Contamination

Any Material Having a Negative

Effect Upon the Mud System
 Severity of Chemical
Contamination
• Depends on:
– Type of Mud System
– Amount of Solids
– Concentration of the Contaminant
– Temperature
 Contamination - Treatment
• Removal by Chemical Reaction
• Treatment for the Effects of the Contaminant
• Reduction of Reactive Solids
• Replacement of the Mud System
 Contamination - Types
• Chemical
– Salt
– Calcium
– Magnesium
– Cement
– Carbonates
– H2S
• Other
– Solids
– Bacteria
 Effects
• Flocculation of Clays Increases Gels,
Viscosity & Fluid Loss

• Secondary Problems Can Be:

– Lost Drilling Time
– Loss of Hole From Lost Circulation or Sticking
– Or Worse -- Loss of Well Control
 How to Aggravate the Problem
• The majority of contamination effects are
seen on the solids. If the solids are high, the
effects are severe. If the solids are very
low, problems can be minor, relatively.
 Calcium/Magnesium - Sources
• Salt Formations
• Salt Water Flows
• Anhydrite/Gypsum Beds
• Make Up Water
Calcium/Magnesium - Treatment
 If Calcium
 Treat with Soda Ash
 Ca + Na2CO3 CaCO3 + Na2SO4
 Important
 Overtreatment can cause Carbonate Problems
 Leave some Calcium in Solution
 Recommended Minimum - 100 mg/L
 Calcium/Magnesium - Treatment
• Chemically Remove Calcium or Magnesium
• Deflocculate Clays
• Lower Fluid Loss
• Raise pH
• Convert to Compatible Mud System
 Cement/lime Contamination
• Symptoms Include:
– pH Increase
– Alkalinity Increase, Pm & Pf
– Viscosity and Gel Strength Increase
– Fluid Loss Increase
 Cement/Lime Treatment
• Treat to Remove Soluble Calcium With
Sodium Bicarbonate.
• Treat to Reduce pH With Citric or Acetic
Acid.
• Lignite/Lignosulfonates/SAPP Will Also
Lower the pH.
 Salt
• Salt Domes, Evaporite formations
• Salt Water Flows
• Make Up Water
• Contaminated Water Tanks & Lines
• Sodium, Magnesium, Calcium, Potassium
Chloride
 Salt - Treatment
• Raise Density to Stop Flow If Applicable
• Chemical Removal Not Practical
• Dilution May Help
• Deflocculate Clays
• Increase pH
• Lower Fluid Loss
• Reduce Calcium If Needed
• Convert to a Compatible System
pH of Some Mud Additives
• Lignite -- 4.3
• Bicarb -- 8.3
• Soda Ash -- 11.3
• Lime -- 12.4
• SAPP 4.8
• Phos (other) 6 - 9.9
• Gypsum 6.0
 Carbonate Contamination - Source

• Carbon Dioxide from Formation

• Thermal Breakdown of Additives
• Contaminated Barite
• Overtreatment with:
– Soda Ash
– Sodium Bicarbonate
• Bacterial Action on Organics
• Aeration
 Carbonates - Chemical
Composition
• Carbonates exist in the mud system as:
– Carbon Dioxide
– Bicarbonate
– Carbonate

Their form depends on the pH of the mud.

Clay and Shale
 Clay Types

• Non-swelling Clays
– Kaolinite
– Chlorites
– Attapulgite
• Swelling Clay
– Smectite
– Illite
 Shale Formation Solids
• Often pose the most problems
• Composed of various clay types
– active - inert, soft - hard
• All shales are water-sensitive, as a function of
exposure time
• Hard shales can slough, soft shale can disperse
• Gumbo is usually a young, tertiary age shale
 Drill Solids Contamination
• Drilling Causes Increase in the Surface
Area Unless Drill Solids Removed From
System.
• More Dilution Required to Wet The Solids
Surface.
• Increase in Surface Area Results in Increase
in Rheological Properties.
• Irregular Shape of Drill Solids Leads to
Increase in Filtrate and Cake Thickness.
 Bacteria
• Bacterial Action on Organic Additives
– Starch
– XCD Polymer
– Guar Gum
– Lignosulfonates
• Increase in Bicarbonate Contamination
• Mud Turns Black and/or Has Foul Smell
• Add Biocide or Raise pH
 Sulfides

• Intrusions of H2S From the Formation.

• Bacterial Degradation of Organic Mud
Additives Such as Lignosulfonates.
 H2S Treatment
• Decrease In Alkalinities

• Increase In Viscosity

• Rotten Egg Odor

• Drill Pipe Will Turn Black

• Mud Will Turn Black

 H2S TREATMENT
• H2S + NaOH Na+ + HS- + H2O

• NaHS + NaOH 2Na+ + S= + H2O

• ZnCO3 + H2S CO3= + ZnS

• But What Other Contaminant Has Been Created ?