RESUMENLos fluidos de perforación tienen como función principal remover los recortes de roca generados por el trepano. Son clasificados de acuerdo a sus componentes de base: agua (WBM, water based mud) o aceite (OBM, oil based mud). Entre los aditivos principales encontramos polímeros, densificantes, sales, tensioactivos y lubricantes. La tendencia actual es diseñar WBMs amigables con el ambiente, que puedan competir con los OBMs en términos de baja toxicidad, mínimo daño a la formación productora, eficiencia y bajos costos asociados con la disposición final de los recortes generados y los fluidos. Esto llevó a la incorporación de nuevas formulaciones y materiales tales como los nanométricos.La creciente demanda hidrocarburífera ha llevado al estudio y producción de reservorios no convencionales de tipo shale en Argentina y el mundo. Este tipo de formaciones sedimentarias de estructura laminar, están conformadas por partículas consolidadas del tamaño de las arcillas, poseen nanoporos y baja permeabilidad. Durante la perforación del shale con WBM se debe garantizar la estabilidad de las paredes del pozo controlando la inhibición de las arcillas presentes y el incremento de la presión poral ocasionado por el ingreso de fluido a la formación. Para este último propósito, en este trabajo, se seleccionó nanosílice de 12 nm, la cual obtura los poros del shale que tienen un tamaño promedio de 30 nm. Se busca de esta forma reducir el ingreso de fluido a la formación, la presión poral, la permeabilidad y minimizar la interacción roca-fluido.Se estudió la reología de los WBM diseñados y envejecidos con distintas proporciones de nanopartículas comparando con el comportamiento reológico de un OBM para determinar la concentración óptima de nanosílice que fue de 0,5% p/p. A su vez siguiendo las normas API 13B1-2 y API 13I se realizaron pruebas de control de filtrado e inhibición de los fluidos. Palabras clave: fluidos de perforación base agua, shale argentino, presión poral. ABSTRACTGenerally, drilling fluids may be defined as fluids with a composition that can assist the generation and removal of cuttings from the borehole to the surface. They are classified according to their base as water based mud (WBM), oil based mud (OBM) or gas. Polymers, densifiers, brines, surfactants, among others are the primary components of drilling fluids. Currently the trend is to develop WBMs, which simulate the high performance of OBMs, with benefits such as reduction of environmental impacts and lower costs associated with cuttings and fluids disposal. This challenge introduces high performance materials in the oil industry such as nanomaterials.The increasing demand of hydrocarbons has led the study and production of unconventional resources in Argentina and worldwide like shale and tight reservoirs. Shales are sedimentary rocks composed of clay size particles and organic matter with laminar structure, low permeability and nanopores. In these types of rocks wellbore stability and shale inhibition are key factors while drilling with WBM, so i...

Integrating field and laboratory data is possible if there are strong geologic criteria to relate them. This challenge demands understanding rocks from the fabric and mineralogy up to the architectural elements of rock bodies at a basinal scale. The geological properties of rocks, being them clastic, chemical or biochemical, influence reservoir quality and hydrocarbon producibility, but continental mudrocks/siltstones (shales) are by far more complex because of their depositional nature and highly variable vertical and lateral sedimentary characteristics. Grain size variability and sedimentary structures are common in these rocks. From outcrops, well logs and the source rocks of the Cuyana Basin (Argentina) could be characterized as deposited in lacustrine environments under a strong tectonic and climatic influence. Silty sandstones, limestones, massive and laminated bituminous shales developed in underfilled and balanced to overfilled lakes. They display parallel/inclined/rippled laminations, coarsening/fining upwards patterns, nodules, scour surfaces and pedogenic features. Total organic content may reach 14 % and corresponds to macro and micro floral remains, freshwater invertebrates and kerogen types I and II. These lithofacies are vertically stacked in patterns that can be related to cycles with different mechanical properties. In outcrops and with the help of seismic lines third order depositional sequences representing basin variations in accommodation space were recognized as low accommodation (LAS) to high accommodation (HAS) sequences developed in each of the three rifting stages. Using detailed information about mineralogy and fossil content climate was characterized and fourth order parasequences could be characterized. Fifth order (bedset-rhythms) cycles were interpreted on the basis of outcrops and well logs. Inorganic (especially clays) and organic content, pedogenic fabric, burrows and microfracturing represent weakness planes and as they vary according to these cycles, it was possible to model a mechanical cyclicity along the whole lacustrine column and to analyze their depositional controls. This integrated study has provided relevant data for the understanding of the geological and mechanical properties that will contribute to the optimization of fracture programs.

The objective of this paper is to formulate a Petro Technical Professional profile in Argentina to propose a new academic curriculum. Argentinean university's curricula analysis is performed trying to elaborate the actual profile of the Petroleum Engineering Professional. An analysis of the energetic situation and the petroleum industry needs in Argentina is also carried out attempting to know the work situation in which the future graduate will be immersed. Unconventional oil and gas resources in Argentina and their potential exploration and improvement were decisive to initiate this work. New opportunities in this direction will be presented for future professionals so academic curricula should be adapted to follow them. The environment is also taken in consideration as an important topic to be included. It is remarkable to mention the participation of two Petroleum Engineering's students in this work.

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