SPE 153709

Meeting the Ultra HTHP Fluid Challenge

Emanuel Stamatakis, Steve Young, Guido De Stefano, M-I SWACO

Copyright 2012, Society of Petroleum Engineers

This paper was prepared for presentation at the SPE Oil and Gas India Conference and Exhibition held in Mumbai, India, 2830 March 2012.
This paper was selected for presentation by an SPE program committee following review of information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s). Contents of the paper have not been
reviewed by the Society of Petroleum Engineers and are subject to correction by the author(s). The material does not necessarily reflect any position of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, its
officers, or members. Electronic reproduction, distribution, or storage of any part of this paper without the written consent of the Society of Petroleum Engineers is prohibited. Permission to
reproduce in print is restricted to an abstract of not more than 300 words; illustrations may not be copied. The abstract must contain conspicuous acknowledgment of SPE copyright.

Abstract
Ultra high temperature, high pressure (uHTHP) conditions have a different definition depending on the region and the operator
and Service Company. In this paper the definition used for uHTHP fluid performance is that of a fluid able to perform above
500F and 30,000 psi. This paper describes the development of innovative drilling fluids specific to these well conditions.
When bottomhole temperatures exceed 400F, the design and engineering of drilling fluids can be challenging. Drilling fluids
that destabilize can cause a variety of fluid control problems that could lead to drilling and completion issues. With Invert
emulsion fluids, the major challenges encountered under these conditions are related to the thermal degradation of the
emulsifier and wetting package that can lead to gelation and syneresis. Another challenge is fluid loss which is related to the
emulsion stability and to the degradation of the fluid loss control additives. Finally, efficient control over the rheological
properties critical to the success of any well - can also be challenging, where effects from emulsion instability, filtration
control degradation and rheology control additive degradation are coupled with increases in drilled solids, rapidly leading to
rheological instability. This can manifest itself as high fluctuating rheologies and gelation, or loss of rheological properties that
can give rise to sag of weight material, both potentially leading to associated well control problems.
The paper describes the development of the new fluid system designed for such uHTHP environments, highlighting the
chemical differences and compares the test data of the system with more conventional HTHP invert emulsion fluids. Data is
presented showing the stability and performance of the new fluid over extended exposure to temperature >500oF,
demonstrating tolerance to various contaminations and showing the rheological behavior and stability to 600oF and 40,000 psi.
Introduction
Over the last decade, many service companies have addressed the need of new drilling fluid systems that could match the
advances in drilling technologies, namely high temperature and high pressure (HTHP) or extreme environments that require
fluids with special performance from superior suspension properties to minimize or eliminate barite sag, additives to minimize
subsurface losses, control over the potential for differential sticking and generally fluids designed to improve wellbore
stability. The narrow operational window between pore pressure and fracture pressure that is often a feature of operating in
these extreme environments requires drilling fluids designed specifically to minimize ECD (Equivalent Circulating Density).
Selecting the proper additives for the extreme environment becomes critical for appropriate rheological properties and fluid
loss control. A multitude of synthetic polymers come to mind for their applications, however the utilization of those in the
conditions under study showed limitations, the same reasoning goes for the commonly used polyamide and amido-amine
based emulsifiers which have limitations on performance as temperatures exceed 450F. The main characteristics of oil-based
muds (OBM), i.e. high lubricity, low fluid loss, stability in adverse conditions and thin filter-cake, make them particularly
suitable for HPHT wells.
Generally oil or synthetic based invert emulsion drilling fluids show superior temperature stability when compared to water
based drilling fluids. Oil based drilling fluids also typically exhibit a lower coefficient of friction and provide a thinner, more
lubricious, filter cake and are therefore the right choice for these extreme applications, where longer open hole sections, and
areas of pipe contact prevail.
Overall the performance of these invert emulsion drilling fluids depends substantially on the selection of the right combination
of fluid loss additives and cake sealing materials to reduce the fluid loss, the selection of an appropriate rheology control

