Preventing Drilling Fluid Induced Reservoir Formation Damage

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karl Ronny Klungtvedt ◽  
Mahmoud Khalifeh ◽  
Arild Saasen ◽  
Bjørn Berglind ◽  
Jan Kristian Vasshus

Abstract During drilling of permeable reservoirs, drilling fluid may penetrate the formation and induce damage to the reservoir rock. Specifically, solids present in the drilling fluid may enter the formation and cause subsequent reduction in reservoir permeability in the area near the wellbore. When drilling with a water-based drilling fluid in a reservoir, various polymer-based additives are normally applied to reduce the filtration loss. These additives, such as Xanthan Gum, Poly Anionic Cellulose (PAC) and Starch may help in reducing losses to the formation in presence of small pore-throats and low differential pressures. If the pore throats exceed e.g. 20μm and differential pressures reach 500psi, these additives have little effect on reducing loss of drilling fluid to the formation and thereby little effect in preventing solids from entering the formation. Lost circulation is particularly challenging when losses occur in the reservoir section. This is because LCM treatment may create formation damages. Green et al. (SPE-185889) showed the nature of drilling fluid invasion, clean-up, and retention during reservoir formation drilling. They also showed the lack of direct relation between fluid loss and formation damage. In light of such ideas, a development of new Non-Invasive Fluid (NIF) additives was conducted. These additives were able to handle downhole pressure differences and create a preventative sealing of a permeable formation when applied into a solids-free drilling fluid. Ceramic discs of various permeability and mean pore-throat size were installed into a HTHP pressure cell. Drilling fluid was pumped through the cell and a filter cake was formed across the ceramic disc. A pressure of 500psi was applied and filtration loss was measured over a 30-minute period. Examples are herein presented showing how filter cake materials were applied into the drilling fluid and effectively sealing the permeable surface of the ceramic disc. Also, it will be shown how the filter cake was effectively removed from the discs using a breaker solution. Furthermore, a selection of experiments is presented, showing the possibility to heal lost circulation in permeable reservoirs without the presence of weighing materials, clays or drill-solids in the drilling fluid. A test was also conducted in such a way that the disc was fractured inside the test cell to investigate the impact on fluid loss.

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 1643-1655 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdulrauf R. Adebayo ◽  
Badr S. Bageri

Abstract An efficient drilling fluid will form a filter cake that will minimize the drilling fluid invasion into any drilled formation. Drilling fluid must therefore be adequately evaluated in the laboratory prior to field trial. Filter cake properties such as thickness, porosity, permeability, and pore structure are frequently evaluated using several techniques such as CT scan, SEM, and XRF. However, each of these techniques can evaluate only one or two filter cake properties. This paper presents a simple but novel NMR technique to evaluate filter cake properties such as thickness, pore volume, porosity, and possibly permeability. Furthermore, the amount and particle size distribution of solids that invaded a given rock sample can be obtained using the same technique. The full procedure was tested and verified using four identical rock samples. Drilling fluid invasion and filter cake deposition experiments were conducted on each of the samples, using the same drilling fluid but four different concentrations of fluid loss additive. NMR T2 relaxation measurements were taken at three different stages of each rock sample: before filter cake deposition; after fluid invasion and filter cake deposition; and after filter cake removal. A material balance analysis of the probability density function and cumulative distribution function of the measured T2 profile at the different stages of each sample yielded multiple filtration loss properties of the filter cake. The results obtained showed high accuracy of the NMR versus the current techniques. Moreover, this current method evaluated the majority of the filter cake properties at the same time and in situ hence eliminated the need of using multi-procedures that disturb the sample state. Finally, the presented method can also be used to evaluate secondary damage associated with filter cake removal process.


SPE Journal ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Yijun Wang ◽  
Yili Kang ◽  
Lijun You ◽  
Chengyuan Xu ◽  
Xiaopeng Yan ◽  
...  

Summary Severe formation damage often occurs during the drilling process, which significantly impedes the timely discovery, accurate evaluation, and efficient development of deep tight clastic gas reservoirs. The addition of formation protection additives into drilling fluid after diagnosing the damage mechanism is the most popular technique for formation damage control (FDC). However, the implementation of traditional FDC measures does not consider the multiscale damage characteristics of the reservoir. The present study aims at filling this gap by providing a complete and systematic damage control methodology based on multiscale FDC theory. First, the characteristics of multiscale seepage channels were described through petrology, petrophysics, and well-history data. Subsequently, based on laboratory formation damage evaluation experiments, the formation damage mechanism of each seepage scale was determined. Finally, based on the multiscale formation damage mechanism, a systematic multiscale FDC technology was proposed. Through the use of optimized drilling fluid based on multiscale FDC theory, high-permeability recovery ratio (PRR), high-pressure bearing capacity of plugging zone, and low cumulative filtration loss were observed by laboratory validation experiments. Shorter drilling cycle, less drill-in-fluid loss, lower skin factor, and higher production rates were obtained by using the optimized FDC drilling fluid in field application. This multiscale FDC theory shows excellent results in minimizing formation damage, maintaining original production capacity, and effectively developing gas reservoirs with multiscale pore structure characteristics.


