26 Oileld Review

Developing a High-Performance,
Oil-Base Fluid for Exploration Drilling
Conventional drilling uids may interfere with formation evaluation. The base uids,
emulsiers and other additives inltrate rock, cores and uid samples, creating
inaccuracies in subsequent log and uid analyses. A new drilling uid system has
been developed to ensure the quality of information obtained from well logs and
formation sampling.
Irene M. Frgestad
M-I SWACO
Sandnes, Norway
Cameron R. Strachan
Statoil
Stavanger, Norway
Oileld Review Spring 2014: 26, no. 1.
Copyright 2014 Schlumberger.
For help in preparation of this article, thanks to Beathe
Pettersen and Russell Watson, Sandnes, Norway; and
Artur Stankiewicz, Clamart, France.
MDT is a mark of Schlumberger.
Fann is a registered trademark of Fann Instrument
Company.
Rock-Eval is a registered trademark of the Institut Franais
du Ptrole.
Teon is a registered trademark of E.I. du Pont de Nemours
and Company.
Viton is a registered trademark of DuPont Performance
Elastomers LLC.
Operators drill exploration wells primarily to
obtain information about the lithology, structure
and uid content of the rocks that dene a pros-
pect. Often, the drilling process is driven by com-
peting interests. Whereas the objective of the
drilling team is to drill the well safely and within
time and cost constraints, the focus of the petro-
physicist, geologist and reservoir engineer is to
acquire accurate logging measurements and rep-
resentative uid and rock samples.
To achieve drilling objectives, operators
require a drilling uid that meets both cost-ef-
cient technical performance and environmental
standards. High-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT)
environments, which may signicantly affect
drilling uid performance, are especially chal-
lenging.
1
From a drillers perspective, oil-base
drilling uids generally outperform water-base
uids in HPHT conditions. Compared with most
water-base uids, oil-base uids exhibit better
viscosity stability, thermal tolerance and shale
inhibition properties, making them the preferred
solution for HPHT drilling.
2
However, drilling uids that satisfy the needs
of the drilling team may create problems for pet-
rophysicists and engineers. For example, the
three primary technologies for characterizing res-
ervoir pressure are well testing, wireline forma-
tion testing and formation pressure while drilling.
These methods rely on measurements at the well-
bore wall and may therefore be inuenced by the
drilling uid. Filtrate from drilling uids can
invade rock pores and mix with reservoir uids; as
a result, formation and uid evaluation may not
reect actual reservoir conditions.
3
Thick ltercakes and uid invasion into the
reservoir rock can adversely impact uid and rock
samples and disturb hydrocarbon shows, compli-
cating phase behavior studies and some geochemi-
cal analyses and interpretations of reservoir
uids.
4
To make certain that uid samples are
suited for geochemical analyses, engineers must
ensure that formation uid samples and rock cut-
tings exhibit minimal presence of the drilling uid.
For optimal laboratory analysis of reservoir rock
and uid samples, the drilling uid should have a
composition that is dissimilar to that of the
expected reservoir uid. Inltrated drilling uid
can then be identied and its effects may be l-
tered out during data analysis. In particular, the
drilling uid should have the following properties:
No or low light hydrocarbon fractions (compo-
nents C
1
to nC
10
). Invasion of light hydrocarbon
fractions from the drilling uid into the core
may cause problems when analysts attempt to
determine the original uid saturations within
a reservoir rock. Most natural hydrocarbon
uids contain 50% to 97% light hydrocarbons.
Therefore, light hydrocarbon originating from a
drilling uid can mask light hydrocarbon occur-
ring in the reservoir uid. This may affect geo-
chemical analyses of C
7
components or saturate
and aromatic fractions of bulk petroleum in
such analyses as the SARA method.
5
No or low quantities of n-alkanes (nC
15
to nC
35
).
The n-alkanes in drilling uids may mask the
n-alkane ngerprints from in situ hydrocar-
bons, affecting interpretations of the whole-oil
gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatog-
raphymass spectrometry (GCMS) results.
Spring 2014 27 27
No or low concentration of biomarkers (ter-
panes and stearanes). Biomarkers are molecu-
lar remnants of biochemicals from organisms
and can be measured in both oil and source
rock. Biomarkers have unique ngerprints that
provide information about the age, lithology,
organic content, depositional environment and
thermal maturity of the source rock and degree
of oil degradation. Accurate biomarker analysis
can provide important information on micro-
bial degradation and on maturity of rocks and
oil. A high biomarker concentration in the drill-
ing uid may negatively affect analysis of any
uidsespecially condensates, which tradi-
tionally have low biomarker concentrations
by masking readings from the GCMS.
