100 Questions - Chapter 4

1. What is the difference between Safra oil and diesel?

Diesel Mineral Oil Synthetic oil (ESCAID 300,
(ESCAID 110, SAFRA OIL) ESTERS,Non HC)

higher aromatic content & aniline point lower or zero aromatic content and low toxicity & Esters (derived from
lower ash point & so higher aniline point vegetable oils)
ammability Higher ash point so lower ammability Non-hydrocarbons
higher kinematic viscosity so more ECD lower kinematic viscosity and less ECD, dif cult to (Linear Alpha Ole ns
less environmentally acceptable (volatile) shear to fully yield organophilic clays (LAO), Iso Ole ns (IO),
More environmentally acceptable Paraf ns)

Diesel and ESCAID 110 are derived from crude oil by fractionation, distillation and minor chemical reactions. but mineral
oils are further treated to reduce aromatics to < 5% and some while synthetic oil is such as ester, PAO, LAO and non
hydrocarbons esters (vegetable oils).

Selection of base uid is defendant on several factors:

- environmental restrictions - high ash point is desirable
- Pour point where uid with low pour point unsuitable - kinematic viscosity in different temperature and
in cold climates pressure

- low vapor pressure is desirable

Flash point: The lowest temperature at which base oil ignite in air when exposed to ame

Pour point: The lowest temperature at which a substance ows under speci c conditions.

Aniline point: The lowest temperature at which aniline will mix completely with oil.

2. What is the difference between marble and calcium carbonate?

Both are used as bridging materials and weighting materials and for wellbore strengthening. Marble is preferred over
calcium carbonate because it is more pure with higher hardness and more resistant to grinding and more than calcium
carbonate. It designed at different sizes from 2 to 2000 microns.

3. What is PSD test?

It is a test for bridging or enforcement materials to check its concentrations and distribution and knowing what sizes
needs to be maintained. It is generally determined using laser light scattering and reported in microns. from fracture
width or pore throat values, software can calculate the required dose of bridging materials sizes, The D10,D50 and D90
parameters characterize the PSD fairly well by providing the median particle size D50 along with the breadth of the PSD
(D10/D90).

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 4. How to differentiate between stuck types?

We have two main types rst type is differential stuck which is indicated by high over balance, permeable formation, thick
lter cake after string is static, the pipe can’t be rotated or move up/down but have full circulation. rst action is to
circulate at maximum ow rate and work maximum limit torque down then jarring down with max trip load. Trying to
reduce mud control if no well control issue might help getting free.

Second type is due to wellbore geometry which have two types

First type is hole pack off/bridges due to bad hole cleaning, geopressured, unconsolidated or fractured formations, It
occurs after string moving up/down, static, no circulation or rotation. rst action is to apply low pressure 200-400 psi and
don’t jar. if no free apply jar to the opposite string direction before stuck.

Second is due to wellbore geometry and have many types rst is keyseating where string is rubbed up formation in a
dog leg while moving up, It is indicated by no free movement up but have circulation and rotation. rst action is to jar to
the opposite string direction before stuck until string is free.

Third is due to collapsed casing, mobile formations or junk in hole.

5. What is Pore Pressure Transmission?

Complete answer: PPT testing measures the formation pore pressure increase from ltrate invasion in very low
permeability formations such as shales. In highly permeable formations the pressure rise from ltrate ow is rapidly
dissipated in the formation volume and pore pressure is not affected.

However, in very low permeability formations, the pressure increase from ltrate invasion declines very slowly and the
pore pressure continues to increase with additional ltrate ow. This pore pressure increase reduces the effective over
balance pressure.

Over-balance pressure decline is exaggerated by wall fractures from drilling. These fractures increase near-wellbore
permeability resulting in rapid pressure increase inside the wall. Reduced overbalance tends to destabilize the wellbore a
promote sloughing.

Ideally, the hydrostatic pressure exerted by the mud column is higher than the formation (pore) pressure. Here, there is a
pressure differential at the shale surface which serves as a support mechanism ( rst image) to offset over-burden
pressure.