SPE 153709

package, and an emulsifier and oil wetting package which will withstand prolonged exposure to temperatures exceeding
450F.
Traditionally oil based drilling fluid are weighted with API grade barite but sagging and/or settling issues can occur easily if
the suspension package is not designed properly. One solution to this problem came from the use of a new weighting material
comprised of a high grade Barite that is milled to an average particle size that is less than 2 microns, the milled material being
chemically treated with a thermally stable oil wetting agent. This allows invert emulsion drilling fluids to be formulated at
higher densities and with lower rheology profiles than can be achieved with API Barite, providing low ECD, low pressure
drops and break circulation pressures and a weighting agent sag profile that meets the requirements of the conditions under
study.

Invert Emulsion Formulations

Traditional Invert emulsion fluids consist of an aqueous fluid emulsified into a non-aqueous phase. Generally, invert emulsion
fluids consist of a three-component liquid system, namely an oleaginous liquid, such as oil, that serves as the continuous
phase, a non-oleaginous liquid, such as a brine, that serves as the discontinuous phase, and an emulsifying agent. An emulsion
is formed between the two incompatible liquids by lowering the interfacial surface tension of one liquid with an emulsifier, or
surfactant, to enable that liquid to form a stable dispersion of fine droplets in the other liquid. The lower the interfacial tension
and the smaller the droplet size, typically the more stable the emulsion will be. In conventional invert emulsion systems, lime
or other alkaline materials are added to maintain reserve alkalinity, which is essential in maintaining emulsion stability by
chemically activating the emulsifying agents. However, when acidic gases, such as CO2, are encountered, these interact to
reduce the alkalinity, often weakening invert emulsion fluids to the point of failure. Further addition of lime to maintain a
positive alkalinity is effective in combating the negative effects of acidic gases.
A typical emulsifier for invert emulsion drilling fluids belongs to a class of chemicals characterized by functional groups that
can confer bipolarity, such as fatty acids, fatty alcohols and amines, The very first class of emulsifiers designed and used in the
oilfield were fatty acids of different carbon chain lengths the emulsification performance of these materials are activated by
reaction with lime to form a calcium soap. Later on, to achieve improvements in emulsion stability and oil wetting properties
amido-amine chemistries were introduced a general chemical formula being as shown in Figure 1. There are however a
multitude of molecular variations of this chemical type. For example, varying the chain length of the lipophilic chain on the
amido-amine molecule will give different properties to the molecule which can translate into a different rheological profile
(particularly in the presence of solids) and fluid loss results. Nevertheless, the basic chemistry is still common to all of the
variants and so is the temperature stability for this kind of chemistry. Amido-amine chemistry is subject to hydrolysis when the
right conditions are in place, in this case the high temperature and the presence of water help the hydrolization process
reverting the emulsifier to the starting fatty acid and the amine.

FIGURE 1. Generic representation of amido-amine emulsifier chemistry

When the emulsion is destabilized, the fluid lost to the formation separates into an oil and water phase which can induce
severe formation damage and may also indicate wellbore instability. The stability of an invert emulsion drilling fluid is due not
only to the chemical stability of the emulsifier package and internal phase, but also to different interface interactions with solid
materials such as weighting agents, fluid loss control additives and drill solids. The solids can be organophilic and can be
designed to play a key role in emulsion stability due to their oil/water interfacial properties. Also, the water or brine droplets,
when emulsified, act as solid particulates and can help with the fluid loss even though they are distorted with pressure. These
emulsified droplets can plug the filter cake pores and reduce the fluid loss and permeability into formation.
Fluid loss control in invert emulsion systems can be achieved by a number of chemical methods. In its simplest form, fluid
loss control can be attained by a combination of solid particles (weighting agents and drill solids) along with the emulsion
droplets. Additives have been designed to enhance the level of fluid loss control and to improve the properties of the filter
cake. These typically fall into two groups of materials, firstly are partially soluble or deformable solid materials, such as