No or low concentrations of aromatic hydrocar-
bons, which are commonly used for assessing
molecular maturity values. High concentrations
of aromatic hydrocarbon in the drilling uid
can affect maturity assessments of the reser-
voir and strongly inuence geochemical nger-
printing when taken using GC.
6
To enable efcient and successful drilling,
most conventional drilling uids are formulated
to have a stable viscosity, low uid loss, low
equivalent circulating density (ECD) and mini-
mal barite settling, or sag. Stable viscosity pro-
vides optimal cuttings transport and minimal
effects on pump pressure. Keeping uid loss low
prevents formation damage and reduction in
wellbore productivity. Low ECD helps maintain
bottomhole pressures to avoid the fracturing or
collapse of wellbore walls. Barite, a common
drilling uid weighting agent, may cause a phe-
nomenon known as barite sag. Barite sag occurs
when the heavy barite particles settle to the
low side of the hole or the bottom of the well;
this phenomenon is most severe in high-angle
wells, especially those exceeding 45 deviation.
Barite sag may cause density variations in the
wellbore uid column, potentially creating well
control issues.
This article describes the development of a
new drilling uid designed to meet the require-
ments for drilling, well logging and sampling.
Results from a eld test offshore Norway demon-
strate the minimal impact the new drilling uid
has on formation rocks and uid and, in turn, on
the majority of geochemical analyses.
7
Development Criteria
In 2010, Statoil sought a new HPHT drilling uid
that would not interfere with formation and uid
evaluation and that would ensure good pressure
data for the Crux prospect, offshore Norway. Fluid
experts at Statoil had two objectives. The rst was
to use an oil-base uid that enables efcient and
safe drilling operations while causing minimal
impact on geochemical analyses of formation uid
samples. The second was to qualify for use a more
reliable, low-ECD reservoir drill-in uid (RDF)
with properties that would be stable in HPHT envi-
ronments without additional cost.
8
All qualica-
tion tests and analyses of drilling uid properties,
formation damage and permeability were per-
formed at the research laboratories of M-I SWACO,
a Schlumberger company, in Sandnes, Norway.
A set of rst-use criteria was established by
Statoil in collaboration with M-I SWACO.
9
Of
particular importance was the capacity to
obtain high-purity formation uid samples.
Additionally, the drilling uid needed to be sta-
ble, have uid properties that did not deviate
more than 10% from specications and have the
lowest possible potential for analysis distur-
bance.
10
No existing M-I SWACO drilling uid
satised the strict Statoil requirements.
M-I SWACO research engineers began develop-
ment of a high-performance HPHT exploration
drilling uid by focusing on the specications
provided by Statoil (above). Statoil drilling uid
experts assessed the new uid using a modied
qualication process that included laboratory
testing and optimizing to their specications.
Measurements and Analyses
To measure critical characteristics, such as ltra-
tion volumes and permeability before and after
contact with the drilling uid, M-I SWACO engi-
neers performed return permeability tests on
core samples.
11
Because of a limited availability
of representative reservoir core samples, initial
tests were performed on analogous outcrop core
material that was selected based on the type of
formation expected to be encountered in the explo-
ration wells. Engineers used Berea sandstone
1. HPHT conditions dened by Norsk Sokkels
Konkurranseposisjon (NORSOK) standard D-010 are
wells with temperatures greater than 150C [300F] and
bottomhole pressures greater than 69 MPa [10,000 psi].
Other organizations may dene HPHT differently.
2. In some cases, formate uids, which are water based,
can perform as well as oil-base uids.
3. Bennett B and Larter SR: Polar Non-Hydrocarbon
Contaminants in Reservoir Core Extracts, Geochemical
Transactions 1 (August 22, 2000), http://www.
geochemicaltransactions.com/content/1/1/34
(accessed April 23, 2014).
4. Filtercake, also known as mudcake, is the residue
deposited on a borehole wall at a permeable zone when
drilling uid is forced against it under pressure. Filtrate is
>
HPHT uid specications. The specications for uid properties set by Statoil were based on the
need for an improvement in performance compared with that of the drilling uid previously in use in
similar elds offshore Norway. To conduct the HPHT test, engineers used a 10-micron disk, which best
represented the ltration capabilities of the formation rock to be drilled. To qualify for use, the new
HPHT uid needed to meet all specications. Dial readings from a Fann 35 viscometer were taken at a
uid temperature of 50C [122F], and 30-minute HPHT uid-loss tests were performed at a uid
temperature of 150C [300F].
Fann 35 dial reading at 600 rpm
Fann 35 dial reading at 100 rpm
Fann 35 dial reading at 3 rpm
HPHT fluid loss on 10-micron disk
Sag stability after 3 days
Sag stability after 5 days
As low as possible
Less than 24 lbf/100 ft
2
5 to 10 lbf/ft
2
Less than 3 mL [0.2 in.
