Barite–Micromax mixture, an enhanced weighting agent for the elimination of barite sag in invert emulsion drilling fluids
Abstract Weighting agents are mixed with the drilling mud to provide the high density required to control high-pressure high-temperature (HPHT) wells throughout the drilling operation. Solids sag occurs when the weighting agent separates from the liquid phase and settles down, causing variations in...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2020-04-01
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| Series: | Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s13202-020-00892-7 |
| _version_ | 1811200936840790016 |
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| author | Salem Basfar Abdelmjeed Mohamed Salaheldin Elkatatny |
| author_facet | Salem Basfar Abdelmjeed Mohamed Salaheldin Elkatatny |
| author_sort | Salem Basfar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Weighting agents are mixed with the drilling mud to provide the high density required to control high-pressure high-temperature (HPHT) wells throughout the drilling operation. Solids sag occurs when the weighting agent separates from the liquid phase and settles down, causing variations in the drilling fluid density. This study evaluates barite–manganese tetroxide (Micromax) mixture to eliminate solids sag issue encountered with weighted invert emulsion drilling fluids at HPHT conditions. Micromax additive was added to barite-weighted fluids in different concentrations, 0, 15, and 30 wt% of the total weighting agent. Static and dynamic sag tests were used to evaluate the sag tendency of the new formulation under static and dynamic conditions. The performance of the new formulation was evaluated by measuring the electrical stability, density, rheological, viscoelastic, and filtration properties of the drilling fluid. The obtained results showed that Micromax additive improves drilling fluid stability by reducing the sag tendency. Adding only 30 wt% of Micromax additive eliminated barite sag issue in both dynamic and static conditions at 350 °F. 30 wt% Micromax increased the base fluid density by 5.4% and the yield point by 115% and maintained the gel strength value at 12 lb/100 ft2, while it reduced the plastic viscosity by 30%. The addition of Micromax additive improved the viscoelastic properties of the drilling fluid by maintaining a higher storage modulus to the loss modulus ratio when compared with the barite sample (in the range 4–4.5). Furthermore, 30 wt% Micromax improved the filtration performance by reducing the filtrate volume, filter cake weight, and filter cake thickness by 50%. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T02:12:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7ff44ce909c64db99985fd691154ff10 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2190-0558 2190-0566 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T02:12:33Z |
| publishDate | 2020-04-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology |
| spelling | doaj.art-7ff44ce909c64db99985fd691154ff102022-12-22T03:52:20ZengSpringerOpenJournal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology2190-05582190-05662020-04-011062427243510.1007/s13202-020-00892-7Barite–Micromax mixture, an enhanced weighting agent for the elimination of barite sag in invert emulsion drilling fluidsSalem Basfar0Abdelmjeed Mohamed1Salaheldin Elkatatny2Department of Petroleum Engineering, King Fahd University of Petroleum and MineralsDepartment of Petroleum Engineering, King Fahd University of Petroleum and MineralsDepartment of Petroleum Engineering, King Fahd University of Petroleum and MineralsAbstract Weighting agents are mixed with the drilling mud to provide the high density required to control high-pressure high-temperature (HPHT) wells throughout the drilling operation. Solids sag occurs when the weighting agent separates from the liquid phase and settles down, causing variations in the drilling fluid density. This study evaluates barite–manganese tetroxide (Micromax) mixture to eliminate solids sag issue encountered with weighted invert emulsion drilling fluids at HPHT conditions. Micromax additive was added to barite-weighted fluids in different concentrations, 0, 15, and 30 wt% of the total weighting agent. Static and dynamic sag tests were used to evaluate the sag tendency of the new formulation under static and dynamic conditions. The performance of the new formulation was evaluated by measuring the electrical stability, density, rheological, viscoelastic, and filtration properties of the drilling fluid. The obtained results showed that Micromax additive improves drilling fluid stability by reducing the sag tendency. Adding only 30 wt% of Micromax additive eliminated barite sag issue in both dynamic and static conditions at 350 °F. 30 wt% Micromax increased the base fluid density by 5.4% and the yield point by 115% and maintained the gel strength value at 12 lb/100 ft2, while it reduced the plastic viscosity by 30%. The addition of Micromax additive improved the viscoelastic properties of the drilling fluid by maintaining a higher storage modulus to the loss modulus ratio when compared with the barite sample (in the range 4–4.5). Furthermore, 30 wt% Micromax improved the filtration performance by reducing the filtrate volume, filter cake weight, and filter cake thickness by 50%.https://doi.org/10.1007/s13202-020-00892-7Invert emulsion drilling fluidWeighting agentMicromaxBariteSolids sagHPHT wells |
| spellingShingle | Salem Basfar Abdelmjeed Mohamed Salaheldin Elkatatny Barite–Micromax mixture, an enhanced weighting agent for the elimination of barite sag in invert emulsion drilling fluids Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology Invert emulsion drilling fluid Weighting agent Micromax Barite Solids sag HPHT wells |
| title | Barite–Micromax mixture, an enhanced weighting agent for the elimination of barite sag in invert emulsion drilling fluids |
| title_full | Barite–Micromax mixture, an enhanced weighting agent for the elimination of barite sag in invert emulsion drilling fluids |
| title_fullStr | Barite–Micromax mixture, an enhanced weighting agent for the elimination of barite sag in invert emulsion drilling fluids |
| title_full_unstemmed | Barite–Micromax mixture, an enhanced weighting agent for the elimination of barite sag in invert emulsion drilling fluids |
| title_short | Barite–Micromax mixture, an enhanced weighting agent for the elimination of barite sag in invert emulsion drilling fluids |
| title_sort | barite micromax mixture an enhanced weighting agent for the elimination of barite sag in invert emulsion drilling fluids |
| topic | Invert emulsion drilling fluid Weighting agent Micromax Barite Solids sag HPHT wells |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s13202-020-00892-7 |
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