HydraHib
Shale inhibitor
Intercalates and reduces the space between clay platelets so that water molecules will not penetrate and cause swelling
已发表: 05/14/2018
已发表: 05/14/2018
Historically in the US Land Rocky Mountains, an operator consistently experienced difficulties while tripping out of hole through the upper 5,000 ft [1,524 m] of several wells in the 8 3/4-in intermediate section. During this time, the operator drilled using a conventional gel and polymer drilling fluid. This made the illite, kaolinite, and smectite in the formation prone to swelling, ballooning, and high torque and drag, causing severe lost circulation. Occasionally, high torque and drag was observed while drilling the 3,000–5,000-ft [914–1,524-m] 6 1/8-in lateral section as well. Consequently, the operator needed a way to mitigate this ballooning and swelling while also reducing torque and drag downhole.
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.
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.
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