PCSB HTHP Drilling Fluid

Requirements

Definition of a HTHP Well:

“Exploration and appraisal wells where the

undisturbed bottom hole temperature at total depth is
greater than 300 °F, and either maximum anticipated
pore pressure of any porous formation to be drilled
through exceeds 0.8 psi/ft (15.4 ppg) at a depth of
12,500 ft. or deeper, or pressure control equipment
with a rated working pressure in excess of 10,000 psi is
required”. (DOM chpt. 14)
 PCSB HTHP Drilling Fluid
Requirements
Laboratory Testing
Before a drilling fluid is used in a deep, hot well its properties should
be verified by laboratory testing. The minimum test schedule and
requirements are:

1. The fluid must meet required specifications before and after hot
rolling at BHT + 20 0F.
2. Perform HTHP rheology testing (Fann 70) at expected BHT + 20
0
F.
3. Static aging at expected BHT + 20 0F for 16 and 32 hours. Check
rheology, fluid loss and shear strength using shearometer tube.
4. Contaminate drilling fluid with solids to determine maximum
tolerable solids content.
 PCSB HTHP Drilling Fluid
Requirements
Field testing.
In critical applications like HTHP wells, careful monitoring of the drilling
fluid system is a vital pre-requisite to maintaining stable properties and
preventing detrimental events, such as stuck pipe, gelation, lost circulation
and others. If bottom hole temperature (BHT) exceeds 250 0F, special
consideration must be given to continually checking the high temperature
stability of the mud. Guidelines for fluid monitoring, in addition to the
daily mud checks, should be followed.
In addition to the standard mud testing equipment a heating/roller oven
with heat aging cells, a shearometer tube and a Garrett Gas Train should
be sent to the rig, and the personnel involved must be trained in using the
equipment.
 PCSB HTHP Drilling Fluid
Requirements

 Static aging tests should be performed daily on the mud sample from the active
system at current BHT + 20 0F, in order to determine if a problem is developing.
The testing should be performed on the rig using the roller oven and stainless
steel or inconel cells, pressurised to 100 psi with nitrogen and aged for 16 hours.
The mud engineer should be made responsible for collection of samples, and for
documenting and communicating the results to onshore organizations.

 Whenever the mud has been left static in the hole (e.g. after trips, logging etc.),
bottoms up samples should be tested for rheology and fluid loss properties, in
order to detect any developing problems.

 Prior to testing operations where mud will be left in the annulus for an extended
period of time, long term static aging tests should be performed. The length of
time for the static aging test will be determined by the anticipated time for the
test period. These tests can be carried out both on the rig and/or in the drilling
fluid company’s onshore laboratory.
 PCSB HTHP Drilling Fluid
Requirements
 The mud engineer should collect 1 gallon samples of active mud prior to each
helicopter departure from the rig, and send them to the drilling fluid
contractor’s onshore laboratory for further high temperature stability and
HTHP rheology testing (Fann 70).

 Pilot tests should be made before performing any special treatment to the mud
system. In this context, “special” treatments are any treatments other than
maintenance of the required product concentrations. The pilot testing should
also include static age testing of the treated mud.

 A Garrett Gas Train analysis should be performed twice daily (or more
frequently if required) when drilling, to provide early detection of any CO 2 or
H2S, whether from drilled formations or from decomposition of mud products.
 PCSB HTHP Drilling Fluid
Requirements

 Routine rheology testing should be run at the standard test temperature 120
0
F. In addition, tests should be run at the average BHT and flow line
temperatures for use in ECD, swab/surge and cementing calculations.

 Pressurised mud balances should be used for density measurement. Since

these can read inaccurately at densities above 0.831 psi/ft. (16 ppg.), the mud
balances should be calibrated with 0.935 psi/ft (18.0 ppg.) zinc bromide
brine, at least once per week. The brine density must be cross-checked with a
hydrometer each time.
 PCSB HTHP Drilling Fluid
Requirements
OBM limitations in HTHP conditions

1. Lost circulation. Can be very expensive and is often difficult to control.

2. Gas-kick detection. The solubility of the gas within the system makes kick
detection difficult.
3. Barite stripping. Gas influxes decrease viscosity of the liquid phase, causing
barite to strip and settle.
4. Environmental Legislation. May not comply with local regulations.
5. Logging. Some electric logs can only be run in water based fluids.
6. Density. The measured density of an OBM will vary with temperature. The
graph below shows density variations with temperature of a typical OBM.
 PCSB HTHP Drilling Fluid
Requirements

Temperature Effect on Density

Oil Based Mud
50

40
Temperature variations (deg F)

30

20

10

0
-0.2 -0.15 -0.1 -0.05 0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2
-10

