HP/HT Drilling Fluid Challenges

Abstract

Accurate knowledge of drilling fluid behavior under actual conditions is required to maximize operational efficiency and to minimize cost and drilling fluid related risks on extreme high-pressure / high-temperature (HP/HT) wells.This paper identifies and discusses the major HP/HT drilling fluid challenges, recent innovations in fluid viscosity measurements under HP/HT conditions, drilling fluid designs stable to extreme HP/HT conditions, and other considerations in HP/HT drilling.