BAKER HUGHES - Drilling Fluids Reference Manual

Baker Hughes Drilling Fluids
Low emulsion
stability
Water wetting
of solids
Table 5-26
Dull, grainy appearance to fluid
High HT/HP fluid loss.
Free H 2 O in HT/HP filtrate.
Barite setting out.
Blinding of shaker screens.
Extreme cases can cause water
wetting of solids.
Flocculation of barite on sandcontent
test.
Sticky cuttings.
Blinding of shaker screens.
Settling of barite.
dull, grainy appearance of fluid.
Low electrical stability (ES).
Free H 2 O in HT/HP filtrate.
High filtration High HT/HP filtrate with
increasing free H 2 O.
Low electrical stability (ES).
Fill on connections and trips.
Sloughing shale.
High
viscosity
Sloughing
shale
High PV, high YP.
Increasing funnel viscosity.
Increasing retort solids.
Increase in water content.
Fill on connections and trips.
Torque and drag.
Cuttings increase across shaker.
Barite setting Low YP and gels.
Settling of barite in heating cup.
Lost
circulation
Problem
mixing fluid at
mixing plant
Pit volume decreases.
Loss of returns.
Poor emulsions stability.
Barite settling.
Dull, grainy appearance to fluid.
Fluid very thin with no yield or
gel strengths.
Troubleshooting Emulsion Fluid Systems
1. Low emulsifier
2. Super-saturated with CaCl 2
3. Water flows
4. Mixing fluid at mixing plant
1. Inadequate emulsifiers
2. Water fluid contamination
3. Super saturated CaCl 2
1. Low emulsifier content.
2. Low concentration of fluid
loss control additives.
3. High bottom hole
temperature.
1. Add CARBO-MUL HT / OMNI-MUL. Add
CARBO-TEC and lime if CARBO-TEC system.
2. Dilute back with fresh H 2 O and add CARBO-
MUL HT / OMNI-MUL.
3. Add CARBO-MUL HT / OMNI-MUL. Can also
add CARBO-TEC and lime if CARBO-TEC
system.
4. Maximize shear. Check electrolyte content (the
higher the content, the harder the emulsion is to
form)
1. Add CARBO-MUL HT / OMNI-MUL and
OMNI-COTE.
2. Add CARBO-MUL HT / OMNI-MUL and
OMNI-COTE.
3. Dilute with fresh H 2 O and add CARBO-MUL
HT / OMNI-MUL
1. Add CARBO-MUL HT / OMNI-MUL. Add
CARBO-TEC and lime if CARBO-TEC system.
2. Add CARBO-TROL A-9 / OMNI-TROL and/or
CARBO-TROL
3. Add more CARBO-MUL HT / OMNI-MUL.
Add CARBO-TEC and lime. Convert to CARBO-
TEC system. Add more CARBO-TROL A-9 /
OMNI-TROL and CARBO-TROL
1. High solids content. 1. Dilute with oil, maximize solids-control
2. Water contamination equipment. Add emulsifiers.
3. Over treatment w/emulsifiers, 2. Add emulsifiers. If severe, also add OMNI-
COTE.
especially CARBO-TEC
3. Dilute with oil
1. Drilling under-balanced
2. Excessive filtrate.
3. Inadequate hole cleaning.
4. Activity too low.
1. Poor oil wetting of barite
2. Inadequate suspension.
3. Low ES, high HT/HP
1. Increase fluid weight.
2. Add emulsifiers. Add CARBO-TROL A-9 /
OMNI-TROL and/or CARBO-TROL.
3. Add CARBO-GEL to increase yield point.
4. Adjust CaCl 2 content of internal phase to match
formation activity.
1. Add emulsifiers and /or wetting agents. Slow
addition of barite.
2. Add CARBO-GEL or viscosifying polymer.
3. Add emulsifier.
1. Hydrostatic pressure is greater 1. Add mica or plug. Never add fibrous or
than formation pressure. phenolic-resin materials. If possible, reduce fluid
weight.
1. Inadequate shear.
2. Very cold.
3. Poor wetting of barite.
4. High electrolyte content.
Normally greater than
350,000 ppm.
5. Surfactant contamination
1. Maximize the shear.
2. Lengthen mixing times.
3. Slow additions of barite. Add CARBO-MUL HT
/ OMNI-MUL. If severe, add small amount of
OMNI-COTE.
4. Dilute back with fresh H 2 O. Once emulsion if
formed, can add additional CaCl 2 to obtain desired
activity.
possible if using CaCl 2 brine that
5. Pilot test with known CaCl
has been used as completion or
2 brine to determine if
problem does exist
work over fluid.
It is recommended that all fluid treatments and mixing procedures be confirmed with the fluids
coordinator prior to being initiated. Pilot testing is always recommended prior to commencing actual
treatment of the active system.
Baker Hughes Drilling Fluids
Reference Manual
Revised 2006 5-45