Proposed Manifa Field Standard Drilling fluid program 6 1/8 ” Hole Section

6 1/8 ” Section Drilling Fluids

1. Objective
Run in hole with directional/LWD assembly in order to drill open hole by geosteering across
Lower Ratawi or Manifa Reservoir according to the well objective. Verify the required logging
tools in the specific drilling program and order them ahead of time.

2. Potential Hole Problems

 Hole-cleaning related issues due to hole enlargement.
 Stuck pipe problems (differential/ mechanical).
 Excessive / erratic torque and drag.
 Partial loss of circulation.

3. Preventive & Corrective Actions for the drilling fluid

 Maintain mud rheology within the parameters specified in DRILLING FLUIDS PROGRAM.
 Maintain proper flow rate to avoid cuttings accumulate in the low side of the wellbore
(mainly intended for high angle wells).
 Reduce usage of CaCO3 in this section. Increase salt concentration to maintain a higher base
brine weight.
 For wells category 3,4&5, add liquid lubricant (i.e.: Radiagreen EME salt lubricant) at 3%
vol/vol to the active circulating system while drilling only and maintain by daily addition of
fresh lubricant 1 drum every 6 hrs (each drum must be added over 1 complete circulation, in
category 1&2 add lube 167 or equivalent if high torque or drag occurs.
 Utilize the high speed centrifuge in solids removal mode on the active system to
remove the ultra-fine solids.

4. Rheological properties and hydraulics:

 The low shear rate is the best indicator of the annulus where shear values are relatively low.
 Do not start drilling the section unless rheological properties are as per program
 Maintain good dilution by fresh premix and water addition while drilling and circulating,
minimum 10 bbl/hr
 Maintain good treatment of Biocide and pH to prevent polymer degradation due to bacteria
contamination from seawater.

5. Hole Cleaning:
 Hole cleaning is vitally important to ensure a stable hole condition while drilling the section.
Low viscosity and high viscosity sweeps should be considered. Optimizing circulating flow
rates, RPM and mud rheology will be necessary to achieve maximum hole cleaning.
 Circulating until the shakers are clean prior to pulling out of hole, in highly deviated wells it
may take more than 3 bottom’s up before you start seeing cuttings and can take up to 6 to
clean the wellbore. Clean shakers for 1 bottom’s up (after the minimum 3 btm’s up) are the
Manifa Field Standard 6 1/8 ” Hole section Issue: 20 FEB 2013
Drilling Fluids Program-
Proposed
Saudi Aramco Use Only Page 1 of 5
 Proposed Manifa Field Standard Drilling fluid program 6 1/8 ” Hole Section

best indicator of clean hole. The shakers must be circulated clean at normal pump rates or
higher if possible while reciprocating and rotating the pipe.

If there are indications of poor hole cleaning, the drilling rate should be controlled.

6. Lost Circulation ( RESERVOIR ):

 Seepage losses can be encountered, and it is therefore essential to keep a close track of mud
volumes. In case of losses in the reservoir, a non-damaging LCM should be used. For seepage
losses, the fine grade should be sufficient since the formation pore throats are not large. If
more serious losses are encountered then medium grade and fine grade material should be
used.
 When the hydrostatic pressure of the fluid exceeds the fracture gradient of the formation
(Rock) fluid will be lost to the formation, also when the permeability is two high and the cake
doesn’t contain proper bridging material (size and quantity) then whole fluid will be lost into
the formation. This is lost circulation. The severity of the loss will dictate the criticality of the
situation and the response.
 The pill should be pumped slowly at the maximum rate of 2-3 bbl/min to avoid plugging the
bit jets.

7. Drilling Fluid:

Check specific drilling program for mud density for the reservoir section. Use non-damaging, clay
free, barite free, polymer mud system. See the recommended mud formulation in the table
below.
The mud tanks, pumps, and manifolds should be thoroughly cleaned before preparing this new
drill-in fluid. Before drilling out of the casing shoe, the hole should be cleaned with high viscosity
sweeping pill (clean brine viscosified with 1–2 lb/bbl XC-Polymer).
The weighting agent for the mud will be marble while drilling carbonates; Maintaining low shear
rate viscosity (6 rpm at 8 – 10), turbulent flow (whenever practical), and cleaning the hole prior
to (and after) tripping is essential. Every effort should be made to keep the hole clean as it is
being drilled.
Close monitoring of H2S in the drilling fluid is required. Also, oxygen scavenger is to be used in
order to minimize corrosion.

In case of using sea water as a fluid base, you should treat it with biocide such as B-54 to avoid
degrading of polymers.

Manifa Field Standard 6 1/8 ” Hole section Issue: 20 FEB 2013

Drilling Fluids Program-
Proposed
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 Proposed Manifa Field Standard Drilling fluid program 6 1/8 ” Hole Section

Formulation and order of addition Average mud properties @ 120oF

71 – 75
Freshwater (bbl) 0.92 Density (lb/ft3)
(*)
B-54 (gal) 0.03 Funnel Viscosity (Sec/qt) 55 - 60
Defoamer, as needed (gal) 0.15 Plastic Viscosity (cp) ALAP
**NaOH (lbs), pH of 9 – 9.5 0.25 – 0.75 Yield Point (lb/100ft2) 25 - 30
Soda Ash (Ca++ less than 300) As needed 6 RPM readings 8 – 10
Salt (NaCl) (lbs) 80.0 10 sec gel (lb/100ft2) 8 – 10
XC-Polymer (lbs) 0.5 - 1.0 10 min gel (lb/100ft2) 13 – 16
Flo-Trol Starch (lbs) or equivalent 6.0 – 8.0 30 min gel (lb/100ft2) 15 – 22
CaCO3 Fine (lbs) 10 (new mud) API Filtrate (ml/30min) <4
CaCO3 Medium (lbs) 10 (while drlg) HTHP Filtrate (250o F, 500 psi), ml < 16
Baracarb 5 or equivalent 10 pH 9.0 – 9.50
Baracarb 25 or equivalent 10 Chloride (mg/l) ±140,000
Radiagreen EME Salt (% Vol) for
Cat. 3,4&5 1.5 -3.0 Cake thickness (32nd in API) 1-2

