Use the HydraGlyde system to offer multiple shale inhibition mechanism

A tailored HydraGlyde system was chosen to drill both the 8.-in intermediate and 61/8-in lateral sections. The system was customized in such way as to balance the technical requirements for each interval while maintaining the cost at a minimum. The upper section of the intermediate hole, from surface shoe to 6,500 ft [1,981 m], was drilled with slick, inhibited water—with the HydraHib inhibitor and HydraSpeed lubricant only. Below 6,500 ft [1,981 m], the entire curve to TD was drilled using the HydraGlyde system. In the 8 3/4-in section, the HydraGlyde system was engineered to manage the reactive shale, in combination with the HydraHib inhibitor and HydraCap additive. The HydraGlyde system used these as a multiple inhibition mechanism; the HydraHib inhibitor was used as the primary inhibitor, and the HydraCap additive was used as the encapsulating polymer. For the lateral section, the shale inhibitors were allowed to deplete while the HydraSpeed lubricant was deployed to reduce torque and drag. An MPD system was also employed to help manage wellbore ballooning and mitigate lost circulation.

Drilled well to TD without significant time spent reaming or washing down

The combination of the HydraGlyde system and the HydraHib inhibitor, HydraCap additive, HydraSpeed lubricant, and the MPD system enabled the operator to successfully mitigate the expected drilling complications; they were able to drill to interval TDs and land surface casing, intermediate casing, and production liner without any significant time spent reaming or washing down. To date, the operator has successfully drilled twelve wells using the HydraGlyde system, including four laterals in conjunction with an MPD system.