Use of Hollow Glass Spheres for Underbalanced Drilling Fluids

Medley, George H.; Maurer, W.C.; Garkasi, Ali

doi:10.2523/30500-ms

Cited by 13 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…20,21 Glass bubbles is used as density reducing agent filler due to its low density value (2.7 to 5.0 lbm/gal [0.32 to 0.60 g/cm 3 ]) and its low ratio of specific area to volume. In addition, the use of glass bubbles do not post high environmental threat since these glass spheres are inert and easily disposable.…”

Section: Fig 3 ─ Scanning Electron Microscope Image Of Glass Bubblesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, the use of glass bubbles do not post high environmental threat since these glass spheres are inert and easily disposable. 21 Glass bubbles are also widely used in many industries such as aerospace, automotive, and buoyancy modules for subsea risers because its high strength/weight ratio. 12 In the formulation of super light weight completion fluid, an appropriate stabilizing/homogenizing agent was used.…”

Section: Fig 3 ─ Scanning Electron Microscope Image Of Glass Bubblesmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Flow Properties of Super Light Weight Completion Fluid for Perforation Cleanup During Underbalance Condition

2010

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In cased holes wells, perforation tunnels are the only passage for fluid flow from reservoir to the wellbore. By establishing a clean connection during perforation job, optimum well productivity could be achieved. However, perforation-induced formation damage is always observed along and around the perforation tunnel as the result of perforation. One of the best alternatives to avoid this damage is with the application of underbalanced perforation. During the last decades, such techniques have been developed to achieve underbalance condition prior to gun detonation. As an alternative to these techniques, novel completion fluid referred as super light weight completion fluid is formulated. The use of super light completion fluid shows that underbalance condition could be achieved easily without additional works, major cost, and special surface equipment. In other words, no new procedures and equipment are needed to handle the super light weight completion fluids. Field test based on the basic laboratory formulation showed that the application of the super light weight completion fluid in underbalanced perforation has markedly increased the hydrocarbon production. This paper presents the investigation of flow properties and its effect to the temperature of super light weight completion fluid. The experimental data were fitted to six different rheological models, namely Newtonian, Bingham, Casson, Ostwald-De-Weale, Herschel-Bulkley, and Mizhari-Berk. The results indicated that fluid rheological data is best represented by Mizhari-Berk model. On the other hand, the dependency of the fluid on temperature could be described by Arrhenius model since the calculated R-square was relatively high. The calculated activation energy value of the super light weight completion fluid is 3.5533 kcal·mol -1 ; indicating that the temperature is not significantly affecting the fluid properties.

show abstract

Section: Fig 3 ─ Scanning Electron Microscope Image Of Glass Bubblesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Fig 3 ─ Scanning Electron Microscope Image Of Glass Bubblesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Flow Properties of Super Light Weight Completion Fluid for Perforation Cleanup During Underbalance Condition

2010

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…HGS allow the employment of near-balanced (NBD) and under-balanced drilling (UBD), which reduce the differential pressure in the wellbore. Drilling in low differential-pressure conditions could result in numerous benefits such as increase in rate of penetration (ROP), reduction in formation damage, elimination of loss of circulation and differential pipe sticking (Medley et al 1995). These improvements ultimately lead to lower non-productive time (NPT) and greater efficiencies.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation of Stability of Hollow Glass Spheres in Fluids and Cement Slurries for Potential Field Applications in Saudi Arabia

2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Hollow glass spheres (HGS) provide an attractive method to reduce densities of drilling fluids and cement slurries for different objectives. There are several pressure ratings of HGS and selecting and testing the right type for the suitable application is important.The objective of this paper is to evaluate performance and stability of HGS by formulating HGS based fluids in different pH conditions, formulating low density water based drilling fluids with HGS as density reducing additive, and formulating low density cement with HGS as density reducing additiveThe evaluation of the stability of low-density inhibited water-based fluids formulated with HGS in diverse pH environments was for their potential application in Wasia formations in Saudi Arabia. Intensive testing of the fluids included rheological properties, pH and density measurement before hot rolling (BHR) and after hot rolling (AHR) in different pH environments at high pressure and high temperature for long time (up to 4 days).The evaluation of the stability of low density cement utilizing HGS was for their potential to cement shallow casings in gas wells and oil wells in Saudi Arabia. In this study, we present extensive lab work that included rheology measurements, thickening time tests, free water and sedimentation tests, fluid loss test and compressive strength test.Data generated supported the use of low density fluids formulated with HSG in Wasia Formation when applicable. Also, this study supported the use of the cement examined in shallow conditions in gas wells and oil wells. The shallow conditions simulated in the lab tests were 158ºF static temperature and 2500 psi.

