Abstract
With the rapid development of deepwater drilling operations, more and more complex technical challenges have to be faced due to the rigorous conditions encountered. One of these challenges is that the drilling fluid used must had good rheological properties at low temperatures and high ability to inhibit hydrate formation. Synthetic drilling fluid has been widely applied to deepwater drilling operations due to its high penetration rate, excellent rheological properties, good ability to prevent hydrate formation, and high biodegradability. A synthetic drilling fluid formulation was developed in our laboratory. The rheological properties of this drilling fluid at low temperatures (0–20 °C) were tested with a 6-speed viscometer and its ability to inhibit hydrate formation was evaluated at 20 MPa CH4 gas and 0 °C by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Several factors influencing the low temperature rheological properties of this synthetic drilling fluid were studied in this paper. These included the viscosity of the base fluid, the amount of CEMU and organic clay, and the water volume fraction.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Amanullah M and Boyle R A. Multifunctional gel system to mitigate deepwater drilling challenges. Paper SPE 104080 presented at the 2006 International Oil & Gas Conference and Exhibition held in Beijing, China, 5–7 December 2006
Burrows K, Evans J, Hall J, et al. New low viscosity ester is suitable for drilling fluids in deepwater applications. Paper SPE 66553 presented at the SPE/EPA/DOE Exploration and Production Environmental Conference held in San Antonio, Texas, U.S.A., 26–28 February 2001
Cameron C B. Drilling fluids design and field procedures to meet the ultra deepwater drilling challenge. Paper SPE 66061 presented at the 24th SPE Nigeria Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition held in Abuja, Nigeria, 7–9 August 2000
Gandleman R A, Leaf R A F, Goncalves J T, et al. Synthetic-based drilling fluid with study on gelation and freezing phenomena of synthetic drilling fluids in ultradeepwater environments. Paper SPE/IADC 105881 presented at the 2007 SPE/IADC Drilling Conference held in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 22–22 February 2007
Geng J J, Yan J N, Li H K, et al. Synthetic-based drilling fluid with constant-rheology used in deepwater drilling. Petroleum Drilling Techniques. 2010. 38(2): 91–94 (in Chinese)
Ghalambor A, Ashrafizadeh S N and Nasiri M. Effect of basic parameters on the viscosity of synthetic-based drilling fluids. Paper SPE 112276 presented at the 2008 SPE International Symposium and Exhibition on Formation Damage Control held in Lafayette, Louisiana, U.S.A., 13–15 February 2008
Herzhaft B, Peysson Y, Isambourg P, et al. Rheological properties of drilling muds in deep offshore conditions. Paper SPE/IADC 67736 presented at the SPE/IADC Drilling Conference held in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 27 February–1 March 2001
Hu Y L and Liu H. Effects of natural gas hydrates on deepwater drilling fluid and control measures. Natural Gas Industry. 2008. 28(11): 68–70 (in Chinese)
Jenkins R W, Schmidt D A, Stokes D, et al. Drilling the first ultra deepwater wells offshore Malaysia. Paper SPE 79807 presented at the SPE/IADC Drilling Conference held in Amsterdam the Netherlands, 19–21 February 2003
Korloo J. Indonesia deepwater field development technical, contracting, and execution challenges. Paper SPE 109137 presented at the 2007 Asia Pacific Oil & Gas Conference and Exhibition held in Jakarta, Indonesia, 30 October–1 November 2007
Rojas J C, Bern P, Plutt L J, et al. New constant-rheology synthetic-based fluid reduces downhole losses in deepwater environments. Paper SPE 109586 presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition held in Anahelm, California U.S.A., 11–14 November 2007
Smith D, Winters W, Tarr B, et al. Deepwater riserless mud return system for dual gradient tophole drilling. Paper SPE 130308 presented at the 2010 SPE/IADC Managed Pressure and Underbalanced Operations Conference and Exhibition held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 24–25 February 2010
Vajargah A K, Tahmasbi K and Arsanjani N. The feasibility study of replacing oil based mud with more environmentally acceptable paraffin based system in Iranian Oil Fields. Paper SPE 123519 presented at the 2009 SPE Pacific Health, Safety, Security, and Environment Conference and Exhibition held in Jakarta, Indonesia, 4–6 August 2009
Van Oort E, Friedheim J and Toups B. New flat-rheology synthetic-based for improved deepwater drilling. Paper SPE 90987 presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition held in Houston, Texas, U.S.A., 26–29 September 2004
Wang Q S, Feng K M, Li J, et al. Evaluation of gas hydrate inhibition in deepwater drilling fluid based on high pressure microcalorimetry. Drilling & Production Technology. 2008. 30(2): 41–44 (in Chinese)
Wang S, Song M Q and Liu E P. Development of foreign deepwater drilling fluid. Petroleum Drilling Techniques. 2009. 37(3): 8–12 (in Chinese)
Xu J F, Qiu Z S and Lv K H. Studies of deepwater drilling fluid. Drilling Fluid and Completion Fluid. 2008. 25(5): 9–10 (in Chinese)
Yue Q S, Liu S J, He B S, et al. Rheological properties of the synthetic drilling fluid in deep-water drilling conditions. Acta Petrolei Sinica. 2011. 32(1): 145–147 (in Chinese)
Zamora M, Broussard P N and Stephens M P. The top 10 mud-related concerns in deepwater drilling operations. Paper SPE 59019 presented at the 2000 SPE International Petroleum Conference and Exhibition held in Villahermosa, Mexico, 1–3 February 2000
Zevallos M A L, Candler J, Wood J H, et al. Synthetic based fluids enhance environmental and drilling performance in deepwater locations. Paper SPE 35329 presented at the SPE lnternational Petroleum Conference & Exhibition of Mexico held in Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico, 5–7 March 1996
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hu, Y., Yue, Q., Liu, S. et al. Research on deepwater synthetic drilling fluid and its low temperature rheological properties. Pet. Sci. 8, 485–489 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12182-011-0165-6
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12182-011-0165-6