SPE 153709

gilsonites, asphalitcs, and treated lignites which help plug any permeability in between solids in the filter cake, and can deform
to maintain a thin, strong cake. Under higher temperature conditions, these materials typically lose their effectiveness as they
become too soluble, and they may actually become detrimental to other fluid properties such as viscosity when their thermal
limit is exceeded. Secondly, oil soluble or swellable polymeric materials are used to assist in both plugging and binding solids
in the filter cake to provide a thin, flexible, tough filter cake and a low fluid loss. These polymeric materials have definitive
temperature stability limits, beyond which the polymer degrades, and fluid loss control is lost. Very few such polymers
function at temperatures above 500F. The inclusion of bridging materials, such as sized Calcium Carbonates can benefit fluid
loss and filter cake properties, especially with high concentrations of ultrafine solids, by providing a balanced particle size
distribution in the filter cake.
Maintenance of a good rheology profile is critical to the successful application of any drilling fluid. Ensuring stability and
suspension of the solids carried in the system, and efficient removal of drill cuttings, as well as minimizing circulating
pressures, all become more critical in extreme environments. In invert emulsion drilling fluids, organophillically treated clays
have been, and continue to be, the products of choice for efficient rheology control. These are formed by chemically treating a
finely divided clay mineral with a complex amine based organic surfactant, rendering the clay dispersible in an organic media.
Selection of a specific clay mineral substrate, and a specific surfactant, will impart different properties to these materials, with
respect to efficiency, rheology profile, gelation effects with solids, and thermal stability. Organo-clays have been developed
that will withstand temperatures exceeding 500F. Rheology can also be supplemented by use of oil soluble organic polymers
that can bring improved gelation and shear thinning characteristics, and can also be tailored to provide rheology parameters
that are thermally independent.
Developmental testing
As a baseline for developmental testing, a 16.0 ppg density invert emulsion formulation with an 85/15 Oil/Water ratio and an
internal brine phase of 25% by weight Calcium Chloride was chosen. The typical formulation used is shown in table 1 below

Component
Quantity
Mineral Oil
110-125 ml
Organoclay
3-5 lb/bbl
Lime
8-10 lb/bbl
Emulsifier
10 32 lb/bbl
25% CaCl2 Brine
45-52 ml
Fluid Loss Package
10-15 lb/bbl
Weighting Material
450-460 lb/bbl
TABLE 1. Typical formulation and mixing order used for testing

Mixing Time
15 minutes
5 minutes
10 minutes
15 minutes
10 minutes
10 minutes

The oil-based fluids were prepared in the laboratory as per the following general procedure:
a) The mineral oil was added to a Hamilton Beach mixer cup
b) The temperature stable organophillic clay was added and mixed for 15 minutes at low speed
c) Lime were added and mixed for 5 minutes at low speed
d) The emulsifier package was added and was mixed for 10 minutes at low speed.
e) 25% CaCl2 freshly prepared brine was progressively added and mixed for 15 minutes at high speed.
f) The fluid loss control package was added, this was mixed for 10 minutes at low speed.
g) The weighting material was added and the mixture was homogenized at medium speed for 10 minutes.
h) The prepared drilling fluid was transferred to a silverson mixer fitted with an emulsifier screen and was sheared for a
period of 10 minutes at 6000 rpm.
Characterization of the drilling fluid properties was conducted according to standard API test methods. Rheology was
measured at 150F, electrical stability was measured at 150F, and static filtration tests were performed at 375F with a P of
500 psi, Determination of the quantity as well as the quality of the filtrate after hot rolling is of prime importance. The
presence of free water or emulsified water in the filtrate means that the drilling fluid is not stable with temperature. Thermal
ageing of the fluid was initially performed at 500F and 300 psi over 16 hours. Later tests were conducted at 585F to test
thermal stability limits of the developed system
The initial step in this development was to test the limits of some of the better performing amido-amine based emulsifier
packages as discussed above. A dosage curve was conducted from 10 to 32 ppb and the final results showed that even at high
concentrations the amido-amine based systems failed as indicated by fluid syneresis and amine smell after aging probably due
to degradation of the emulsifier itself. The results are shown in Table 1.