Zinc Oxide H2S scavenger (lbs) 2-5 Drill Solids <3%

**** Maxshield or Poroseal 1.5 – 3.0 % v/v Low Gravity Solids <6%
***PPT Spurt @ 1500 psi & 200 F on 60
< 4.0 ml
Micron eloxite disk
***PPT total @ 800 psi & 220 F on 60
< 16.0 ml
Micron eloxite disk

(*) See specific mud program for details about the Mud Weight.

(**) if seawater is used it must be treated with Biocide 0.15 gal/bbl, Caustic soda to treat
out magnesium 0.75 ppb, Soda Ash to treat out Calcium (0.50 – 1.0 ppb)

(***) PPT test must be run at least twice daily while drilling 6 1/8” section, the mud
engineer must have the PPT kit at least 10 days before the start of the section to be able to
do the proper pilot tests and run PPTs to ensure effective bridging plan.

(****) use Maxshield or Poroseal if PPT can not be brought to programmed values with
CaCO3 alone.

 No materials and chemicals other than those listed above should be used in this system, and
the order of addition should be followed.
 Ensure proper hole-cleaning and avoid cuttings build up. Pump & circulate out low-vis pills
(68 pcf, 10 bbl) followed by weighted pills (20 bbl, +20 pcf over MW, FV < 55 sec) as hole-
condition dictates. Monitor cuttings shape & volume at the shakers to determine efficiency
of sweeping; modify frequency accordingly and report sweep effect on the report.
 Add 50 - 100 lbs medium CaCO3 per hour while drilling to maintain the bridging formulation.
 Mud density can be increased as hole conditions dictate with salt. Maintain CaCO 3
5/25/fine/medium blend at minimum for filter cake bridging only addition must be adjusted
as per PPT resuts.

Manifa Field Standard 6 1/8 ” Hole section Issue: 20 FEB 2013

Drilling Fluids Program-
Proposed
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 Proposed Manifa Field Standard Drilling fluid program 6 1/8 ” Hole Section

 Maintain constant and good water dilution (10 – 15 bbls/hr) to maintain good mud
parameters, Avoid adding any dry polymers to the active, always use high concentration
premix to adjust properties.
 Always treat the system with biocide and adjust pH prior to any trip to prevent fermentation
 Monitor the torque and drag and add mud lubricant as needed.
 Maintain pH at 9.5 – 10.0 with NaOH only. No lime is to be added unless for sour gas (CO2) or
carbonate/bicarbonate treatment.
 Utilize the finest mesh shaker screens compatible with the circulation rate used (200 - 250
mesh is recommended for this hole- section). Inspect and train shaker hands to inspect
shaker screens every connection and replace screens at the first sign of tear or holes in the
screen regardless of how small they are.
 Don not run mud cleaner unless all cone discharge is discarded and not run over the screen,
this can be done by running blank screens or diverting the discharge from the cones to the
cuttings shoot. (Nothing in the cones discharge we want to keep), if not possible just run
desilter and centrifuges.
 Utilize the high speed centrifuges in solids removal mode (2800 – 3000 rpm no less with wet
cut) on the active system to remove the fine solids. Solids control technician to follow the
mud engineer’s requirements and recommendations for running the centrifuges. Monitor
solids closely. Run solids analysis at least twice per day with 50 ml retort. Report all
centrifuge parameters daily (inflow wt., overflow wt., discard wt., feed rate, RPM, discard
rate.
 Prior to trips monitor shakers and make sure shakers are clean before tripping, fine solids on
the shakers do not mean clean hole, large amount of fine solids in the low side of the hole
can cause dunes and possible stuck pipe, circulate until shakers are clean.
 Before adding lubricant always make sure of the following
 The drilling fluid has an in range PV, high PV is usually due to high solids content in WBM
which mainly effects pressure and filter cake thickness, however if the system has high
solids content and dehydrated it can cause high torque, proper and aggressive solids
control approach can help reduce the torque or at least will make lubricants effect more
prominent.
 Torque and drag are not always due to cuttings beds due to poor hole cleaning, usually
circulating 3 – 4 bottoms up will clarify this point if after the 3-4 bottoms up the torque is
lower than before circulating then no need for lubricant
 If cleaning the hole did not reduce the high torque then ensure that the mud system is
okay to mix lubricant by ensuring good dilution (no dehydrated mud), total hardness is
less than 300 mg/l and pH is 9.0 - 9.5 then start adding the lubricant calculated amount
over one circulation, it is recommended to add 1 % then start increasing 0.5 % vol at a
time until desired results achieved, if no change with 3% then stop addition and consider
a reaming run..etc
 After lubricant concentration reaches the desired value, make sure that you maintain the
concentration by daily addition of the lubricant, for example 1 drum every 6 hr or as
required, any addition must be over 1 complete circulation.

Manifa Field Standard 6 1/8 ” Hole section Issue: 20 FEB 2013

Drilling Fluids Program-
Proposed
Saudi Aramco Use Only Page 4 of 5
 Proposed Manifa Field Standard Drilling fluid program 6 1/8 ” Hole Section

Manifa Field Standard 6 1/8 ” Hole section Issue: 20 FEB 2013

Drilling Fluids Program-
Proposed
Saudi Aramco Use Only Page 5 of 5