3
]
Less than 150 kg/m
3
[1.2 lbm/galUS]
Less than 150 kg/m
3
103 lbf/100 ft
2
33 lbf/100 ft
2
12 lbf/100 ft
2
10 to 12 mL [0.6 to 0.7 in.
3
]
160 kg/m
3
[1.3 lbm/galUS]
300 kg/m
3
[2.5 lbm/galUS]
Property
Fluid Specifications Set by Statoil
Operator Specifications
for New HPHT Fluid
Average Values for
Previously Used Fluid
the liquid that passes from the drilling uid into the
formation, leaving the ltercake behind.
5. SARA stands for saturates, aromatics, resins and
asphaltenes and is a method that characterizes heavy
oils in the four solubility classes based on their molecular
weight species.
6. Bennett and Larter, reference 3.
7. Watson R, Johannesen J, Strachan C and Frgestad I:
Development and Field Trial of a New Exploration HPHT
Reservoir Drill-In Fluid, paper SPE 165099, presented at
the SPE European Formation Damage Conference and
Exhibition, Noordwijk, The Netherlands, June 57, 2013.
8. A reservoir drill-in uid is designed exclusively for drilling
the reservoir section of a well. Qualication of uids is a
Statoil internal procedure.
9. First-use criteria were set to evaluate the performance
of the new uid.
10. Disturbance factors may be C
15+
hydrocarbon fractions,
making data analysis more difcult by masking the
hydrocarbon content of formation uid or rock samples.
11. Return permeability tests compare initial permeability to
that of the core sample after its exposure to drilling uid
under simulated downhole conditions. Return
permeability is the ratio of a samples permeability after
exposure to drilling uid to its initial permeability,
expressed as a percentage.
28 Oileld Review
with permeabilities of 50 to 100 mD and Ohio sand-
stone with permeabilities of 1 to 10 mD (above).
Final tests were performed using reservoir core
material acquired from nearby production wells.
12
Research engineers cleaned the sandstone
core plugs with solvent, trimmed and tested them
to determine base parameters such as grain den-
sity, porosity and permeability and then vacuum
saturated the cores with synthetic brine that was
formulated to match the uid chemistry of the
Crux prospect. To obtain a consistent and repre-
sentative saturation relatively quickly, engineers
used an ultracentrifuge to remove as much water
as possible, leaving the core plugs at irreducible
water saturation (next page, top right).
13
The cores
were then mounted in a hydrostatic core holder.
To conduct the return permeability tests, engi-
neers use a vertical core holder in which the core
is placed with the formation end of the core at the
top (next page, bottom right). A spacer ring at the
bottom, or wellbore end, of the core creates an
annulus with room for ltercake to build up during
the pressure overbalance, or drilling, period of the
test. Tubing carries uid in and out of the annulus,
allowing ow of drilling uid that might contain
small pieces of back-produced ltercake.
14

Permeability is measured both with and without
the ltercake in place.
Engineers measure permeability at each
stage of the tests. After mounting the core holder
in the oven, they create conditions similar to the
downhole environment by applying conning
pressure and then increasing the temperature
(left). When the core reaches a stable pressure
and temperature, they measure permeability in
the core with mineral oil owing from the top to
the bottomfrom the formation into the well-
bore. This permeability is designated k
o
1. Drilling
uid is then pumped at overbalance pressure in
the opposite directionwellbore to formation. A
high-precision uid pump system applies con-
stant pressure while engineers record the ltrate
loss into the core. After 20 hours, the overbalance
is reduced, and engineers begin simulated pro-
duction in the core by allowing ow, or back pro-
duction, from the formation end into the wellbore
end of the core.
At a stable back-production rate, the engi-
neers measure the permeability in the produc-
tion direction (k
o
2) at four low ow rates.
15
These
four low ow rate measurements provide a statis-
tically reliable permeability value. Engineers use
these permeability data to determine return per-
meability: the ratio of k
o
2 to k
o
1, expressed as a
percentage. High return permeability indicates
low impact of the drilling uid on the formation.
After these permeability measurements are
completed, the core is cooled and depressurized.
Engineers remove the core from the core holder
and photograph and characterize it. They remove
any ltercake residues prior to remounting the
core into the holder. They then measure the per-
meability in the formation-to-wellbore direction
>
Filtrate invasion. After they nish a return permeability test on cores, engineers can often see ltrate
invasion if it has occurred. After 20 hours of an application of oil-base mud, this core exhibits ltrate
invasion to a shallow depth. Even though the ltrate invasion is fairly shallow (bottom, left of the yellow
dashed line), the 32% return permeability indicates that damage to the core is signicant.
3.84 cm
[1.5 in.]
