Water-Based Alternatives to Oil-Based Muds: Do They Actually Exist?

Abstract

fax 01-972-952-9435. AbstractWater-based mud designs as alternatives to oil-based or synthetic-based muds are compared versus history of use. Water-soluble designs and water-insoluble designs are discussed as well as a combination approach used by Woodside Energy to drill on the Northwest Shelf, Offshore Australia. Perfornance of a water-based 2-phase polyglycol mud system containing a Drilling Enhancer with an appropriate bit design was technically and economically equivalent to that with a synthetic-based mud.

Influence of an ionic liquid on rheological and filtration properties of water-based drilling fluids at high temperatures

“…However, due to their higher initial costs, more stringent pollution-control procedures required and more difficult treatment for lost circulation of OBMs, high temperature-resistant WBMs are the preferred choice in deep-drilling applications (Bland et al, 2002;Mario et al, 2007;Zhang et al, 2015). However, WBMs often become ineffective at high temperatures in deep drilling because of their unstable rheological properties, which greatly reduce the hole-cleaning capacity (Tehrani et al, 2007;Alsabagh et al, 2014).…”

Initial Research on the Effect of Inorganic Salt on Rate of Penetration (ROP) in Drilling Fluids

“…In recent years, the fast drilling fluids technology have been researched extensively and the adding ROP growth agent into drilling fluids is able to enhance ROP. In other words, ROP enhancement is able to be obtained by transforming the lubrication of metal surfaces, reducing the torque as well as preventing bit balling (Growcock et al, 1994;Bland et al, 2002;Klein et al, 2003;Dye et al, 2005). The documents indicate that water solution will impact on the nature of rock surface to a certain degree.…”