Customization of sepiolite based drilling fluids at high temperatures

Gursat Altun, Ali Ettehadi Osgouei, Mustafa Hakan Ozyurtkan

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Selection of proper drilling fluid is recognized as a challenging process in high temperature environments. Therefore, chemical and physical properties of drilling mud should be suitable at high temperatures to minimize mud and borehole instabilities. This study is aimed to characterize rheological and filtration properties of sepiolite based muds at high temperatures and to determine their plugging ability in permeable formations. Mud samples were aged up to 204 °C temperature and tested with viscometer and HTHP filter press. The filtration of sepiolite muds were customized through ceramic discs having various pore throat sizes using Permeability Plugging Apparatus (PPA) that simulates more realistic borehole conditions. PPA experiments were conducted at temperatures up to 204 °C and 2070 kPa pressure differential. CaCO3 was used as a lost circulation pill. Experimental results reveal that customized sepiolite mud is not flocculated up to 204 °C and yields suitable filtration rates from HTHP filter press. However, the fluid losses obtained from PPA were unacceptable. Therefore, result from HTHP filter press is not a decisive factor to select an effective mud. However, sepiolite muds with CaCO3 can effectively initiate the plugging phenomenon in relatively short time and give low fluid losses and extend the usage of CaCO3 as a loss circulation material.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication48th US Rock Mechanics / Geomechanics Symposium 2014
EditorsRay Sterling, Emmanuel Detournay, Will Pettitt, Joseph F. Labuz, Lee Petersen
PublisherAmerican Rock Mechanics Association (ARMA)
Pages288-294
Number of pages7
ISBN (Electronic)9781634395236
Publication statusPublished - 2014
Event48th US Rock Mechanics / Geomechanics Symposium 2014: Rock Mechanics Across Length and Time Scales - Minneapolis, United States
Duration: 1 Jun 20144 Jun 2014

Publication series

Name48th US Rock Mechanics / Geomechanics Symposium 2014
Volume1

Conference

Conference48th US Rock Mechanics / Geomechanics Symposium 2014: Rock Mechanics Across Length and Time Scales
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityMinneapolis
Period1/06/144/06/14

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
Copyright (2014) ARMA, American Rock Mechanics Association

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