Over Pressured: Here, drilling uid pressure invasion (second image) occurs into the shale matrix. Due to the low
permeability of the shale, the added pressure dissipates very slowly. In emulsion uids, the capillary entry pressure
effects strongly impede the invasion of pressure from base uids (oils, esters or synthetics) because of the wetting
characteristics of water vs. base uids. However, in water-based muds, the capillary entry pressure can be very low and
therefore water pressure invasion can easily occur in the matrix. As pressure invasion occurs, the pore pressure at the
shale surface rapidly increases to a level equivalent to that of the mud column. Then, the differential pressure at the
surface is reduced and pressure support (over-balance) is lost.

Pressure Invasion: Finally, loss of differential pressure support at the wellbore surface allows the over-burden pressure
(weight of shale pressing down) to destabilize the invaded shale and it will slough off (third image) into the annulus. In
this case, the pressure of the mud column is equal to the pressure within the shale, leaving no supporting pressure to
prevent the overburden force from sloughing the shale

Short answer “Pressure can be transformed from or into the shale from the drilling uids and destabilize it so, to prevent
PPT a technique used to improve mechanical support of high/low pressure formation or when drilling with narrow mud
window using wellbore strengthening techniques such as stress caging using graphite and sized calcium carbonate and
enable high overbalance with no losses of differential sticking, also plug shale micro fractures to enhance wellbore
stability”.

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 6. What is types of mud you worked with?

Spud mud, High bentonite, salt and salt saturated polymer mud using KCl 3-7% by weight, 3% glycol, 3% polyamine,
PHPA, asphaltic materials such as soltex and asphasol supreme and gilsonite for shale stabilization, High performance
WBM such as HYDROGUARD and PERFORMAX, ULTRAHIB, and NDF for drilling reservoir and conventional OBM &
Escaid 110 mineral oil OBM.

7. Talk brie y about your experience working in Egypt in Saudi Arabia?

Egypt: working for multiple clients in WD, ED, GOS, Siani and ND with different mud systems including spud mud, salt
and salt saturated polymer mud with KCl, asphasol supreme, polyamine and glycol and conventional and mineral oil
NAF, Also have experience with NDF and HPWPM ULTRAHIB, inhibited brines such as sodium and potassium chloride
and well cleaning uids ‘DEEPCLEAN’ (One drum for well cleaning OBM before brine) and free stuck pills ‘PIPE-LAX&
DEEPCLEAN’. (Mixed 17% v/v DEEPCLEAN with 20 lb/bbl citric acid and NaCl base uid to 9.8 ppg)

Saudi Arabia: I’ve got exposure to products from several vendors, get experience utilizing other drilling uid systems
such as calcium chloride polymer, high bentonite, PERFORMAX and HYDROGUARD, milling uids, workover and
completion uids such as inhibited diesel and heavy brines ‘calcium chloride/bromide blend’ and drilling with high
overbalance utilizing stress caging bridging materials to avoid losses and stuck pipe and high mud weight up to 15 ppg
OBM and WBM. Also coiled tubing lter cake breaker special job ‘HCL’ and with drill string ‘mudzyme’ for smart
completion. and free stuck pills (glycol and HCl).

8. What is HPWBM examples and function?

HYDRO-GUARD: is a clay free inhibited system for shale stabilization, sodium or potassium chloride in the continuous
phase to suppress clay hydration via ion replacement, 1 lb/bbl liquid CLAY GRABBER and 2-5 lb/bbl Clay-SYNC
encapsulators with 4-8 lb/bbl CLAYSEAL inhibiting amine to prevent dispersion into the system.

MAX-BRIDGE is HPWBM customized bridging package for wellbore strengthening with MAX-SHIELD 3% sealing polymer
that plug shale fractures and sand pores, along with 10 lb/bbl of both LC-LUBE ne and normal graphite resilient
materials that work for plugging and as lubricant, The system can be further enhanced with <25 lb/bbl graded marble.

PERFORMAX uses Sodium/potassium base uid with MAX-GUARD polyamine 3%, MAX-PLEX 3% aluminum complex
chemistries along with NEW-DRILL encapsulator and 3% MAX-SHIELD sealing polymer for shale inhibition and
stabilization in addition to PENETREX ROP enhancer.

