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Review Of Drilling Fluid Performance In The Bahr Essalam Gas Development Project Offshore Libya
Dearing, H. (Newpark Drilling Fluids) | Mariani, A. (Eni Gas Libya) | Ricci, P. (Eni Gas Libya) | Riccobon, L. (Eni Gas Libya) | D'Alessandro, F. (AVA Drilling Fluids) | Schofield, M. (AVA Drilling Fluids) | King, P. (AVA Drilling Fluids)
ABSTRACT: The Bahr Essalam field offshore Libya represents a major gas development in the offshore Mediterranean. The timely development of the field is required to provide gas supplies for the West Libya Gas Project. Fifteen wells were planned for the Central platform. To date, sixteen wells have been drilled. Two were drilled and cased through the reservoir. Thirteen were drilled to the top of the reservoir zone, cased, and temporarily suspended. One well was suspended at the 13-3/8 in (340 mm) casing point. Once the platform jacket and deck installation are in place, the production intervals will be drilled and the wells completed. Due to the relatively shallow reservoir depth, a number of high angle wells in excess of 70° of inclination were required. Drilling has progressed in several phases with the first phase encompassing the batch drilling of the 36 in (914 mm) and 23 in (584 mm) sections. This first phase progressed without incident. Problems were encountered, though, in the second phase of the drilling for the 17‑1/2 in (445 mm) and 12-1/4 in (311 mm) hole sections. In the 17‑1/2 in (445 mm) interval, the Mahmoud shale could not be adequately inhibited with water based drilling fluids on the first 7 wells. Such problems as bit balling and stuck pipe occurred. In the 4 wells where water based fluids were utilized in the 12-1/4 in (311 mm) section, the Salambo formation caused similar problems. Based on this experience, a low-toxicity oil mud system was implemented for the remaining wells. This system required special processing and handling equipment for the mud and cuttings to minimize cost and optimize performance. The remaining wells in the project were drilled to target depth without incident. A number of other changes were implemented to improve performance and reduce the likelihood of unplanned events that would result in lost time. The average footage per day increased substantially for the wells drilled with low-toxicity oil mud
ABSTRACT: A proprietary water-based drilling fluid system developed by Newpark Drilling Fluids, LLC, has proven effective in numerous Gulf of Mexico applications where oil-based muds (OBM) or synthetic fluids (SBM) have been the historical fluid of choice for drilling depleted sands, highly-deviated wells while ensuring production zone protection. These complex polyol fluids formulated with a blend of methyl glucoside and polyglycerol exhibit results comparable to those achieved with OBM and SBM in critical categories such as lubricity, wellbore stability and tolerance to common drilling contaminants, while achieving improved results as compared to OBM in environmental protection, total fluid cost and log interpretation. Lower equivalent circulating densities compared to OBM muds have also been achieved. The system provides wellbore stabilization and lubricity via a combination of polyglycerol and methyl glucoside, and reflects refinement in formulation resulting from years of research and development as well as extensive field experience. Results of tests conducted by OGS Laboratory, Inc., with its unique Downhole Simulation Cell, provided developers evidence of fluid performance in drilling actual formation samples under conditions duplicating in situ conditions. In many cases, these complex polyol systems are re-used on subsequent wells after conditioning and storage. Field use has included densities exceeding 2.16 SG (18 ppg) and the system is temperature stable to over 200°C (385°F). The geology of many Mediterranean region areas makes this type of mud a viable choice for operators seeking economical and environmentally acceptable alternatives to OBM. This presentation provides an overview of the system's development and the research that demonstrates its usefulness.
- North America > United States (0.24)
- North America > Mexico (0.24)