Cesium Formate - The Beneficial Effects of Low Viscosity and High Initial Fluid Loss on Drilling Rate - A Comparative Experiment

Abstract

Full scale drilling tests using industry accepted protocols have been conducted to investigate drilling rates achievable with a new, high density, environmentally acceptable, clear brine fluid. Importantly, control experiments using a hematite-weighted water based field mud were also conducted. This paper presents the data and the authors' analysis, with an emphasis on fluid loss measurements conducted during the tests. The fluid of interest consists of approximately 18.7 ppg Cesium Formate with polymeric additives for viscosity and fluid loss control. It is believed that the fluids used in these tests are the highest density ever used in published full scale laboratory drilling tests.