Drilling Fluid Systems: © 2004 Baker Hughes Incorporated All Rights Reserved

Fluid Systems
Drilling fluid
systems
© 2004 Baker Hughes Incorporated

All rights reserved.
Presentation Objectives
 Review current fluid systems and associated operational

issues and costs with emphasis on the Silicate system.
 Introduce the emerging CLAY-TROL System.
 Discuss various fluid design criteria and talk about fluid

systems selection.
 Introduce Drill in Fluids and discuss about their scope and

applications.

Fluids in Pakistan
Drilling Fluids in MER
Past Present Future
- Lime based - KCL/PHPA - Claytrol

- Lignosulphonates - Aquadrill - Synthetic
- Diesel Oil based - Silicates - ??????
- Alplex
- Diesel Oil based

Current fluids in Pakistan
KCL-PHPA Systems
- Anionic and encapsulating inhibition

- Used in all three basins
- Varying rate of success
- Highly versatile
- Low to moderate cost ( 50 – 300 K mud bill )
- MW limitation (max of 15 ppg)

Glycol Systems
- Anionic, encapsulating and cloud point

mechanisms of inhibition
- Used in all three basins – more in lower

indus basin
- Varying rate of success
- Moderately versatile
- Medium to high cost ( 200 – 500 K mud

bill )


Diesel OBM System

Used mostly in the Middle indus basin.
Advantages Disadvantages
- Shale stability and inhibition - Higher cost (> 500 K mud bill)
- Temperature stability - Disposal problems
- Higher ROP and solids tolerance - Risk of pollution and fire
- Reduced cmt cost, corrosion, - Reduced kick detection
stress fatigue and formation - High cost of loss circulation
damage. - Special logging tools required


Alplex System
 Used in the Middle indus basin.
 Provides shale inhibition using Aluminum ion
 Advantages
- Increased Shale stability
- Easy to apply
- Less viscosity effect from drill solids
- Stabilizes rheological properties
- Environmentally safe
- Contains no chloride ion
 Limitations
- High pH product
- Formation damage ?
- Can sometimes interact with polymers and cause
problems

Alplex System

Silicate Systems
- First used in 1930’s and reintroduced in 1960’s
- Used in all three basins of Pakistan
- Highly successful in middle indus basin
- Moderately versatile
- Moderate to high cost ( 100 – 400 K mud bill )

Silicate System
Mechanisms for wellbore

stabilization
1 - Gellation of silicates upon

encountering low pH pore fluid.
2 - Precipitation of silicates after

reacting with divalent ions in the
pore fluid.
This leads to :
- Physical barrier which prevents
further fluid filtrate invasion and
pressure penetration.
- enhancing the efficiency of the

osmotic membrane
Silicate System
Applications
- Dispersive shales : Reduces filtrate and pressure invasion
- Microfractured shales : Soluble silicates fill small cracks and

seal them
- Chalks and other Ca/mg bearing formations : Silicates

prevent cuttings dispersion and well bore washouts after
reaction with Ca/mg ions

Silicate System
Limitations
- Temperature : Normally stable upto 225 deg F
- Density : Maximum MW is limited to 15 ppg
- Formation damage : Silicate precipitation causes significant reduction in

permeability and hence not considered suitable for payzone drilling.
- Ionic contamination : Silicate muds are very vulnerable to polyvalent ionic

contaminants like Ca, mg, Al etc.

CLAY-TROL
Amphoteric
chemistry for
shale inhibition

Operational Issues and Costs
 Inadequate shale inhibition

– Bit and BHA balling: $30-
100K / trip
– Plugged riser: $200K / event
– Reduced ROP: $60-200K /
well (i.e. lost rig time @ 2
days)
– Solids removal efficiency:
$25-40 / bbl dilution
 Synthetics
– Lost circulation: $1MM /
event

The Problem: BHA Balling

The INTEQ Solution: CLAY-TROL
 Description
– Mixture of primary, secondary, and cyclic amphoteric
amines
 Contains both acid (“+”) and basic (“-”) groups
 Mechanism
– Surface absorption
 Semi-permeable membrane
 Minimizes hydration
– Metal wetting
 Prevents adhesion of water sensitive shales

Amphoteric Structures
H O O
R - N - CH 2CH 2 C - O H R - N - CH 2CH 2 C - O
H H
Cationic: Flocculating Anionic: Not as absorptive
H O
R - N - CH 2CH 2 C - O CLAY-TROL
H
Zwitterionic: Less flocculating, compatible w/ additives
CLAY-TROL Inhibition Mechanism

CLAY-TROL Treated System
Features
 Highly Inhibitive
 Lubricious
 High ROP’s achievable
 Environmentally acceptable
 Broad range of formulations
– Fresh to saturated brines
 No adverse effects on mud properties

