Functions of Drilling

Fluids

Functions of a Drilling Fluid

z

Hole Cleaning

Pressure Control

Suspend Solids

Minimize Formation Damage

Isolate Fluids from Formation

Cooling and Lubrication

Functions of a Drilling Fluid

cont d
z

Power Downhole Tools

Environment

Maximum Hole Information

Corrosion

Support Part of DS

Cost

Choice of Drilling Fluid

z Cost

z Availability

z Environment

z Storage

z Safety
z Suitability
Inhibition
Rheology
Fluid Loss
Temperature

Drilling Fluid Systems

z Types of Systems:
Spud Muds : used to start the well
Drilling Fluids : used to drill the well
drill to top of the reservoir
drill through the reservoir
Completion Fluids : used to complete the well

Top Hole Drilling Fluids

z Requirements:
Fast drilling - large hole size, 16 / 17 1/2
Young formation - reactive or unconsolidated
Low annular velocities - need high pump rates (1000 gpm)
SCE may have difficulty in handling the flow, so use dump & dilute method
with WBMs - cheap system.
More problems with OBMs

reduce pump rates to avoid losses.

fit coarser screens.
need good shakers and centrifuges

Water Base Mud Systems

z

Cheap basic systems:

Gel/Cmc Muds
Lime Muds
Gyp Muds
Non-Dispersed Polymer
muds

Expensive Inhibited systems:

KCl/Polymer Muds
High Temp Muds
Special Mud Sytems
>Quadrill
>Visplex
>Silicates
>Formates

Advantages of OBM
z Good penetration rates and prolonged bit life. (fewer trips, less bit balling)
z Excellent inhibition of reactive shales and clays.
z Thermally stable.
z Low damage factors to oil reservoir.
z High lubricity, low torque.
z Good corrosion protection, particularly for H2S.
z Gauge hole.
z Good fluid loss control .
z Less chance of stuck pipe.
z High solids tolerance.
z Salt sections not dissolved.
z Good coring fluid.

Disadvantages of OBM
z High initial well Cost.
z Some electric logs cannot be run.
z Can damage gas reservoirs due to water or emulsion blocks.
z Lost circulation is expensive.
z Greater chance of a poor cement bond.
z Detection of gas kicks difficult due to solubility of gas in oil.
z Logistic problems (supply boats, storage tanks).
z Messy working environment.,
carcinogenic fumes

potential

fire

hazard

can

produce

z Difficult to detect crude oil.

z Hole cleaning may be a problem. At high temperatures the viscosity of
OBM is low..
z Fire Hazard.
z Environmental pollution - fumes

Oil Base Mud Systems

z Invert Oil Emulsion muds: INTERDRILL NT,
INTERDRILL LOR
Realtively cheap, re-usable, better enviromental footprint

z 100% Oil Muds: TRUDRILL

best inhibition, good for depleted gas reservoirs, poor
environmental impact

z Synthetic Oil Base muds: ULTIDRILL

Best environmental footprint, can be used exactly as INTERDRILL
system.

Introduction to Drilling Fluids

z

Hole Cleaning

Pressure Control

Suspend Solids

Minimize Formation Damage

Isolate Fluid From Formation

Cooling and Lubrication

Remove Cuttings From the

Well Bore
z The most important parameter is the
Annular Velocity (A.V.)
Where possible the annular velocity
should be 100 ft/min, higher in deviated
holes.
In large hole sections the A.V. can be as
low as 20 ft/min.

z If the A.V. is insufficient to clean the

hole the viscosity must be increased

For top hole high viscosities must be

used

z Cuttings removal is harder in deviated

and horizontal holes as the vertical
component of the mud is reduced.

A.V.(ft/min)
= Pump rate (bbls/min)
Annular vol (bbls/ft)

Slip Velocity (ft/min)

=Cuttings velocity - A.V.

