TOPICS OF INTEREST
DRILLING FLUIDS
Drilling and Completion Fluids
There is a growing interest in using nanocomposites to improve drilling-fluid rheology. In recent years, an additive derived from a sequence of graphene-based materials has been reported. The progress of these graphene derivatives has been used as a paradigm for water-based drilling fluids.
Addition of Surfactant-Modified Graphene Improves Water-Based Drilling Mud
This paper reports the effect of sodium dodecyl sulfate modified graphene (SDS-Gr) on the rheological features, fluid loss, and swelling inhibition mechanism of clay.
Neural Networks Help Classify Reservoirs by Recognizing Cuttings Lithologies
Advances during the past decade in using convolutional neural networks for visual recognition of discriminately different objects means that now object recognition can be achieved to a significant extent.
New Low-Impact Drilling Fluid for Deepwater Applications
This paper describes a low-impact, nonaqueous drilling fluid (LIDF) designed to minimize equivalent circulating density (ECD) increases and associated risks in deep water by reducing the effect of cold temperature on fluid viscosity.
Comprehensive Cuttings-Transport Model Optimizes Drilling Operations for Hole Cleaning
This paper discusses a new, comprehensive cuttings-transport model designed to enable safe and improved hole-cleaning operations.
Low-Toxicity Polymer Fluid Developed for Environmentally Sensitive Offshore Drilling
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Water-Based Drilling Fluid Using Nanoparticles Proves Effective in Unconventional Shales
This study focus on the design and evaluation of a customized water-based mud (NP-WBM) using silica oxide nanoparticles (SiO2-NPs) and graphene oxide nanoplatelets (GNPs).
Nonaqueous, Nondamaging Fluid Implemented Offshore Abu Dhabi
This paper covers the 7-year history of drilling-fluids application in a reservoir drilling campaign offshore Abu Dhabi, from the early use of a solids-free, brine-/water-based mud to the recent application of nondamaging, nonaqueous fluids (NAFs) with micronized acid-soluble ilmenite.
Drilling and Completion Fluids
Recent research has put extensive focus on the magic of graphene in drilling fluids. Graphene, because of its thermal, electrical, chemical, and mechanical properties, improves mudcake stability and minimizes fluid loss that eventually reduces formation damage.
Well Integrity
Since the 1980s, many technical works have focused on improving the ability to detect hydrocarbons inside the riser and safely remove them from the system. This trend gained extra momentum with the advent of systems such as riser-gas handlers and managed-pressure drilling.
Improved Methods Aid Understanding and Mitigation of Stick/Slip Torsional Vibrations
This paper will show how stick/slip vibration distributions can be used to guide drillstring and parameter redesign to mitigate stick/slip in the next well.
High-Temperature Water-Based Mud Faces Challenges Offshore Sarawak, Malaysia
The reservoir section of a gas field offshore Sarawak, Malaysia, consists of two massive pinnacle carbonate structures with heterogeneous porosity and permeability and many vugs and faults.
Cuttings-Lag Distribution in Directional Wells Affects Depth Resolution of Mud Logging
This paper presents an approach to modeling the cuttings-lag-depth distribution caused by the dispersion of cuttings-transport velocity in directional drilling.
Polymer Replacement for Organophilic Clay Benefits Mineral-Oil-Based Drilling Fluids
Organophilic clays mixed in oil-based drilling fluids (OBDFs) do not exhibit the same viscosity or suspension characteristics as they do in water-based drilling fluids. A new mineral-oil-based drilling fluid (MOBDF) was created by replacing the conventional organophilic clay with a novel polymer.
Modified Rectorite Provides Reliable Rheology and Suspendability in Biodiesel-Based Fluids
The use of organophilic clays as additives to provide proper rheological and filtration properties in nonaqueous drilling fluids (NADFs) has long been a topic of study. This paper introduced a modified rectorite designed for biodiesel-based drilling fluid (BBDF).
Drilling and Completion Fluids
It is no secret that drilling fluid is crucial in drilling operations. The main function of drilling fluids is to transport drill cuttings from the bottom of the hole up to the surface. Drill cuttings then will be separated on the surface before being recycled back for further drilling.
Organophilic-Clay-Free Invert-Emulsion Fluid Helps Drill Record-Length Well in the UAE
This paper discusses the successful design, laboratory testing, and performance of an innovative, low-solids, organophilic-clay-free invert-emulsion fluid (OCF-IEF) used to drill the reservoir section of an extended-reach-drilling (ERD) well.
Drilling-Fluid Behavior During Reservoir-Formation Drilling and Completion
A reservoir-conditions coreflood study was undertaken to assist with design of drilling and completion fluids for a Norwegian field. Multiple fluids were tested, and the lowest permeability alterations did not correlate with the lowest drilling-fluid-filtrate-loss volumes.
Pressure Measurements Plus Simulation Help Differentiate Between Downhole Events
In this study, pressure-while-drilling technologies are combined with software simulations to differentiate drilling-fluid thermal expansion, wellbore ballooning, and formation influx during riserless drilling operations.
Well Integrity and Well Control
Nonaqueous drilling fluids have been used extensively by the industry, particularly in complex drilling scenarios. They carry some concerns, however, with implications for well integrity.
Ultra-Low-Invasion Fluid Technology Enables Enhanced Drilling, Reduced Formation Damage
A fluid technology has been developed to deposit a thin, impermeable barrier over the pores and microfractures of weak, underpressured, and otherwise troublesome formations to maintain wellbore stability and reduce formation damage.
