. If 50% water is added to the Mineral based sample, it will freeze as it separates from the fluid. [0042] 7. Flash point—The flash point is the temperature at which the vapors can ignite in the presence of a spark. The Green sample contains water and will not produce a flash.

[0043] It is to be understood that the terms “including”, “comprising”, “consisting” and grammatical variants thereof do not preclude the addition of one or more components, features, steps, or integers or groups thereof and that the terms are to be construed as specifying components, features, steps or integers.

[0044] If the specification or claims refer to “an additional” element, that does not preclude there being more than one of the additional element.

[0045] It is to be understood that where the claims or specification refer to “a” or “an” element, such reference is not be construed that there is only one of that element.

[0046] It is to be understood that where the specification states that a component, feature, structure, or characteristic “may”, “might”, “can” or “could” be included, that particular component, feature, structure, or characteristic is not required to be included.

[0047] Where applicable, although state diagrams, flow diagrams or both may be used to describe embodiments, the invention is not limited to those diagrams or to the corresponding descriptions. For example, flow need not move through each illustrated box or state, or in exactly the same order as illustrated and described.

[0048] Methods of the present invention may be implemented by performing or completing manually, automatically, or a combination thereof, selected steps or tasks.

[0049] The term “method” may refer to manners, means, techniques and procedures for accomplishing a given task including, but not limited to, those manners, means, techniques and procedures either known to, or readily developed from known manners, means, techniques and procedures by practitioners of the art to which the invention belongs.

[0050] The term “at least” followed by a number is used herein to denote the start of a range beginning with that number (which may be a range having an upper limit or no upper limit, depending on the variable being defined). For example, “at least 1” means 1 or more than 1. The term “at most” followed by a number is used herein to denote the end of a range ending with that number (which may be a range having 1 or 0 as its lower limit, or a range having no lower limit, depending upon the variable being defined). For example, “at most 4” means 4 or less than 4, and “at most 40%” means 40% or less than 40%.

[0051] When, in this document, a range is given as “(a first number) to (a second number)” or “(a first number)-(a second number)”, this means a range whose lower limit is the first number and whose upper limit is the second number. For example, 25 to 100 should be interpreted to mean a range whose lower limit is 25 and whose upper limit is 100. Additionally, it should be noted that where a range is given, every possible subrange or interval within that range is also specifically intended unless the context indicates to the contrary. For example, if the specification indicates a range of 25 to 100 such range is also intended to include subranges such as 26-100, 27-100, etc., 25-99, 25-98, etc., as well as any other possible combination of lower and upper values within the stated range, e.g., 33-47, 60-97, 41-45, 28-96, etc. Note that integer range values have been used in this paragraph for purposes of illustration only and decimal and fractional values (e.g., 46.7-91.3) should also be understood to be intended as possible subrange endpoints unless specifically excluded.

[0052] It should be noted that where reference is made herein to a method comprising two or more defined steps, the defined steps can be carried out in any order or simultaneously (except where context excludes that possibility), and the method can also include one or more other steps which are carried out before any of the defined steps, between two of the defined steps, or after all of the defined steps (except where context excludes that possibility).

[0053] Further, it should be noted that terms of approximation (e.g., “about”, “substantially”, “approximately”, etc.) are to be interpreted according to their ordinary and customary meanings as used in the associated art unless indicated otherwise herein. Absent a specific definition within this disclosure, and absent ordinary and customary usage in the associated art, such terms should be interpreted to be plus or minus 10% of the base value.

[0054] Thus, the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned above as well as those inherent therein. While the inventive device has been described and illustrated herein by reference to certain preferred embodiments in relation to the drawings attached thereto, various changes and further modifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be made therein by those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the spirit of the inventive concept the scope of which is to be determined by the following claims.