SMART RDF Reservoir drill-in fluid family

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Advanced completion and formation protection for enhanced well performance

Applications ■ All openhole

completion designs ■ Wells that are difficult

to complete with conventional fluids

■ Wells that are subject to impairment

Benefits ■ Maximizes production

and injection ■ Addresses multiple drilling

and completion challenges ■ Minimizes drilling

and completion costs ■ Delivers uniform, predictable

production rates and reservoir drainage

■ Reduces potential for formation damage

■ Lowers HSE risks ■ Reduces lost production

and screen erosion caused by partial plugging

Features ■ Diverse suite of application-

specific RDFs for drilling and completion

■ Flexible chemistries ■ Critical fluid rheology

adjustable to drilling design ■ Specially formulated for

use with MUDSOLV NG* integrated filtercake removal service

■ Filtercake designed for easy removal and minimal impairment

Deploying a reservoir drill-in fluid (RDF) that does not match specific downhole conditions can compromise reservoir connectivity and, in turn, jeopardize maximum production or injectivity. SMART RDF* reservoir drill-in fluid family is specially formulated to balance individual drilling and completion requirements, so you can maximize reservoir potential while minimizing damage.

The versatile and smart approach to getting the most out of your well

Engineering a SMART RDF family solution considers every variable that affects the cost-effective drilling, unimpaired completion, and ultimate productivity of a reservoir—including formation lithology, drilling plan, completion design, and production objectives.

Fit-for-purpose, integrated approach to controlled filtercake destruction

The SMART RDF family comprises a comprehensive suite of application-specific RDFs that consistently demonstrate improved drilling efficiency and negligible formation damage. A key differentiator of the SMART RDF family portfolio is the deposition of impermeable yet easily removed filtercakes that are fully compatible with the specially engineered MUDSOLV NG service.

This customized approach helps ensure thorough and uniform destruction of the filtercake to deliver unobstructed pathways for maximum production or injection—without the use of aggressive chemicals.

The SMART RDF family and MUDSOLV NG service are optimized to work with Schlumberger sand management services and technologies, including stand-alone screens, inflow control devices (ICDs), and OptiPac* Alternate Path openhole gravel-pack screens.

Expertise that delivers customized solutions to individual objectives

M-I SWACO engineers formulate a SMART RDF family system with application-specific inhibition, fluid loss control, lubricity, and other properties to enable reaching the target with minimal drilling problems. At the same time, they address the distinctive formation and reservoir characteristics to optimize damage control.

To ensure thorough cleaning of the resulting filtercake, M-I SWACO engineers employ proprietary engineering software to integrate performance metrics and verified laboratory test results to develop a customized MUDSOLV NG service solution that delivers controlled filtercake destruction.

This two-step solution for maximized reservoir drainage or injection helps avoid remedial operations, lost production, and partially plugged and eroded screens.

Flexibility to meet drilling objectives while protecting the asset and environment

FAZEPRO system

FAZEPRO* reversible invert-emulsion RDF system is engineered for applications requiring the drilling performance of an invert-emulsion fluid and the filtercake removal efficiency and completion simplicity of a water-base fluid.

The FAZEPRO system is the industry’s only reversible invert-emulsion RDF system that, with a moderate <7 pH level, simplifies filtercake removal. In its invert-emulsion state, the FAZEPRO system delivers stable filtration and rheological properties for challenging drilling environments yet readily transforms to a water-wet state when exposed to an acidic environment.

FLOTHRU system

FLOTHRU* organophilic water-base RDF system enhances flowback through the filtercake without requiring a chemical breaker. The system’s low flow-initiation pressures at comparable return-permeability values readily permit unobstructed hydrocarbon flow.

The FLOTHRU system is formulated with a proprietary hydrophobic carbonate component that combines with a hydrophobic starch to control fluid loss. Together, these components create oil-preferential channels throughout the system’s deposited filtercake, enabling hydrocarbon production with minimal flow-initiation pressures.

DIPRO RDF

DIPRO* high-density divalent RDF is a biopolymer divalent brine-base fluid system that resolves the incompatibility problems associated with formulating an RDF for divalent brines. Because it does not include incompatible biopolymers, the DIPRO RDF is fully compatible with all divalent brines. It achieves high densities without loading the system with solids.

Ideal for more challenging applications necessitating densities up to 17.0 lbm/galUS [2.04 g/cm3] and thermal stability up to 300 degF [150 degC], the DIPRO RDF is engineered with a shear-thinning rheological profile, low plastic viscosity, high yield point, and elevated low-shear-rate viscosities.

DIPRO LD RDF

Biopolymer-free DIPRO LD* low-density divalent RDF expands on the growing global market of DIPRO RDF with a similarly formulated system for applications requiring lower brine densities between 9.4 lbm/galUS [1.13 g/cm3] and 10.8 lbm/galUS [1.30 g/cm3] but still using a divalent brine base.

The DIPRO LD RDF maintains an equally controllable rheological profile and destructible filtercake as the DIPRO RDF.

Trouble-free drilling and negative skin typify the advanced fluid systems that make up the SMART RDF family.

