Abstract
The filter cake characterization is very essential for doing well selection of the drilling fluids that eliminates the drilling problems such as formation damage. A correct knowledge of filter cake properties gives petroleum engineers a tool for efficiently managing hydrocarbon production process of a field. This study aimed to experimentally investigate the effect of different concentration of XC-Polymer on filter cake properties, filtrate loss and formation damage to select the optimum concentration of the XC-Polymer. High Pressure-High Temperature (HPHT) filter press with ceramic disk device was used to conduct these experiments. Seven samples of water-based drilling were used in this study. The chemical compositions of the filter cake were described by using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The results show that the optimum concentration of the XC-Polymer in current study is 1.0 lb/bbl (1 g/ 350 ml); it was observed that 1g XC-Polymer per 350 ml of the drilling fluid is sufficient for appropriate optimum rheological efficiency. However, if more than 2 g. of XC-Polymer is added, the fluid loses its property and becomes almost immobile. Thus, at 1.0 g of the XC-Polymer concentration there is a less reduction in permeability of the ceramic disk. At this concentration, we got less reduction in permeability of ceramic disk and good properties of the filter cake. In addition, this is an indicator of less formation damage at this concentration of XC-Polymer.
Highlights
Drilling fluids are the most critical parameter in the drilling operation and owing to the rapid development in the drilling well industry
The thickness of filter cake formed on the ceramic disk was measured after completing the High Pressure-High Temperature (HPHT) filtration test
The fluid put in the HPHT cell and placed in the heating jacket at desirable temperature
Summary
Drilling fluids are the most critical parameter in the drilling operation and owing to the rapid development in the drilling well industry. It is very important to improve the properties of drilling fluids in order to satisfy the increasing demands. Mud can be described as thixotropicshear-thinning fluids with a yield stress [1]. The drilling fluids are originally designed in order to make sure that rotary drilling of subterranean formations is possible and economical. It is carrying cutting to surface, cooling and cleaning the bit, reducing friction, maintaining wellbore stability and preventing pore fluids from prematurely flowing into the wellbore. The drilling fluids are essentially designed to build a filter cake, which is basically intended to decrease filtrate loss to the formation, be thin and hold the drilling fluid in the wellbore [2]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
