PACKER FLUIDS
N-SOLATE® Insulating Packer Fluids
N-SOLATE® High Performance Insulating Packer Fluids
Business Challenge
One of the challenges for production design is the potential for
uncontrolled heat transfer to outer annuli and heat loss from the
production tubing. This can damage outer annuli integrity, reduce
productivity, and even lead to casing collapse. Under uncontrolled
conditions, paraffin and asphaltene deposits and hydrate formations
can occur.
N-SOLATE® high-performance insulating packer fluids were
created according to these criteria, and can effectively control
unwanted heat loss by reducing both conduction and convection
for the life of the well, providing the best overall performing
thermally insulating packer fluid on the market today.
Convective
Conductive
Heat Source
Heat Source
HAL22091
With both modes intact,
heat transfers quickly
through liquids
Benefits
N-SOLATE high-performance insulating packer fluids can help
reduce both conduction and convection heat loss for the life of
the well, helping to prevent annular pressure buildup and
maintain wellbore integrity, and ultimately providing an increase
in production potential for the well. In addition, N-SOLATE
packer fluids are a lower-cost alternative to traditional methods
such as vacuum-insulated tubing (VIT), and help reduce the
costly risks associated with uncontrolled heat loss.
• Higher production potential
Overview
Studies of effective methods to minimize heat transfer have
identified four essential fluid characteristics for successful insulation:
• Lower cost as opposed to traditional methods
• Tolerance for high temperatures
• Maintains wellbore integrity
• Low thermal conductivity
• Compatible with most wellbore fluids
• No suspended solids as weighting agents
• Easily removed from the wellbore
• Long-term stability in the well
• Environmentally friendly, with low GOM toxicity and
low oil and grease
• Prevents annular pressure buildup for the life of the well
• Control and prevent heat loss for the life of the well
Features
The N-SOLATE system is a new-generation insulating-packer
fluid. Past systems utilizing biopolymers are simply not durable
enough to provide long-term assurance. Baroid set out to develop
a system which would remain durable for greater than 6 months
at 300°F (149°C). This effort has yielded tremendous success and
Halliburton now offers four systems:
HAL22090
• N-SOLATE 175 system: effective up to 175°F (79°C)
Compatibility results with crude oil, propylene glycol, methanol, and
control line fluid, left to right. Contaminants were added at 20% by
volume and allowed to equilibrate 24 hours at 70°F (21°C).
• N-SOLATE 275 system: effective up to 275°F (135°C)
• N-SOLATE 400 system: effective up to 400°F (204°C)
• N-SOLATE 600 system: effective up to 600°F (316°C)
PACKER FLUIDS
N-SOLATE Applications
Baroid’s N-SOLATE insulating packer
fluids are suitable for several applications,
including deepwater, HP/HT, steam injection,
and permafrost.
These systems have taken insulating-packer fluid technology to a new level and offer:
• Thermal Conductivity (k) of 0.123 to 0.177 BTU/(hr*ft*°F)
• Thermal stability from 90°F to 600°F (32°C to 316°C)
• Density range from 8.5 lb/gal to 15.0 lb/gal
• Pumpable viscosity with heat-activated cross-link
The N-SOLATE fluids are hydrate-inhibitive,
pass oil and grease testing, and can be
formulated to meet or exceed strict
environmental criteria, including that of the
Gulf of Mexico. Extensive testing has shown
that the N-SOLATE fluids are chemically
compatible with propylene glycol, methanol,
crude oil, control line fluids, and numerous
mono- and divalent brines. In addition,
N-SOLATE fluid exhibits excellent flow
assurance capabilities; helps prevent annular
pressure buildup; helps maintain lower ECD
(equivalent circulating density), and can be
used in environmentally sensitive areas.
• Covalently cross-linked (as opposed to ionically cross-linked)
• Hydrate-inhibitive to >8,500 psi at 40°F (>58.6 MPa at 4°C) (can be engineered
to higher pressure with density limitations)
• Environmentally friendly: Oil and grease content <8 mg/L and LC-50 >100,000
The N-SOLATE 600 system is truly a unique fluid. The ability to withstand
temperatures in excess of those that metallurgical components can is quite a feat by
itself. But, N-SOLATE 600 fluid is also not subject to thermal thinning, guaranteeing
enough viscosity is retained to eliminate or minimize convective heat loss. The
N-SOLATE system uses nanotechnologies to achieve its performance objectives
and becomes one of the first uses of nanotechnology in oilfield-fluids applications.
Baroid Thermal Insulation Fluid Project
Temperature Profile of Wellbore Model with Water and Test Fluid
N-SOLATE fluid viscosity and gel strength
can be customized for each individual
application to help ensure that fluid density
is supported over the long term.
180
170
Lower T.C. Line, Fluid
Medium T.C. Line, Fluid
Upper T.C. Line, Fluid
Lower T.C. Line, Water
Medium T.C. Line, Water
Upper T.C. Line, Water
160
150
130
120
110
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
0
0 .3 5 2
0 .7 0 4
HAL24604
30
1 .0 5 6
Distance from Cold Water, Inches
N-SOLATE 600 System
100
Viscosity (cP)
10000
200
400
300
500
600
1000
100
10
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
Time (s)
30000
35000
Conculsion
N-SOLATE packer fluids can provide
reliable, cost-effective protection when
it comes to uncontrolled heat loss. The
N-SOLATE water-based packer fluids have
been shown to outperform other options by
1 .4 0 8
meeting all the technical criteria as well as
minimizing environmental impact. With
outstanding thermal
stability capabilities and
density ranges, N-SOLATE
fluids have been proven to
3 rpm (5.0 s -1)
help improve production
rates while significantly
N-Solate-600
N-SOLATE
600 System
lowering costs in
60 rpm (102 s -1)
deepwater and steam
45000
injection operations.
40000
HAL24603
Temperature, °F
140
© 2012 Halliburton. All rights reserved. Sales of Halliburton products and services will be in accord solely with the terms and conditions contained in the
contract between Halliburton and the customer that is applicable to the sale.
H05923 4/12
www.halliburton.com