Drilling Fluids Familiarisation

A Half-Day Seminar on M-I SWACO Drilling Fluid Systems and Products for the National Iranian Drilling Company
Thursday 8th December 2005

Presented by
Mark Sanders UK Technical Services
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Classification of Drilling Fluids

Air / Mist /Foam Water-based fluids

Spud Muds Bentonite Fluids (including DRILPLEX) Polymer Fluids Glycol Fluids (GLYDRIL and ULTRADRIL) Silicate fluids (SILDRIL) High Temperature Fluids

Reservoir Drilling Fluids

FLOPRO NT DI-PRO FAZEPRO

Oil-based fluids
Invert Emulsion Fluids (VERSACLEAN) All Oil fluids (TRUDRIL) High Temperature Fluids (VERSATHERM)

Synthetic-based fluids
Ester IO (NOVAPLUS) LAO (NOVAPRO, NOVATEC and RHELIANT) Paraffin (PARADRIL, PARALAND) High Temperature Fluids (PARATHERM)

Brines

Oil-Based Drilling Fluids

Oil Phase Diesel low-toxicity mineral oil - paraffin - ester - olefins Brine Phase CaCl2 or NaCl Emulsifiers / Wetting agents fatty acids - amidoamines Imidazolines Density Barite - Calcium Carbonate Hematite - Ilmenite Viscosity Organoclays Rheological modifiers Fluid Loss FL 170, Synthetic Polymers Alkalinity Lime

OBM Tests and Properties

Density and Viscosity

As per WBM but always measure viscosity at constant temp (usually 500C)

Oil / Water ratio

Ratio of volume of oil phase to water expressed as % e.g., 70/30 Data taken from the retort

Electrical stability (Es)

Voltage required to pass a current through the mud Measured at 500C. Typical values 300-1000V. Guide only. Trends are important. Value depends mainly on O/W ratio

Water phase salinity (WPS)

Grams chloride per litre water % w/w is preferred

HPHT Fluid Loss Alkalinity

Measurement of Lime content by titration on whole mud

Water Phase Salinity

Water Activity Concept
Aw is relative vapour pressure
0.95 0.90

Not enough salt

Cuttings soft and mushy Possibly water-wet Tight hole on trips

0.85

Af
0.80

Too much salt

Cuttings hard, brittle and splintery. Cavings Coffee grounds-dry rounded cuttings reground in the annulus Care - dont jump to conclusions

0.75

0.70 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 8000 10000

DEPTH ( FT )

Water Activity
Small scale strain test with Pierre 1 shale
0.15 0.1 0.05 0 -0.05 -0.1 0 200 400 600 Tim e (m ins) 800 1000 1200

% Linear expansion

0.95 Aw 0.85 Aw

OBM - HSE Considerations

1. All oils are potentially harmful and skin contact should be avoided 2. Emulsifiers are powerful surfactants that can defat the skin. Most are irritants. Handle with care. 3. Calcium chloride and lime are eye and skin irritants. 4. Contaminated overalls should always be changed. 5. Wear gloves or use barrier creams to protect the skin (but do not use barrier cream and gloves). 6. Ventilation is important to reduce oil mist/vapour. If possible chose a base fluid with a flash point well above the maximum anticipated flow line temperature. 7. No-smoking and hot work permit regulations must be observed.

OBM - Engineering
Emulsion and oil-wetting
Es, water in filtrate

Drilling sand and shale Drilling salt Solids control equipment Rig preparation
Need to minimise surface losses and transfer losses

Displacements Barite sag

Water-based Fluids

Water
Freshwater - seawater - KCl - Saturated NaCl

Density
Barite - Calcium Carbonate -Iron Carbonate - Hematite - Ilmenite

Viscosity
Biopolymers - CMC - PAC - Guar - Bentonite (or other clays) - synthetic polymers

Dispersants
modified polyacrylates - lignosulphonates -

Fluid Loss
synthetic polymers - carboxymethyl celulluse - polyanionic cellulose - starch bentonite - modified lignites (HT) -asphalt (HT) - resins (HT)

Inhibition
Glycols - silicate - KCl - Gypsum Ultracap - Ultrahib - and other

pH Control
NaOH MgO - Ca(OH)2 - Citric acid - NaHCO3

Other
Bactericides - lubricants - LCM - polymer temperature stabilisers - corrosion control (oxygen scavengers, filming agents)

OBM vs WBM
Shale Inhibition
Formation Protection Lubricity
Oil Based Mud Ester Based SOBM LAO SOBM KCl/PHPA WBM Glycol System