1999 ◽  
Vol 121 (3) ◽  
pp. 149-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
U. A. Tare ◽  
N. E. Takach ◽  
S. Z. Miska ◽  
F. B. Growcock ◽  
N. Davis

This work discusses the effect of incorporating blast furnace slag (BFS) as an additive in water-based drilling fluids. The intent of this treatment is rapid development of a thin, impervious, and easily removable filter cake, thereby minimizing detrimental impact of the drilling fluid on formation productivity as opposed to previous applications of BFS in universal fluids. To evaluate the impact of BFS on filter cake properties, permeability plugging apparatus (PPA) tests and dynamic formation damage (DFD) studies were conducted. Drill-in fluids and dispersed muds were tested using varying quantities of BFS. Once a steady rate of dynamic filter cake deposition was achieved, the BFS in the filter cakes was chemically activated. The results obtained from these activation studies were compared with those obtained with no BFS and with unactivated BFS. The nature of the filter cakes was examined with an environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM). Results obtained from the PPA tests indicate substantial decreases in initial spurt loss and filtrate volume with increasing concentration of BFS. The DFD studies substantiate the aforementioned observations and show enhancement of return permeabilities with BFS activation. ESEM studies demonstrate that BFS can consolidate filter cakes.


Geofluids ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Badr S. Bageri ◽  
Mohammed Benaafi ◽  
Mohamed Mahmoud ◽  
Shirish Patil ◽  
Abdelmjeed Mohamed ◽  
...  

Fine, small-size, drilled cuttings, if not properly separated using mud conditioning equipment at the surface, are circulated with the drilling fluid from the surface to the bottom hole. These drilled cuttings have a significant effect on the drilling fluid properties and filter cake structure. During drilling long lateral sandstone formations, different cuttings with varied properties will be generated due to sandstone formations being heterogeneous and having different mineralogical compositions. Thus, the impact of these cuttings on the drilling fluid and filter cake properties will be different based on their mineralogy. In this paper, the effect of different sandstone formation cuttings, including arenite (quartz rich), calcareous (calcite rich), argillaceous (clay rich), and ferruginous (iron rich) sandstones, on the filter cake and drilling fluid properties was investigated. Cuttings of the mentioned sandstone formations were mixed with the drilling fluid to address the effect of these minerals on the filter cake thickness, porosity, and permeability. In addition, the effect of different sandstone formation cuttings on drilling fluid density and rheology, apparent viscosity (AV), plastic viscosity PV), and yield point (YP) was investigated. High-pressure high-temperature (HPHT) fluid loss test was conducted to form the filter cake. The core sample’s petrophysical properties were determined using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results of this work indicated that all cutting types increased the rheological properties when added to the drilling fluid at the same loadings but the argillaceous sandstone (clay rich) has a dominant effect compared to the other types because the higher clay content enhanced the rheology. From the filter cake point of view, the ferruginous sandstone improved the filter cake sealing properties and reduced its thickness, while the argillaceous cuttings degraded the filter cake porosity and permeability and allowed the finer cuttings to penetrate deeply in the filter medium.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 2252
Author(s):  
Karl Ronny Klungtvedt ◽  
Arild Saasen ◽  
Jan Kristian Vasshus ◽  
Vegard Bror Trodal ◽  
Swapan Kumar Mandal ◽  
...  

Industry testing procedures such as ANSI/API 13B-1 [1] describe a method for measuring fluid loss and studying filter-cake formation against a medium of either a filter paper or a porous disc, without giving information about potential formation damage. Considering the thickness of the discs, it may also be possible to extend the method to gain an insight into aspects of formation damage. A new experimental set-up and methodology was created to evaluate changes to the porous discs after HTHP testing to generate insight into signs of formation damage, such as changes in disc mass and permeability. Such measurements were enabled by placing the disc in a cell, which allowed for reverse flow of fluid to lift off the filter-cake. Experiments were conducted with different drilling fluid compositions to evaluate the use of the new methodology. The first test series showed consistent changes in disc mass as a function of the additives applied into the fluid. The data yield insights into how the discs are sealed and to which degree solids, fibers or polymers are entering the discs. A second series of tests were set up to extend the procedure to also measure changes in the disc’s permeability to air and water. The results showed that there was a positive correlation between changes in disc mass and changes in permeability. The conclusions are that the methodology may enable identifying signs of formation damage and that further studies should be conducted to optimize the method.


