An Overview of the Common Water-Based Formulations Used for Drilling Onshore Gas Wells in the Middle East

Ahmed, Ashraf; Alsaihati, Ahmed; Elkatatny, Salaheldin

doi:10.1007/s13369-020-05107-z

Cited by 20 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Generally, two types of drilling muds are used (i.e., aqueousbased and nonaqueous-based mud) [1][2][3][4]. The aqueousbased mud is widely applied but with considerable challenges in hostile conditions such as water-sensitive and high-pressure and high-temperature (HP/HT) formations, where the nonaqueous-based mud has a preferred technical performance but with environmental concerns [3,5]. Hence, the nonaqueous invert emulsion mud is practically introduced to support the higher technical criteria and satisfy the environmental regulations, which result in integrating the practical benefits of both aqueous and nonaqueousbased muds [3,6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Hematite (Fe 2 O 3 ) is electrically conductive with specific gravity of 4.9-5.3 g/cm 3 . It is known as an absorbent, blasting, and adhesive agent.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Titanium-iron oxide mineral (FeTiO 3 ), known as ilmenite, has specific gravity of 4.5-5.1 g/cm 3 , lower abrasiveness than hematite, and acid solubility. Ilmenite is successfully utilized as a weighting material [24,28,42].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Ilmenite Inclusion: A Solution towards Solid Sagging for Hematite-Based Invert Emulsion Mud

2022

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The sagging tendency of hematite in drilling mud is a common challenge occurring at high-pressure and high-temperature (HP/HT) applications. This work studies the performance of hematite-based invert emulsion mud for HP/HT conditions and provides a solution to prevent the hematite settlement using a combination of ilmenite with hematite. Practical mud formulation was utilized over a range of ilmenite/hematite ratios (0/100, 20/80, 40/60, and 50/50%) to study sagging behaviour. From the sag tests, the optimum combination proportion was determined. Thereafter, the density, emulsion stability, rheological and viscoelastic properties, and filtration conduct for the formulated mud were evaluated. The experiments were conditioned as per the standards of the American Petroleum Institute. The obtained results of sagging experiments indicated that including 50% of ilmenite mitigated the hematite settling and reduced the sag tendency towards the safe range. A slight drop (4%) in mud weight was noticed upon adding the ilmenite, whereas the emulsion stability was enhanced from 551 to 574 volts with the 50% ilmenite content. The rheology and viscoelasticity measurements showed that 50/50% combination improved the yield point (YP) by 50% with a trivial 1 cP increment on plastic viscosity (PV), hence enhancing the YP/PV ratio by 46%. Also, the gelling strength was enhanced resulting in flat rheology and better gel structure. The filtration behaviour of 50% ilmenite mud was improved compared to blank hematite as it resulted in 21, 15, and 17% reduction on the filtrated volume, filter cake weight, and thickness, respectively. This study provides a solution for hematite sagging issue at HP/HT using combined weighting agents, which contributes to enhancing the mud stability and avoiding several well control issues and related operational and technical challenges that eventually will economize the drilling cost and time.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Hematite (Fe 2 O 3 ) is electrically conductive with specific gravity of 4.9-5.3 g/cm 3 . It is known as an absorbent, blasting, and adhesive agent.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Ilmenite Inclusion: A Solution towards Solid Sagging for Hematite-Based Invert Emulsion Mud

2022

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“…The drilling fluid plays a key role in successful drilling operations, which necessitates proper drilling fluid design to ensure the required properties and to fulfill its necessary functions. Over the years, two types of drilling fluids have been used (i.e., water-based and oil-based mud). − The water-based mud (WBM) is widely used but with serious challenges in harsh environments such as in the case of high-pressure high-temperature (HP/HT) reservoirs in which the oil-based mud (OBM) has technical preference but with economic and environmental concerns. , Accordingly, an optimization of the WBM will be required to make it suitable to overcome the harsh conditions of oil and gas reservoirs …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevention of Hematite Settling in Water-Based Mud at High Pressure and High Temperature

et al. 2021

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Hematite was recently introduced as a weighting agent in drilling fluids; however, its use has some problems because of the settlement of solid particles (solid sagging). Particularly when it comes to high-pressure high-temperature (HP/HT) wells, sagging causes inconsistency in the drilling fluid and gives rise to serious drilling operational and technical challenges. This work provides a solution to this challenge via a thorough investigation of hematite sagging in water-based mud for HP/HT applications where ilmenite is combined with hematite. The particles of both hematite and ilmenite were first characterized to address their mineralogical and textural features. Field mud formulation was employed using several ilmenite/hematite contents (i.e., 0/100, 25/75, and 50/50% ilmenite/hematite). Then, laboratory experiments were conducted to study the density, pH, and sag performance of the produced drilling fluids. From the sagging tests, the optimal ilmenite/hematite ratio was determined, and rheology, viscoelastic behavior, and filtration properties of the formulated mud were addressed. The tests were conditioned to 300 psi and 250 °F. The results showed a reduction in mud density and pH with increasing ilmenite content, as the density reduced from15 ppg with base hematite until 14.2 ppg for the 50% ilmenite mixture and the pH reduced from 10.5 to 9.3. The static and dynamic sag tests indicated that the addition of 25% of ilmenite solved the hematite-incorporated sagging issue by well placing the sag tendency within the recommended safe range. The 25/75% combination enhanced the yield point (YP) by 37% with only 1 cP increment in plastic viscosity (PV) and an insignificant effect on the gel strength. The YP/PV ratio was improved by 31% indicating better hole cleaning and solid suspension. The filtration behavior of the 25% ilmenite mixture was superior compared to that of the blank hematite because it resulted in 35, 39, and 35% reduction in the filtrate volume, filter-cake weight, and thickness, respectively. This work contributes to improving and economizing the drilling cost and time by the formulation of a stabilized and distinguished-performance drilling mud using combined weighting agents at HP/HT.

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Investigation of magnetite-based invert emulsion mud at high pressure high temperature

et al. 2021

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An Overview of the Common Water-Based Formulations Used for Drilling Onshore Gas Wells in the Middle East

Cited by 20 publications

References 51 publications

Ilmenite Inclusion: A Solution towards Solid Sagging for Hematite-Based Invert Emulsion Mud

Ilmenite Inclusion: A Solution towards Solid Sagging for Hematite-Based Invert Emulsion Mud

Prevention of Hematite Settling in Water-Based Mud at High Pressure and High Temperature

Investigation of magnetite-based invert emulsion mud at high pressure high temperature

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