Comparison with Silicate System
Silicates Claytrol
 Typical concentration 20-25 ppb 5-7 ppb

 Normal pH 12 – 12.5 9 - 10
 Effects of pH drop Severe None
 Limitations of mud density upto 15 ppg None
 Compatibility with polymers poor excellent
 Compatibility with lubricants very poor good
 Maintenance cost mod – high low
 Reservoir use No Yes
 Temperature limitations upto 225 C upto 300 C
 Ionic resistivity poor good
 Use as an LCM Yes No
CLAY-TROL Case History
CLAY-TROL Viasco Knoll 827, Offshore La.
Background:
While drilling a deep water prospect Offshore, La. the Mud Components
operator expressed concern for downtime associated with 6-7 lb/bbl CLAY-TROL
gumbo attacks. The decision was made to add CLAY- 1.75-2 lb/bbl NEW-DRILL HP
TROL, an amphoteric surfactant, to the base NEW-DRILL 0.3 lb/bbl XANPLEX-D
fluid to enhance shale inhibition and reduce bit balling. 0.5 lb/bbl BIO-LOSE
0.5 lb/bbl MIL-PAC R
Relevance to MER: 5 lb/bbl MIL-CARB
The reactive shale encountered is similar to the reactive shales
of the MER. The use of Claytrol system on the Offshore Total WELL DATA
well in Pakistan has proven its inhibition and effectiveness. Mud NaCl/NEW-DRILL
TVD, Casin 5,410 ft
Hole Size 17 1/2 in
Results: Open Hole 1705 ft
•Good cuttings integrity Density 9.5 ppg
•No short trips or hi-vis sweeps needed Formation reactive gumbo
•No gumbo attacks or hole cleaning problems PV/YP 12/18 (avg)
•Mud properties stable Chlorides 65,000 (mg/l)
CLAY-TROL Treatment Benefits:

• System dilution was 0.89 bbl/ft vs. 1.7 bbl/ft as anticipated in 17 1/2” hole.
• Operator experienced no downtime associated with gumbo attacks or short tripping, BHA totally clean
when POOH.
• MBT and mud properties stayed very stable minimizing mud treatment levels.
CLAY-TROL CLAY-TROL Case History II
Viasco Knoll 872, Offshore La.
Background:
Based on previous CLAY-TROL Mud Components
experience in the same Viasco Knoll block, 6-7 lb/bbl CLAY-TROL
the operator once again selected it to help 1.7-2.2 lb/bbl NEW-DRILL HP
avoid potential gumbo problems. This deep
water prospect located offshore, LA 0.8 lb/bbl XANPLEX-D
possessed a high risk for gumbo-associated 0.5 lb/bbl BIO-LOSE
downtime. 0.4 lb/bbl MIL-PAC R
5 lb/bbl MIL-CARB
Relevance to MER:
The swelling shale encountered is Well Data
similar to the shales of the MER basins.
Mud NaCl/NEW-DRILL
The use of Claytrol system on the
offshore Total well in Pakistan has TVD, Casing 5,410 ft
proved its inhibition and effectiveness. Hole Size 12 1/4 in
Open Hole 1,726 ft
Results: Density 9.6 ppg
• Good cuttings integrity, .5 to
Formation Reactive gumbo There was no gumbo-associated
1 inch in length
• No gumbo attacks or hole PV/YP 12/20 (avg) downtime and the BHA was totally
cleaning problems Chlorides 70,000 (mg/l) clean when pulled out of hole.
• Mud properties stable
CLAY-TROL Treatment Benefits:

• Good ROP averaging 100 ft/hr through this interval.
• No downtime associated with gumbo attacks or short tripping, BHA totally clean when POOH.
• MBT and mud properties stayed very stable minimizing mud treatment levels.
Fluids design criteria
Drilling fluids design

criteria
 Reservoir – Non damaging
 Hole cleaning – Optimum
hydraulics
 Geology – Loss zones, Tectonics,
Reactive lithologies, Mechanical
stability
 Hydrostatic – Underbalance or
Over balance
 ROP – A function of all above

Drill - in fluids
Drill - in fluids
“THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE TO DAMAGE THE
FORMATION AND LOWER THE PRODUCTIVITY OF THE
WELL IS WHEN THE BIT AND DRILLING FLUID FIRST
ENTER THE RESERVOIR.
UNFORTUNATELY THAT IS NOT THE LAST OPPORTUNITY

TO LOWER PRODUCTIVITY”

Drill - in fluids
Drill - in fluids
 What is a drill-in fluid ?
A drill in fluid can be defined as a fluid that possesses

the desired fluid of a good drilling fluid but will also
provide the necessary attributes of a completion fluid.
Its primary attribute is the development of a filtercake
which effectively prevents formation damage and is
easily removed.