4.5 cm [1.77 in.]
>
Mounted core holder. The core holder is typically mounted vertically in the
test equipment oven for return permeability measurements, with the formation
side of the core upward and wellbore side downward. Production simulations
are performed by owing in the formation-to-wellbore direction (top to
bottom). Test uids are applied to the wellbore end of the core plug.
Spring 2014 29
in the absence of ltercake to obtain k
o
3. Finally,
the core is prepared for post-test analysis to
determine the reason for any changes in perme-
ability observed throughout the experiment.
Drilling uid and its components, such as
emulsiers, clays and uid-loss agents, can
invade the rock, clog pores, mix with the native
reservoir uids and compromise geochemical
analyses of cores and produced uids.
16
To map
the possible disrupting effects of the drilling u-
ids planned for use in a well, engineers perform
predrilling analyses:
Total organic carbon (TOC) analysis and
Rock-Eval pyrolysis for characterization of sed-
imentary organic matter. TOC is a measure of
the organic richness of a rock, which gives a
semiquantitative measure of hydrocarbon
potential. TOC is reported as weight % organic
carbon. Rock-Eval pyrolysis assesses the quan-
tity, quality, type and thermal maturity of whole
rock and kerogen samples.
Deasphalting and group type separation. These
techniques are used to extract specic compo-
nents such as asphaltenes and other compounds
from petroleum products; SARA analysis sepa-
rates group types based on differences in solu-
bility and polarity and is often performed as an
open column, low-pressure liquid chromato-
graphic separation.
Gas chromatography of whole oils. This method
ngerprints individual oil samples, thus enabling
scientists to determine essential oil composi-
tion. Whole-oil chromatograms display a collec-
tion of peaks of various size, all representing
components of crude oil that are affected by fac-
tors such as depositional environment and
lithology of the source rock, age of the oil and
processes within the reservoir. The components
making up the oil have differing size, chemical
composition and properties; hence, they will
>
Core preparation. Engineers use a centrifuge to determine capillary
pressure curves and to prepare samples for return permeability tests.
A disassembled centrifuge core holder and a centrifuge rotor (right )
stand ready for the next test. This centrifuge can accommodate three
3.84-cm [1.51-in.] cores simultaneously.
Formation end
Core holder cap,
formation end
Core Viton sleeve
Spacer ring
Core holder cap,
wellbore end
Flow
direction
Wellbore end
Core holder
body
>
Core holder setup. The core holder (right ) has
been disassembled to show its components. The
core is wrapped in Teon coating (left, white),
and a Viton sleeve (black) is placed over the core
to protect the sides of the core from external
interference. The uid ow is directed in and out
via the end faces of the core, from top to bottom;
thus, no uid should enter or exit the core from
the core sides.
12. The described test methodology is specic to this case.
13. Byrne MT, Spark ISC, Patey ITM and Twynam AJ: A
Laboratory Drilling Mud Overbalance Formation Damage
Study Utilising Cryogenic SEM Techniques, paper SPE
58738, presented at the SPE International Symposium on
Formation Damage Control, Lafayette, Louisiana, USA,
February 2324, 2000.
14. The ltercake may break into pieces when drawdown
pressure is applied during back production. The tubes
need an inner diameter that is large enough to allow
these ltercake pieces to pass through along with the
drilling uid.
15. A constant differential pressure is applied to the core,
and ow rate through the core is controlled by the
permeability of the core plug. As the core plug
permeability increases during drawdown, the ow rate
increases until it reaches a plateau. The permeability is
then measured.
16. Bennett and Larter, reference 3.
30 Oileld Review
>
Fann 35 viscometer. The Fann Model 35 is a
direct indicating, coaxial cylinder rotational
viscometer. The outer cylinder rotates at known
velocities. The test uid is held in the gap
between the cylinders. As the outer cylinder
rotates, the uid viscosity creates torque on the
inner cylinder, known as the bob. The torque
registers as deections of a precision spring.
Engineers read the spring deections from the
display at the top of the viscometer; readings are
typically made at 600, 300, 100, 6 and 3 rpm.
exit the column with specic time differences,
creating peaks on the chromatogram. The height
of and areas under the peaks correlate with
concentration; therefore, their concentration
ratios can be used to describe unique character-
isticsngerprintsof reservoirs and elds. In
addition, the peaks allow analysts to identify
various compounds in the sample.
GC with a ame ionization detector to deter-
mine the saturated hydrocarbon concentration
of extractable petroleum hydrocarbons. The
concentrations are determined by integrating
the area under the peaks on the chromatogram.
GC with a mass spectrometer to identify bio-
markers, diamondoids and aromatic hydrocar-
bons.
