BAKER HUGHES - Drilling Fluids Reference Manual

Baker Hughes Drilling Fluids
weighted freshwater and salt water fluids with excessive hardness (30,000 mg/L) and at
temperatures approaching 500°F.
Application
The system can be composed of any combination of the products shown in Table 3–16 depending
upon pH, temperature, and total hardness of the drilling fluid. As in any drilling fluid system, the
optimum properties will be achieved when the low-gravity solids are in the proper range for the
desired fluid density.
Most of the PYRO-DRILL components are used in small concentrations, usually not exceeding 3
lbm/bbl. The major parameters determining product concentrations will be density, drill solids
content, particle size, pH, salinity, total hardness, and bottom hole temperature. Some general
product concentration guidelines for use with the PYRO-DRILL system at varying densities,
salinities, and hardness levels are presented in Table 3-17 PYRO-DRILL Product
Concentration Guidelines for Various Fluid Types
Table 3-16 Component Description of the PYRO DRILL System
Product Description Function
MIL-TEMP Sulfonated styrene, maleic anhydride
co-polymer
Provide thermal stability
ALL-TEMP Derivatized synthetic interpolymer Water-base deflocculation
Rheology control where BHST > 300°F
(149°C)
CHEMTROL X Modified lignitic polymer blend HT/HP filtration control
Deflocculation
KEM-SEAL AMPS/AAM co-polymer High-temperature viscosifier freshwater
HT/HP filtration control SALT WATER
PYRO-TROL AMPS/AM co-polymer HT/HP filtration control
Shale stabilizer
Lubricity
POLYDRILL Sulfonated synthetic polymer HT/HP filtration control for high-hardness
fluids
Deflocculation
PYRO-VISTM Chemically modified sugar beet
extract
Supplementary viscosifier for SALT
WATER/high-hardness fluids to increase
yield point and gel strengths
Mixing Recommendations
Most of the additives in the PYRO-DRILL system are polymers, therefore, they should be added
slowly (20 to 45 min/container) through the chemical hopper for optimum blending and solubility
of the products. In almost all cases, PYRO-DRILL system products can be added directly through
the chemical hopper. The two exceptions are the use of PYRO-VIS ® and the use of CHEMTROL
X in saturated salt water fluids. PYRO-VIS must be pre-hydrated and sheared extensively in a
high-shear device prior to addition to the active system. This procedure will alleviate overtreatment
and optimize usage of the polymer for supplementing gel strengths and yield points in
highly saline and high hardness fluids. If facilities are available, CHEMTROL X should be presolubilized
in freshwater with caustic soda prior to adding to a saturated salt water fluid. This
procedure will assure optimum solubility of the CHEMTROL X in a very harsh environment
Baker Hughes Drilling Fluids
Reference Manual
Revised 2006 3-63