Well Development and Chlorination

2015
Basic Drilling Fluids Workshop
Vertical Applications
Leiden, NL

Well Development

Comprises following systematic procedures to

ensure the maximum discharge at the highest specific
capacity with minimum production of particulate matter.

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 Objective of Well Development

 Well Development begins at the first turn of the bit

– Develop & Maintain Drilling Fluid System
• Air - Efficiency of cuttings removal and impact on formation
– Destabilization or erosion of formation
• Fluid - Correct choice of drilling fluid additives and
maintenance of system
– Reduce Filtration Rate and Filtrate Invasion
• Composition & Properties of filtercake
– Utilize and maintain solids control processes
• Control Fluid Density (Reduce Forced Invasion)
 Optimize the well for long-term water production at highest
acceptable volume

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Filter Cake Deposition & Thickness

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 Mechanics of Filtration

Formation Filter cake

Drill Pipe
Drilling
Fluid
Filtrate
Invasion

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Open Hole Considerations

Topsoil/Clay Mix Topsoil/Clay Mix

Clay
Clay

Sand
Sand

Sand/Gravel Mix
Sand/Gravel Mix

Clay
Clay

Gravel/Sand Mix

Gravel/Sand Mix

Gauge Hole Borehole Erosion

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 Limiting Factors

 Effective Development Radius

– Theoretically, 8 inches into surrounding formation
with sufficient hydraulic energy
 Transfer of Hydraulic Energy into formation
 Composition and Thickness of Filtercake
– Inert Drilled Solids Vs. Bentonitic Solids
 Dispersants/Well Development Chemicals
 Development is only as effective as your ability to get
the development fluid to the formation interface

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Mechanics of Well Development

 Methods
– Air-Lift
– Jetting
– Surge & Swab
– Reverse Circulation
– Over-pumping
 Dispersing Chemicals
– Phosphates
– Non-phosphate polymers
– Chlorine

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 Issues with Phosphates

 Phosphates are difficult to solubilize

– Undissolved material is introduced into production
zone
 Commonly introduced into gravel packs in granular form
 Phosphates can act as a nutrient for bacteria
(degradation product)
 Cost

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Jetting

 Provide a high energy flow through the gravel pack to

the wall cake at the formation
 Create two flow patterns with Radial and Tangential
velocities into and along the formation /gravel pack
interface
 Parameters
– the ratio of gravel pack thickness to jet radius
– jet velocity
– distance from jet impact point on the screen
– ratio of the hydraulic conductivity of the formation
and the gravel pack

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 Air or Fluid Jetting

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Dual Swabs with Reverse Circulation Airlift

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 Single Swab

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What Is Our Objective?

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 Successful Chlorination

 Placement of chlorine
– Flood the well with two times the volume of the casing &
borehole
– Distribute chlorinated water through the borehole with a tremie
line
 Development
– Make contact with bacteria (essential for success)
• surge and swab
• air compressor lifting water level
• jetting
– Simply pouring bleach in from the surface is ineffective
– Available chlorine should remain in well 4 to 12 hours &
chlorination for 24 hours
– With agitation and pH adjustment process should continue for a
minimum of 1-2 hours

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pH

 Definition: The degree of acidity or

alkalinity of a solution/fluid
 Measured with: pH strip, paper, or meter
 Measured in: Acidic-0<7 Basic-7>14
 Neutral pH  7.0

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 pH

Use
wide-range
pH strips
(1 to 14)
or
pH Meters

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pH control

Hypochlorous Acid vs. Hypochlorite Ion

100 0

90 10

80 20

70 30
Oxidative (OCl-,%)
Biocidal (HOCl,%)

60 40

50 50

40 60

30 70

20 80

10 90

0 100
4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
pH

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 Chlorine Concentrations

 Quantities of Chlorine Compounds Required to

Produce Chlorine Concentrations of 50, 100, 200, 500,
and 1000 mg/l In 1000 gal of Water

Sodium Hypochlorite 65% Calcium

Strength (mg/L) Additions in Gallons Hypochlorite
3% 5% 10% 12.5% Additions in Pounds

50 1.7 1.0 0.5 0.4 0.6

100 3.3 2.0 1.0 0.8 1.3
200 6.6 4.0 2.0 1.6 2.6
500 16.7 10.0 5.0 4.0 6.4
1000 33.3 20.0 10.0 8.0 12.8

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pH Adjustment of Make-up Water Prior to Chlorination

 Adjust pH of make-up water to between 4-5 (never less than 4.0)