17
Accurate biomarker analysis provides
important information on microbial degrada-
tion and maturity of rocks and oil. Diamondoids
in petroleum and sediment extracts have high
thermal stability and resist oil cracking.
Furthermore, diamondoids are generally more
stable than all other hydrocarbon classes in
geologic samples, which makes them more
resistant to alteration processes such as bio-
degradation and maturation. Because of these
properties, diamondoids have been used in
evaluating geochemistry of source rocks and
crude oils and in assessing biodegradation and
thermal maturity of high-maturity crude oil and
condensates. Aromatic hydrocarbons tend to
resist moderate to heavy biodegradation; there-
fore, they offer an excellent way of differentiat-
ing biodegraded and unbiodegraded oils.
18
Special laboratory tests, such as rheology
measurements, HPHT uid-loss tests and barite
settling tests, are designed to evaluate drilling
uid viscosity, stability over time and ltration
properties, which are important factors in deter-
mining the overall performance of a drilling uid
system. Using a Fann 35 viscometer, engineers
measured the rheological properties of the new
drilling uid after mixing at 50C [122F], fol-
lowed by hot rolling in an oven at 150C
[300F]the expected bottomhole tempera-
tureto create the effect of dynamic aging
(above left).
19
After hot rolling, the engineers
remeasured the viscosity at 50C and performed
HPHT ltration, also called uid loss, of the hot-
rolled uid. The HPHT ltration specications
consisted of a test temperature of 150C and col-
lecting ltrate through a 10-micron ceramic disk
for 30 minutes.
The barite settling test, known as a sag test, is
performed by transferring 350 mL [21 in.
3
] of uid
to a 400-mL [24-in.
3
] steel cell to static age sam-
ples at 150C for 16 hours, 3 days and 5 days.
20
For
this test, technicians rst separate the static-
aged 350-mL drilling uid sample in the aging
cell into six layers, making certain to not disturb
the uid and to keep the cell vertical at all
times.
21
They then transfer the six layers to indi-
vidual containers. The rst layer consists of any
separated, clear uid on top of the drilling uid;
layers two to six, all of the same volume, contain
drilling uid of increasing mud weight. They
then record the volume of separated uid and
weigh the other layers to nd the mud weight. To
calculate the barite sag, or the change in mud
weight with depth in the cell, the initial mud
weight is subtracted from the mud weight of the
bottom layer.
Connecting the Dots
In addition to the qualication work done by
M-I SWACO staff, Statoil engineers performed
predrilling and company specic qualifying tests
and analyses at their laboratory in Sandnes.
Continual communication and results sharing
throughout the development of the new uid sys-
tem ensured that the testing progressed as
planned. The results showed that the nal formu-
lated drilling uid passed all criteria set by
Statoil for a uid for use in an exploration well at
the Crux prospect under the Oseberg eld west of
Bergen, Norway (above right).
Results from the formation damage tests
yielded calculated return permeability varying
>
Crimp eld. The Statoil Crux exploration well lies in the new Crimp play in the North Sea west of Bergen,
Norway. Crimp is an HPHT gas and condensate eld that requires mud weights up to 1,900 kg/m
3

[15.9 lbm/galUS] and has reservoir temperatures up to 155C [311F]. Development work has focused on
formulating an HPHT drilling uid designed for reservoir temperatures of 150C with a mud weight of
1,750 kg/m
3
[14.6 lbm/galUS]. (Photograph by Harald Pettersen, copyright Statoil. Used with permission.)
Oseberg
East
Brage
Oseberg South
Oseberg
Tune
Crux well
Crimp field
Bergen
Oseberg field
Oslo
NORWAY
SWEDEN
DENMARK
Stavanger
Spring 2014 31
>
Filtercake protection. A backscatter scanning electron micrograph of the wellbore end of an outcrop
core taken after return permeability testing with the new HPHT drilling uid shows drilling uid solids
(white) only on the wellbore face of the plug. The image shows no traces of deep uid invasion into the
core. The dense drilling uid ltercake remnants appear as the bright area at the top of the image.
0 m 100 m 200 m 300 m
from 66% to 91% (above).
22
The new drilling uid
used in the exploration well gave results of 78%
return permeability, which Statoil considered a
good result.
Filtrate volumes recorded during the return
permeability testing were acceptable. Filtercakes
were thin in all experiments and did not stick to
the wellbore face of the core plugs when engineers
removed them from the core holder after tests
(below).
23
Permeability measurements changed
little with or without ltercake, indicating that the
ltercake had undergone lift off or pop off dur-
ing back production. These terms describe how
the ltercake separates from the formation sur-
face at a given differential pressure; the pressure
causes the ltercake to burst or break and come
off in pieces or sheets. That the ltercake comes
off easily indicates good drilling uid performance
and allows a logging tool rapid access to the pres-
surized formation uids.
