Measurement of the Mechanical Properties of Filtercakes

Abstract

Measurement of the Mechanical Properties of Filtercakes P. Cerasi; P. Cerasi SINTEF Petroleum Research Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar H.K. Ladva; H.K. Ladva Schlumberger Cambridge Research Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar A.J. Bradbury; A.J. Bradbury M-I L.L.C. Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar K. Soga K. Soga University of Cambridge Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Paper presented at the SPE European Formation Damage Conference, The Hague, Netherlands, May 2001. Paper Number: SPE-68948-MS https://doi.org/10.2118/68948-MS Published: May 21 2001 Connected Content Related to: Measurement of Filter-Cake Mechanical Properties Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Get Permissions Search Site Citation Cerasi, P., Ladva, H.K., Bradbury, A.J., and K. Soga. "Measurement of the Mechanical Properties of Filtercakes." Paper presented at the SPE European Formation Damage Conference, The Hague, Netherlands, May 2001. doi: https://doi.org/10.2118/68948-MS Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentAll ProceedingsSociety of Petroleum Engineers (SPE)SPE European Formation Damage Conference and Exhibition Search Advanced Search AbstractIn order to improve drilling mud design to cater for specific well situations, a more comprehensive knowledge and understanding of filter cake failure is needed. This paper describes experimental techniques aimed at directly probing the mechanical properties of filter cakes, without having to take into account artefacts due to fluid flow in the substrate. The use of rheometers allows us to determine shear yield stress and dynamic shear modulii of cakes grown on filter paper. A new scraping technique measures the strength and moisture profiles of typical filter cakes with a 0.1 mm resolution. This technique also allows us to probe the adhesion between the filter cake and its rock substrate. In addition, dometer drained consolidation and unloading of a filter cake give us compression parameters useful for Cam Clay modelling. These independent measurements give similar results as to the elastic modulus of different filter cakes, showing an order of magnitude difference between water based and oil based cakes. We find that these standard cakes behave predominantly as purely elastic materials, with a sharp transition into plastic flow, allowing for the determination of a well-defined yield stress. The effect of solids loading on a given type of mud is also studied.IntroductionFilter cakes formed on wellbore walls during the drilling process have, among other roles, the task of protecting the formation from the invasion of damaging drilling fluid. In many wells, the requirement from the operator is to be able to produce the well with the minimum number of interventions and treatments, ideally by just reversing the pressure drop between the wellbore and the formation1. Depending on the amplitude of this pressure drop, the permeability of the reservoir rock and the nature of the drilling mud employed, it has been shown that the filter cake can fail in two very dissimilar fashions. The cake either detaches in large slabs from the rock surface ("liftoff" mode), or it "pinholes", with the bulk of the cake essentially remaining in place but developing many small erosion channels through which the oil can flow. If the cake ruptures by lifting off with no cleanup treatment, there is a risk of potentially clogging the completion put in place (i.e. slotted liner or gravel pack). The challenge is thus to design a drilling fluid which will consolidate into an impermeable filter cake (so as not to damage the formation during the drilling phase), but weak enough to allow back flow of oil under a draw-down reversal of minimal amplitude. Keywords: filtration pressure, experiment, bradbury, viscosity, drilling fluid property, filtercake, loading, substrate, drilling fluids and materials, variation Subjects: Drilling Fluids and Materials, Drilling fluid selection and formulation (chemistry, properties) This content is only available via PDF. 2001. Society of Petroleum Engineers You can access this article if you purchase or spend a download.