SIZE MATTERS FOR PRODUCTIVE

COMPLETIONS
Prepared by

Alistair Hutton, Baker Hughes Drilling Fluids, SPE

Stephen Vickers, Baker Hughes Drilling Fluids, SPE, AADE

Marcus Davidson, Baker Hughes Drilling Fluids, SPE

Bev Spencer,
Spencer Baker Hughes Drilling Fluids

Presented by
Christopher Gray, Baker Hughes Drilling Fluids, SPE

For DEA, Geneva, 2009

 Presentation Overview
ƒ Introduction
ƒ Agglomeration Definition
ƒ Laboratory Investigation
ƒ Reducing the Risk of Agglomeration
ƒ Field Results
ƒ Remediation
ƒ Conclusions
ƒ Acknowledgments

2
 Introduction
ƒ Unconventional well completions
requiring long term suspension
ƒ Problems caused by agglomeration
Blocked Screen
– Sag
– Screen Blockage

3
 Agglomeration
Dispersed
ƒ Agglomeration is the phenomenon
whereby smaller particles bind together
to form larger clusters held together by
weak forces.

Primary Reference Paper

A REVIEW OF PARTICLE
AGGLOMERATION
US Department of Energy

Agglomerated
4
 Formation Of Particle Clusters

5
 SEM Image of Sized Calcium Carbonate

6
 SEM Image of Barite

7
 SEM Pictures of Individual Particles

Barite Particle

Calcium Carbonate Particle

8
 Laboratory Investigation

ƒ Areas of Investigation
– Laboratory Fluids 8
Week Static Age Study
– Field Example 1
Southern North Sea UK
– Field Example 2 West
Africa, offshore Nigeria

9
 Particle Size Distribution

ƒ Malvern Mastersizer 2000 using the small dispersion cell

ƒ Capable of measuring particles 0.02µm to 2000µm
ƒ Operating Principal Mie Theory (Scattering)

10
 Particle Size Distribution Output

11
 8 Week Static Ageing

80

70

60
D9 0 Value (mic rons)

50

40

30

20

10

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Ageing Time (Weeks)

12
 Field Example 1 Southern North Sea UK
60

50

40
ns)
D90 Value, (micron

After 1 Month
30
After 5 Months

20

10

0
0 ft drilled 659 ft drilled 1005 ft drilled
Section Length Drilled with Mud

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Field Example 2 West Africa Offshore Nigeria

160

140

120
ons)

100
D90 Value (micro

After 1 Month
80
After 6 Months

60

40

20

0
8.5" 6"
Section Drilled

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 Future testing directions
ƒ These results were prepared over the
course of 2 months of lab work.
ƒ Aged under lab conditions
ƒ Alternative test methodologies?
ƒ Grace M8500 Sag Tester?

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 Reducing Risk of Agglomeration

ƒ Avoid Long term Suspension

ƒ Solids Free Fluids

ƒ Ensure Optimum Emulsification Package

ƒ Post Treatments Designed to Disrupt and Dissolve agglomerated

solids

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 Mesophase Post Treatment

Soak solutions are blended for maximum

(a) Initial
detergency
– Solubilize oil
– Water-wet filter cake solids
– Slurrify filter cake solids (b) After soak treatment
– Destroy Particle Clusters
– Break damaging emulsions
ƒ Result
– Maximum damage
g removal (c) After exposure to water

– Maximum production

17
 Bottle Tests Showing Oil Solubilization

Initial 3 hours 5 hours

22 hours 30 hours 48 hours

18
 SPME Development Testing

Filter cake built using oil-based RDIF

After Treatment with SPME

19
 Field Case Study

ƒ Dual Lateral Well Construction

ƒ First Leg Suspended For Several Months
ƒ Single Phase Microemulsion Suspension Fluid
ƒ Estimated Production 50,000 MSCFD
ƒ Actual Production 80,000 MSCFD (Limited by production equipment)

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 Conclusions

ƒ Agglomeration of solids occurs in oil based invert emulsions and can

be measured in the laboratory.
ƒ Agglomeration of particles is exasperated by the presence of drilled
solids.
ƒ Over a period of static ageing the PSD of the fluid changes with a
large increase in the D90 value.
ƒ Oil-wet mud solids can be dissolved and dispersed usingg a SPME
post treatment thus avoiding the risks associated with agglomeration
in the field.

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 Acknowledgments

ƒ The authors wish to thank BHDF Technology Group for their support
and permission to publish this paper and the technical help and advice
given
i bby members
b off the
th iindustry.
d t

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