Unit 3

Task 8.2 Drilling and Completion Fluids

8.2.4 Understand the principles behind design of drilling fluids for reseroir
sections.
The principles behind the design of a reseroir fluid are essentiall! the same
e"cept that it should not hae a negatie impact on the reseroir production
potential.
The mechanisms of damage are#
$articles plugging the formation pore throats or fractures.
Drilling and completion fluids reacting %ith formation %ater to form a
precipitate
&mulsion from mi"ing oil and %ater
'urfactants changing the %etting characteristics of the fluid.
(n most cases it %ill be difficult to eliminate all material that %ill cause impairment.
Therefore in most cases the design %ill allo% for a damage mechanism) ia a
reersible process) to initiall! protect the reseroir and then allo% ma"imum
permeabilit! regain.
* ariet! of fluids can be used as drill+in fluids) including %ater+) oil and s!nthetic+
base fluids. Fluid selection depends on formation t!pe) formation fluid
composition) formation damage mechanism and completion method.
Formation damage control#
The fluid should not contain cla!s or acid+insoluble %eight materials %hich
can migrate into the formation and plug pores.
(t should be formulated %ith breakable,acid+soluble iscosifiers) fluid+loss
materials and properl! si-ed plugging agents.
The filtrate should be formulated to preent cla!s in the producing -one
from s%elling) migrating or plugging the formation.
The filtrate should be compatible %ith formation fluids so that it %ill not
precipitate mineral scales.
The fluid and filtrate should not change the %etting characteristics of the
formation from either %ater+%et to oil+%et or from oil+%et to %ater+%et.
The filtrate should not form emulsions %ith formation fluids and block the
formation.
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