Drill - in fluids
Reservoir damage
 Causes
– Solids invasion
– Clay swelling
– Emulsion blocking
– Precipitation or scaling
 Prevention by design
– Low solids fluids
– Chemical inhibition
– Wettability compatibility
– Scale control

Drill - in fluids
Reservoir damage
 Chemical compatibility
– Polymers : Acid soluble

– Clays : Not recommended
– Solids : Water/Acid/Oil soluble
– Brine : Inhibitive, scaling
 Filtercake
– External
– Easily removed
– Impermeable (compact and thin)

Drill - in fluids
BHI Drill-in fluids and applications

 Water based
– Perflow
– Cleardrill
– Sized salt
 Synthetic based
– Synteq / Milcarb
– Omniflow

Perflow system
 Features  Benefits
– High return permeability – Non damaging characteristics

– Low breakout pressures – Increased productivity
– Wide particle distribution – Varying reservoir permeability
– Wide density range – Varying reservoir pressure
– Lubricious – High angle wells without
lubricants
– Low leak off rate
– Varied applications – Less filtrate invasion
– Drill-in, milling, coring, under
reaming, Kill fluids etc.

Perflow system
 System limitations and potential problems
– Temperature limitation (max 285 deg F)

– Environmental problems with heavy brines
– Bacterial degradation
– Foaming
– Slugging drill pipe
– Sliding
– Solids control

Generalized conclusions
 The current drilling fluid systems meet the minimum need of present day drilling
requirements and there is lot of room for improvement.
 CLAY-TROL’s amphoteric characteristics exhibit excellent shale inhibition and it looks to be

the fluid of the future in the MER.
 Successful case histories demonstrate customer benefit

– Total : No problems with gumbo shales on the offshore well in Pakistan
– Shell: 52% dilution rate reduction
– Chevron: No Gumbo related downtime
 The similarities between the shales drilled with Claytrol and the problematic shales of MER
and its advantages over the silicate system make it the cutting edge technology.
 When selecting a drilling fluid for a well, the approach should start from the reservoir than
ROP and the well should be planned upwards than downwards.
 Drill-in fluids play a critical part in the success of the well and a carefully planned and
executed application can increase the productivity and longevity of the reservoir.


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What drilling fluid systems are currently used in Pakistan?

What drilling fluid systems are currently used in Pakistan?

What are some advantages and disadvantages of diesel OBM systems?

What are some advantages and disadvantages of diesel OBM systems?

Fluid Systems

© 2004 Baker Hughes Incorporated

 Review current fluid systems and associated operational

 Introduce the emerging CLAY-TROL System.

 Discuss various fluid design criteria and talk about fluid

 Introduce Drill in Fluids and discuss about their scope and

© 2004 Baker Hughes Incorporated

Drilling Fluids in MER

Past Present Future

- Lime based - KCL/PHPA - Claytrol

© 2004 Baker Hughes Incorporated

- Anionic and encapsulating inhibition

© 2004 Baker Hughes Incorporated

- Anionic, encapsulating and cloud point

- Used in all three basins – more in lower

- Varying rate of success

- Medium to high cost ( 200 – 500 K mud

© 2004 Baker Hughes Incorporated

© 2004 Baker Hughes Incorporated

Diesel OBM System

© 2004 Baker Hughes Incorporated

© 2004 Baker Hughes Incorporated

© 2004 Baker Hughes Incorporated

© 2004 Baker Hughes Incorporated

- Used in all three basins of Pakistan

- Highly successful in middle indus basin

- Moderate to high cost ( 100 – 400 K mud bill )

© 2004 Baker Hughes Incorporated

Mechanisms for wellbore

1 - Gellation of silicates upon

2 - Precipitation of silicates after

- enhancing the efficiency of the

- Dispersive shales : Reduces filtrate and pressure invasion

- Microfractured shales : Soluble silicates fill small cracks and

- Chalks and other Ca/mg bearing formations : Silicates

© 2004 Baker Hughes Incorporated

- Temperature : Normally stable upto 225 deg F

- Density : Maximum MW is limited to 15 ppg

- Formation damage : Silicate precipitation causes significant reduction in

- Ionic contamination : Silicate muds are very vulnerable to polyvalent ionic

© 2004 Baker Hughes Incorporated

© 2004 Baker Hughes Incorporated

 Inadequate shale inhibition

© 2004 Baker Hughes Incorporated

© 2004 Baker Hughes Incorporated

© 2004 Baker Hughes Incorporated

© 2004 Baker Hughes Incorporated

© 2004 Baker Hughes Incorporated

 Typical concentration 20-25 ppb 5-7 ppb

CLAY-TROL Treatment Benefits:

CLAY-TROL Treatment Benefits:

Drilling fluids design

© 2004 Baker Hughes Incorporated

UNFORTUNATELY THAT IS NOT THE LAST OPPORTUNITY