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
1.4.2 Drilling Fluids, Handling, Processing and Treatment, 1.4 Drilling Equipment and Operations, 1.7 Fundamental Research in Drilling & Completions, 1 Drilling and Completions
Keywords
additive, drilling fluids, leakoff control
Downloads
16 in the last 30 days
207 since 2007
Show more detail
SPE Member Price: USD 10.00
SPE Non-Member Price: USD 30.00
View rights & permissions

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.

File Size   792 KBNumber of Pages   8
References 1 

References

Arthur, K.G. and Peden, J.M. 1988. The Evaluation of Drilling Fluid Filter Cake properties and Their Influence on Fluid Loss. Paper presented at International Meeting on Petroleum Engineering, Tianjin, China, 1–4 November. SPE-17617-MS. http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/17617-MS.

Aston, M., Mihalik, P., and Tunbridge, J. 2002. Towards Zero Fluid Loss Oil Based Muds. Presented at SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, San Antonio, Texas, 29 September–2 October. SPE-77446-MS. http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/77446-MS.

Bourgoyne, A.T., Chenevert, M.E., and Millhein, K.K. 1991. Applied Drilling Engineering, Vol. 2. Richardson, Texas: Textbook Series, SPE.

Cao, X. and Jahazi, M. 2005. Examination and Verification of the Filtration Mechanism of Cake Mode During the Pressure Filtration Tests of Liquid Al-Si Cast Alloys. Mater. Sic. Eng. A 408 (1–2): 234–242. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.msea.2005.08.131.

Civan, F. 1994. A Multi-Phase Mud Filtrate Invasion and Wellbore Filter Cake Formation Model. Presented at International Petroleum Conference and Exhibition of Mexico, Veracruz, Mexico, 10–13 October. SPE-28709-MS. http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/28709-MS.

Davis, N., and Tooman, C.E. 1988. New Laboratory Tests Evaluate the Effectiveness of Gilsonite Resin as a Borehole Stabilizer. Oral presentation given at the IADC/SPE Drilling Conference Dallas, Texas, 28 February–2 March.

Li, Y., Rosenberg, E., and Argillier, J.F. 1995. Correlation Between Filter Cake Structure and Filtration Properties of Model Drilling Fluids. Presented at SPE International Symposium on Oilfield Chemistry, San Antonio, Texas, 14–17 February. SPE-28961-MS. http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/28961-MS.

Mueller, D.T. 1992. Performance Characteristics of Vinylsulfonate-Based Cement Fluid-Loss Additives. Presented at SPE Rocky Mountain Regional Meeting, Casper, Wyoming, 18–21 May. SPE-24380-MS. http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/24380-MS.

Nelson, E.B. 1990. Well Cementing. New York City, New York: Elsevier Science.

Obeta, C.C., de Zwart, A.H., and Currie, P.K. 2010. Distinguishing Filtration Mechanisms by X-Ray Tomography: Quantification of Simultaneous Internal Deposition and External Filter-Cake Buildup in Sandstone. Presented at SPE International Symposium and Exhibiton on Formation Damage Control, Lafayette, Louisiana, 10–12 February. SPE-127856-MS. http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/127856-MS.

Plank, J.P. and Gossen, F.A. 1991. Visualization of Fluid-Loss Polymers in Drilling-Mud Filter Cakes. SPE Drill Eng 6 (3): 203–208. SPE-19534-PA. http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/19534-PA.

Przepasniak, K., and Clark, P.E. 1998. Polymer Loss in Filter Cakes. Presented at SPE Formation Damage Control Conference, Lafayette, Louisiana, 18–19 February. SPE-39461-MS. http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/39461-MS.

Rojas, J.C., Bern, P.A., Fitzgerald, B.L., et al. 1998. Minimising Down Hole Mud Losses. Presented at IADC/SPE Drilling Conference, Dallas, Texas, 3–6 March. SPE-39398-MS. http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/39398-MS.   

Van den Hoek, P.J. 2002. A Simple and Accurate Description of Nonlinear Fluid Leakoff in High-Permeability Fracturing. SPE J. 7 (1): 14-23. SPE-77183-PA. http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/77183-PA.

Warner, H.R. and Rathmell, J.J. 1997. Mechanisms Controlling Filtration at the Core Bit for Oil-Based Muds. SPE Drill & Compl 12 (2): 111–118. SPE-28596-PA. http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/28596-PA.