Delaminated iron ore (hematite-barite) as alternative weighting agent to barite in petroleum drilling fluids engineering operations and mechanism study

The hydrostatic pressure exerted during the drilling operation is controlled by adding a weighting agent into drilling fluids. Various weighting materials such as barite, calcium carbonate, hematite, and ilmenite are used to increase the density of drilling fluids. Some weighting additives can cause serious drilling problems, including particle settling, formation damage, erosion, and insoluble filters. In this study, anhydrite (calcium sulfate) is used as a weighting additive in the oil-based drilling fluid (OBDF). Anhydrite is an abundantly available resource used in the preparation of desiccant, plaster of Paris, and Stucco. Anhydrite application in drilling fluids is discouraged because of its filter cake removal issue. This study investigated anhydrite (anhydrous CaSO 4 ) as a weighting agent and its filter cake removal procedure for OBDFs. The anhydrite performance as a weighting agent in OBDFs was evaluated by conducting several laboratory experiments such as density, rheology, fluid loss, and electrical stability and compared with that of commonly used weighting materials (barite, calcium carbonate, and hematite). The anhydrite was mixed in three different concentrations (62, 124, and 175 ppb) in a base-drilling fluid. The results showed that calcium sulfate enhanced rheological parameters such as plastic viscosity, yield point, apparent viscosity, and gel strength. CaSO 4 reduced the fluid loss and provided better control over the fluid loss than other tested weighting materials tested at the same concentration of 124 ppb. Similarly, the emulsion stability was decreased with the increase in the amount of calcium sulfate in the OBDF. The calcium sulfate filter cake can be removed easily from the wellbore with an efficiency of 83 to 91% in single-stage and multistage removal processes, respectively using the newly developed formulation consisting of 20 wt % potassium salt of glutamic acid-N,N-diacetic acid (K 4 GLDA) as a chelating agent, 6 wt % potassium carbonate, and 10% ethylene glycol monobutyl ether. The introduction of anhydrite as a weighting agent can be more beneficial for both academia and industry.

show abstract

“…The density measurement test was performed according to American Petroleum Institute (API) 13B-1. 42 …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The drilling fluid density was measured using a FANN mud balance apparatus (Model#140). The density measurement test was performed according to American Petroleum Institute (API) 13B-1 …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Application of Anhydrous Calcium Sulfate as a Weighting Agent in Oil-Based Drilling Fluids

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This leads to broadening the use of various substances as weighting agents such as ilmenite, hematite, micromax, manganese tetroxide, micromanganese, dolomite, Tiro (Stibnite), Kaun (Potash), and galena as alternative weighting agents to be used in the drilling fluid instead of the predominant agent (barite) in different areas of the world, − which disseminate the use of the local resources of the weighting agents and cut the cost of the drilling operations. The demand has extended to formulate the drilling fluid with a mixture of weighting agents such as barite–micromax, barite–ilmenite, and hematite–barite, to minimize the associated issues and yield higher stability to increase the drilling efficiency. Moreover, the applications of nanoparticles, numerous natural and synthetic polymers, and surfactant are introduced for improving the drilling fluid rheology, providing good lubricity, preventing the sagging issues, and enhancing the stability of the drilling fluid. − …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Different Weighting Agents on Drilling Fluids and Filter Cake Properties in Sandstone Formations

