Composition

of Oil-Based
Muds
Thierry Maysounabe
Thierry Maysounabe
2 basic classifications of oil-based muds:
invert emulsions (most of the cases)
all-oil muds (rare)
Oils used range from:
crude oils
refined oils (diesel, mineral oils, )
non- petroleum organic fluids (also called pseudo oils)
Introduction
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Primary Emulsifier:
Calcium soaps are the primary emulsifier in oil muds
they are made in situ by addition of lime to long
chain (C16 toC22) fatty acids
Secondary Emulsifier:
very powerful oil-wetting chemicals
generally do not form emulsions
typically polyamides or imidazolines
Oil Muds Products: Emulsifiers
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Oil Muds Products: Organophilic gellants
Viscosity builders
Made from bentonite, hectorite or attapulgite treated
with an amine to make them oil dispersible
Bentonite is most commonly used and is compatible
with oils up to 350 F
Above 350 F hectorite- based clay should be used
Organophilic attapulgite is used to improve suspension
properties of packer fluids
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Oil Muds Products: Fluid Loss Additives
Organophilic lignites:
used as high temperature FLA
also aid in emulsification of water
treated with an amine to be oil-dispersible
fluid loss control by plugging
can be use at high concentration without excessive
viscosifying effect
Asphaltic materials:
consist of gilsonite or asphalt derivative
gilsonite: 400 F / asphalt: 350 F
high concentration induces excessive
viscosifying effect
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Oil Muds Products: Rheological Additives
Polymeric viscosifiers:
synergies with organoclays
useful when bentonite performance is reduced under HT
effective up to 400 F
example: high MWsulfonated polystyrene (> 250 F)
Rheological modifiers:
low molecular weight fatty acid
provide low shear rheology (6 and 3 rpm)
no significant impact on total mud viscosity
minimise or eliminate barite sag
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Oil Muds Products: Others
Weighting agents
minerals: calcite, barite, hematite
Wetting agents: lecithin, ...
Antifoam/ Defoamer:
silicon emulsions
polyols
surfactants
...
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All-Oil Muds Formulation
?Why All-oil muds are so rare ?
High cost & environmental concern
Flammability concerns (diesel)
Difficult to control thickness
Difficult to control filtration properties
Often poorly accomodate water influxes
?What to do ?
Provide rheological & filtration control
Provide efficient hole cleaning
Provide good suspension ability
Accomodate water/solids influxes
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All-Oil Muds Formulation (2)
? Refer to SPE Field Application of the All-Oil
Drilling Fluid Concept by L.J. Fraser
? Examples of formulations:
Example 1 Example 2
Base Oil Diesel Mineral
Organoclay 10,0 lb/bbl 8,0 lb/bbl
Extender 0,2 lb/bbl 0,3 lb/bbl
Surfactants 0,4 lb/bbl 4,0 lb/bbl
Polymeric Filtrate Reducer - 2,5 lb/bbl
Colloidal Filtrate Reducer 5,0 lb/bbl -
Lime 1,8 lb/bbl 4,0 lb/bbl
Fluid Density 8,1 ppg 11,5 ppg
PV 13 12
YP 17 10
GS
0
/ GS
10
6 / 8 5 / 6
6 rpm dial 9 6
HPHT FL (250 F / 500 psi) 12,0 10,0