ULTRADRIL is designed for shale inhibition and wellbore stability through base brine, polyamine ULTRAHIB and polymer
encapsulator ULTRACAP, along with ROP enhancer ULTRAFREE.

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 9. What is the difference between conventional and HPWBM?

Conventional mud is any WBM system used for drilling. examples are spud mud and salt polymer mud.

While HPWBM is a special type of WBM that mimic OBM characteristics but is environmentally acceptable, It have high
lubricity to enhance ROP, shale stabilizer for wellbore stability and high thermal stability at lower cost than OBM.

10. What is the difference between NDF and RDF?

RDF (Reservoir Drill-In Fluid) is an OBM or WBM that is used in reservoir but has either respond to breaker or high lift off
pressure of lter cake (e.g. VERSAPRO, FAZEPRO (invert system from WBM to OBM with pH change) , FLUTHRU, DIPRO,
FLOPRO).

NDF (Non-Damaging Fluid) is free solids WBM that is used in reservoir and is acid soluble or respond to breakers and
don’t cause reduction in reservoir permeability. (e.g. CaCl2 free solids and NaCl free solids).

Examples of acceptable additives : Flotrol, Calcium carbonate, sized salt, (glycol can be used with the aid of strong
breaker, e.g. GLYDRIL), KLA-STOP, KLA-GARD, VG-SUPREME, Deep clean & acid for stuck.

Examples of unacceptable additives : PAC due to low solubility, black powders such as gilsonite or lignite ‘adhesion to
wellbore’, Poroseal, MAX-SHIELD, Ecotrol, VG-69, Excess lime> 1, PHPA ‘incompatible with acid’, non acid soluble LCM
‘plug pores and unresponsive to breakers’, Lubricants ‘cheese “Solid phase" and grease tendency “adhesion to surfaces”
may plug formation pores as well as sand control screens, gradual additions to observe improvement in performance
0.5% for each complete cycle up to 3%, e.g. GLYDRIL’, silicate, PIPE-LAX for stuck.

WBM components are more acid soluble but lter cake require more lift off pressure than OBM lter cake, also WBM
invade deeper into formation than OBM.

11. How to prepare 12 ppg mud in reservoir, will it be NDF/RDF ?

compatible salt base uid, XC-polymer, otrol and calcium carbonate weighting materials, may be use.

12. What is lter cake breaker?

It is a chemical added in mud to remove polymers, bridging or any residual materials from lter cake prior to set wellbore
on production that might reduce reservoir permeability and damage formation ‘skin>0’.

They are generally combinations of materials including

• Oxidizers: act on starch and xanthan by converting the organic molecules into carbon dioxide and break polymer
chains in the lter cake. They are aggressive on metals as well and cause rust.

• Acids will attack polymers and calcium carbonate, they are corrosive, cause metal rust. common acids include HCl,
acetic acid and citric acid.

• Enzymes: speed up the reaction without being consumed, used for WBM; starch. the remaining solids are dispersed
with a dispersant and ow back from the well at production. some additives such as some FLC, lubricants or
surfactants may inhibit access to the starch and limit the effectiveness of the enzyme. Higher temperature will speed
the reaction between pH 4 & 8.

• Chelants: act as carbonate dissolvers, unlike acids, they work at low and high temperature, non corrosive and slow
acting. example is EDTA, it chelate iron rst then calcium from calcium carbonate.
13. What if continuous losses after breaker job? Is it effective or not?

While a breaker system is designed to destroy the lter cake, it must act in a slow timeframe that the open hole can be
isolated before breakthrough. The initiation of losses before isolation will act as a source of damage as completion uid
is continually lost to the formation. This can lead to longer cleanup times. There are additives to extend delay times, but it
is dif cult to estimate. Timing is performed in the laboratory to note initial breakthrough of lter cake during breaker soak
but the correlation between lab and eld is limited.

