Effective technologies for the use of hardenable foams in well plugging

The study aims to develop flow diagrams for producing tamping foams and for plugging wells with foams when isolating trouble zones in well drilling. The research methods include laboratory studies as well as bench tests and running tests of the plugging flow diagrams. The study shows that the geological conditions of hole boring are complicated with tectonic disturbance zones and hydrothermal processes. As a rule, such zones are characterized by intense rock fracturing and fragmentation, as well as by the presence of clay breccia and rock cuttings. The thickness of the hydrothermally disturbed zones varies from one to tens of meters. These zones cause cleaning fluid circulation loss, collapse of the well walls and narrowing of the borehole in the process of well drilling. The author has investigated and analyzed the flow diagrams for producing foams by air-mechanical mixing of the resin solutions and acid hardener, meeting the plugging requirements. With the account of the geotechnical conditions and the technological specifics of well plugging, possible flow diagrams of feeding the foam to the well have been substantiated. Six plugging diagrams have been analyzed, and rational areas of their use have been proposed. Based on the experimental work conducted, a foam-generating complex PGK 01 has been developed. The complex includes a foam-generating installation PGU-60, wellhead equipment, borehole equipment, and aerators (compression chambers). The use of the complex PGK 01 makes it possible to drill a well in foam and when eliminating the complications, in solid foam. The flow diagram based on the mixing of resin and acid solutions with subsequent foaming has proven to be the most feasible and reliable in technological terms. The hardenable foam samples obtained by foaming the resin solution with further spraying the acid hardener solution into the resulting foam show a more uniform structure due to the increased stability of the foam and better mixing of the solutions. The use of the structured foams in well drilling ensures high technical-and-economic performance of the drilling process by reducing the time and cost of well construction.

hardenable foams, flow diagrams, foam generating, well plugging

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