Introduction to Drilling Fluids

z

Hole Cleaning

Pressure Control

Suspend Solids

Minimize Formation Damage

Isolate Fluid from Formation

Cooling and Lubrication

Balancing Sub-Surface Pressures

z The pore pressure depends on:
The density of the overlying rock
The pressure of the interstitial fluid
Whether the rock is self supporting or is supported
by the fluid.
Tectonic activity
Surface terrain
z If the fluid hydrostatic pressure does not balance the pore
pressure the following may occur:
Influxes of formation fluid into the wellbore
Lost circulation
Hole Instability
Stuck pipe

Balancing Sub-Surface Pressures

z

The pressure balancing the

formation pressure is composed
from the hydrostatic pressure under
static conditions:

Hydrostatic Pressure (psi)

= Height (ft) x Density(ppg) x 0.052

P = Depth (ft) x Density (ppg) x 0.052

z

Under circulating conditions the

effective pressure is increased by
the pumping pressure. This forms
the Equivalent Circulating density
(ECD):
ECD = Density (ppg) + Ann Press Loss
Depth x 0.052

Pore
Pressure

(Not normally
known)

Introduction to Drilling Fluids

z

Hole Cleaning

Pressure Control

Suspend Solids

Minimize Formation Damage

Isolate Fluid from Formation

Cooling and Lubrication

Suspension of Solids
z Whenever the pumps are switched off solids will start to
settle. This can result in:

Bridging off of the wellbore

Stuck pipe
Hole fill
Loss of Hydrostatic

z A gel structure is required to suspend the cuttings under

zero shear conditions:
The gel structure is caused by time dependant attractive
forces which develop in the fluid.
The longer the fluid is static the stronger these forces
become
The gel structure should be easily broken
The gel properties are especially important for deviated and
horizontal wells as the distance solids have to settle is very
small

Introduction to Drilling Fluids

z

Hole Cleaning

Pressure Control

Suspension of Solids

Minimize Formation Damage

Isolate Fluid from Formation

Cooling and Lubrication

Minimize Formation Damage

z Damage to the formation while drilling to the
reservoir:
Formation swelling (Normally clay and Salt formations)
Washouts (Clay and Salt formations or any
unconsolidated formation)
This can result in:

Difficult directional control

Poor zonal isolation
Excess mud and cement costs
Poor Hole Cleaning
Stuck Pipe
Difficult fishing jobs

The Need For Inhibition

Minimize Formation Damage

z Damage to the reservoir will result in loss of production or
the need for remedial treatment. This can result from:

Solids blocking reservoir pores

Emulsion droplets blocking reservoir pores
Swelling clays
Ions from the formation and drilling fluid forming
insoluble salts

Damage by Drilling Muds

Mud damage can occur by:
z

Physical reduction of pore / pore throat size

Mud solids invasion

Formation fines migration
Clay swelling
Adsorption / precipitation of mud polymers
Reaction and precipitation (scale)

Relative permeability reduction

Wettability change
Emulsion formation
Fluid saturation change/fluid blocking

Formation Fines Migration

Conglomeration of loose
material around pore throat

Kaolinite stack almost

completely disaggregated

Depth of Invasion
z

Mud composition & reservoir characteristics influence the

degree of damage

Depth of damage is influenced by

Mud formulation
Time in open hole
Mud overbalance

Depth of damage is often less than the total depth of invasion due
to depletion of damaging species

Introduction to Drilling Fluids

z

Hole Cleaning

Pressure Control

Suspension of Solids

Minimize Formation Damage

Isolate Fluid from Formation

Cooling and Lubrication

Isolate the Fluid From the

Formation
z The differential pressure forces fluid into the wellbore,
resulting in whole mud or filtrate entering the formation.
Either, or both, of these is undesirable because:

