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Abstract
Formate fluids have unique physico-chemical properties that
make them the ideal drilling and completion fluids for
challenging well construction projects where extraordinary
fluid performance is critical for economic success. They have
been used in more than 400 wells across the world since their
commercial introduction in 1993.
This paper reviews what has been published in the oilfield
literature over the past 12 years about well production rates
after drilling and/or completing with formate fluids. The
conclusions of the review are a) the special properties of
formate fluids facilitate the creation of long high-angle wells
that improve reservoir access and inflow area; b) the formates
tend to minimize formation damage; c) the use of formate
fluids generally delivers wells with productivities that exceed
expectations.
The published field case histories clearly show that
formate fluids can only show their true performance potential
when formulated with low levels of solids. When operators
have experimented with the addition of weighting solids to
formate fluids the drilling performance has been degraded and
the well production rates have been unexceptional or below
expectations.
Some of the information disclosed in the literature opens to
question whether the use of linear core flooding is an
appropriate laboratory test method for predicting the likely
impact of formate fluids on well productivity.
Introduction
Formate fluids is the collective name given by the oil
industry to aqueous solutions of the alkali metals salts of
formic acid. The formates are revolutionary in the sense that
they can be used to create solids-free or low-solids drilling and
completion fluids with densities of up to 19.2 lb/gal (2.3 SG).
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Perm after
mud/
drawdown
(mD)
(% change on
base perm)
Sample
Fluid
Filtrate
Loss
(ml)
1A
Formate
Field
Mud
15.419
1416
881
(-37.8%)
990
(-30.8%)
[0.19ml]
2B
Formate
Field
Mud
11.719
2.88
0.982
(-65.9%)
1.17
(-59.4%)
[0.083ml]
6A
Optimised
Formate
DIF
10.564
1978
1272
(-35.7%)
1675
(-15.3%)
[0.30ml]
3B
Optimised
Formate
DIF
8.388
7.47
2.27
(-69.6%)
3.64
(-51.3%)
[0.17ml]
Base perm
Kg @ Swi
(mD)
Perm after
mud/
drawdown/
remedial
acid soak/
nd
2 drawdown
(mD)
(% change on
base perm)
Sample
Fluid
Filtrate
Loss
(ml)
7A
Formate
Field
Mud
18.247
2198
2341
(+6.51%)
2406
(+9.46%)
[trace]
6B
Formate
Field
Mud
12.355
3.47
3.56
(+2.59%)
3.81
(+9.74%)
[0.05ml]
8A
Optimised
Formate
DIF
12.484
1988
1982
(-0.30%)
2027
(+1.96%)
[trace]
4B
Optimised
Formate
DIF
10.003
10.9
10.7
(-1.83%)
11.2
(+2.75%)
[0.05ml]
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3 MMscfd
27.5 MMscfd
9410 bpd condensate
WHP
1200 psi
5190 psi
40,41
HWYH-201 Horizontal
Producer
Production rate
WHP
TINAT Vertical
TINAT-3 Horizontal
Producer
Producer
(open hole)
16.6 MMscfd
27.5 MMscfd
4750 bpd condensate Dry
1396 psi
5100 psi
SPE 97694
References
1.
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