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Drilling Fluids are The two primary categories of drilling fluids are water-base and non-
distinguished by base water-base.
fluid
Water-base includes brines and other miscible materials. Water
- water-base is the continuous phase, and there is typically no emulsion
present.
Non-water-base includes oil-base and synthetic base. Oil or
- non-water-base synthetic is the continuous phase which is immiscible with water,
but water droplets are typically emulsified into the oil.
Air / Mist / Foam as Air, mist or foam can be used, but will not be discussed in detail
drilling fluids here. Due to their very low viscosity, they are used in hard, typically
dry rock drilling situations to provide fast drilling. If a water influx
is expected, they cannot be used, and a water-base or oil-base /
synthetic fluid should be selected.
Water-base drilling Water-base drilling fluids are divided into fluids with low-shear rate
fluids categorized by viscosity and suspension provided by either:
type of viscosifier
Bentonite (other terms: smectite or montmorillonite clay or gel)
Extended-bentonite (often incorrectly called non-dispersed)
Polymer (typically biogum polymers, usually in brine)
The reason for this distinction is that rheological profile,
susceptibility to contamination and temperature stability all relate to
the selection of viscosifier.
Examples of bentonite- Spud mud Bentonite clay (20-30 lb/bbl) with caustic or
base drilling fluids lime added to raise carrying capacity (YP).
No filtration control
Why oil-base or Oil-base / synthetic drilling fluids are generally more expensive than
synthetic drilling fluids water-base fluids. In addition, they often require special attention to
waste management and discharge.
However, there are sufficient drilling challenges that may motivate
selection of an oil-base / synthetic fluid:
Troublesome swelling shales
Highly deviated wellbores that require increased lubricity
Intervals at high risk for differential sticking
High temperature drilling
Salt or other evaporite intervals
All types are invert All non-water-base drilling fluids are prepared as invert emulsions,
emulsions that is an oil or synthetic base liquid with emulsified water droplets
stabilized by emulsifiers and surfactants. A representative
formulation range is listed in the Table below.
But, most formulation However, the properties and functions of these drilling fluids remain
issues are very similar the same as water-base fluids. Low-shear-rate viscosity and
suspension must be provided, and filtration rate must be controlled.
To incorporate several volume percent of low-gravity solids and be
compatible with weight material, sufficient oil-wetting agents must
be added to oil-wet all the mineral surfaces.
Except for two To maintain a tight, stable water-internal emulsion, surfactants and
different formulation emulsifiers are needed and emulsion stability is monitored.
issues
To provide inhibition to shale hydration, the activity of the
internal-phase water must be lowered, by addition of CaCl2.
hUnit 10. Drilled Solids OIL: diesel, mineral or synthetic 60 vol% to 100 vol% liquid phase
synthetic formulations WATER: >25 wt% CaCl2 preferred 0 vol% to 40 vol% liquid phase
or Aw < 0.75
Primary emulsifier: fatty acid soap 1-10 lb/bbl
Distinction between A synthetic base is generally one that has been created by reaction or
synthetic base and synthesis of some feedstock, as distinguished from a diesel or mineral
diesel or mineral oil oil that has been directly refined from crude oil or feedstock.
However, the specific definition of what is synthetic is usually
determined by the local regulatory environment.
Current classes and examples of synthetic fluids are:
There are presently Esters, such as Petro-Free and Fina-Green
several types of
synthetic fluids in use Poly alphaolefins (PAO), such as Novasol
around the world
Linear alphaolefins (LAO), such as Ultidrill, Petrofree LE and
Novalite
Isomerized olefins (IO), such as Synteq and Novaplus
Paraffins (NP), such as Saraline (and maybe XP-07)
Key properties of base Flash Point determines the fire hazard potential of the fluid. It
oil / synthetic should be at least above 150F (66C), preferably 170F (77C).
Flash points above 200F (93C) are favored in environments
with closed drilling fluid compartments.
Pour Point, of interest only in colder climates or deepwater
drilling, defines the lowest temperature at which a liquid will
freely flow.
Interfacial Tension The interfacial tension (IFT) between oil and water is quite high,
measurement as a in the 30 - 40 dyne/cm range, in the absence of surfactants.
monitor of surfactant
The IFT in the presence of surfactants may be as low as
excess
1-2 dyne/cm.
IFT is measured between representative formation water and oil-
base drilling fluid API (room temperature) filtrate.
To obtain filtrate from an oil-base drilling fluid, the whole fluid
should first be centrifuged, and then the supernatant (top liquid
layer) poured into an API filtration cell for filtrate preparation.
A target IFT value would be at least one-half of the IFT between
pure base oil or synthetic and the formation water. For example,
the IFT of pure Novaplus (IO) and seawater is 35 dyne/cm.
Therefore, a target IFT when coring with a Novaplus system
would be to maintain IFT > 18 dyne/cm.
Drilling fluid cost is Drilling fluid costs vary from <US$5./bbl to >US$300./bbl.
highly variable depending upon fluid type. In addition, adding substantial quantities
of weight material impacts cost.
All costs described here are approximate retail costs for unweighted
fluids.
But ... The focus should never be only on drilling fluid cost per barrel. The
focus belongs on total drilling cost. A simple, stable, trouble-free
Total well cost is most drilling fluid that does not contribute to NPT is always more cost-
important cost issue! effective.
JEB / X-Drilling Fluid Program / 2-Drilling Fluid Types & Cost