Customizable RDF systems and additives to meet the most demanding drilling objectives

Case studies

FAZEPRO system increases production 70% and injectivity 50% on openhole gravel-pack job, deepwater Angola

Challenge

An operator’s deepwater field development plan included shutting in and suspending wells after drilling and installing completions. The gravel-packed completed wells would remain static and not flowed back for 8 to 10 months.

Solution

M-I SWACO and Schlumberger collaborated to design and execute successful completions using FAZEPRO system for the 12 producer wells and 9 injector wells.

Results

The FAZEPRO system was used in drilling the reservoir sands, and the FAZE-OUT* reversible-system water-base filtercake breaker was incorporated as necessary in the completion program. Following a 3-day soak, the FAZE-OUT breaker completely destroyed the filtercake in the injector wells. Flowback with no breaker treatment was achieved on the 12 producers with negative skin reported after flow testing. The wells exceeded both production and injectivity expectations—the best producer by 70% and the best injector by more than 50%.

FLOTHRU system excels in first dry-gas well application, Gulf of Mexico

Challenge

An operator planned to drill a dry-gas horizontal well in the Gulf of Mexico’s West Cameron area, where downhole conditions would require a 10.5-lbm/galUS [1.26-g/cm3] fluid system to drill and complete the reservoir section. The initial well plan called for drilling a 500-ft [152.4-m] section of the reservoir, then performing an openhole gravel-pack completion with premium screens.

Solution

The FLOTHRU system was selected for the operation because the gas hydrocarbons would flow along the hydrophobic channels in the filtercake created by THRUTROL* organophilic filtration control additive and THRUCARB* very fine organophillic bridging agent. Because this application would be the first time that the FLOTHRU system was used in a dry-gas well, a contingency plan was developed to break the filtercake if gas flow was inhibited.

Results

Though the 384-ft [117.0-m] lateral section was drilled without any major problems, the amount of clay and gumbo encountered resulted in the drilling assembly being packed off at TD. After a cleanout run, an inflatable packer was set just above the water leg, and the FLOTHRU system was displaced out. Then, a solids-free FLOTHRU system pill was spotted in the open hole and 100 ft [30 m] inside the existing casing. Finally, the operator ran the sandscreen and gravel packed the well with more than 100% of the gravel pumped. A total of 160 ft [48.8 m] of sand was completed.

Although only 42% of the expected lateral section was completed, the production results met all expectations. On a prorated footage basis, production was 1.8 times higher than what was expected. The skin damage was reported to be zero, and the drawdown pressure was only 20% of what was anticipated.

Case studies

DIPRO RDF meets all drilling, completion, and production goals offshore Norway

Challenge

A North Sea operator planned to complete a producing well with an openhole gravel pack, requiring a divalent brine to reach the required density of 12.8-lbm/galUS [1.53-g/cm3]. The RDF also would have to be compatible with the reservoir rock as well as capable of being mixed and functioning effectively in a cold environment.

Solution

The DIPRO RDF was chosen because it met the high-density requirement and works well with heavier divalent brines. Testing at the M-I SWACO Formation Damage Laboratory in Stavanger confirmed that the RDF was compatible with the reservoir rock. Prejob planning also included design of a cold-environment mixing procedure because no heat source would be available onsite specifically for mixing the system.

Results

The DIPRO RDF met all drilling, completion, and production expectations. The RDF was mixed to the specified density at the onshore facility per the specially designed cold-temperature procedure. The DIPRO RDF achieved maximum recorded equivalent circulating density of 13.7 lbm/galUS [1.64 g/cm3] during drilling with no losses. The sand control screens were run to TD with no problems, and the gravel pack was successfully installed.

DIPRO LD RDF exceeds production expectations in deepwater openhole gravel-packing operation offshore Ghana

Challenge

To boost production in its deepwater field, an operator decided to drill and complete its first horizontal openhole gravel-pack well. To meet production objectives, the operator required an RDF that would address numerous issues related to reactive shale, carbonate scaling, and a relatively narrow drilling window.

Solution

A 10.3-lbm/galUS [1.23-g/cm3] DIPRO LD RDF was specially formulated with a rheological profile designed to effectively clean the hole and control ECD below 11.5 lbm/galUS [1.38 g/cm3] with a maximum flow rate of 600 galUS/min [2.27 m3/min]. Additionally, the DIPRO LD RDF was designed to both inhibit the interbedded shales and avoid scaling with formation fluids during drilling and completion operations. Because of the fluid’s low toxicity, the cuttings were approved for onsite discharge.

Results

The DIPRO LD RDF was used to drill 1,100 ft [335.3 m] of open hole with no problems, and fluid properties remained stable throughout the interval. No dilution was required to maintain drilled solids below 2% or to treat excessive rheology while drilling. The well was completed with 100% placement of a 12-18 alpha-beta gravel pack. Since going on production 14 days after the filtercake breaker was spotted, the well has delivered sustained production rates and drawdown pressure far exceeding the operator’s expectations. In addition, the final skin values of the open hole varied between –2 and 2.