14. How you select brine for well completion?

It must control formation pressure, be non-damaging to the production zone and be compatible with downhole
mechanical and chemical procedures, It should have TCT 10-20F at least below the coldest temperature in the wellbore,
Also cost and environmental should must be considered.
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 14. Which brine causes more damage to reservoir?

It depends mainly on formation compatibility between brine and electrolytes inside reservoir, but generally divalent
brines cause more damage to reservoir because of high charge it is easily precipitated than monovalent cations causing
pore throat blockage from scaling. The extent of damage caused by both types depends on the concentrations of ions,
duration of exposure, temperature and pH. This can be mitigated by using appropriate scale inhibitors and acidizing
techniques.

15. Talk brie y about hole cleaning in vertical/deviated/horizontal hole sections.

RPM 3 = Hole size

LSYP = 1 - 1.2X hole size

RPM 6 > 1.5X hole size

Use HVP in vertical, Tandem in deviated and horizontal sections. Doing 1-3X bottom up
until shaker is clean before tripping.

In vertical wells ‘ gure’ cuttings bed do not form but failure to transport and suspend
cuttings can cause hole ll on bottom. GPM, YP and gel is key factors for cuttings
transport.

The deviated wells (30-60) is the most dif cult to clean because of avalanching of
cuttings (Boycott settling), and no RPM due to sliding. GPM, RPM and LSYP is key
factors.

In horizontal wells, RPM and viscous coupling (pipe rotation around the wall
creates uid velocity at the cuttings bed due to the viscous coupling) is more
effective for disturbing cutting bed because uid velocity at wall (pipe and hole)
are no longer zero, so it help lift the cuttings where the mud is moving also
eccentricity is important to avoid skewed annular velocity pro le when drill string
lays on the low side of the well and uids is in laminar motion (picture) so
cuttings accumulate on one side and uid move in one (high) mud LSYP and Gel.

If mud is thick, viscous coupling is good, dead zone (green) becomes wider while
conveyor belt zone (red) shrinks but if thin mud the viscous coupling is less
effective to put cuttings on the conveyor.

Key parameters affecting hole cleaning include, hole angle and doglegs, drill string eccentricity, cuttings size and shape,
GPM and ow regime, mud weight, LSYP and gel, and drilling parameters (ROP, RPM, sliding and differential pressure).

Bad hole cleaning indicators include cuttings volume is less or not observed on shaker screens, hole ll in vertical wells,
bridges and pack off, torque and drag and low ROP.

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 16. What the loss control material we used with RDF-NAF?

Calcium carbonates, also biodegradable bers (e.g. Baroid N-SEAL)

17. Can we use Lubricant in NDF Mud? If yes, which type of Lubricant?

Yes we use High quality lubricant ‘RADIA-GREEN’ but generally most lubricant adheres to surfaces and plug pores but if
urgently needed, upon client request gradually added 0.5% each cycle with maximum 2-3%. (RADIA-GREEN).

18. Can we use Graphite in reservoir section?

No, black materials in general adhere to reservoir and doesn’t respond to breakers.

19. What will you do or your action if your ECD is higher than simulation?

Dilution, thinner, remove solids via SCE.

20. For KCl Glycol Mud (KPG), which type of Glycol used?

Depends on the salinity and temperature requirements, e.g. Glydril ‘polyalkylene glycol’.

21. Classi cation of Glycol based on shale inhibition?

Shale inhibition with glycol is designed according to salinity and temperature requirement for cloud point.

22. In CaCl2-CaCO3 Mud system, which chemical used as viscosi er and uid loss?

Duovis, Starch and otrol.

23. What is Silicate Mud? Where we use this system?

Silicate is HPWBM introduced to replace OBM, environmentally friendly and is used for shale inhibition, it can’t be
dumped because it is very expensive.

24. Test to check Emulsion stability except to ES meter and HTHP?

Excess lime

25. Where we used MPD? What we need to do if have to pump on while tripping out?

Managed pressure drilling (MPD) is a drilling technique used to control frictional pressure losses in narrow drilling
window, in depleted reservoirs, HPHT and ERD wells. wellbore pressure is managed by adjusting the pressure using
choke valve at the return line to keep balanced pressure condition in the hole, it creates ECD from friction pressure and
back pressure exerted at the surface as high as the highest formation pore pressure.

