EVALUATION OF FORMATION DAMAGE CAUSED BY

DRILLING AND COMPLETION FLUIDS IN HORIZONTAL

WELLS
J. YAN G. JIANG X. WU

this article begins on the next page

Evaluation of Formation Damage Caused by Drilling and Completion Fluids in Horizontal Wells
J. Yan, G. Jiang, X. Wu The University of Petroleum, China Abstract
Horizontal wells are generally much more susceptible to the issue of formation damage than vertical wells because the contact area of reservoir rock immediately adjacent to the wellbore with drilling and completion fluids is substantially larger and the contact time is also much longer in horizontal wells. A method for the quantitative evaluation of the
formation damage caused by drilling and completion fluids in horizontal wells was established in this investigation. The skin factor, flow efficiency and production loss were used as relative indices of damage. The whole work is made up of four parts: 1.
Develop a model for the calculation of the invasion depth, dt, on the basis of numerous data of tests, which allowed determination of the radius of damage zone, rs. The anisotropy ratio of permeability of the rocks, b, was determined by means of the measurements of both vertical and horizontal
permeabilities. 2.
Determine the skin factor, S, under different conditions using rs and other parameters. 3.
Calculate the flow efficiencies and production losses of horizontal and vertical wells using b, S and other parameters. 4
Evaluate the formation damage of two horizontal wells located in Dagang Oilfield, and then make a comparison between the two wells and the corresponding vertical wells with regard to the extent of the damage caused by drilling and
completion fluids.
It was shown that the effect of formation damage on the flow efficiencies of horizontal wells was generally less than that of vertical wells when b < 3.50, but this was not the case when the value of b was relatively large. Under the condition of the same skin factors, the formation damage could be less detrimental to horizontal wells if the horizontal well length was relatively long and the value of b was relatively small. It was also found from the calculation that the formation damage could cause more reduction in oil production
in a horizontal well than that in a vertical well even though the flow efficiency of the horizontal well was greater than that of the vertical well. Introduction
In vertical wells, the flow of oil and gas through porous media towards the wellbore is goverened by a radial flow. The flow rate depends mainly on the producing pressure drop and the permeability of production zone in the horizontal plane. When the formation is damaged by drilling and completion fluids, the permeability and flow rate will be reduced. The reduction percentage of the radial permeability of damaged
core samples is usually used to evaluate the extent of formation damage of a vertical well.
In horizontal wells, however, the flow of oil and gas from reservoir to wellbore is the 3-dimensional flow, not only consisting of a radial flow in the horizontal plane, but also the vertical flows in the directions of different angles with respect to the horizontal plane. Therefore, the flow is affected by the anisotropy of permeability at different directions, which is designated as anisotropy ratio, b. For most reservoirs, the mean value of horizontal permeability is nine
to 10 times that of vertical permeability(1). When the formation for a horizontal well is damaged by a completion fluid, the filtrate of the fluid will enter the formation 3-dimensionally. Hence, the damage scales of permeability will be different at various directions. Compared with a vertical well, a horizontal well is characterized by its horizontal section, as well as less resistance to flow, larger area of drainage, and longer contact time with the drilling and completion fluid(2,3). As a result, the impairment of the productivity of a horizontal well induced by formation damage will be
much more serious than that of a vertical well. In the course of the evaluation of formation damage for a horizontal well, the effect of all major factors, such as anisotropy ratio, radius of damage zone, horizontal well length and contact time with drilling and completion fluids, must be considered. The investigation in this paper has shown that the three parameters (skin factor, flow efficiency and predicted production loss) can be combined to evaluate the extent of formation damage caused by the drilling and completion fluid in a horizontal well. The calculation procedures of the three
parameters is provided and the relationship among them is discussed. Finally, as an example, the formation damage for two horizontal wells located in Dagang Oilfield is evaluated. A Model for the Calculation of Invasion Depth of Drilling and Completion Fluids
According to the experimental procedures described previously(4), the invasion depths of different core samples damaged by several kinds of drilling and completion fluids under various temperatures and pressures were measured using the slice cutting method. The results are listed in Table 1. The
measured data and other relevant parameters were then used to establish the model for the calculation of invasion depth of drilling and completion fluids through regression analysis, which was given by(4)
(1)
The comparison of invasion depths between the calculated val

_ _ _ (]j(~1_q_l-_o5_-0;;A_
Evaluatio.n of Formation Damage Caused
by' Drilling and Completion Fluids in
Horizontal Wells
J. VAN, G. JIANG,

x. WU

The University of Petroleum, China

~-

--.- -

~-

-~-

- - - -- .,-

1Abstract
!'