24
Backscatter scanning electron microscopy of
the wellbore end of the Berea core plug showed
that directly behind the ltercake, pores of the
rock were open and no drilling uid components
were present, demonstrating that the ltercake
served to protect the porous formation from the
drilling uid (right).
17. The mass spectrometer is placed downstream from the
gas chromatograph. After molecules elute from the gas
chromatograph at specic retention times, the mass
spectrometer captures, ionizes, accelerates, deects
and detects the ionized molecules one by one. The
molecules have been broken down into ionized
fragments, and the mass spectrometer detects these
fragments by identifying their mass-to-charge ratio.
The preparative and analytical methods used are based
on guidelines from the Norwegian Industry Guide to
Organic Geochemical Analysis. For more: NIGOGA
Edition 4.0 (May 30, 2000), http://www.npd.no/engelsk/
nigoga/default.htm (accessed February 14, 2014).
18. Wenger LM, Davis CL and Isaksen GH: Multiple
Controls on Petroleum Biodegradation and Impact on Oil
Quality, SPE Reservoir Evaluation & Engineering 5, no. 5
(October 2002): 375383.
19. Hot rolling, also known as dynamic aging, is a procedure
in which the 350-mL [21-in.
3
] uid sample is transferred
to a 400-mL [24-in.
3
] steel cell and put in an oven
equipped with rollers. The cells roll in the oven for a
specic amount of time at a specic temperature. Hot
rolling simulates the wear of the drilling uid under
downhole conditions. Normal aging time is 16 hours.
20. Barite settling, or sag, testing is performed on static
aged samples. In static aging, the samples are arranged
vertically in an oven, where they are left standing for a
given period of time to simulate static conditions
in a well.
21. The static aged uid will gel and exhibit a specic shear
strength. If the sample is stirred, the shear strength will
be dramatically reduced, the layers that are to be
measured will be mixed together, and the resulting barite
settling values will be incorrect. Therefore, for accurate
results, the cell must remain vertical at all times.
22. For more details on the test results: Viste P, Watson RB
and Nelson AC: The Inuence of Wettability on Return
Permeability, paper SPE 165160, presented at the SPE
European Formation Damage Conference and Exhibition,
Noordwijk, The Netherlands, June 57, 2013.
23. Whether the volume of ltrate is acceptable depends on
client specications. Normally, a ltrate volume of less
than 10 mL [0.6 in.
3
] is considered acceptable. Filtercakes
should have a thickness of less than 1 cm [0.4 in.].
24. Byrne M and Patey I: Formation Damage Laboratory
TestingA Discussion of Key Parameters, Pitfalls and
Potential, paper SPE 82250, presented at the SPE
European Formation Damage Conference, The Hague,
The Netherlands, May 1314, 2003.
>
Return permeability tests. Scientists performed two return permeability tests on high-permeability Berea sandstone cores and two on low-permeability
Ohio sandstone cores. Return permeability was measured both with and without the ltercake in place. The new HPHT drilling uid (green) was tested on
an Ohio core at 150C, yielding a return permeability of 78%, both with and without the ltercake. The initial permeability is designated k
o
1; permeabilities
after back production with intact ltercake and without ltercake are designated k
o
2 and k
o
3, respectively.
1,850 [15.4]
1,850 [15.4]
1,750 [14.6]
2,020 [16.9]
Return Permeability Values for Four Tests
Fluid Density,
kg/m
3
[lbm/galUS]
Berea
Crude oilaged Berea
Ohio
Ohio
135 [275]
135 [275]
150 [300]
188 [370]
7.5 [0.46]
7.1 [0.43]
6.9 [0.42]
8.2 [0.50]
Sandstone
Core Material
Test Temperature,
C [F]
Fluid Loss,
mL [in.
3
]
69.50
55.50
1.55
2.07
k
o
1,
mD
56.50
50.70
1.21
1.37
k
o
2,
mD
56.70
50.60
1.21
1.37
k
o
3,
mD
81
91
78
66
82
91
78
66
Calculated Return
Permeability, %
k
o
2/k
o
1 100
Calculated Return
Permeability, %
k
o
3/k
o
1 100
>
Filtercake from a return permeability test. The
ltercake produced by the new HPHT drilling
uid after the return permeability test is 0.5 cm
thick and has a 3.2-cm diameter. The surface
adjacent to the core plug is on the top, and the
ltercake is intact, conrming that no ltercake
has come off during simulated production.
0.5 cm
[0.2 in.]
3.2 cm [1.3 in.]