show abstract

“…UBD and NBD are beneficial in numerous drilling applications such as depleted reservoirs, naturally fractured formations, and high-permeability formations. If applied correctly, UBD and NBD can result in enhancement of ROP, improvement in hole cleaning, reduction of formation damage, elimination of differential sticking, and reduction or elimination of lost circulation (Medley et al 1995). These improvements would ultimately enhance well productivity and minimize non-productive time (NPT), which in turn, will improve economics and maximize profitability.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation Of The Stability Of Hollow Glass Spheres In Drilling Fluids In Diverse pH Environments And Assessment Of Potential Field Applications In Saudi Arabia

Alawami

Al-Yami

Wagle

et al. 2015

Day 2 Tue, September 15, 2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Low-density water-based drilling fluids formulated with hollow glass spheres (HGS) offer an attractive drilling method. HGS are incompressible lightweight additives with the capability to reduce mud weight down to 41.0 lbm/ft 3 (5.5 lbm/gal). Several pressure ratings of HGS are available, and selecting the appropriate rating is essential to avoid formation damage and lost circulation in near-balance conditions. Failure of the spheres could thus lead to catastrophic results.The objectives of this paper is to evaluate the stability of inhibited water-based drilling fluids formulated with HGS in diverse pH environments, and assess their potential application in Wasia formations in Saudi Arabia. Wasia formation is composed of middle cretaceous clastic rocks with layers of sandstone, shale and occasional limestone. Wasia is an aquifer with a thick unit that crops out in central Najd with a slight eastward dip (Powers et al. 1966). The pressures of Wasia correlate to equivalent mud weights (EMW) of 51-58 lbm/ft 3 . This range of EMW is lower than that of water, and the use of conventional mud systems could introduce several operational difficulties due to the high hydrostatic pressure they create. The implementation of HGS-based lightweight fluids would lower the hydrostatic pressure in the wellbore, thus eliminating or reducing the frequent loss of circulation experienced in Wasia. HGS-based fluids could also provide greater protection of underground water resources, improve rate of penetration (ROP), and reduce or eliminate differential pipe sticking.We conducted comprehensive analysis of HGS performance in various pH environments to assess their stability in drilling fluids. Mud characteristics and rheological properties were examined before hot rolling (BHR) and after hot rolling (AHR) to determine the effects of high pressure and high temperature (HPHT) on the system. The duration at which the samples were exposed to HPHT conditions varied from 1 to 4 days to understand the behavior of the mud over time. In addition, two typical formulations were prepared using HGS and conventional additives to evaluate their properties and compare them to the American Petroleum Institute (API) standards.Hollow glass microspheres were found to be stable in the pH conditions of drilling operations (pH~9), with a maximum density variation of 0.5 lbm/ft 3 . At higher pH levels (pH Ͼ11), the spheres experienced fractional dissolution due to the reaction of the added NaOH with borosilicate glass. In pH ranges lower than 4, the spheres were found to be extremely stable. The inhibited water-based fluids formulated with HGS produced favorable rheology and stable mud characteristics before and after exposure to the actual downhole temperatures of Wasia formation.

show abstract

Use of Hollow Glass Spheres for Underbalanced Drilling Fluids

Cited by 13 publications

References 0 publications

Flow Properties of Super Light Weight Completion Fluid for Perforation Cleanup During Underbalance Condition

Flow Properties of Super Light Weight Completion Fluid for Perforation Cleanup During Underbalance Condition

Investigation of Stability of Hollow Glass Spheres in Fluids and Cement Slurries for Potential Field Applications in Saudi Arabia

Investigation Of The Stability Of Hollow Glass Spheres In Drilling Fluids In Diverse pH Environments And Assessment Of Potential Field Applications In Saudi Arabia

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About