Developing ultra-deep wells presents a significant challenge in current petroleum exploration and production. Ensuring the cleanliness of the wellbore is a crucial aspect of safeguarding the development process. Removing contaminants from residual drilling fluids is vital to ensure unobstructed production pathways in ultra-deep wells, thereby achieving secure operational environments. This paper analyzes the primary residual components of drilling fluids in post-drilling operations of ultra-deep wells. It also explores the synergistic damaging mechanisms of residual drilling fluids on casing-ion corrosion and abrasive wear. Moreover, we summarize the technical challenges involved in the flushing and treatment of ultra-deep wellbores. Drawing from global developments in flushing fluids for ultra-deep wellbores, this study investigates the performance and on-site applicability of various flushing fluids. The findings indicate that the flushing of ultra-deep wellbores necessitates the development of fluid systems tailored to different well conditions and residual components. Adaptable flushing fluids exhibit suitability across diverse operational scenarios. Furthermore, understanding the mechanisms of flushing fluids provides novel perspectives for their future development. Presently, research on the mechanisms of flushing fluids predominantly relies on experimental observations and theoretical simulations. This study analyzes the future directions of flushing fluid research by summarizing and synthesizing existing technical challenges. In conclusion, as discussed in this study, the tailored technology for flushing wellbores lays a fundamental groundwork for large-scale flushing and treatment of ultra-deep wells, thus offering a foundational contribution to the field.
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