A Review of Zechstein Drilling Issues

Williamson,; Murray, S.J.; Hamilton, T.A.P.; Copland,

doi:10.2118/51182-pa

Cited by 10 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…The Jurassic is absent (cf. Wong et al, 2007a), whereas the Lower Cretaceous interval is 50 to 140 m thick and does not thicken into the salt withdrawal basins. The layer has a rather continuous thickness compared to the surrounding units in the study area.…”

Section: Phasementioning

confidence: 95%

“…In this study we focus on bischofite and carnallite, although we note that other salts like tachydrite have also a very low viscosity, which have been described in evaporites offshore Brazil (Poiate et al, 2006). The low viscosity of deeply buried K-Mg salts combined with their high solubility is a well-known source of drilling problems and casing instability (Williamson et al, 1998). On the other hand, carnallite and bischofite are economically interesting and are mined in a number of locations (Vysotskiy and Kislik, 1987;Cerqueira et al, 1997).…”

Section: A F Raith Et Al: Evolution Of Rheologically Heterogeneous Salt Structuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evolution of rheologically heterogeneous salt structures: a case study from the northeast of the Netherlands

Raith

Strozyk

Visser³

et al. 2015

Preprint

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Abstract. At the first order salt structures are controlled by the low flow strength of evaporites and by the tectonic boundary conditions. Rheological contrasts within an evaporite body have an important effect on the evolution of the internal structure of salt, but how this mechanical layering affects salt deformation at different scales is not well known. The potassium–magnesium salts (K-Mg salts) carnallite and bischofite are prime examples of layers with much lower effective viscosity than rock salt: their low viscosity presents serious drilling hazards but also allows squeeze solution mining. In contrast, anhydrite and carbonate layers (stringers) in salt are much stronger than halite. In this study, we used high-resolution 3-D seismic and well data to study the evolution of the Veendam and Slochteren salt pillows at the southern boundary of the Groningen High, northern Netherlands. Here the rock salt layers contain both the mechanically stronger Zechstein III Anhydrite–Carbonate stringer and the weaker K-Mg salts, providing an example of extreme rheological heterogeneities in salt structures. The internal structure of the two salt pillows shows areas in which the K-Mg salt-rich ZIII 1b layer is much thicker than elsewhere, in combination with a complexly ruptured and folded ZIII Anhydrite–Carbonate stringer. Thickness maps of supra-salt sediments and well data are used to infer the initial depositional architecture of the K-Mg salts and their deformation history. Results suggest that active faulting and the resulting depressions of the Zechstein surface above a Rotliegend graben caused the local accumulation of bittern brines and precipitation of the thick K-Mg salts. During the first phase of salt flow and withdrawal from the Veendam area, under differential loading by Buntsandstein sediments, the ZIII stringer was boudinaged while the lens of Mg salts remained relatively undeformed. This was followed by a convergence stage, when the K-Mg salt-rich layers were deformed with the evolving salt pillows. This deformation was strongly disharmonic and strongly influenced by folding of the underlying, ruptured ZIII stringer, leading to thickening and internal deformation of the carnallite–bischofite layers.

show abstract

Section: Phasementioning

confidence: 95%

Section: A F Raith Et Al: Evolution Of Rheologically Heterogeneous Salt Structuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution of rheologically heterogeneous salt structures: a case study from the northeast of the Netherlands

Raith

Strozyk

Visser³

et al. 2015

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Section: A F Raith Et Al: Evolution Of Rheologically Heterogeneousmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution of rheologically heterogeneous salt structures: a case study from the NE Netherlands

Raith

Strozyk

Visser³

et al. 2016

Solid Earth

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Abstract. The growth of salt structures is controlled by the low flow strength of evaporites and by the tectonic boundary conditions. The potassium-magnesium salts (K-Mg salts) carnallite and bischofite are prime examples of layers with much lower effective viscosity than halite: their low viscosity presents serious drilling hazards but also allows squeeze solution mining. In contrast, intrasalt anhydrite and carbonate layers (stringers) are much stronger than halite. These rheological contrasts within an evaporite body have an important control on the evolution of the internal structure of salt, but how this mechanical layering affects salt deformation at different scales is not well known. In this study, we use high-resolution 3-D seismic and well data to study the evolution of the Veendam and Slochteren salt pillows at the southern boundary of the Groningen High, northern Netherlands. Here the rock salt layers contain both the mechanically stronger Zechstein III Anhydrite-Carbonate stringer and the weaker K-Mg salts, thus we are able to assess the role of extreme rheological heterogeneities on salt structure growth. The internal structure of the two salt pillows shows areas in which the K-Mg salt-rich ZIII 1b layer is much thicker than elsewhere, in combination with a complexly ruptured and folded ZIII Anhydrite-Carbonate stringer. Thickness maps of supra-salt sediments and well data are used to infer the initial depositional architecture of the K-Mg salts and their deformation history. Results suggest that faulting and the generation of depressions on the top Zechstein surface above a Rotliegend graben caused the local accumulation of bittern brines and precipitation of thick K-Mg salts. During the first phase of salt flow and withdrawal from the Veendam area, under the influence of differential loading by Buntsandstein sediments, the ZIII stringer was boudinaged while the lens of Mg salts remained relatively undeformed. This was followed by a convergence stage, when the K-Mg salt-rich layers were deformed within the inflating salt pillows. This deformation was strongly disharmonic and strongly influenced by folding of the underlying, ruptured ZIII stringer, leading to thickening and internal deformation of the K-Mg salt layers.

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“…Drilling mud remain a vital component of drilling a wellbore for the exploration and production of oil and gas [1,2]. Drilling uid is employed during the process of drilling an oil well to enhance drilling's e ciency and well productivity [3]. Drilling uid is a blend comprising of a base uid as the continuous phase and different kinds of additives that perform de nite or dual function(s) to remove drill cuttings to the surface, maintain wellbore stability [4,5,6] and control hydrostatic pressure [7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of Shell Powders of Bush Mango and Hamburger Bean as Eco-friendly Fluid Loss Control Additives in Drilling Mud

Nwiyoronu,

Onuoha,

Chukunedum

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Fluid loss within a permeable formation is one of the expensive problems encounter during drilling of a wellbore. Commercially available materials such as Hydroxyl Ethyl Cellulose (HEC), Polyanionic Cellulose (PAC), and Carboxyl Methyl Cellulose (CMC) are employed to minimize fluid loss but they are costly and cause increased viscosity when faced with high salinity and hardness. This study evaluate the application of shell powders of hamburger bean and bush mango as eco-friendly and cheap filtration control additives in water-based mud. Sixteen samples were formulated with different concentrations (5g, 10g, 15g and 20g) of the shell powders. The effect of the additives on the rheological property was determined. Filtration test was determined using API 13B-I LPLP filter press. Results obtained showed that 15g and 20g of Bush mango reduced fluid loss, while the mud samples with hamburger beans exhibited a progressive decrease in filtration rate as the hamburger bean content increased. Both Bush Mango and Hamburger Bean-based mud produced cake thickness between 1.2-1.8 mm. The overall result indicates that Hamburger bean provide effective filtration control than Bush mango.

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A Review of Zechstein Drilling Issues

Cited by 10 publications

References 6 publications

Evolution of rheologically heterogeneous salt structures: a case study from the northeast of the Netherlands

Evolution of rheologically heterogeneous salt structures: a case study from the northeast of the Netherlands

Evolution of rheologically heterogeneous salt structures: a case study from the NE Netherlands

Evaluation of Shell Powders of Bush Mango and Hamburger Bean as Eco-friendly Fluid Loss Control Additives in Drilling Mud

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