Well Blueprint TM Drilling Conditions

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SOP Code: BS Revision Date : 02/10/97

Barite Sag
Introduction
When weighted muds are used in highly deviated wells, there is the tendency for barite to settle towards the low side of the hole, creating a stratification of lighter mud on top and heavier mud on bottom. The heavier layer then begins to migrate downwards along the length of the hole due to the gravitational pull. This continuous movement of the mud prevents the development of more substantial gel strengths, compounding the settling problem. Variations in hydrostatic head can cause formation fracturing with accompanying loss of circulation, possibly leading to an influx of formation fluids. Barite sag can be troublesome and time consuming to correct, and therefore, very expensive. While sag is more of a problem in angled wells, it has also been observed in vertical wells.

Causes
Incidents of barite sag have been reported on highly extended or deviated wells numerous occasions since the mid 1980s. Sag can occur in either dynamic or static conditions, and may be indicated by variations in mud weight when circulating. Hole conditions which may influence sag tendency are:

Temperature - Higher temperatures increase sag tendency. Hole angle - Sag tendency is increased in deviations >30. Static time - Although sag can occur under dynamic conditions, its effects are usually not apparent until the mud system has been static for a considerable period of time - after tripping, logging or running casing. Semi-Static conditions - Minor movements which break gels, such as tripping pipe or running wireline logs increase sag tendency. Slow circulation rates can create conditions likely conducive to sag. Hydrocarbon influxes can affect mud rheological properties

Mud properties which influence sag tendency are:

Rheology, Surface vs. Downhole - Sag occurs even when traditional rheology measurements taken under surface conditions (high PV, YP and Gels) indicate that it should not. When measured under downhole temperature and pressure conditions on a FANN 70 viscometer, muds which exhibit sagging behavior in the well usually demonstrate different rheology and suspension characteristics than their normal surface measurements. The degree of variance between surface and downhole rheology is to some extent a measure of the stability of the mud system. The less variance the more stable the mud system. A key factor that effects the variance in rheological behavior in an invert emulsion mud system is the type of base oil used. The base oils viscosity versus temperature behavior is critical. Mud weight - Variations in density will be more pronounced at higher mud weights.

Preventing and Curing Barite Sag

Rheology
The Hershel- Bulkley/Yield-Power Law model better correlates with lab measured sag coefficients, since it more accurately describes fluid behavior at low shear rate. A fluid Tau0 (yield stress) of 7 to 8 lbs/100 sq ft will normally be enough to reduce the static sag in field muds to acceptable levels. Check the mud rheology at elevated temperatures (e.g. 120F) to obtain an indication of downhole rheology. Use FANN 70 testing before the well to optimize mud product concentration for stable downhole mud rheological properties. Testing with special apparatus called the High Angle Sag Tester (HAST) simulates downhole conditions and shows whether a fluid requires special additive treatments to improve suspension properties. Additions of DURATONE have been shown to reduce sag tendency.

Mud Weight
Maximum and minimum mud weights should be recorded when circulating bottoms up after trips in deviated wells, especially after logging. It is important to maintain uniform mud weight throughout the circulating system. Efforts should be made to treat and equalize any imbalance as quickly as possible. If the equivalent circulating density (ECD) is close to the fracture gradient, this could require circulating until density is homogeneous prior to resuming drilling operations. Note: When using invert emulsion muds in high temperature wells, it is important to measure the temperature at which the mud weight is recorded to avoid misinterpretations between barite sag and thermal expansion/contraction effects.

Oil/Water Ratio
HAST tests have shown that decreasing the oil/water ratio decreases sag tendency.

Materials and Systems

The best treatment to prevent barite sag is to ensure sufficient gels and low end rheology. In water based muds this can be achieved with several products, including AQUAGEL and AQUAGEL GOLD SEAL, and polymers such as BARAZAN PLUS. In oil based and synthetic muds the use of low end rheological modifiers such as RM-63 in conjunction with GELTONE and SUSPENTONE (a suspension agent for invert emulsions) have been used successfully to prevent barite sag.