D&M MLWD TOOLS – ACID PUMPING GUIDLINE

Corrosive Drilling Fluid Environment

Corrosion may be defined as the alteration and degradation of material by its environment. The
principal corrosive agents affecting drill stem materials in water-based drilling fluids are acids,
dissolved gases (oxygen, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide), and dissolved salts.

ACID Mixture

Acids corrode metals by lowering the pH (causing hydrogen evolution) and by dissolving
protective films. Dissolved oxygen appreciably accelerates the corrosion rates of acids.

Pumping acid through our measurement and drilling tools in a routine operation is not
recommended because of the risk of damage to our tools. The degree of corrosion that might
occur will depend on pH, temp, exposure time, concentration, presence of oxygen and
pressure.
Pumping acid through a BHA is only permitted in case of emergencies (i.e., stuck BHA), not as a
planned operation. In general, the maximum recommendation is for a 10 to 15% concentration
of acids. Afterwards, ensure that tools are thoroughly washed at surface. Chrome plated motor
rotors are very susceptible to damage from chloride acids like HCl.
The following are general guidelines to follow in the event that acid solutions need to be
pumped across our tools:
• Good communication between the company rep, mud engineer, driller, and D&M crew
is the key to a successful operation. The pertinent risks involved in carrying out the
operation should be made clear to the Client. Acid notification letter should be
presented to EMPG representative on the well site.
• Exposure time to these fluids should be kept to a minimum and the acid should be
flushed out with a cleaning pill if possible (basic in nature) to neutralize the acid as a
precaution prior to pulling out of the hole.
• Pump the acid pill and ensure it is all out through the bit prior to letting it soak. Don’t let
any acid sit inside the drill string. The critical seals are inside the flow channel. So get the
acid through the tools and outside into the annulus as quickly as possible.
• In Goldenstedt Z25 well, 5m3 (5000leter) HCl was pumped in the string and kept for 2
hours inside the tools and pumped at stages out of the bit. This extended period of
time acid staying inside the tools caused pitting inside the collars.
• To minimize the damage, it is recommended to pump small batches of HCl e.g 500
liters at once, and after 30 - 60minutes pump water to displace it completely.
• Pumping 500 liters acid and after 30 - 60min displacing the HCl with water can be
repeated until the string is free.
• It is possible that the mud formulation has picked up air bubbles or excessive dissolves
oxygen. Oxygen will aggravate the effects of the acid corrosion on drillstring tubulars. To

GeMS # 103118715
Schlumberger-Private
 D&M MLWD TOOLS – ACID PUMPING GUIDLINE

reduce the effect of acid corrosion, it is recommended to use oxygen scavengers e.g
J297 in the mud system after an acid treatment operation.
• Once the tool comes out of the hole, the D&M wellsite engineers should immediately
flush the tools thoroughly with water to remove/neutralize as much of the acidic
material as possible before shipment back to the base.
While flushing the tools the following products can be used to protect the tools:
ID side: A266 or B296
OD side: A265 or B343
• Once the tools are received back at the base it is advised that the mechanical assemblies
should be taken apart to wash off residual mud which could be trapped in crevices. Also,
all mud exposed O-rings should be changed before re-using the tool on another job as
these mixtures contain elements harmful to elastomers. In general all seals, O-rings,
threads, O-ring areas and the entire collar needs to be inspected for pitting.
• The acidic environment will tend to remove the oxide layer off the stainless materials so
they may be shinier when they come out of the hole. The rotor chrome on the motor is
probably the most susceptible to being damaged by having the chrome stripped. Also
housings with corroded connections will have very little fatigue life left and should
probably be discarded if there are signs of pitting in or around box threads or stress
relief grooves. A strong acid will attack both nitrile (NBR) and saturated nitrile (HNBR).
Robins and Meyer’s RM100 is a nitrile and D&M HN234 compound is a saturated nitrile.
However, whenever chemical resistance is an issue, we should always use HN234.
• It is hard provide a guideline for all the variables that affect an acidizing treatment. In
general, we have seen that, in most field jobs where exposure time was between 30 to
60 minutes, there has not been a negative impact on the materials. This is however, not
a warranty and the client should be made aware of the possible cost of repair for
putting the tools back in service.

Inhibitors

• Test for inhibitors used in Goldenstedt Z25; A153, A201 and A26, are attached.
• Use of inhibitor A270, good up to 204 degC, could be an alternative to consider. If
requested by EMPG test can be done in our Labs.

GeMS # 103118715
Schlumberger-Private