BAKER HUGHES - Drilling Fluids Reference Manual

RESERVOIR APPLICATION FLUIDS
• Temperature limitations: Up to 250°C (482°F). For high temperature applications where
prolonged exposure to conditions over 150°C (302°F) will occur, then KEM-SEAL is used as
the primary viscosifier.
MIL-PAC TM LV
MIL-PAC LV can be added in significant quantities to a CLEAR-DRILL fluid to obtain the
required filtration control without contributing to viscosity.
• System applicability: ALL
• Temperature limitations: Up to 120°C (248°F). For low to moderate temperature applications,
up to 120°C (248°F), MIL-PAC LV is the normal additive for fluid loss control in formatebase
systems. For higher temperatures, MIL-PAC LV is replaced with KEM-SEAL ® .
Calcium Carbonate
Calcium carbonate can be used as a bridging agent or as a weighting material. Dolomite (calcium
magnesium carbonate) or graded, ground marble can also be used.
• System applicability: ALL
• Temperature limitations: Stable at 250°C (482°F)
MICROMAX
MICROMAX (manganese tetraoxide – Mn 3 O 4 ) is a water-insoluble, acid soluble, dispersible
weighting material for drilling fluids with ideal properties for providing high density fluids. The
material has a specific gravity of approximately 4.8 @ 20°C, resulting in a roughly 15% volume
reduction of solids compared to barite. Although somewhat harder than barite, MICROMAX is
slightly less abrasive than barite because the particle shape is predominantly spherical, thus
providing a higher density while avoiding the abrasivity problems normally associated with
hematite. The particle shape and size (typically less the one micron) are also responsible for nonimpairment
of return permeabilities and the low impact that the product has on plastic viscosity as
particle-to-particle interactions are minimized.
• System applicability: ALL
• Temperature limitations: Stable at 250°C (482°F)
Standard Laboratory Formulations and Properties
These data represent a cross-section of the laboratory work carried out Shell Oil Company’s
laboratories in The Hague and in Baker Hughes Drilling Fluids’ laboratories as part of a joint
venture research project between Shell and Baker Hughes Drilling Fluids.
BAKER HUGHES DRILLING FLUIDS
REFERENCE MANUAL
REVISION 2006 6-33