Deepwater HP/HT Drilling-Fluid Development and Applications in the South China Sea
Researchers have developed a novel water-based-drilling-fluid system compatible with deepwater HP/HT wells in the Lingshui Block on the basis of a conventional drilling fluid and further optimization.
High-Performance Brine Viscosifiers for High Temperatures
A supramolecular viscosifier package has been developed that uses noncovalent associations between additives to enhance the thermal resilience of divalent brine fluids.
New Magnetite Nanoparticles Allow Smart Drilling Fluids With Superior Properties
The effects of adding iron oxide NPs on the rheological and filtration properties of aqueous bentonite suspensions have been studied by several researchers.
Drilling and Completion Fluids
Drilling in high-pressure/high-temperature conditions poses numerous challenges. Drilling fluid is subjected to extreme pressure and temperature, and its properties such as viscosity are affected strongly by pressure and temperature. Viscosity decreases with temperature and increases with pressure.
After Years of Development, Nanoparticle Drilling Fluid Ready
For nanotechnology-based drilling fluids, acceptance means proving they can outperform other drilling fluids. Initial results have been encouraging enough to move toward commercialization.
Drilling and Completion Fluids
With shrinking budgets and limited resources, partnerships and collaboration are considered the best options. It is no secret that universities and industry have a special platform to work hand-in-hand.
Method for Monitoring Mud Contamination in Wireline-Formation-Tester Sampling
The wireline formation tester (WFT) is a well-developed technology used to collect representative downhole fluid samples. The authors introduce a simple but effective method for monitoring WFT sampling when targeting the low levels of contamination needed for asphaltene-onset-pressure analysis.
Development of Novel Drilling-Fluid Nanoparticles for Enhanced Drilling Operations
This work focuses on the laboratory techniques for developing, assessing, and analyzing innovative water-based drilling fluids containing iron oxide (Fe2O3) and silica (SiO2) nanoparticles.
Optimal Nanosilica Concentration in Synthetic-Based Mud for HP/HT Wells
At certain conditions, the good performance of synthetic-based mud (SBM) will degrade, particularly because of the effect of chemical instability under high temperature. Silicon dioxide (SiO2) nanopowder (nanosilica) holds the potential for performance improvement.
Drilling Fluid Uses Acid and Salt To Improve Well Performance
The inventor of a new water-based drilling fluid believes the chemical process involved with his technology opens up natural fractures as drilling takes place to increase production in shale formations.
Case Study Shows Benefits of Applying Hollow Glass Spheres to Drilling Fluids
In an effort to optimize drilling operations and economics, an operator examined the effect of adding hollow glass spheres (HGSs) directly to the drilling fluid instead of performing underbalanced drilling.
Novel Drilling Fluids Enable Record High-Temperature Well Offshore Malaysia
Despite hostile wellbore conditions, an operations team overcame challenges of drilling-fluid design and management to drill the first ultrahigh-pressure/high-temperature (HP/HT), deep-gas well offshore Malay Peninsula.
Wellbore Strengthening in Shales With Nanoparticle-Based Drilling Fluids
This paper presents experimental research in which a significant fracture-pressure increase was achieved in shale and the predominant wellbore strenghtening mechanism was identified.
Clay-Free Invert Fluid in High-Temperature Well Provides Consistent Low ECD Profile
This paper describes the first application of clay-free IEFs in the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS), with an emphasis on an impressively low and consistent ECD contribution.
Drilling and Completion Fluids
Mutual understanding and respect when universities collaborate with industry is crucial. A clear policy on harmonizing innovation and higher education should be created. However, caution must be taken not to have a one-size-fits-all approach.
Pushing the Frontier Through Wellbore Strengthening
Making hole has become a more difficult and complex operation as operators move into untapped horizons, especially deepwater and unconventional fields.
High-Performance Water-Based Drilling Fluids Offshore Cameroon
Historically, invert-emulsion drilling fluids are the preferred system for drilling offshore Cameroon. However, with a regulatory environment moving toward zero discharge, associated costs are rising.
Application of a Nanofluid for Asphaltene Inhibition in Colombia
This paper describes the evaluation of a nanofluid containing nanomaterials with high adsorption capacity used for asphaltene inhibition in the volatile Cupiagua Sur oil field in Colombia.
Nanoemulsion-Enhanced Treatment of Oil-Contaminated Cuttings
When oil-based mud is used, the drilled formation solids (cuttings) are regarded as controlled or hazardous waste.
Novel, Thermally Stable Fluid-Loss Pill Performs Better Than Guar-Based Gels
A novel solids-free fluid-loss pill for higher-temperature reservoirs has been formulated.
Development and Field Applications of a Novel NAF in the Gulf of Thailand
A novel nonaqueous-fluid (NAF) system was designed to provide stable rheological properties with a nonprogressive gel structure and very good filtration control and filter-cake quality in wells where the expected bottomhole static temperature (BHST) exceeds 400°F.
Packer-Leak Repair: Slurry Design and Complex Coiled-Tubing Well Work
A well in the South China Sea was diagnosed by ultrasonic and temperature logging to have a well-integrity problem, forcing the operator to shut in the well because the leak created a high tubing/casing-annulus pressure.
Drilling and Completion Fluids
This year has been a great year for me; I was able to play more rounds of golf than expected! I was also successful in sealing a few research collaboration agreements within the oil and gas industry.
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