Horizontal wells are generally much more susceptible to the i

issue of formation damage than vertical wells because the con- i
ta~t are.a ?f reservoir roc~ imm~dia.tely adjac~nt to the wellbore
WIth drillmg and completion fluIds IS substantially larger and the I
contact time is also much longer in horizontal wells.
'
. A method for the quantitative evaluation of the formation
damage caused by drilling. and completion fluids in horiiontall
I wells was established in this investigation. The skin factor, flow!
Iefficiency and production loss were used as relative indices of I
!damage. The whole work is made up of four parts:
:
1. Develop a model for the calculation of .the invasion depth, II
I dt, on the basis of numerous data of tests, which allowed,
l
determination of the radius of damage zone, rs' The:
anisotropy ratio of permeability of the rocks, p, was deter-:
mined by means. of the measurements of both vertical and!
horizontal permeabilities ..
2. Detenillne the skin factor, S, under different conditions
using rs and other parameters. ,
3. Calculate the flow efficiencies and production losses of
horizontal and vertical wells using'p; Sand 'other!
parameters.
. .
4 Evaluate the formation damage of two horizontal wells i
located in Dagang Oilfield, and then make a comparison'
between the two wells and the corresponding vertical wells;
with regard to the extent of the damage caused by drilling:
and completion fluids.
,
It was shown that the effect of formation damage on the flow:
efficiencies of horizontal wells was generally less than that of:
vertical wells when p < 3.50, but this was not the case when the
value of p was relatively large. Under the condition of the same
skin factors, the formation damage could be less detrimental to
horizontal wells if the horizontal well length was relatively long
and the value of p was relatively small. It was also found from
the calculation that the formation damage could cause more
reduction in oil production in a horizontal well than that in a veri tical well even though the flow efficiency of the horizontal well

!.

l~_~ !.~~:~~~~ .~~tof_the ~ertical wel.L

Introduction

In vertical wells, the flow of oil and gas through porous media
towards the wellbore is goverened by a radial flow. The flow rate
depends mainly on the producing pressure drop and the permeability of production zone in the horizontal plane. When the formation is damaged by drilling and completion fluids, the permeability and flow rate will be reduced. The reduction percentage of

36

the radial permeability of damaged core samples is usually used to

evaluate the extent of formation damage of a vertical well.
In horizontal wells, however, the flow of oil and gas from
reservoir to wellbore is the 3-dimensional flow, not only consisting of a radial flow in the horizontal plane, but also the vertical
flows in the directions of different angles with respect to the horizontal plane. Therefore, the flow is affected by the anisotropy of
permeability at different directions, which is designated as
anisotropy ratio, p. For most reservoirs, the mean value of horizontal permeability is nine to 10 times that of vertical permeability(l). When the formation for a horizontal well is damaged by a
completion fluid, the filtrate of the fluid will enter the formation
3-dimensionally. Hence, the damage scales of permeability will be
different at various directions. Compared with a vertical well, a
horizontal well is characterized by its horizontal section, as well
as less resistance to flow, larger area of drainage, and longer contact time with the drilling and completion fluid(2.3). As a result, the
impairment of the productivity of a horizontal well induced by
formation damage will be much more serious than that of a vertical well. In the course of the evaluation of formation damage for a
horizontal well, the effect of all major factors, such as anisotropy
ratio, radius of damage zone, horizontal well length and contact
time with drilling and completion fluids, must be considered. The
investigation in this paper has shown that the three parameters
(skin factor, flow efficiency and predicted production loss) can be
combined to evaluate the extent of formation damage caused by
the drilling and completion fluid in a horizontal well. The calculation procedures of the three parameters is provided and the relationship among them is discussed. Finally, as an example, the formation damage for two horizontal wells located in Dagang
Oilfield is evaluated.

A Model for the Calculation of Invasion

Depth of Drilling and Completion Fluids
According to the experimental procedures described
previously(4), the invasion depths of different core samples damaged by several kinds of drilling and completion fluids under various temperatures and pressures were measured using the slice cutting method. The results are listed in Table 1. The measured data
and other relevant parameters were then used to establish the
model for the calculation of invasion depth of drilling and completion fluids through regression analysis, which was given by(4)
d,

=I. 6 12p.521 (V r., / cI> t71 exp(0.043K)

......................................(1)

The comparison of invasion depths between the calculated valThe Journal of Canadian Petroleum Technology

'TABLE 1: The comparison between the calculated and ineasuredTnvaslon depihs~ - ~t

Core
vf
K
cp
P
4,m
4,e
(em)
No.
(MPa)
(em3) (10-3 11m2)
(em)
eC)
100
6.62
6.96
1
2.76
2.33
33.09
7.50
6.49
7.37
64.81
90
6.50
2
1.50
9.53
1.77
18.96
90
5.72
5.40
3
2.76
14.51
:5.17
4
2.53
170.69
24.82
80
5.66
2.76
80
- -5.53
5.90
5
2.41
5.17
128.23
23.76
_2.44
80
6.15
153.27
24.34
3.90
6.31
6
'22.40
6.26~"
90
2.10
7.98
72.03
5.87
7
80
5.34
4.85
.4.61
1.50
24.40
8
.45.32
,329.77 - 29.53,
'5.11
9
2.76
2.78
5.62
- 80
10
7.51
113.29
9.32
110
6.61
6.57
1.50
,5.33
2.52
710.21
90
11
3.10
5.45
30.25
12
3.10
2.29
379.43
28.04
90
5.54
5.19
13
3.10
2.61
307.45
28.95
80
5.91
5.347
2.78
595.61
14
100
5.57
2.76
29.65
~.159
'4, m - measured invasion depth in 30 min., 4, e - calculated invasion depthI in 30 min.,
'R.E. - relative error
',
'
"
"