Author(s):  
Erfan Veisi ◽  
Mastaneh Hajipour ◽  
Ebrahim Biniaz Delijani

Cooling the drill bit is one of the major functions of drilling fluids, especially in high temperature deep drilling operations. Designing stable drilling fluids with proper thermal properties is a great challenge. Identifying appropriate additives for the drilling fluid can mitigate drill-bit erosion or deformation caused by induced thermal stress. The unique advantages of nanoparticles may enhance thermal characteristics of drilling fluids. The impacts of nanoparticles on the specific heat capacity, thermal conductivity, rheological, and filtration control characteristics of water‐based drilling fluids were experimentally investigated and compared in this study. Al2O3, CuO, and Cu nanoparticles were used to prepare the water-based drilling nanofluid samples with various concentrations, using the two-step method. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) were utilized to study the nanoparticle samples. The nanofluids stability and particle size distribution were, furthermore, examined using Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS). The experimental results indicated that thermal and rheological characteristics are enhanced in the presence of nanoparticles. The best enhancement in drilling fluid heat capacity and thermal conductivity was obtained as 15.6% and 12%, respectively by adding 0.9 wt% Cu nanoparticles. Furthermore, significant improvement was observed in the rheological characteristics such as the apparent and plastic viscosities, yield point, and gel strength of the drilling nanofluids compared to the base drilling fluid. Addition of nanoparticles resulted in reduced fluid loss and formation damage. The permeability of filter cakes decreased with increasing the nanoparticles concentration, but no significant effect in filter cake thickness was observed. The results reveal that the application of nanoparticles may reduce drill-bit replacement costs by improving the thermal and drilling fluid rheological characteristics and decrease the formation damage due to mud filtrate invasion.


Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (24) ◽  
pp. 6718
Author(s):  
Muhammad Awais Ashfaq Alvi ◽  
Mesfin Belayneh ◽  
Sulalit Bandyopadhyay ◽  
Mona Wetrhus Minde

In recent years, several studies have indicated the impact of nanoparticles (NPs) on various properties (such as viscosity and fluid loss) of conventional drilling fluids. Our previous study with commercial iron oxide NPs indicated the potential of using NPs to improve the properties of a laboratory bentonite-based drilling fluid without barite. In the present work, iron oxide NPs have been synthesized using the co-precipitation method. The effect of these hydrophilic NPs has been evaluated in bentonite and KCl-based drilling fluids. Rheological properties at different temperatures, viscoelastic properties, lubricity, and filtrate loss were measured to study the effect of NPs on the base fluid. Also, elemental analysis of the filtrate and microscale analysis of the filter cake was performed. Results for bentonite-based fluid showed that 0.019 wt% (0.1 g) of NPs reduced the coefficient of friction by 47%, and 0.0095 wt% (0.05 g) of NPs reduced the fluid loss by 20%. Moreover, for KCl-based fluids, 0.019 wt% (0.1 g) of additive reduced the coefficient of friction by 45%, while higher concentration of 0.038 wt% (0.2 g) of NPs shows 14% reduction in the filtrate loss. Microscale analysis shows that presence of NPs in the cake structure produces a more compact and less porous structure. This study indicates that very small concentration of NPs can provide better performance for the drilling fluids. Additionally, results from this work indicate the ability of NPs to fine-tune the properties of drilling fluids.


2012 ◽  
Vol 727-728 ◽  
pp. 1878-1883 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Arantes Moreira ◽  
Flávia Cristina Assis Silva ◽  
Larissa dos Santos Sousa ◽  
Fábio de Oliveira Arouca ◽  
João Jorge Ribeiro Damasceno

During oil well drilling processes in reservoir-rocks, the drilling fluid invades the formation, forming a layer of particles called filter cake. The formation of a thin filter cake and low permeability helps to control the drilling operation, ensuring the stability of the well and reducing the fluid loss of the liquid phase in the interior of the rocks. The empirical determination of the constitutive equation for the stress in solids is essential to evaluate the filtration and filter cake formation in drilling operations, enabling the operation simulation. In this context, this study aims to evaluate the relationship between the porosity and stress in solids of porous media composed of bridging agents used in drilling fluids. The concentration distribution in sediments was determined using a non-destructive technique based on the measure of attenuated gamma rays. The procedure employed in this study avoids the use of compression-permeability cell for the sediment characterization.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1715-1726
Author(s):  
Ved Prakash ◽  
Neetu Sharma ◽  
Munmun Bhattacharya ◽  
Ashok Raina ◽  
Man Mohan Gusain ◽  
...  

AbstractThis work investigates the efficacy of a biodegradable natural product, litchi leaves powder (LLP) as a filtration loss control agent in the water-based drilling fluid formulations. In order to evaluate the potential of litchi leaves powder (LLP), a strict protocol of experimentations according to API (American Petroleum Institute) standard has been followed. The experimental outcome showed that before hot rolling and after hot rolling of mud samples at 100 °C it was observed that 3–5% Concentration of LLP significantly increased the rheological parameters such as PV, YP and gelation of drilling fluid as compared to reference mud. Also, LLP reformed the filtration loss control characterization, suggesting a better biodegradable fluid loss reducing agent. After hot rolling at 100 °C for 18 h, the water-based drilling fluid with LLP as an additive showed a marked reduction in filtration control property as compared to reference Mud (RM). Experimental results concluded that 5% concentration of LLP significantly reduced the filtration loss of drilling fluid by 70.6% as compared to reference mud under the influence of 100 psi pressure. However, the conventional fluid loss additive CMC (LVG) reduced the filtration loss by maximum 67.5% as compared to reference mud. Therefore, LLP can be used as an alternative to CMC (LVG) in water-based drilling fluid with a maximum subsurface temperature of 100 °C.


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