SPE 153709

Component
Emulsifier

Formulation 1 Formulation 2 Formulation 3 Formulation 4

20 ppb
24 ppb
28 pbb
32 ppb
FANN 35 viscometer data @ 150F
600 rpm
73
60
87
65
300 rpm
35
32
45
35
200 rpm
25
20
32
25
100 rpm
12
15
18
15
6 rpm
4
4
4
4
3 rpm
3
3
3
3
10 sec gel (lbs/100ft2)
5
5
6
6
10min gel (lbs/100ft2)
7
7
10
9
PV (Cp)
38
28
42
30
YP (lbs/100ft2)
-3
4
3
5
TABLE 2. Rheology of a common amido-amine based emulsifier at different dosage after hot rolling at 500F
Similar results were obtained from all of the amido-amine based emulsifiers tested some materials showed an improved
stability at 500F, and some failed when tested at 475F in lower temperature tests. All tested materials showed the typical
large reduction in rheology, a decomposition odor of amine, coupled with fluid syneresis and solids settling after ageing, when
tested at 525F. Fluid loss control was effectively lost at this point, although actual measurements were masked due to settling
effects in the fluid loss test. Electrical stability measurements ranged from very low (<200 volts) in the worst cases to 700-900
volts in the best cases all significant reductions from the unaged values of 1500 2000 volts.
The study above was useful in testing the limits of several chemistries and products available not only from the emulsifier
point of view but also organoclays and fluid loss agents. Several newly developed materials that had been tested for more
moderate temperatures were also evaluated during this test phase. A table of such products is showed in Table 2
Function
Description
Temperature limit (F)
Viscosifier
Hectorite based Organoclay
450-500
Viscosifier
Stabilized Organoclay
450-550
Fluid Loss Agent
HMP Gilsonite
450-480
Fluid loss Agent
Cross linked Polymer
400-500
Fluid Loss Agent
Organophillic Tannin
>550
Emulsifier
Amide Based
450-500
Emulsifier
Nitrogen-Free
>550
TABLE 3. List of high temperature products and determined temperature limits
By selecting the optimum combination of an emulsifier package (Non-amide based) which is designed for thermal stability
above 500F, a fluid loss package that comprised a thermally stable synthetic terpolymer and organo-tannin combination, a
thermally stable organoclay at low concentration, and coupling these with the use of treated ultrafine barite as the weighting
agent, a fluid system was designed that was capable of withstanding the test protocol above, showing good rheological
stability, emulsion stability, and fluid loss stability under the 500F ageing conditions.
This uHTHP formulation was exposed to further testing to evaluate both its thermal limits as well as its performance
characteristics under other conditions of oil/water ratio and fluid density. A tested formulation at 19.0 lb/gal with an Oil/Water
ratio of 90/10 is shown in Table 4 below.
Component
Quantity
Mixing Time
Mineral Oil
106 ml
Organoclay
1 lb/bbl
15 minutes
Lime
10 lb/bbl
5 minutes
Emulsifier package
30 lb/bbl
10 minutes
25% CaCl2 Brine
20 ml
15 minutes
Fluid Loss Package
15 lb/bbl
10 minutes
Bridging carbonate
20 lb/bbl
5 minutes
Treated ultrafine barite
585 lb/bbl
10 minutes
TABLE 4. Formulation and mixing order used for testing a 19 lb/gal uHTHP drilling fluid.