32 Oileld Review
The Statoil predrill analyses of six base oils
and uid systems demonstrated that the impact
of the new drilling uid is low and acceptable on
most geochemical analyses (above). Whole-oil GC
performed on the new uid showed that the sam-
ples had a fairly limited hydrocarbon range from
C
10
to C
14
, with low concentrations of both bio-
markers and aromatic hydrocarbons. Emulsiers,
uid-loss chemicals and viscosiers may have
hampered the geochemical analyses.
Statoil tested unused predrill uid, used drill-
ing uid, drill cuttings and formation uids.
Results showed that fresh, unused uid had a low
impact on all analyses, though engineers specu-
lated that traces of diamondoids and aromatic
biomarkers may have affected the samples and,
in turn, the interpretation of geochemical data.
Used uid from the exploration well had a
higher concentration of saturates, biomarkers
and C
15+
n-alkanes. However, these components,
which are known to interfere with geochemical
testing, are believed to have originated from a
different drilling uid used in the shallower
17
1
/2-in. section.
25
The new drilling uid did not
appear to impact the formation uid, but it may
have slightly affected the drill cuttings in the
case of very weak petroleum shows. The uid
may also have affected GC data interpretation of
the n-alkane fraction and biomarkers (terpanes
and stearanes) in the case of low biomarker
concentration.
The eld test conrmed that there was good
communication between the reservoir and the
logging tools. Engineers ran an MDT modular for-
mation dynamics tester to take uid samples and
pressures in the 12
1
/4-in. section. They were able
to reduce the tools pump pressure for the new
drilling uid compared with the pressure
required for the previously used parafn-base
drilling uid. The new drilling uid also had
lower ECD at total depth (below).
The new HPHT drilling uid successfully
achieved all viscosity, HPHT uid-loss control and
barite sag stability specications (next page,
bottom). After one and ve days, barite sag mea-
surements were 10 kg/m
3
[0.08 lbm/galUS] and
60 kg/m
3
[0.5 lbm/galUS], respectively, well
within the specication of barite sag of less than
150 kg/m
3
[1.2 lbm/galUS]. HPHT uid loss was less
than 2 mL [0.1 in.
3
]. The measured viscosity
was relatively lowproviding room for viscosity
adjustment based on sag and uid-loss perfor-
mance if necessaryand changed little over
time, proving the stable properties of the new
uid. Statoil engineers reported that the uid
performed well during prolonged static periods,
such as riser disconnect situations and wireline
logging, and that the uid had a performance
comparable with that of other low-ECD HPHT
uids for ECD contribution, hole cleaning and
log responses.
The uid stability quantied by laboratory
measurements was conrmed in the eld test
(next page, top). The new HPHT uid was used to
drill the 1,320-m [4,330-ft] 12
1
/4-in. section and
the 624-m [2,047-ft] 8
1
/2-in. section of the Crux
well. Fluid rheology remained within specica-
tions throughout the entire operation and did not
deviate more than 10% from the specications.
Mud losses did occur during the drilling of the
well; however, drilling engineers attributed the
losses to the slight uncertainties in the fracture
and pore pressure values and not to the drilling
uid itself.
25. Drilling uids may take in uids and solids from shallower
formations drilled with a different mud system, which
may then affect the properties of uids used to drill
deeper sections.
>
Statoil uid sensitivity evaluation. A predrilling analysis table, provided by Statoil engineers, shows the sensitivity of geochemical analyses to ve base
uids and the new HPHT drilling uid, all of which are oil-base samples. The sample of fresh mixed, or new, HPHT drilling uid has a low impact on four of
the seven analysis methods, while the sample of used HPHT drilling uid shows more impact on most of the analyses than does the new uid. The used
sample may have been contaminated by another uid system used to drill a shallower section. However, both the fresh mixed and the used samples of the
HPHT drilling uid have less effect on the geochemical analyses than do the other ve tested oil-base samples.
Not tested
Not tested
Not tested
Not tested
Not tested
Not tested
Medium
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
Medium
Low
Low
Severe
Low
Severe
Severe
Low
Not tested
Low
Severe
Medium
Medium
Medium
Low
Medium
Low
Severe
Medium
Medium
Medium
Not tested
Not tested
Severe
Severe
Severe
Severe
Severe
Low
Severe
Severe
Severe
Severe
Severe
Severe
Low
Medium
Base fluid 1
Base fluid 2
Base fluid 3
Base fluid 4
Base fluid 5
New HPHT system
HPHT system after use in well
Sample Pyrolysis and TOC Saturates C
10+
Aromatics Diamondoids Biomarkers
Effect of Base Fluids and New HPHT Drilling Fluid on Geochemical Analyses
Extraction and
SARA
Whole Oil
Less Than C
20
>
Simulation input parameters (green) and calculated downhole results (tan) for the new HPHT drilling
uid and for a conventional oil-base drilling uid. Simulations were performed before the well was
drilled as part of the planning and qualication of the new HPHT drilling uid system. Based on the
simulations, the HPHT drilling uid yields both lower pump pressure and an overall lower ECD
contribution than does the conventional drilling uid. The lower ECD contribution was conrmed by
ECD measurements taken during the drilling operation. The term ESD, equivalent static density,
represents the actual mud weight of the drilling uid in use. It varies with the temperature prole of
the well, but is, for simplicity, assumed to be the lowest average mud weight in the well during any
operation. ECD represents the sum of the ESD and the friction losses in the annulus caused by drilling
uid motion.