While tripping we pump higher mud weight equivalent to ECD to be our ESD.

26. What is ERD well? What parameters are most important to drill ERD well?

Extended Reach Drilling where horizontal displacement > 2X vertical section, the most important parameters in ERD for
drilling are RPM >120 (preferably 150-180) for viscous coupling and disturb cutting bed, GPM for turbulent ow,
reciprocation, lubricity to reduce friction.

Important parameters in mud are Rheology specially high LSYP and Gel to prevent barite sag but not so high to control
ECD and provide turbulent ow, lower PV, chemical temperature tolerance, also thin, slick lter cake for wellbore stability.

At TD, proper clean up procedure; enough circulation to erode cutting bed, back reaming to remove cutting bed with
RPM as with drilling at minimum 120 RPM to improve cuttings transport above BHA ‘vertically in horizontal section’.

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27. What the ideal sweep practice for ERD well?

Tandem: Low vis – High weight, RPM > 120, preferably 150-180, the bit should be pulled off bottom as the sweep clears
the bit, don’t stop the rotary or the pumps until the sweep is back at surface which is identi ed by mud weight change.

28. ERD well and main challenges?

• Mainly Logistics specially in offshore rigs. • Hydraulics optimization for ECD
• large drilling volume involved for mixing, reserving • Hole cleaning and barite sag
and displacement plans.
• Wellbore instability (stuck, reactive formation, losses
• Mixing facilities at rig site or receiving mud from LMP due to narrow mud weight window)
29. Why Barite not used in Reservoir section?

Barite is heavy material with 4.2 API speci c gravity, it plug pores and is not removed by uid breakers and also it needs
high lift off pressure.

30. Have you work with K2SO4 system and how they are different with KCl?

It is a system use potassium as a source of inhibition. Also potassium acetate & potassium formate may be used.

31. Which type of Polyamine used for inhibition?

Oligoamines, (e.g. KLA-GARD) or polyamines (e.g KLA-STOP), MAX-GUARD, ULTRA-HIB. Amines are weak bases that
react with acids to produce amine salts (MAX-GUARD is a product from reaction of amine mixture ‘primary, secondary
and tertiary amine’ with carboxylic acid. It react with active sites on clay and so electrostatically bind platelets together
and diminish clays tendency to absorb water.

32. How will you check ES if no ES meter batteries?

Monitor alkalinity and HTHP ltration for absence of water

33. Can we use CMC in reservoir section as API controller? No

34. Can we use PAC in Reservoir as API controller? If not, what chemical we used?

No because it has low solubility with breakers, We use otrol.

35. Can we use ber in reservoir section?

Baroid N-SEAL is biodegradable ber can be used in reservoir, but in ADNOC Only use calcium carbonates in reservoir.

36. What is classi cations of losses?

According to loss severity (seepage, partial, severe, complete)

According to formation type (unconsolidated, highly permeable/depleted low pressure, caverns, vugs, natural fractures
and induced fractures).

37. Give some name for unconventional LCM material.

FORM-A-PLOK, FORM-A-PLUG used in reservoir (Cross-linking polymers that generate solid structure downhole).

38. What extra properties we have in Hi-performance WBM as compared to conventional WBM ?

Lubricity, shale inhibition, high ROP, environmentally acceptable

39. How PHPA and Glycol work for inhibition?

Encapsulation of dispersed cuttings and coating of wellbore walls while cloud out to plug pores at cloud point and
compete with water on reactive sites before cloud point.

40. If you have the budget what you recommend for mixing 12 ¼ “ mud ?

OBM because of reactive shale.

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 41. What controls the O/W ratio in OBM?

Cost, rheology, mud weight, environmental disposal, retention of cuttings, “residual oil/brine on cuttings”, temperature
and uid loss.

