Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
In this Section...
• Selection of Fluid Type
- Environmental Issues
- Optimization of Fluid Formulation
- Barite Sag
- Wellbore Stability/Inhibition
- Hole Cleaning Capability
- Mud Lubricity - Torque and Drag Reduction
- Filtration Control/Differential Sticking
- Solids Control Management
- Formation Damage Aspects
• General Considerations
• References
• Contacts
INTRODUCTION
The selection and correct implementation of drilling fluid is crucial to the successful drilling of any well.
The fact that potentially troublesome formations will be exposed for greater lengths, and for longer time
periods, increases the importance of drilling fluid selection for ERD applications. Many fluid related
issues, such as hole cleaning, torque, drag, and hydraulics, that present few problems on vertical wells,
must be addressed in detail when planning an ERD well.
6-1
SELECTION OF FLUID TYPE
Environmental Issues
The selection of fluid type for ERD wells is essentially the same as for conventional wells. Initially, a
choice must be made between an invert emulsion (mineral- or synthetic oil-base) and a water-base
drilling fluid.
• Where feasible, an oil-base invert is the preferred fluid for ERD applications.
• When environmental limitations prevent the use of mineral oil-base mud (OBM), consider using a
synthetic oil-base invert.
• Where environmental, or logistical, limitations completely negate the use of any form of oil-base
formulation, the most suitable water-base mud must be chosen.
The most suitable water-base fluids currently available for ERD drilling when clay inhibition is required
are potassium-based, non-dispersed, polymer muds containing glycol or silicates. When inhibition is not
required, low solids polymer formulations or Mixed Metal Hydroxides can provide the required hole
cleaning and their use, with a suitable lubricant, should be considered.
When comparing fluids on a commercial basis, it is not sufficient to merely compare costs per barrel.
Consideration must be given to anticipated rig time savings (penetration rates, requirement for wiper
trips, etc.), actual usage per foot, buy backs and/or disposal costs (where applicable). For instance, many
operators find the use of a relatively expensive pseudo oil-base fluid is readily justified by savings in rig
days. High mud costs for the right system are fairly inconsequential in ERD wells when compared to
probable wells costs resulting from use of the wrong fluid.
6-2
Optimization of Fluid Formulation
Having made the choice between an invert emulsion and a water-base mud, experience and/or laboratory
testing must be used to optimize the formulation. These major requirements must be addressed and fine
tuned:
Rheology Plastic Viscosity - The required yield point and low shear characteristics should be
achieved with minimum plastic viscosity. Circulating density becomes an important
factor in long step-out ERD wells, particularly in the smaller diameter holes (8-1/2 and
6-inch intervals). High equivalent circulating density (ECDs) can be produced which
may exceed the fracture gradient of the rock and produce downhole mud losses. To
minimize these effects, rheology (particularly plastic viscosity) should be maintained
at the lowest level that supports efficient hole cleaning and solids suspension.
Gels - Excessive gel strengths must also be avoided. During trips, high gel strengths
may result in surge and swab pressures that can in turn lead to downhole losses or have
a destabilising effect on the wellbore. When high bottom hole temperatures (i.e.
>300°F) are anticipated, test results that demonstrate the fluid's rheological behavior at
elevated temperatures must be made available by the service company. Many labs are
available to perform testing and verify these results.
Inhibition If an oil-base mud is selected, the correct water phase salinity must be determined so
as to minimize transfer of water from the mud to the formation, and vice versa. Water
phase salinities in the region of 180g/lt is a good starting point for marine shales with
somewhat lower levels (100g/lt) being appropriate for freshwater shale. When a water-
base mud is to be used in sections where clays are exposed, the optimum level of
chemical inhibition should be determined in laboratory tests.
Lubricity Effective lubricants must be identified that will produce workable coefficients of
friction and be compatible with both the mud and the environment.
Reservoir The potential for products to cause formation damage in the reservoir must be
compatibility considered. Products known to be potentially damaging to the producing formations
should not be considered for use in reservoir sections unless perforating or fracturing
beyond the invasion area.
6-3
Barite Sag
Barite settlement (sag) is a key issue for high angle wells. The current thinking is that barite sag can
never be totally eliminated. In practice the problem needs to be managed. This can be achieved by a
combination of mud design and good operational practices.
Wellbore Stability/Inhibition
Borehole instability due to overpressured or water-sensitive formations must be minimized when drilling
an extended reach well. Mud/rock interaction must be minimized by careful screening of mud type and
properties. A wellbore stability study should be instigated for any initial ERD project in a particular
asset. This will address optimum mud weight selection and highlight any possibility of instability.
For further information see Section 5, “Mechanical and Chemical Wellbore Stability”.
6-4
Hole Cleaning Capability
Flow rate (i.e. annular velocity) is the single most important factor relating to hole cleaning in deviated
wells. Typically, most problems associated with hole cleaning occur in the 30 - 60 degree section where
gravity effects can cause cuttings beds to slump down the hole. The BP Hole Cleaning Model should be
used in the planning of all wells, most especially in extended reach applications. Generally, higher flow
rate is better if it can be economically achieved. Typical flow rates to aim for in ERD wells are:
High rotary speeds greatly enhance hole cleaning potential. Discuss limitations of rotary speeds when
using downhole motors with the directional drilling company. Trend sheets should be used to log all hole
cleaning parameters for future use, i.e. flow rate, rpm, mud rheology vs. depth, and evidence of dirty hole
on trips, etc. Trip procedures should be prepared in advance, with guidance on tripping intervals,
backreaming rates, and maximum overpull. These procedures can be modified over the well as necessary.
