Linkedin article discussing the desired characteristics of fluids used for drilling, completion and surface treatment.

1. Driving Innovation: What Makes a Fluid “Better”?
The slowlyrecoveringoil price environmentisdrivinginnovationforreducingnon-productivetime in
drillingandcompletionoperations. Opportunitiesforimprovingthe fluidsthatcompaniesuse should
not be overlooked.
Betterfluidscanhelpoil andgas companiesinawide range of operations. Inthe wellbore,
improvementscanbe made to drillingfluids,drill-influids(usedtominimize damage tothe hydrocarbon
bearingformation),andfluids usedduringmuddisplacementandwellbore cleanout. Onthe surface,
there isa needforimprovedtreatment(cleaning) fluids,andmore efficientbioremediation.
The qualityof the fluidisdeterminedbythe HSE(Health,SafetyandEnvironment)benefits,
performance andcost.
Workerscome intocontact withfluidsona regularbasis,so the effectsonhumanhealthare very
important. Skinirritationshouldbe low,inhalationhazardsminimized,andthe fluidneedstobe non-
carcinogenic. The safest oneshave alow riskfor fire hazardand minimize dangerousrigactivities. To
protectthe environment,low acute andchronictoxicityare desired,aswell ashighbiodegradationand
lowbioaccumulation.

2. Performance attributesvarydependingonthe activity. For drilling,we wantfluidswithgoodshale
inhibitionforconstructingagauge borehole. Theyshouldprovide ahighpenetrationrate,good
lubricity, have ahigh stability,andbe compatiblewithelastomers. Fordrill-influids, we alsolookfor
shale inhibitionbutdesignthe fluidsspecificallytominimize formationdamage fromsolidsand
emulsions. Drill-influidsmay alsohave a low densityforunderbalanceddrillingwhenencountering
depletedpressure reservoirs.
The desiredpropertiesare quite differentforspacersandwellborecleanoutfluids. Powerful chemical
interactionsare neededforremovingoil-basedmudandfiltercake fromthe tubingandopenhole
formation,convertingsurfacesfromoil-wettowater-wet. Atthe surface,there isroomfor improving
systemsthatare effective atquicklyandefficientlycleaningoil fromsolids. Bioremediationsystems
shouldbe designedtorapidlydegradethe oil bysequesteringittopreventitfromenteringthe
environment,thenallowmicrobestobreak downthe oil moleculesintoharmlessby-products.
The unitcost of the fluidperpoundor barrel shouldbe minimizedsince verylarge volumesare
consumedindrillingandcompletionoperations. More importantly,since the rigdayratesare so high,
the fluidmustcontribute toloweringthe well costbydecreasingnon-productive time. Fordrillingand
drill-influids,thiscanbe accomplishedbyincreasingthe rate of penetration,keepingthe hole open,
reducingstuckpipe,minimizinglostcirculation,andreducingformationdamage. Wellbore cleanout
fluidsare neededthat efficientlycleanthe wellbore surfacessavingrigtime andpreventing“gunk”from
forming. Atthe surface,the fluid systems shouldminimizethe needforwaste treatment,disposal and
storage.
Don VanSlyke
thevanslykes@comcast.net,trinavan4@gmail.com
832-260-3639