SPE 153709

Thermal ageing was performed at 525F and 300 psig over 24 hours. The results from these tests, comparing properties before
and after heat ageing are shown in Table 5 below:
Before
600 rpm
139
300 rpm
79
200 rpm
58
100 rpm
35
6 rpm
9
3 rpm
7
10 sec gel (lbs/100ft2)
8
10min gel (lbs/100ft2)
9
PV (Cp)
60
YP (lbs/100ft2)
19
HTHP ml @ 375F
Elec. Stab. (Volts)
1678
TABLE 5. Before and after ageing properties for the uHTHP formulation

After 525F
130
78
60
39
13
11
12
14
52
26
1.3
1500

Stability of the rheological profile and stability of the electrical stability with ageing typify the performance seen with the new
uHTHP drilling fluid system. A low fluid loss is seen, this being matched with a thin, flexible, filter cake even at such high
fluid densities.
In further comparisons of a more conventional invert emulsion system to the uHTHP system developed, it was observed that
the low end rheology and gels are always lower when the newly developed emulsifier package is used. This can be attributed
to a powerful thinning or oil-wetting effect of the nitrogen free surfactant chemistry developed. In the tests with results shown
graphically in Figure 2 below, fluids were formulated at 15lb/gal, and an 85/15 oil/water ratio, with contamination of 25 lb/bbl
clay drill solids.

FIGURE 2. Comparison of a convention polyamide based system with a new nitrogen-free

After dynamic heat ageing for 24 hours at 485F (250C), the conventional invert system starts to show signs of instability
with a reduction in low shear rheology and an increase in HTHP fluid loss. After dynamic heat ageing for 24 hours at 575F
(300C), the conventional system, which uses an amide based emulsifier, shows signs of complete breakdown exhibiting a
very high rheological profile and also a very high fluid loss. The uHTHP system, based on the new Nitrogen-free emulsifier
package, maintains an overall low, stable, rheological profile with a low fluid loss.
Further testing of the rheological stability of the new uHTHP system was conducted using a Chandler 7600 HTHP rheometer.
This test equipment allows testing of the rheological behavior of a fluid under simulated down hole conditions of both
temperature and pressure. The fluid was formulated at 19 lb/gal and was tested at temperatures from 150F to 600F, and at
pressures from ambient to 40,000 psig. A full data study of the HTHP rheology behavior of these fluids, and the test
equipment used is presented by Shadravan et al in SPE 1514131.
The results obtained from the uHTHP formulation are summarized in Table 6 below.

SPE 153709

600
300
200
100
rpm
rpm
rpm
rpm
150
0
110
62
44
25
150
5000
162
91
65
37
250
5000
87
50
38
27
250
10000
107
64
47
29
300
10000
88
53
40
25
300
20000
134
78
57
34
400
20000
85
52
38
24
500
20000
78
49
37
25
520
30000
90
55
42
28
600
40000
103
61
48
31
TABLE 6. Chandler 7600 results on 19.0 ppg uHTHP formulation
T (F)

P (psi)

6
rpm
6
8
12
9
9
9
8
8
9
11

3
rpm
5
7
11
7
8
7
6
7
7
9

10 sec
gel
6
5
7
7
6
7
7
7
8
9

10 min
gel
8
6
6
6
8
6
6
9
8
9

PV

YP

48
71
37
43
35
56
33
29
35
42

14
20
13
21
18
22
19
20
20
19

The temperature and the pressure applied were selected in such a way that results were obtained for each pressure at two
different temperatures and for each temperature at two different pressures. This allows the isolation of either temperature or
pressure and allows a study of these effects on the rheology. As the pressure is increased at a constant temperature a slight
increase in the high end of the rheological profile is observed. Keeping the pressure constant and increasing the temperature
shows the opposite effect, with a slight decrease in the high end of the rheological profile. The lower shear end of the rheology
profile, and the gel structures, are remarkably stable with both temperature and/or pressure increases. The calculated yield
point also shows a similar stability.
Figure 3 below shows the rheological profiles plotted across a typical temperature/pressure variation, as may be observed in a
deep uHTHP well. This demonstrates the overall stability of the rheology profile throughout this wide temperature and
pressure variation

FIGURE 3. Rheological profile of uHTHP formulation at three temperatures and pressures.