Surface density measured at 50C, kg/m
3
Pump rate, L/min
Rate of penetration, m/h
Drillstring rotations in revolutions per min
Downhole mud weight, ESD, kg/m
3
Pump pressure, bar [MPa]
ECD at casing shoe, kg/m
3
ECD at total depth, kg/m
3
1,690
2,000
15
160
1,682
319 [31.9]
1,786
1,795
1,690
2,000
15
160
1,681
269 [26.9]
1,755
1,762
Parameters
Simulations and ECD Calculation, Prewell Test
New HPHT Drilling
Fluid, Field Sample
Conventional Drilling
Fluid, Field Sample
Spring 2014 33
M-I SWACO technical service engineers sup-
ported the entire operation offshore, ensuring
optimal uid quality at all times. The engineers
encountered no uid-related problems during
the eld test. Results of prolonged static sag tests
showed average barite sag of less than 30 kg/m
3
[0.25 lbm/galUS] in both the 120C [250F]
12
1
/4-in. section and the 150C 8
1
/2-in. section.
Results obtained with the new uid in the Crux
well demonstrate that it met the Statoil specica-
tions for drilling performance. In addition, forma-
tion and uid evaluation as well as pressure
logging were not affected by the new drilling uid.
The specially designed uid, deployed for similar
operations in HPHT wells worldwide, meets opera-
tor specications while ensuring the validity of
uid and rock samples. IMF
>
HPHT drilling uid formulation and averaged properties. The HPHT uid has a density of 1,750 kg/m
3

and an 80/20 oil/water ratio. The uid property parameters obtained in the laboratory were all within
Statoil specications. These results formed the basis of the mud program specications to be used
offshore. The presented results are averaged values. Sag stability measurements are presented as
delta mud weights; the measurements were made after 16 hours, 3 days and 5 days of static aging
at 150C.
Base oil
Emulsifier
Organophilic clay
Lime
Fluid-loss additives
Calcium chloride powder
Freshwater
Weighting material (barite)
Total
402
23
12
23
25
26
137
1,102
1,750
Material Mass Concentration, kg/m
3
HPHT Drilling Fluid Formation and Averaged Properties
Mud weight, kg/m
3
[lbm/galUS]
Fann 35 dial reading at 600 rpm, lbf/100 ft
2
Fann 35 dial reading at 100 rpm, lbf/100 ft
2
Fann 35 dial reading at 3 rpm, lbf/100 ft
2
10-s gel strength, Pa
10-min gel strength, Pa
Plastic viscosity, mPa.s
Yield point, Pa
HPHT fluid loss, mL [in.
3
]
Sag stability after 16 hours
Sag stability after 3 days
Sag stability after 5 days
Fann 35 dial reading at 600 rpm after 3 and 5 days static aging, lbf/100 ft
2
Fann 35 dial reading at 100 rpm after 3 and 5 days static aging, lbf/100 ft
2
Fann 35 dial reading at 3 rpm after 3 and 5 days static aging, lbf/100 ft
2
1,750 [14.6]
67
20
6
7
8
27
8
1.8 [0.11]
10
60
60
65 and 85
18 and 26
6 and 9
Property Value
>
Specications and measurements of drilling uid
rheology for 12
1
/4-in. and 8
1
/2-in. well sections. The uid
rheology was measured continuously offshore
throughout the drilling operation, and all Fann 35 dial
readings were well within specications during the
entire operation. The wellsite engineers reported that
the drilling uid performance was stable and easily
maintained. M-I SWACO technical service engineers
supported the operation offshore to ensure that the
uid stayed within specications at all times.
(Photograph by Ole Jrgen Bratland, copyright Statoil.
Used with permission.)
Fann 35 dial reading at 600 rpm
Fann 35 dial reading at 100 rpm
Fann 35 dial reading at 3 rpm
As low as possible
Less than 24
5 to 10
Property
Rheology Measured During Operation
Specification,
lbf/100 ft
2
47 4.1
19 2.5
8 1.5
63 3.7
20 1.7
7 1.1
Average Value,
12
1
/4-in. Section, lbf/100 ft
2
Average Value,
8
1
/2-in. Section, lbf/100 ft
2