R.E.
(%)

5.1
-0.1
-5.7
-8.7
6.7
-2.6
-6.6
-5.0
-9.1
-0.7
-2.2
-6.3
-9.5
-7.4

!
I

.1
-~

-,

-------------

rTJHiLE-2: Thecomparison betweenthe calculated ancfmeasured skin factors for three wells.

! ,

'

cp
Well
rw
No.
(em)
1
10.8
16.1
2
15.6
19.8
22.2
10.8
3______
__________

L...._~

(hrs)
528
474
432 :

Vu

(em3)
19.2
16.4
12.5

P
(MPa)
3.15
3.15
3.15

Ku '

!<d'

'J'

(10-3 11m2) (10-3l1ffi2)

10.9'
27.3
49.5
112.7
153.3
48.9

, ~e

..

1.90
1.21 '
2.38'

sm
2.15
. 1.40
2:61

,~

ues from Equation (1) and the measured data is also given in
Table 1. It is shown that all the relative errors between them are
less than 10%.
With Equation (1), the invasion depths of drilling and completion fluids for three vertical wells located in Dagang Oilfield during the actual contact time were calculated. Then, the calculated
skin factors (designated as SJ of the reservoirs for these wells can
be obtained by use of the data of the permeability to oil of damaged and undamaged core samples. A comparison between Sc and
the measured skin factors (designated as Sm) obtained from the
pressure-up test method is shown in Table 2. It can be seen that
the calculated skin factors are somewhat less than the corresponding measured skin factors. The reason for this is that the calculated values do not include the effect of formation damage induced
by the perforation process.

Evaluation Procedures of Formation

Damage ,for Horizontal Wells
Prior to the evaluation of the formation damage for a horizontal

w~ll, the anisotropy formation ratio (~) must be calculated by

virtUe of the measurements of both vertical and horizontal permeabilities using the representative core samples of the producing
formation. The anisotropy ratio of permeability is defined as(5.6):
~=(Kh
IKf2 ....................................................................................(2)
,

In order to measure % and ICy, the core plugs for tests can be
available from a big core sample according to the cutting direction
shown in Figure 1. The value of ~ is very important for a horizontal well because the productivity depends considerably on the vertical permeability of formation.

Skin Factor
Formation damage is commonly believed to be induced by the
apparent skin effect, which is indicated as the skin factor, for both
vertical and horizontal wells. The greater the skin factor, the more
pronounced the formation damage caused by completion fluids
will be. The skin factor is given by
May 1997, Volume 36, No.5

S =(KI K, -l)ln(r, I rw) ................................................................... (3)

,...In vertical wells, the skin effect can usually be removed with
acidulating and fracturing operations, so the skin factor can be
recovered to zero, or even a negative value. In horizontal wells,
however, it is quite difficult and costly to eliminate the skin effect
with the same operations, because of the larger contact area and
longer contact time of reservoir rocks with drilling and completion fluids, resulting in more serious formation damage.
The skin factor is an important parameter to represent the
extent of formation damage. It can be obtained with the following
steps:
l. Calculate the invasion depth of completion fluids with
Equation (1).
2. Measure the permeabilities of representative core samples
before and after contamination with drilling and completion
fluids using the displacement equipment.
3. Calculate the skin factor with Equation (3). In a horizontal
well, however, the skin factors at each direction and each
point of the horizontal well section are not the same because
of the anisotropy of permeability and different contact time.
Obviously, it is very difficult to judge the damage extent with
such different skin factors. In this case, the mean skin factor has to
be used to describe the overall damage extent for a horizontal
well. In addition, the flow efficiency of a horizontal well can also
be calculated with the mean skin factor.

Flow Efficiency
Flow efficiency is defined as the ratio of the production index
of damaged formation to the ideal production index of undamaged
formation. The flow efficiency is equal to 1 for an undamaged formation and less than 1 for a damaged formation. The greater the
damage extent is, the more the reduction in flow efficiency will
be. Under the condition of steady flow of incompressible fluids
through both homogeneous and heterogeneous media, the following model to calculate flow efficiency for horizontal wells has
been widely used(6-8):
L COS-I (X) I h~+ In(h / 2nrw')
Lcos-I(X) / h~+ In(h / 21tfw')+S

.:.....................................(4)

37

, !
(