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Weighting agents such as barite, micromax, ilmenite, and hematite are commonly added to drilling fluids to produce high-density fluids that could be used to drill deep oil and gas wells. Increasing the drilling fluid density leads to highly conspicuous fluctuation in the drilling fluid characteristics. In this study, the variation in the drilling fluid's rheological and filtration properties induced by adding different weighting agents was evaluated. For this purpose, several water-based drilling fluid samples were prepared and weighted up using the same concentration of various weighting materials including barite, micromax, ilmenite, and hematite. The characteristics of the used weighting agents' (particle size distribution and mineralogy) were measured. Subsequently, the rheological properties of the drilling fluid were obtained using a Fann viscometer at 80 °F. The filtration test was carried out at 200 °F and 300 psi differential pressure to form a filter cake over the sandstone core samples. The properties of the formed filter cake layer such as thickness, porosity, and permeability were determined. Furthermore, the typical properties of core samples including porosity and permeability were assessed before and after the filtration test. The displayed results confirmed that the plastic viscosity (PV), yield point (YP), and filter cake sealing properties were all significantly influenced by the ratio of the large to fine particle size (D 90 /D 10 ) of the weighting agents irrespective of the weighting material type. Among the examined weighting agents, barite showed novel potency to control both rheological and filter cake properties for 14 ppg drilling fluid. The results showed that D 90 /D 10 is a key factor for the PV and YP properties as increasing the D 90 /D 10 ratio caused PV increase and YP decrease, which indicated that the interaction among the loaded weighting materials in the drilling fluid dominated its viscosity.

show abstract

“…12−17 Furthermore, other researchers used a mixture of several weighting materials with the aim of mitigating drilling instability issues such as barite sagging and of improving the drilling mud properties. 8,18 Also, nanoparticles were investigated as weighting agents by several studies that showed a general improvement in the drilling fluid properties. 2,19−22 Accordingly, selecting the right weighting material is not a trivial task and it depends on many factors including the cost, the required properties (i.e., density), and its solubility in conventional filter cake removal treatments since it affects approximately 70−80% of the filter cake structure.…”

Section: ■ Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many materials were used as weighting agents over the years, and researchers are still looking for new materials and ways to improve the existing ones. Examples of common weighting materials include barite, calcium carbonate, ilmenite, hematite, manganese tetroxide (Micromax), galena, stibnite, and potash. − One potential method to improve the weighting material performance is by reducing its particle size; this introduced more options such as micronized barite, micronized ilmenite, and micronized manganese tetroxide as weighting materials. − Furthermore, other researchers used a mixture of several weighting materials with the aim of mitigating drilling instability issues such as barite sagging and of improving the drilling mud properties. , Also, nanoparticles were investigated as weighting agents by several studies that showed a general improvement in the drilling fluid properties. ,− Accordingly, selecting the right weighting material is not a trivial task and it depends on many factors including the cost, the required properties (i.e., density), and its solubility in conventional filter cake removal treatments since it affects approximately 70–80% of the filter cake structure …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Drilled Formation in Filter Cake Properties Utilizing Different Weighting Materials

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The filter cake formed during a filtration process plays a vital role in the success of a drilling operation. There are several factors affecting the filter cake build-up such as drilled formation, drilling fluid properties, and well pressure and temperature. The collective impact of these two factors (i.e., formation and the drilling fluid) on the filter cake build-up needs to be fully investigated. In this study, two types of formations represented as limestone and sandstone were used with different weighting materials to assess and compare their impact on the filter cake properties, filtration behavior, and solid invasion. The used weighting materials are manganese tetroxide, ilmenite, barite, and hematite. The filter cake was formed under a temperature of 200 °F and differential pressure of 300 psi. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was employed to explore the pore structure of the used core samples. The results showed that the properties (i.e., shape and dimensions) of the different weighting materials are the dominant factors compared to the formation characteristics in most of the investigated filter cake properties. Nevertheless, the formation properties, namely, the permeability and pore structure, have a somehow higher contribution when it comes to the filter cake porosity and thickness. For solid invasion, there were no clear results about the main factor contributing to this issue.

show abstract

Delaminated iron ore (hematite-barite) as alternative weighting agent to barite in petroleum drilling fluids engineering operations and mechanism study

Cited by 9 publications

References 23 publications

Application of Anhydrous Calcium Sulfate as a Weighting Agent in Oil-Based Drilling Fluids

Application of Anhydrous Calcium Sulfate as a Weighting Agent in Oil-Based Drilling Fluids

Effect of Different Weighting Agents on Drilling Fluids and Filter Cake Properties in Sandstone Formations

The Role of Drilled Formation in Filter Cake Properties Utilizing Different Weighting Materials

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About