-20

-30

-40

-50

Density variations (ppg)

 HTHP Fluids
Problems:

Solids Control
Temperature Degradation - gellation
Lost Circulation
Differential Sticking
Barite Sag
Wireline Logging
Flexibility – lack of
 HTHP Fluids
Solids Control:

A mud with a density of 16 ppg will contain 450 ppb of barite. This occupies about 25 – 30% by volume of the fluid. Greater densities
can show up to 40% barite. Therefore the amount of drilled solids that can be absorbed before an adverse effect takes place is small.
In addition, the pressure difference between pore pressure and fracture gradient can be small, so any increase in mud density due to
drilled solids could lead to loss circulation.
ECD becomes much more important.
Mechanical Wellbore Stability
Mud chemistry is dealt with using normal principals
Density control is critical
Safe mud weight depends on stresses

2.45
2.35 Fracture Initiation
2.25
2.15
2.05
1.95
1.85 Stable
1.75
1.65
1.55
1.45 Collapse
1.35
1.25
0 25 50 75 100
 HTHP Fluids
Barite Quality:

With the large quantities of barite possibly in the system, the quality of the barite is significant. Although most barite is sold as being to “API Specification”, this may not be sufficient to ensure good fluid properties.

For example: A mud at a density of 18 ppg requires:

With barite @ 4.0 SG = 879 ppb

With barite @ 4.25 SG = 822 ppb

A difference of 57 ppb, or approximately 4% by volume.

 HTHP Fluids
Barite Quality:

The other factor that is important is the grind size. If the barite has too many ‘fines’ then it will give higher viscosities.
Impurities in the barite will be magnified at the higher quantities used. Iron may be present that will cause
flocculation.
Impurities can cause serious foaming problems.
 HTHP Fluids
Bentonite Quality:

Similarly, if bentonite is being used, it must be of a high quality. Poor grade bentonite can cause high temperature gellation of the mud.
Use only pure Wyoming type bentonite, not peptised grades.
High temperature gellation is most common after trips, or after the mud has been stationary for some time. An increase in colloidal
particles will deplete the alakli and thr resultant drop in pH will cause an increase in the solubility of any divalent ions and so an
increase in flocculation.
 HTHP Fluids
Thermal Degradation:

Thermal degradation is a function of product composition. For instance, starches have low temperatures of degradation
(200 – 250 degrees F) and so will fail rapidly in any HTHP fluid.
Even the best polymers such as Xantham gums will degrade at temperatures in excess of 350 degrees F.
Temperature extenders will increase the stability to around 400 degrees F.
In very high temperatures only either bentonite, or preferably oil base fluids are used.
 HTHP Fluids
Barite Sag:

Barite sag refers to the ‘slumping’ of the barite in heavy muds. This leads to an imbalance in the density of the fluid and can lead to
problems such as kicks, or losses.
Barite sag is determined by the gel properties of the mud.
The initial gel of an HTHP fluid should be higher than for a normal mud. There are no hard and fast rules but field evidence suggests a
minimum initial gel of 15 lb/100ft2 is required.
Laboratory studies will determine the best properties.
 HTHP Fluids
Key Drilling Fluid Properties:

Plastic Viscosity: as low as possible for ECD

Gel Strengths: high enough to prevent settlement
ECD: close to static mud weight
HTHP Fluid Loss: as low as possible to prevent differential sticking
HTHP Rheology: needs to be predictable
Compressibility: major effect in oil base muds
Gas Solubility: needs to be known.
 HTHP Fluids
Planning & Engineering:

Several areas need to be addressed with diligence before commencing an HTHP well.
Key Planning Considerations:
Offset Data
Solids Control Equipment
Logistics
Laboratory testing
Quality of materials
HTHP Viscometers
Temperature Models
 HTHP Fluids
Key Planning Considerations:

Offset Data: well records and shale analysis

Solids Control: the high cost of HTHP wells makes this crucial
Logistics: no interruptions of supply
Quality Control: barite and bentonite
 HTHP Fluids
HTHP Rheometry:

Use of HTHP viscometers will give a good insight into fluid properties and allow for anticipation of any downhole
problems.
Fann 70 data: Readings up to 480 degrees F and 20000 psi
Huxley-Bertram Viscometer: has extra features such as measurement of density and gel
strengths.
 HTHP Fluids
Fluid Types:

Oil Base muds: is the preferred choice

Bentonite Muds: the quality of the bentonite is crucial
Polymer Muds:Has a lower temperature stability but better flexibility in higher densities.
HTHP Fluids
Key Concerns:

Low Gravity Solids: Should be <4%

MBT Value: should be <15 ppb