42. How much HPHT ltrate in HTHP wells? less than 4 for OBM and less12 for WBM

43. What is chemicals used in case of H2S migration?

Raise alkalinity/pH and use scavenger (zinc oxide, zinc carbonate, iron gluconate or triazine)

Zinc Oxide Zinc Carbonate Iron gluconate TRIAZINE

Reversible reaction at low pH, Irreversible reaction Initial treatment is 2 lb/bbl Nitrogen based
H2S released again form zinc sul de which has extremely No effect on rheology Irreversible reaction
low solubility in water The nal product is
Treatment 1-2 lb/bbl, 1 lb/bbl not pH dependent (work in pH Fe(C6H12O7)2 + S2- FeS + soluble unlike zinc or iron
remove 600 mg/l of sul de 3.4-14) 2 C6H12O7- scavengers.
Has higher percentage of zinc Treatment 2-3 lb/bbl 0.1 lb/bbl of SACE-SCAV
Ferrous gluconate + sul de
compared to zinc carbonate 1 lb/bbl remove 800 mg/l of sul des removes 0.1 lb of H2S
→ ferrous sul de +
(>80% by weight) excessive pH cause extreme viscosity (large capacity to react
gluconate
increase with H2S)
Used in OBM (Saudi
Zn2+ +HS +OH →ZnS↓+H2O Used in OBM (ADNOC) 2 ppb stable reaction ,corrosion
Aramco) 2 ppb
Zn2+ + S2 →ZnS↓ inhibitors
Zinc product not recommended e.g. MIL-GARD e.g SOURSCAV
due to it is heavy metal e.g. SAFE SCAV HS
(environmental restrict)

44. What kind of mud we should use in reservoir and why?

NDF (Free Solids) because of non damaging uids not to plug reservoir pores and decrease productivity.

45. How much is spurt should be ideal in ppt test? < 1ml.

46. What is the lab test for H2S? GGT, Hach test

47. If your WBM system has 25 MBT, what will happen if you added polyamine or KCl ?

Excessive viscosity, gel, YP and increase in uid loss. Have to make dilution to MBT with fresh mixing.

if you add KCl, initial increase in viscosity due to occulation caused by salt and the high concentration
addition of metallic ion K+, this in turn causes aggregation (face to face) of the particles and viscosity
decrease due to dehydration and decreased numbers of particles.

48. What is your rst action if losses occur? What you will do if u go from seepage to severe losses?

This depend on the type and rate of losses, Normally when loss rate increase, we increase LCM sizes and concentrations
within the limit of bit nozzles, downhole tools and availability of PBL Sub.

49. Talk brie y about OBM shearing/emulsion?

OBM shearing is important for the yield of bentonite, uid loss and emulsion stability,
temperature above 150F increase shearing performance, The sheared water droplets are
prevented from coalescing (merging together and get bigger) by surfactants (emulsi ers and
wetting agents), it is dif cult to shear NAFs on surface, the smaller the droplet, the more stable
the emulsion since large droplets coalesce easier than smaller droplets and its easier for
smaller particles to react with emulsi er. Uniform droplet size also makes the emulsion more
stable. The ES of new uids will be low until the water is sheared, resulting in smaller uniform
size water droplets. (pictures shows water droplets surrounded by emulsi ers).

Factors affecting emulsion

Increase by increasing temperature, shearing, alkalinity, concentration of emulsi ers used, salt concentration (electrolyte)

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 Decrease by adding weighting materials that is originally water wet solids, saturation
of water phase to form crystals or lack of emulsi ers or lime.

50. What is the difference between barite sag / settling

There are three types of settling:

A. Free settling in tanks when particles fall freely through the uid with no additional
resistance (stokes law applied) where it is the case for settling pits and my occur in
laminar ow as well.

B. Hindered settling in vertical wells where uid displaced by particles

C. Boycott settling in inclined wellbores (30-60) where it is the case for barite sag. (Boycott effect is an accelerated
settling pattern that occur in inclined wellbores, that cause pressure imbalance which bring lighter uid upward and
any cutting beds on the low side downwards, low ow rate enhances the Boycott effect).