See Section 11, “Hole Cleaning and Hydraulics”, for more information.
• When using water-base mud, adequate supplies of an approved and compatible lubricant must be
available at the rigsite prior to drilling critical intervals.
• After additions of lubricant, surface torque must be monitored to assess the effectiveness of the
treatment.
• Mechanical devices typically have a more positive effect than chemical additives, and should be
considered prior to fluid enhancement.
Many lubricants are available on the market. The rapid development in mud lubricants makes it
inappropriate to nominate specific lubricants. Also, the specific requirement depends upon the mud
system being run and the particular downhole environment. Consult your local Fluids Specialist and/or
6-5
XTP Fluids Team to get an update on currently available high-performance lubricants and recommended
concentrations.
6-6
Filtration Control/Differential Sticking
Maintain good filtrate control when drilling in an overbalanced situation through porous formations,
particularly when these formations are a potential reservoir. Low filtrate helps minimize potential
formation damage and reduces the possibility of differential sticking. Oil-base muds (including pseudo-
oil muds) generally exhibit lower fluid loss than water-base fluids and consequently lower sticking
tendencies. For this, and other reasons discussed above, they are the preferred fluid for extended reach
wells. Additives are available for both oil- and water-base fluids that will reduce differential sticking
tendency. These include filtrate reducers, lubricants, and bridging agents. Filtercake thickness increases
with time when the mud is static in the hole - keep such periods of non-circulation to a minimum. High
gel strengths should be avoided, as they increase the likelihood of sticking and make the spotting of pipe
releasing agents more difficult. Pipe freeing procedures must be reviewed prior to drilling in porous
formations. Details of options and procedures can be found in the Stuck Pipe Handbook.
As stated above, primary removal of much of this fine material will be difficult with conventional
elliptical motion shakers. Linear motion shakers will allow the use of fine screens (200 or 230 mesh)
assuming that sufficient units are available to handle the anticipated flow rates. In unweighted, water-
base muds, desilters and clay ejectors (small 1 inch diameter hydrocyclones) may have an application
assuming that all underflow is discarded. Mud cleaners are not recommended, as they allow the return of
the very fine material that needs to be removed.
6-7
Hydrocyclones are not recommended for use with weighted, water-base muds or oil muds of any kind. In
these applications, the preferred mechanism for the removal of fines is by centrifuge. High speed
centrifuges are required to remove fine solids from viscous mud. In the case of weighted muds, a low
speed unit in series with a high speed unit is required. In some cases, it is commercially advantageous to
return the barite underflow from the low speed centrifuge to the active system via some mixing
equipment. When running in this “barite recovery” mode, the overflow from the low speed unit is fed to
the high speed unit, which is capable of removing some of the fine LGS and barite. High speed
centrifuges are rarely capable of processing more than 1.0 bbl/min. Remember this when assessing the
requirements for solids removal equipment.
To aid in the determination of the suitability and efficiency of solids removal equipment, two
spreadsheets, the Super Volume Estimator and the Equipment Performance Evaluation Spreadsheet, have
been generated by XTP.
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
• Fluid related aspects of ERD wells require considerably more planning than conventional wells.
Consequently, planning must be started at an earlier stage to allow fluid selection, wellbore
stability, hydraulics, and rig modifications to be addressed and completed in a timely manner.
• Run two mud engineers with ERD experience on the rig.
• Mud systems are large in volume. Treatments take a long time to effect because of this.
• Do not rely on high rheologies for hole cleaning. Pump hard. High rheologies make casing
cementations difficult.
• It is not unusual to have lost circulation problems when running long casing strings, the tendency
to pack off, and ECD values running close to frac gradient. Have a logistics plan to cover losses
running the casing. Consider circulating occasionally to reduce gel strengths when tripping long
strings of casing.
6-8
REFERENCES
1. BPX Horizontal Drilling Manual
2. BPX Well Productivity Manual
3. Critical Technologies for Success in ERD - M L Payne et al SPE 28293 (1994)
4. Stuck Pipe Handbook
5. The Super Volume Estimator Spreadsheet
6. The Equipment Performance Evaluation Spreadsheet
7. BP Barite Sag Guidelines, P. Bern, November 1995.
CONTACTS
Specialty Name Location Telephone Fax
Mud Programming Bryan Chambers PSR Dyce 44 (0)1224 833635 44 (0)1224 833577
Pete Wilson XTP Sunbury 44 (0)1932 763346 44 (0)1932 764183
Torque and Drag - Phil Hearn XTP Sunbury 44 (0)1932 763226 44 (0)1932 764183
Prediction/Monitoring
Hole Cleaning Peter Bern XTP Sunbury 44 (0)1932 763469 44 (0)1932 764183
Yuejin Luo XTP Sunbury 44 (0)1932 762424 44 (0)1932 764183
Mud Lubricity Greg Elliot XTP Sunbury 44 (0)1932 764213 44 (0)1932 764183
Torque Reducers Colin Bowes XTP Sunbury 44 (0)1932 762049 44 (0)1932 764183
Kamal Jardaneh XTP Dyce 44 (0)1224 833664 44 (0)1224 833586
Solids Management Paul Page XTP Sunbury 44 (0)1932 763125 44 (0)1932 764183
Formation Damage Sarah Browne XTP Sunbury 44 (0)1932 762068 44 (0)1932 764183
Well Clean-Up Dan Ryan XTP Sunbury 44 (0)1932 762859 44 (0)1932 764183
6-9