Thermal Stability

Tolerance to Contaminants

Corrosion Inhibition Drilling Performance

Environmental Footprint

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GLYDRIL
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GLYDRIL
STANDARD MUD SYSTEM
KCl/Glycol/Polymer systems used as standard WBM for both exploration and production drilling. High success rate with few wellbore problems. Low fluid costs associated with high mud re-use. Adaptable fluid formulations to meet drilling and environmental demands
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Glycol - Shale Inhibition Mechanism

Mechanism for shale inhibition not well understood
Glycols are strongly adsorbed by clay Pore plugging from clouding effect

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Field Use of Glycol Fluids

>400 Wells Drilled Highest Temperature - 412F Longest Horizontal - 6567 ft Longest step out - 7827ft 17 1/2 hole at 50o Fastest ROP - 4785 ft 12 1/4 hole in 24 hrs Highest Overbalance - 4500 psi Drilled - Reactive Clays, Shale, Sandstone, Siltstone,Limestone, Carbonates, Salt, Anhydrite, Zechstein, Coals Must be matched by good solids-control

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GLYDRIL System Composition

NaCl or KCl Brine DUOVIS PAC R and/or UL Starch HIBTROL Glycol @ 3 5 % v/v pH Control Weighting Agent

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GLYDRIL

Benefits Environmentally acceptable Safe Handling for Rig Crews Good Shale inhibition Good wellbore stability Good Lubricity Lower Cost per Ft

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SILDRIL
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SILDRIL Inhibitive WBM

Silicate-based Fluids
essentially a polymerbased system utilizes silicate chemistry for inhibition Used primarily for drilling troublesome shale sections

SILDRIL - Inhibitive WBM

Strongly minimises shale hydration and improves formation integrity In some applications, these systems can be used as an economic and environmental replacement for oilbase muds

BEFORE AFTER

Soluble Silicates

Soluble Silicates are the metal salts of Silica Acid that exist in multiple polymeric forms in solution. Amorphous solids and powders are also manufactured. All silicates contain three basic components:
Silica -- SiO2 (Sand) Alkali -- Na2O or K2O (Soda Ash or Pot Carb) Water -- H2O

O O Si

O Si O O O O Si

O O

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pH/Alkalinity

Silicates are alkaline materials (ie. pH range from 11.0 to 13.5) Silicate species need a pH >10.7 to remain soluble in solution pH of silicate solutions is maintained until almost complete neutralization

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Mechanisms for Shale Stabilization

There are many theories as to the actual mechanisms at work

Polymerization in the shale pores

Precipitation
Soluble Silicates can react with all multivalent cationic metal ions to form the corresponding insoluble metal silicate, depending on reaction conditions

Direct bonding of shale substrate

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Mechanisms for Shale Stabilization

The glassy nature of silicates imparts strong and rigid physical coating to surfaces
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% RECOVERY
100 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 0
FW / POLYPLUS KCl / POLYPLUS CALDRIL GLYDRIL GLYDRIL PLUS SILDRIL SILDRIL / GLYDRIL SILDRIL / SIL-LUBE INVERT EMULSION FLUID

SILDRIL Inhibition
HIGHLY DISPERSIVE SHALES REACTIVE SHALES (High Smectite Content)

SILDRIL Composition
Silicate - primary shale inhibitor (provides water barrier) Potassium - secondary shale inhibitor (reduces swelling) Biopolymer - rheology control PAC / Starch - provides fluid loss control Compatible with conventional anionic and non-ionic fluid additives Used with mono-valent salts (KCl & NaCl)
Silicate-base fluids were used decades ago. Now, proper formulation and engineering design allow their successful use.

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SILDRIL Engineering Guidelines

Rheology Fluid Loss Silicate KCl MBT pH Hardness Corrosion Xanthan for 6/3 RPM readings 3.0 ppb PAC U/L & Reg (9 6 cc) 5 - 8% by vol. 25 - 35 ppb Generally low (highly inhibitive) 11 - 12 (natural level) Zero (positive Silicate) Inhibitors not necessary

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SILDRIL Experience

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SILDRIL - Experience

Minimum down-time attributed to formation chemical instability Minimal bit balling problems In-gauge wellbore for optimum cement jobs Excellent cuttings integrity for geology interpretation and for effective removal by the solids control equipment High solids removal efficiency, comparable to invert emulsion fluids Minimal environmental impact: uses all environmentally friendly products Minimal environmental impact: reduced discharges. Low dilution rates, which are also beneficial with regard to waste control and management. Ease of formation identification.

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