WorldWide Drilling Resource

17 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® MAY 2013 Drilling Fluid Updates by Ray McLarty Drilling Fluids & Grouts Questions & Answers Question We use QUIK-GEL ® drilling mud, and have used it for years. It works well for us, but occasionally we do have a problem with loss circulation. We don’t want to add a product that can cause development problems or stop up the producing zone. What do you recom- mend? Answer First thing we need to know is how severe the problem is. We don’t want to overtreat the problem any more than we want to undertreat it. Since you are already using a high-yield bentonite drilling mud, you already have a prod- uct in the system that helps control fluid loss/loss circulation. You may just need an additional amount of bentonite to in- crease the platelets accumulating onto the sidewall of the hole. If you have already maximized the amount of ben- tonite to the system, there are a couple of other products you could try. If you are losing fluid at a slow, continuous rate, then maybe all the bentonite mud needs is a little boost or assist. I recommend you try a PAC (polyan- ionic cellulose) polymer such as Baroid IDP QUIK-TROL ® . It is a cellulose poly- mer which contains fibers that can get between the platelet structure of the ben- tonite, resulting in a tighter, more water- proof barrier (filter cake) which can reduce filtrate and fluid loss to the formation. Similar products to Baroid IDP QUIK- TROL ® would be CETCO ® REL-PAC ® , Wyo-Ben DRIL-TROL™ “QD” , and M-I SWACO POLYPAC R . If the fluid loss is more rapid, up to a complete loss of fluid return, we need to add a loss circulation material such as N-SEAL™ . It is an extrusion-spun mineral fiber which in appearance looks to me like mattress stuffing. N-SEAL™ and equivalent loss circulation materials do an excellent job of sealing off porous formations. They are acid soluble, mean- ing they can be broken down easily in the presence of weak acids. A similar product to Baroid IDP N-SEAL™ would be CETCO ® MAGMA FIBER . Another excellent loss circulation material is Baroid IDP DIAMOND SEAL ® . It is a 100% active, super absorbent polymer which can rapidly absorb and retain extremely large quantities of water, suc- cessfully sealing off fractures and porous formations. The product is easy to apply and can be easily broken down with chlorine. Similar products to Baroid IDP DIAMOND SEAL ® , would be CETCO ® MACRO-FILL™ , Wyo-Ben PLUGZ-IT™ , and M-I SWACO POLYSWELL . Note: QUIK-GEL ® is the name of Baroid IDP ’s high-yield (200 barrel) drilling mud. Similar products would be CETCO ® SUPER GEL-X ® , Wyo-Ben EXTRA HIGH YIELD™ , or M-I SWACO MAX GEL . The statements and comments in this article are my own and are based on information and references believed to be true and factual. If you have a ques- tion on bentonite drilling fluids, grouts, and sealants, or a comment or question on this article, please forward them to me in care of WWDR . Ray Ray McLarty may be contacted via e-mail at admin@ worldwidedrillingresource.com 4< /*2'3* "& > > > > ,'< ? /2+ '6* /3+6 /3+6 ')1/3- " " !8=2+ /7843 4* 4* ')1/3- !+8 5)7 !8'3*'6* $'2:+ 9((+6 6':+2 $'2:+ 9((+6 !+'87 9((+6 $'2:+ 37+687 #6+8.'3+ $'2:+ 37+687 $'2:+ !56/3- ! ! $'2:+ 4:+6 '71+8 ? !;/:+2 ')1/3- ? !+6/+7 ? !+6/+7 ? !+6/+7 ? !+6/+7 ? !+6/+7 ? !+6/+7 < /3+6 < /3+6 < /3+6 < /3+6 < /3+6 6/)+7 !9(0+)8 "4 .'3-+ %/8.498 48/)+ !@ @ < < < < <