WELL DRILLING PRODUCTS

Background

Micromax- An Alternative to Brines for Completion & Packer Fluids

An operator in the Caspian required a 16.2 ppg packer fluid that was resistant to acid gases (H2S & CO2) and stable at temperatures of up to 2500F (1210C) to provide a second barrier when running completions with permanent down hole pressure gauges. The packer fluid would be needed to give extra protection if the liner top was exposed, reduce tubing movement during injection and reduce workover problems and costs. It was identified that a weighted packer fluid was needed and that no settlement of solids must occur during the life of the completion. Case History The use of brines was rejected because of concerns that: Given the high levels of expected H2S & CO2 there would not be sufficient protection against corrosion & scale There were environmental concerns about using bromides Formates were considered too expensive An Oil Base Mud (OBM) system was, thus, considered best to Elkem ASA, Materials provide the 8126, protection P.O.Box Vaagsbygd required. However, using API barite as NO-4675 Kristiansand - Norway the weighting agent risked sagging & plugging gauges or causing formation damage. Therefore, a testing program was carried out to look at packer fluids prepared with both Micromax & barite. The fluids were tested at 250F and high pressure in a Cameron ageing cell. This offered testing conditions that more closely represented field conditions. As seen in the table (overleaf) when aged for 6 days at 250F & 12,000 psi the API barite fluid sagged badly & the Micromax fluid remained stable & non-sagging. An OBM with Micromax was chosen as the packer fluid for this development.

For more information, please contact us: For more information, please contact us:
Elkem ASA, Materials Elkem P.O.Box 8126, Vaagsbygd P.O.Box 8126, Vaagsbygd NO-4675 Kristiansand - Norway NO-4675 Kristiansand - Norway Telephone: +47 38 01 75 00 Telefax: +47 38 01 49 70 e-mail: wdp.materials@elkem.no internet: www.wdp.elkem.com

Before and After Ageing Tests in Cameron Bomb

API Barite
Materials Added Diesel Organophilic Clay Lime Primary Emulsifier Secondary Emulsifier Water Barite Micromax H2S Scavenger Static Age Pressure Fann dial reading @: @ 150F Units bbl ppb ppb ppb ppb bbl ppb ppb ppb 1 0.575 10 8 8 0.065 445 5 12000 psi Initial After 100 88 73 58 63 47 52 36 45 26 45 24 27 30 46 28 45 41 50 51 > 2000 > 2000 16.41 170.5 3.25 65 19 185 17.6 19.1 ns 0.521

Micromax
3 0.650 4 5 5 10 0.065 432 5 12000 psi Initial After 59 39 45 26 39 21 32 16 26 10 25 10 14 13 31 13 29 16 34 9 > 2000 > 2000 16.21 14.4 3.5 20 5.7 11 16.2 16.4 ns 0.503

600 RPM 300 RPM 200 RPM 100 RPM 6 RPM 3 RPM

Plastic Viscosity, cps @ 150F Yield Point, lb/100 sq ft 10 sec gel, lb /100 sq ft 10 min gel, lb / 100 sq ft Electrical Stability @ 120F Static Shear Data Mud Wt., ppg shear mass, g penetration, in. free fluid, mls free fluid, % v/v shear strength= Mud Wt, top Mud Wt, bottom Settling Sag Factor

Initial properties tested Elkem ASA, Materials P.O.Box 8126, Vaagsbygd NO-4675 Kristiansand - Norway

after mixing for 60 minutes with HB mixer @ low speed

Over 30 wells have now been successfully completed. No sagging or settlement has been seen, even when pulling a completion after 8 weeks in the hole.

Micromax is your alternative to expensive brines

Maximise your wells with Micromax

For more information, please contact us: For more information, please contact us:
Elkem ASA, Materials Elkem P.O.Box 8126, Vaagsbygd P.O.Box 8126, Vaagsbygd NO-4675 Kristiansand - Norway NO-4675 Kristiansand - Norway Telephone: +47 38 01 75 00 Telefax: +47 38 01 49 70 e-mail: wdp.materials@elkem.no internet: www.wdp.elkem.com