Investigation of the Mitigation of Lost Circulation in Oil-Based Drilling Fluids by Use of Gilsonite

Authors
Hua Guo (Delft University of Technology) | Jack Voncken (Delft University of Technology) | Tom Opstal (3M Belgium BVBA) | Rudolf Dams (3M Belgium BVBA) | Pacelli L.J. Zitha (Delft University of Technology)
DOI
http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/157751-PA
Document ID
SPE-157751-PA
Publisher
Society of Petroleum Engineers
Source
SPE Journal
Volume
19
Issue
06
Publication Date
December 2014
Document Type
Journal Paper
Pages
1,184 - 1,191
Language
English
ISSN
1086-055X
Copyright
2014.Society of Petroleum Engineers
Disciplines
1.6 Drilling Operations, 1.11 Drilling Fluids and Materials, 2.2.3 Fluid Loss Control, 1.6.9 Coring, Fishing
Keywords
leakoff control, drilling fluids, additive
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Summary

Fluid-loss control is an essential property of oil-based mud (OBM) that can affect the success of drilling operations. This paper presents an investigation of the mitigation of lost circulation in OBM by use of leakoff-control-additive gilsonite. A simple physical model was developed to describe the static-filtration process considering the formation and properties of the filter cake. Both high-pressure/high-temperature (HP/HT) American Petroleum Institute (API) press and core-flow-filtration experiments were performed to evaluate the leakoff behavior of OBM. Core-filtration experiments were carried with the aid of a computerized-tomography (CT) scanner to monitor the invasion of the filtrate into the sandstone core at time intervals. In the long time limit, the model predicts that the fluid loss follows the classical Carter equation; that is, the volume of leakoff increases as the square root of time for the static filtration through a filter paper and through the sandstone core. Dual mode filtration diminishes the rate of fluid loss considering the effect of emulsion. The model also provides a relation between pressure drop and filtrate rate, which can be used to estimate the permeability of filter cake in the experiment. The leakoff behavior with additive observed in the experiment is well-explained by the microstructure of rapid-buildup filter cake, which is mainly responsible for the control of fluid loss. The role of different components of OBM, such as solid particles, emulsion droplets, and additives, is discussed in light of our observations.

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References

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