The Influence of Fluid Loss Additives in High-Temperature Reservoirs

Abstract

Abstract Reservoir drilling and completion fluids are affected by temperature. Fluids that perform well at one temperature range can experience major problems at higher temperature ranges. A series of studies have been conducted over the last four years looking in detail at the effect of reservoir drilling fluid design for high-temperature, high-pressure (HTHP) reservoirs, with significant developments in the understanding of the role of fluid loss additives. The focus of these studies was to reduce and control formation damage, in addition to allowing efficient drilling and effective logging of exploration wells. This paper reviews and explains the findings of these investigations and the significance on past and future reservoir exploration and drilling operations. The studies were all required to assist in a number of specific drilling campaigns where logging of reservoir pressures was planned or had been performed and was believed to be influenced by formation damage. The investigations were initiated with sufficient time to allow hundreds of formulations to be tested with regards to drilling properties, stability and formation damage. Very distinctive improvements in HTHP return permeability and filter cake thickness were obtained, which was accompanied by logging success. The most notable controlling factor of return permeability under HTHP conditions was determined to be the fluid loss additive. The selection and quantity of fluid loss additive was so significant that it alone could vary the return permeability by more than 80%. The findings from these investigations have been put to practical use in a number of exploration wells where pressure measurements have been taken with great success. One notable investigation focused on a formulation used 10 years ago on a reservoir where pressure measurements could not be taken. The reservoir was abandoned until recently due to the apparent lack of pressure. This paper details the problems encountered and the results of the investigation in addition to the techniques used to prevent similar problems occurring again.