The Development and Application of a Novel Polyamine Water-based Drilling Fluid

Abstract

Polyamine water-based drilling fluid has been used around the world in recent years. The authors investigated the key additive SDJA-1 as polyamine shale hydration inhibitor. Results indicate that SDJA-1 can suppress clay hydration effectively and provide a pH buffer effect. Polyacrylamide and nano-emulsion ZX-8 were selected as shale encapsulator and lubricant, respectively. The properties of polyamine water-based drilling fluid including inhibition, lubrication and toxicity were evaluated compared with other inhibitive water-based drilling fluids and conventional oil-based drilling fluid. Results show the fluid outperforms other water-based drilling fluids and approaches to the performance of oil-based drilling fluid. Furthermore, the system is non-toxic and environmental friendly, superior to oil-based drilling fluid. This system was successfully applied on well Tian 310 in Shengli oilfield. A caliper log was run which indicated the highest quality wellbore ever recorded in the entire block.