The rheological stability over the range of anticipated temperatures that the new uHTHP fluid exhibits, allows for improved
hydraulics and hole cleaning fluid design in such critical extreme wells.
To further establish the robustness of this new invert emulsion drilling fluid, contamination studies were performed on the new
uHTHP formulation where the effects of adding 30 lb/bbl and 60 lb/bbl OCMA clay (simulated drill solids), 10% vol of Sea
Water and 10 lb/bbl of Cement were measured. For these tests, the 19.0 lb/gal, 90/10 oil/water ratio fluid was chosen as the
baseline. The contaminated fluids were firstly dynamically aged for 16 hours at 400F, before being statically aged for 24
hours at 525F. The results are shown in table 7 below for fluids after the 525F static ageing.

SPE 153709

Component

Uncontaminated

30 lb/bbl
OCMA
600 rpm
139
164
300 rpm
86
105
200 rpm
63
81
100 rpm
41
56
6 rpm
15
19
3 rpm
12
15
10 seconds gel
13
15
10 minutes gel
16
12
PV
53
59
YP
33
46
HTHP @ 375F
1.4
1.8
ES (V)
1250
800
TABLE 7. Contamination effects on uHTHP formulation

30 lb/bbl
OCMA
226
142
111
76
26
22
21
24
84
58
4.4
900

10% vol
Seawater
192
119
91
60
17
14
15
17
73
46
2
1100

10 lb/bbl
Cement H
166
100
75
47
11
9
12
14
66
34
3.2
1300

The contaminated fluids all showed an increase in PV and an overall increase in the rheological profile, particularly at the high
shear rates; however the overall fluid remained very stable with high electrical stability values and very low fluid loss. We
attribute such stability under these extremes of contamination to the strong emulsification and oil-wetting properties of the
emulsifier package.

System Description
The new uHTHP system is an invert emulsion drilling fluid which has primarily been developed for application with mineral
oil base fluids, but has also been successfully formulated with paraffin and other synthetic base fluids. The system was
developed in response to instabilities seen when applying more conventional, amido-amine based, fluid formulations to
temperatures exceeding 500F. The new uHTHP system employs a number of newly developed materials that contribute to the
overall performance and stability of the system. Highlights of these system components are listed below.
The Emulsification package is based on new, non-nitrogen, surfactants that stabilize the emulsion and provide high
levels of oil wetting, resulting in low gel strengths and rheological stability. Initial system formulations typically
require 10 to 25 lb/bbl of emulsifier package depending on temperature, mud weight and oil/water ratio.
The rheology control package is based on low concentrations of stabilized and Hectorite based organoclays. Initial
system formulations typically require 1 to 4 lb/bbl of viscosifier depending on temperature, mud weight and oil/water
ratio.
The fluid loss control package is based on an amine-treated tannin which can be supplemented by a thermally stable
synthetic terpolymer when required. For most applications, system formulations typically require 5 to 12 lb/bbl of the
amine-treated tannin, with 0 to 3 lb/bbl of the terpolymer.
The weighting material is typically API grade barite, however for optimal rheological properties and low ECD, with
minimal risk of barite sag, treated ultrafine barite has been used.
The combination of these materials achieves a highly flexible, engineering-friendly, invert emulsion fluid that shows good
drilling properties and a high stability to extremes of temperature and contaminations.