The loss of whole mud into the wellbore is expensive

and damaging
The loss of filtrate into the wellbore may cause

formation damage

Isolate the Fluid From the

Formation
z The flow of fluid is affected by the formation of a filter cake
z The filter cake reduces the flow of fluid into the formation.
Special additives are added to improve the cake quality:
Bridging material
Plate like material
Plugging material
z The filter cake should be thin with a low permeability
This avoids reducing the effective hole diameter
It also reduces the chance of differential sticking
Minimises filtrate penetration into formation

Introduction to Drilling Fluids

z

Hole Cleaning

Pressure Control

Suspension of Solids

Minimize Formation Damage

Isolate Fluid from Formation

Cooling and Lubrication

Cooling and Lubrication

z The drilling fluid removes heat from the bit which is then
dispersed at the surface
Fluid formulations are not changed to improve this
function
Very occasionally the temperature of the fluid exceeds
the flash point. In this case it is necessary to improve
surface cooling
z Extra lubrication may be required between the drill string
and the casing or wellbore, especially in directional wells
Liquid additives are used, or Oil based mud
Solid additives are sometimes used such as glass
beads, plastic beads, graphite or nut plug
Drill pipe rubbers are sometimes added to reduce wear
between the casing and drill pipe

Other Considerations
z

Power Downhole Tools

Environment

Maximum Hole Information

Corrosion

Support Part of the DS

Cost

Other Functions
z Power Downhole motors
Turbines to turn the bit or power MWD / LWD
equipment

z Transfer information from measurement equipment

to the surface
This is done with a pressure pulse

Other Considerations
z

Power Downhole Tools

Environment

Maximum Hole Information

Corrosion

Support Part of the DS

Cost

Environmental Impact - Offshore

Man
Discharge
Discharge

Mussel
(Mytilus sp.)

Bioaccumulation
Bioaccumulation

Zooplankton
(Acartia sp.)

Algae
(Skeletonema sp.)

Shrimp
(Mysidopsis sp.)
Biodegradation
Biodegradation

Taint
Taint

Fish
(Scophthalamus sp.)
Sediment Reworker
(Corophium sp.)

Environmental Impact - Land

Discharge
- Chlorides
- Heavy metals
- pH
- TDS
- BOD, COD
- Clarity

Treat

Recycle
- Solids content

Liquid
Waste

Drilled
Cuttings

Disposal
- Toxicity
- Chlorides
- Heavy metals
- Oil content
- Solids content

Other Considerations
z

Power Downhole Tools

Environment

Maximum Hole Information

Corrosion

Support Part of the DS

Cost

Secure Maximum Hole Information

z The operator will always require the following
information:
z Rock type being drilled
The cuttings should not dissolve or disintegrate
z Analyses of gases
The gases should separate easily from the mud
z The fluid should have a defined resistivity
Formation resistivity measurements need to be made

Other Considerations
z

Power Downhole Tools

Environment

Maximum Hole Information

Corrosion

Support Part of the DS

Cost

Control Corrosion
z The fluid should be non corrosive to the:
Drill string
Casing
Surface equipment

Corrosion leads to loss of

z Corrosion can lead to:

Wash outs
Twist offs
Pump failure
Surface Leaks

&

Other Considerations
z

Power Downhole Tools

Environment

Maximum Hole Information

Corrosion

Support Part of the DS

Cost

Support Part of the Tubular

Weight
z Aids in supporting part of the weight of the drill string and
casing
z The degree of buoyancy is directly proportional to the
density of the fluid.

The fluid density is never changed to

increase the buoyancy

Other Considerations
z

Power Downhole Tools

Environment

Maximum Hole Information

Corrosion

Support Part of the DS

Cost

Maximize Penetration Rates

z The fluid properties greatly influence penetration rates by:
Removing cuttings from below the bit and wellbore
Reducing the cushioning effect of solids between the bit
teeth and the formation
Reducing the hydrostatic differential
Increasing the jet velocity

Bits

Rig days,
Bits,
Ft/Bit.