 Adjust pH by adding 1-2 quarts of glycolic acid per 500
gallons of make-up water
 Distilled vinegar can be used to reduce pH if local
regulations allow (Approximately 1 gallon per 500 gallons
of make-up water)
 Mix thoroughly and check pH often
– Recommend three pH tests to confirm accurate pH level prior to
addition of more acid
 Addition of sodium hypochlorite will automatically increase
pH of fluid on contact
 Always mix in a well ventilated area (Never in a confined
area)

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 Well Development
Scenario #1

 Borehole diameter – 9.75 inches

 Well Depth – 350 feet
 Casing/Screen OD – 5.5 inches
 Screen Type –Wirewrap

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Well Development
Scenario #1

Development Volume Calculation

Diameter of Bore Hole  9.75 inches
Screened Interval Length  20 feet
Bore Hole Depth  350 feet
 Dh 2 
 
 24.52   Depth (feet)  gallons/foot
 
 9.752   95.06 
   20     20 
 24.52   24.52 
3.88  20  77.54  80 gallons  Interval Volume
Application of AQUA-CLEAR PFD requires doubling of the volume to
be treated. This will account for the water volume inside the screen and
the water present in the gravel pack and formation interface.
Volume to Treat with AQUA-CLEAR PFD = 160 gallons
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 Well Development Using AQUACLEAR™ PFD

1 gallon AQUACLEAR PFD

Recommende d Treatment 
500 gallons water

1 gal x gal
  x  0.32 gallon
500 gal 160 gal

4 quarts 32 Ounces
0.32 gallon    41 Ounces AQUACLEAR PFD
1 gallon 1 Quart

Add 41 ounces of AQUACLEARPFD to 160 gallons freshwater

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Development Volume Calculation

Scenario #2

Diameter of Bore Hole  12.25 inches

Screened Interval Length  100 feet
Bore Hole Depth  1200 feet
 Dh 2 
 
 24.52   Depth (feet)  gallons
 
 12.252   150.06 
   100     100 
 24.52   24.52 
6.12  100  611.99  612 gallons  Interval Volume
Application of AQUA-CLEAR PFD requires doubling of the volume to be
treated. This will account for the water volume inside the screen and the
water present in the gravel pack and formation interface.
Volume to Treat with AQUA-CLEAR PFD ≈ 1225 gallons
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 Well Development Using AQUACLEAR™ PFD
Scenario #2

Recommended  1 gallon AQUACLEAR PFD

Treatment 500 gallons water

1 gal  x gal  x  2.5 gallons

500 gal 1225 gal

Add 2.5 gallons of AQUACLEARPFD

to 1225 gallons of freshwater

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Calculation of Desired Chlorine Concentration

  Desired disenfectant concentration  

  
 Water Volume   8.33 lbs    (mg/l in decimal format) 
  Actual % concentration of disenfectant  
  
Volume (gallons of disenfectant)  
 (% in decimal format) 
 8.33 lbs 
 
 
 
 
 

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 Calculation of Desired Chlorine Concentration
(continued)

 Desired Chlorine Concentration – 100 mg/l

 Chlorine Source – Sodium Hypochlorite (5.25%
Household Bleach)
 Chlorine to be added only after pH adjustment!!!

  (100 mg/l)  
 160 gallons  8.33 lbs   (5.25%)  
Volume (gallons of disenfectant)  
 
 8.33 lbs 
 
 

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Calculation of Desired Chlorine Concentration

(continued)

  (0.0001)  
 160 gallons  8.33 lbs   (0.0525)  
Volume (gallons of disenfectant)  
 
 8.33 lbs 
 
 

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 Calculation of Desired Chlorine Concentration
(continued)

 160 gallons  8.33 lbs   0.0019 

Volume (gallons of disenfectant)   
 8.33 lbs

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Calculation of Desired Chlorine Concentration

(continued)

Volume (gallons of disenfectant)  0.31

0.31 gallons  
 4 quarts    32 Ounces   40 Ounces of Bleach
  
 1 gallon   1 quart 

40 Ounces of 5.25% Bleach added to 160 gallons of freshwater

will result in a concentrat ion of 100 mg/l

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 Three Phases of Development

 Pre-Development
– Proper selection of drilling fluid
– Good drilling practice
– Effective solids control
– Proper well construction (screen, casing,
filterpack,etc.)
 Preliminary development
– Swabbing, flushing, sand pumping, bailing, jetting,
and airlifting
 Final development
– Pumping, surging and backwashing

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Points to Remember

 The degree of success during development begins at

the first turn of the bit
 Development chemicals are only as successful as your
ability to reach the formation interface
 Agitation & Hydraulic Energy are keys to success
 pH control plays a critical role in effective chlorination

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 Questions

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