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 language | English |
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Title of host publication | 48th US Rock Mechanics / Geomechanics Symposium 2014 |
Editors | Ray Sterling, Emmanuel Detournay, Will Pettitt, Joseph F. Labuz, Lee Petersen |
Publisher | American Rock Mechanics Association (ARMA) |
Pages | 288-294 |
Number of pages | 7 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9781634395236 |
Publication status | Published - 2014 |
Event | 48th US Rock Mechanics / Geomechanics Symposium 2014: Rock Mechanics Across Length and Time Scales - Minneapolis, United States Duration: 1 Jun 2014 → 4 Jun 2014 |
Publication series
Name | 48th US Rock Mechanics / Geomechanics Symposium 2014 |
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Volume | 1 |
Conference
Conference | 48th US Rock Mechanics / Geomechanics Symposium 2014: Rock Mechanics Across Length and Time Scales |
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Country/Territory | United States |
City | Minneapolis |
Period | 1/06/14 → 4/06/14 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:Copyright (2014) ARMA, American Rock Mechanics Association