Rig days
Ft/Bit
5

10

Solids Content (%volume)

Well Cost
Well
Cost

($)

DFS
Cost
($)

Daily
Cost

(days x $/day)

Fluids
Engineering
(days x $/day)

Footage
Cost

(ft x $/ft)

Drilling
Fluid
(ft x $/ft)

Once off and

Other Costs
($)

Completion
Fluid
($)

DFS direct cost is relatively small (5 to 10% of well cost)

Greatest savings achieved by improving Drilling Efficiency

Key Drilling Fluid Issues

Minimise
loss of fluid
to the formation
Control
formation
pressure

Lubricate
the drill string

Maintain
borehole stability
Suspend barite
under static and
dynamic conditions
Remove
drilling cuttings
from the hole
Provide hydraulic
horse power
to the bit

Building blocks
z

There are two basic building units from which all the different
clay minerals are constructed :

The Octahedral Layer

This consists of two sheets of closely packed oxygens or

hydroxides in which aluminium (Gibbsite), iron or magnesium
(brucite) ions are embedded.

Building blocks
z

The tetrahedral Layer

(A)

(B)

In each tetrahedral unit, a silicon atom is located in the centre of

the tetrahedron, equidistant from the four oxygen atoms.

Note that when viewd from above this gives a hexagonal opening.

Building blocks
z

Tetrahedral and octrahedral sheets may combine in

different combinations to form over 26 different clay
minerals

The type of clay mineral will depend on

the ratios of the silica to octahedral layer .
The nature of ions inbeded in these structures.
Other ions associated with the structures.

Shale Shaker
z The Shale Shaker performance determines the
total efficiency of the complete solids control
package.

Poor performance here cannot be rectified

later !

Overhead Manifold Design

Screen Blinding
Blinding can be due to
solids jamming the
openings.
The usual remedy is to
remove the screen and jet
wash it from the rear of the
screen.
Fitting finer screens may
allow the solids to pass
over the openings, if not
then the only answer is to
fit coarser screens

Screen Plugging

Degasser
z Gas cut mud is :
Damaging to rig equipment,
A potential well control problem,
Lethal if Sour or Flammable.
z Common with high viscosity / heavy muds.
z Centrifugal pumps, hydrocyclones and the rig pumps loose
efficiency if the mud is gas cut.
z The degasser should be installed between the sand trap
and the first hydrocyclones.

Degasser
Operation of a
degasser

Mud Input

Hydrocyclones
A general view of
a Desander and
Desilter

Mud Cleaner
z The purpose of the mud-cleaner is to screen the
underflow of the hydrocyclones in order to:

Reclaim base liquid.

Reclaim discarded barytes.
Produce relatively dry cuttings.

Mudcleaner
Note that a
Mudcleaner is
basically a
combination of a
hydrocyclone and a
shale shaker.
Hydrocyclone use
has diminished
rapidly with the
introduction of better
shakers and
centrifuges.

Centrifuges
z Centrifuges are usually the last piece of solids control
equipment. They process about 10% of the flow.
z The capacity for separation is approx. 95% for 20 micron and
50% of 10 micron particles.
z Due to the high G forces, ultra-fine particles (as small as 3
microns) can be removed form the mud.

Centrifuges
Solids

Solids discharge with

absorbed liquid only

Colloidal
liquid
discharge

Feed inlet
Colloidal
liquid
discharge

Gearbox

Pool level controlled

by weir settings

Feed ports

Beach

Applications
z The centrifuge is used for the separation of solids and for reclaiming
fluid. It is extremely useful to remove ultra-fine solids especially from
more expensive fluids such as KCl-polymer mud or OBM.
z The removal of ultrafine drilled solids (LGS) will enhance viscosity and
weight control without excessive dilutions being required.
z In weighted muds the centrifuges can be useful to lower the mud weight
by removing the weighting material (HGS) for the following reasons:
During a pressure differential stuck pipe situation.
During lost circulation
When the next hole section is scheduled to be drilled with lighter
mud.
z Another application is the recovery of oil from oil-contaminated cuttings.