Field Trials
The new uHTHP invert emulsion system has been field tested successfully in the Gulf of Thailand. The main objective of this
field test was to demonstrate the benefits of the new system over previously used, conventional, invert emulsion fluids in a
high temperature environment by successfully achieving the drilling and logging targets presented in Table 8 below.
Performance Criteria

Targeted Parameter

Logging Success

Wire-line logging to bottom trouble free

Rheology

6 rpm within specification (9-12)

Solids Content

LGS within specification (<5%)

Filtration Control

HTHP fluid loss (<3 cc at 350 F on paper)

TABLE 8. Field Test Performance Criteria

SPE 153709

For the initial field trial, a conventional invert emulsion system was converted to the new uHTHP fluid while drilling the 61/8" section by treating the fluid with:

6.6 lb/bbl emulsifier package

10.5 lb/bbl fluid loss control package

The thinning effect of the emulsifier package tannin was offset with additions of a Hectorite based organoclay, maintaining the
desired rheology profile. To counteract any CO2 influx before each trip and logging phase, the circulating fluid system was
treated with 5-6 lb/bbl of Lime. Table 9 below shows the properties of the conventional drilling fluid and the new uHTHP
drilling fluid while drilling the 6-1/8" section.
Property
Conventional Invert
Density (lb/gal)
11.4
Rheology test temp
150F
600/300
84/53
200/100
42/29
6/3
13/11
PV (cps) /YP (lbs/100ft2)
31/22
Gel S 10s/10m/30m (lbs/100ft2)
15/22/25
ES (volts)
1206
HTHP@350F (ml)
3.4
OWR
83/17
Ex Lime (lb/bbl)
2.34
Unc. Solids %
18.5
LGS %
3.3
TABLE 9. Field Test drilling fluid property comparison

New uHTHP Invert

11.8
150F
89/53
40/26
8/7
36/17
8/13/15
1325
2.4
85/15
2.86
21.0
4.4

As can be seen the properties of the new uHTHP fluid were improved over the conventional fluid, with a lower, more shear
thing rheology and low gel strengths being achieved, despite increases in density and drill solids, and without system dilution
being required.
The Filter cakes of the new uHTHP system were very thin and compact with very tight HTHP fluid loss being measured on
filter paper at 350 F. Figure 4 below shows the improving trend of HTHP fluid loss control with the addition of HT chemicals
along with the picture of filter cake. The quality of the filter cake is seen as being a critical component in the success of
wireline logging.

Conventional
Fluid

New uHTHP
Fluid

FIGURE 4. Filtration behavior comparison on first field test

SPE 153709

No barite sag was observed with the new uHTHP fluid while drilling or logging, and as a result of the non-progressive gel
structure, ECD spikes while starting the pumps were negligible.
The 6-1/8" interval was successfully drilled without any drilling fluids related issues and all of the field test criteria were met.
A combination of stable rheological properties, low and non-progressive gels, and a tight fluid loss with a thin filter cake
provided a superior logging environment. This was proved by the trouble-free open hole logging runs, where all logging
objectives were achieved. The BHST at TD was recorded at 390 F while logging.
Subsequent use of the new drilling fluid in this area has confirmed the high levels of performance seen on the first field trial.
Conclusions
Through an extensive study of the uHTHP performance of well known chemistries and the development and testing of new,
more thermally stable materials, the design of a new uHTHP drilling fluid formulation has been successfully completed. The
new invert emulsion drilling fluid system brings flexibility in formulation design, with the overall parameters of high thermal
stability of the emulsion, a stable rheology profile over a wide temperature range, and a tightly controlled fluid loss with a thin
filter cake.
The key characteristics of the new uHTHP system include:
Thermally stable for extended periods at 600F
Fluid density up to 19 lb/gal (with barite)
Low fluid loss against both paper and discs
Stable and predictable rheological properties up to 40,000 psi and 600F
Little effect on contamination with drill solids, water influx, or cement
The new UHTHP fluid has been field tested successfully, and continues to be used showing the high performance
characteristics that were part of the design.
Acknowledgment
The authors would like to thank M-I SWACO for allowing the publication of this paper and the technical services and
Thailand engineering staff of M-I SWACO for their support through the initial field trials.
References
1.

Shadravan, A., Lee, J., Young, S. 2012. Rheological properties of Invert emulsions under extreme HTHP conditions. SPE
151413, IADC/SPE Drilling Conference, San Diego, California, March 6-8.