Concerns about limited lubricity typical of water-base RDFs

Because of environmental considerations, a customer requested a water-base RDF for a planned extended-reach well offshore California. The customer was concerned about water-base fluids’ generally limited lubricity characteristics, which also frequently require a lubricant to reduce torque and drag. Though many lubricants are commercially available, few allow operators to avoid the “cheesing” and “greasing” potential that can cause formation damage. Additionally, many lubricants pose the risk of dramatically reducing fluid viscosity, forcing operators to use additional products to regain drilling properties.

Adding CLEAN-LUBE lubricant to further enhance FLOTHRU system

M-I SWACO designed and optimized a FLOTHRU water-base RDF system to enhance flowback and eliminate the need for a chemical cleanup treatment. During the engineering design process for the offshore well, CLEAN-LUBE lubricant was included in the test matrix. In stress tests, the lubricant continually demonstrated minimal cheesing and greasing tendencies and had little effect on fluid rheology. The FLOTHRU system was tested with 3% CLEAN-LUBE lubricant by volume, the maximum recommended concentration that would have no effect on the active filtercake components.

Enhanced lubricity for ensured drilling, completion of long lateral

The 8 1/2-in hole was drilled with 9.0-lbm/galUS [1,078.4-kg/m3] FLOTHRU system fluid. At 19,655-ft [5,991-m] MD, rotary torque exceeded limitations, and CLEAN-LUBE lubricant was bled into the active system until the concentration reached 3% by volume. After the addition of the lubricant, torque readings dropped from 40,000 ft.lbf [54,232.7 N.m] to 28,000 ft.lbf [3,7962.9 N.m]—a reduction of 30%—with no significant change in fluid rheology. The well was drilled to TD and the 5 1/2-in liner run in hole without issue. Without the lubricity provided by the CLEAN-LUBE lubricant, it would not have been possible to finish drilling or complete the well.