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Collaborating Authors
Abstract Metal-to-metal lubricants used within the Coiled Tubing (CT) industry have become an essential resource for the successful completion of a variety of operations, most notably extended reach practices. A vast selection of metal-to-metal lubricants exist within the industry, which provides an abundance of options for CT applications. However, the effectiveness of these lubricants based on different well parameters is not well understood. The objective of this study is to provide a quantitative analysis comparing the friction reducing characteristics of various CT metal-to-metal lubricants used in optimized extended reach practices. Fourteen different lubricants commonly used in the Eagle Ford and the Bakken resource plays were tested using an OFITE EP (extreme pressure) and lubricity tester to determine their respective lubricity coefficient and film strength. The lubricity coefficient test used a torque arm which applied 150 in-pounds of force (the equivalent of 5,000 to 10,000 psi on the intermediate fluid) between two hardened steel surfaces (a block and a ring) rotating at 60 RPM. The EP test produced an indication of the film lubricant strength by applying a measured force to a torque-sensitive bearing cup with the torque arm. The EP test was performed at a high shear rate of 1,000 RPM with fluid pressures ranging from 5,000 to 100,000 psi between the steel surfaces. Tests with multiple solutions and various conditions were conducted to provide a better understanding of how the lubricant reacts in field applications. Each lubricant was mixed with fresh water, brine fluid, friction reducer, and 15% HCl fluid at different temperatures. The effectiveness of the top-performing metal-to-metal lubricants was validated by comparing the laboratory results with field data and computer modeling. The outcome of this analysis was used in conjunction with previously completed extended reach studies to further understand and improve the effects of metal-to-metal lubricants in CT operations. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the performance of the different metal-to-metal lubricants based on the applications and well conditions. A more in-depth understanding of the lubricants will help to improve accuracy when modeling and designing extended reach CT operations, which will result in improved overall efficiency.
- Geology > Rock Type > Sedimentary Rock > Organic-Rich Rock > Oil Shale (0.40)
- Geology > Petroleum Play Type > Unconventional Play > Shale Play > Shale Oil Play (0.40)
- North America > United States > Texas > West Gulf Coast Tertiary Basin > Eagle Ford Shale Formation (0.97)
- North America > United States > Texas > Sabinas - Rio Grande Basin > Eagle Ford Shale Formation (0.97)
- North America > United States > Texas > Maverick Basin > Eagle Ford Shale Formation (0.97)
- (3 more...)
- Well Drilling > Drilling Operations > Directional drilling (1.00)
- Well Completion > Completion Installation and Operations > Coiled tubing operations (1.00)
- Reservoir Description and Dynamics > Unconventional and Complex Reservoirs > Shale oil (1.00)
- Management > Energy Economics > Unconventional resource economics (1.00)
Pore Accessibility and Connectivity of Mineral and Kerogen Phases in Shales
Hu, Qinhong (University of Texas at Arlington) | Gao, Xubo (China University of Geosciences and University of Texas at Austin) | Gao, Zhiye (University of Texas at Arlington and China University of Petroleum) | Ewing, Robert (Iowa State University) | Dultz, Stefan (Leibniz University of Hannover) | Kaufmann, Josef (Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Sciences and Technology)
Summary The main barrier to sustainable development of US shale, the pore structure of the nanopores storing and transporting hydrocarbon, has been quietly ignored. Fluid flow and mass transport in porous media is controlled by pore structure, which has both geometric and topological characteristics; these characteristics therefore affect exploration and production of hydrocarbons. Considering the composition of mineral and kerogen phases and their associated nanopores in shales, we have studied tracer penetration and distribution, and its association with mineral and organic kerogen phases. We examined imbibition behavior, and imbibed tracer distribution, for fluids (API brine or n-decane) imbibed into initially dry Barnett shale samples. Pore connection was also probed by injecting molten Wood's metal alloy at pressures as high as 6,000 bars, followed by imaging and elemental mapping. The extremely sensitive detection of Wood's metal component elements by laser ablation-ICP-MS mapping reveals that only about 1/1000th of the edge-accessible porosity is connected in the sample interior, which is consistent with other experimental approaches and theoretical interpretation of pore connectivity based on percolation theory. This sparse pore space connection within the shale matrix limits fracture-matrix exchange in fractured shale, resulting in steep initial production decline and overall low recovery.
- North America > United States > Texas (1.00)
- Europe (0.93)
- Geology > Rock Type > Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Rock > Mudrock > Shale (1.00)
- Geology > Mineral (1.00)
- Government > Regional Government > North America Government > United States Government (1.00)
- Energy > Oil & Gas > Upstream (1.00)
- Reservoir Description and Dynamics > Unconventional and Complex Reservoirs > Shale oil (0.91)
- Reservoir Description and Dynamics > Unconventional and Complex Reservoirs > Shale gas (0.91)
- Management > Energy Economics > Unconventional resource economics (0.91)
- Reservoir Description and Dynamics > Formation Evaluation & Management > Drillstem/well testing (0.79)
With the success of hydraulic fracturing in the US shale-gas plays, why are more operating companies not using energized fluids to minimize the use of water, decrease the amount of proppant required, and (theoretically) enhance long-term productivity? It appears that Canadians have been somewhat more receptive to the idea and are more willing to use energized fluids, with apparently positive results. Perhaps it is too early in the game to convince operators in the US to take another look at this technology with an open mind. Allow me to start a dialogue in this area. The perception that using energized fluids is more expensive to achieve the same goal could be one hurdle keeping operators from using them.
- North America > United States (0.48)
- Asia > Middle East > Saudi Arabia (0.17)
- Asia > Middle East > Kuwait (0.17)
- Energy > Oil & Gas > Upstream (1.00)
- Government > Regional Government > Asia Government > Middle East Government (0.33)
- Well Completion > Hydraulic Fracturing (0.98)
- Reservoir Description and Dynamics > Unconventional and Complex Reservoirs > Shale gas (0.96)
- Reservoir Description and Dynamics > Formation Evaluation & Management > Drillstem/well testing (0.90)
- Management > Energy Economics > Unconventional resource economics (0.59)