Oil Field Applications of Aluminum Chemistry and Experience With Aluminum-Based Drilling Fluid Additive

Benaissa, Saddok; Clapper, Dennis; Parigot, P.; Degouy, Didier

doi:10.2523/37268-ms

Cited by 6 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…21,22 Experience has been gained in the integration of this chemistry into drilling fluid systems. The aluminum chemistry is also a viable alternative to salt inhibited systems 4 in areas where environmental regulations discourage the use of chlorides, but where shale mineralogy dictates the use of an inhibitive fluid.…”

Section: Aluminum Chemistry In Drilling Fluidmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…• Drilling fluid density -up to 22.0 ppg has been used • Stability to contamination by drill solids, calcium and CO 2 • Chemically inhibit reactive and dispersive mixed layer clay and shale • Stable rheological properties • Ability to seal the wellbore to counter wellbore instability • Low filtration rates to minimize differential sticking risk • Environmentally sensitive locations The above factors led to the adoption of oil based drilling fluid as the fluid of choice for these wells.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Drilling-Fluid Design for Challenging Wells in the Andean Mountain Region

Ramírez¹,

Clapper²,

Kenny³

2006

Proceedings of SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition

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TX 75083-3836, U.S.A., fax 01-972-952-9435. AbstractWells drilled in the Andean Mountain region of South America present significant challenges as a result of both operational and environmental factors. Wells located in the foothills along the basin are particularly difficult due tectonic stresses and unstable, probably, micro-fractured shales. Operators have experienced difficulties drilling wells using both water-based and oil-based muds (OBM). Environmental regulations hinder the use of OBM in many of those areas due to the potential environmental impact and costs associated with waste disposal. In many cases OBM has not prevented wellbore instability problems. This paper explains how a lack of understanding of regional geology and the practice of using successful drilling fluid design and drilling practices from other areas has led to wellbore problems. The water phase salinity of OBM and the use of the appropriate inhibitors in the drilling fluid play a key role in the minimization of wellbore problems. Although reactive clays are present in all the shales along the basin, they represent only 30 to 40 percent of the clay fraction, while non-expandable kaolinite clays are the major clay components. This paper explains how physical/mechanical effects are more important than inhibition in controlling these shales. Moreover, in some cases "excessive inhibition" due the presence of shale inhibitors such us potassium and high water phase salinity in OBM exacerbate the problems. Pore pressure transmission caused by fluid invasion is a major contributor to the observed problems. A combination of operational practices and improved fluid design minimizes mud and filtrate invasion. Troublesome shales in the Andean basin include, from north to south, the La Rosa and Icotetea in Venezuela, the Carbonera, Leon and Villeta in Colombia, the Napo in Ecuador, the Chonta in Peru and the Los Monos in Bolivia and Argentina. Case histories involving these shales are presented. Contrary to experiences in many other parts of the world, high water phase salinity OBM and potassium based water-based mud (WBM) are not the answer to shale stability problems. Rather, mud sealing properties, correct chemical composition and appropriate drilling practices are the key factors in maintaining wellbore stability.

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Section: Aluminum Chemistry In Drilling Fluidmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drilling-Fluid Design for Challenging Wells in the Andean Mountain Region

Ramírez¹,

Clapper²,

Kenny³

2006

Proceedings of SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition

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“…6 The aluminate complex is soluble in the mud but precipitates as it enters the shale matrix due to a reduction in pH, reaction with multivalent cations, or a combination of both. A recent, independent study of pore pressure transmission and membrane efficiency in shale concluded that aluminates (and silicates) provide the highest membrane efficiencies of WBM.…”

Section: Shale Stabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

New Water-Based Mud Balances High-Performance Drilling and Environmental Compliance

Dye¹,

Daugereau²,

Hansen³

et al. 2005

Proceedings of SPE/IADC Drilling Conference

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fax 01-972-952-9435. AbstractA new water-based mud system has been successfully introduced as a high-performance, environmentally compliant alternative to oil and synthetic emulsion-based muds (OBM/SBM). Historically, emulsion muds have been the "systems-of-choice" when drilling challenging onshore, continental shelf and deepwater wells in order to minimize risk, maximize drilling performance and reduce costs. However, environmental constraints, a high frequency of lost circulation and the high unit cost of emulsion systems often negate the benefits of their use. Conventional water-based mud (WBM) offer the benefits of environmental compliance, attractive logistics and a relatively low unit cost but consistently fail to approach the drilling performance of OBM and SBM.The new high-performance water-based mud (HPWBM) is designed to close the significant drilling performance gap between conventional WBM and emulsion-based mud systems. The system has undergone extensive field testing on very challenging onshore, deepwater and continental shelf wells that would otherwise have been drilled with oil or synthetic-based muds.This paper provides a detailed technical overview of the new system, discusses its inherent environmental advantages and presents case histories comparing performance to offset wells drilled with emulsion and conventional WBM systems.

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“…7 The aluminum complex is soluble in the pH of the active mud system but precipitates to a solid as it enters the shale matrix due to a reduction in pH, reaction with divalent cations, or a combination of both. 7 The aluminum complex is soluble in the pH of the active mud system but precipitates to a solid as it enters the shale matrix due to a reduction in pH, reaction with divalent cations, or a combination of both.…”

Section: Eliminating Pore Pressure Transmissionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diverse Application of Unique High Performance Water Based Mud Technology in the Middle East

Leaper

Anderson

Dye

et al. 2005

Proceedings of SPE/IADC Middle East Drilling Technology Conference and Exhibition

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fax 01-972-952-9435. AbstractA high performance water based mud (HPWBM) system has been used successfully to address a combination of drilling challenges faced in the Middle East. Drilling problems encountered in the area typically include shale instability through pressure transmission effects, swelling clay-stone, bit balling, drill-string accretion, differential sticking over tight gas permeable sands and down-hole losses. All these challenges can be very difficult to overcome with conventional water based mud (WBM) systems and can prove very expensive in terms of lost mud, lost down-hole tools, non performance rig time, side-tracks or ultimate failure to meet well or section objectives.The HPWBM system was introduced to provide considerable improvement in WBM performance and also provide an environmentally benign alternative to oil based muds (OBM) while emulating OBM drilling performance attributes. Recent applications in the Middle East have proved that the HPWBM system can be applied as an alternative to OBM, successfully achieving the objectives of the sections while providing drilling performance comparative to OBM. This paper discusses the technical features of the HPWBM system, gives an outline of previous applications and presents detailed case histories of the more diverse applications of the system and its components in wells in the Middle East, while comparing performance to offsets drilled with conventional WBM and OBM.

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Oil Field Applications of Aluminum Chemistry and Experience With Aluminum-Based Drilling Fluid Additive

Cited by 6 publications

References 0 publications

Drilling-Fluid Design for Challenging Wells in the Andean Mountain Region

Drilling-Fluid Design for Challenging Wells in the Andean Mountain Region

New Water-Based Mud Balances High-Performance Drilling and Environmental Compliance

Diverse Application of Unique High Performance Water Based Mud Technology in the Middle East

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