51. De ne dynamic barite sag and its relation with ow rate & temperature?

Barite sag as de ned by API is identi ed by the variance in mud weight where lighter uid
is followed by higher density (>0.5 ppg) after a period of non-circulation or by abnormal
pressure uctuation, high ECD and torque and drag, It is caused by settling of barite in
high mud weights specially in high angle wells (between 40 & 75), high temperature, low
rheology mud and low ow rates, time or well design. (Sag = MWmax - MW). Remediation
is performed by adjusting rheology before POOH, RPM occasionally while sliding and
using at rheology systems and avoid extended time between trips..

Dynamic sag occur while circulation due to boycott settling and formation of cutting bed due to low ow rate, the ow
moves along the upper side and accelerate weight material settling. It is measured by surface checking of the mud
weight or Viscometer Sag Shoe Test VSST ( gure) or Sag window. (maintain ∆ mud weight (VSST) <1 ppg or Si < 0.5 ppg.

Static Sag due to insuf cient gel strength due to excessive thinning of mud, degradation of
suspension agent in HPHT wells or insuf cient treatment with viscosi ers, measurement with static
shear strength test.,Static Sag test determines sag severity at static conditions at a desired angle
and temperature (usually 120oF). A static factor (SF) is calculated to estimate sag potential. sag
factor should equal 0.5, up to <0.53 is okay but if more than 0.53 so a sag tendency is present.

Possible consequences due to sag can be losses, stuck, wellbore instability, well control event.

Sag Index (Si) is a method used to adjust VSST results considering other well parameters
affecting sag. Si uses 4 empirical constants based on well conditions: (Angle (Ka), Annular
velocity (Kv), Pipe rotation (Kr) and and Interval length (Kz)).

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 52. If you have three tasks (Inventory, mud test and DMR) what are your priorities ?

First is Inventory to request enough chemicals specially in offshore, then the mud
test and nally the DMR.

53. How you choose inhibitor?

Shale inhibitor is chosen according to the type of shale and required inhibition, we
can use single, double or triple inhibition mechanisms utilizing osmosis, potassium
ion xation, PHPA and polyamine with surfactant “ULTRAFREE” as in ULTRADRIL
MI-SWACO system or PENETREX in PERFORMAX system.

Analysis is performed on shale with the inhibitor in the lab to know the type of
shale ‘elements inside’ from XRD ‘picture below’, SEM and thin sections, and
different swelling tests (Bentonite inhibition, hot roll dispersion test, bulk hardness
picture, accretion test) is performed on a sample to choose the best suitable
inhibitor.

Bentonite inhibition where sample is immersed in water and other in inhibitor and
check how much is inhibited by inhibitor. picture

Hot roll dispersion test where quantity of sized shale cuttings are added to uid
and hot rolled for 16 hours at 150F, after rolling cuttings are screened, dried and
weighed to determine % recovery.

Bulk Hardness: the test is done by hot rolling sample, the sample extruded through
bulk hardness tester and torque is measured.

54. What is the mechanism of shale inhibition for KCL?

The clay C-spacing is 2.8 Å and the ionic diameter of the K+ is2.66 Å, this allows the K+ to t perfectly between unit layers
prevents more replacement.

55. What is types of Clays?

Bentonite (Sodium montmorillonite), Linear attapulgite for salt water and Sepiolite for high temperature applications.

Other clays is Kaolinite, Illite, Chlorite and mixed layers

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 56. Inhibition mechanisms “ PHPA / Kcl / Glycol / Special technique “

PHPA : encapsulation for shale and prevent dispersion, also make coating for the wellbore wall, prevent bit
balling ,decrease tight spot by neutralize positive charge on shale by negative charge on polymer and forming lm
around shale cuttings

KCl :ion exchange (exchange Na by K) & ion xation ( due to the size of diameter ion for K can t the space between
shale layers ) and osmosis by the salinity.

Glycol : plugging for shale micro fractures due to cloud point ( glycol @ speci c salinity & temperature transferred from
liquid phase to Simi solid phase, also chemically it competes with water to t in active sites to prevent further uptake of
water.

Asphaltic material/Soltex: sealing micro fraction of shale due to mechanical sealing (asphaltic has compressed effect t
micro fraction of shale then take the same shape of shale pores) reduce torque & drag.

Max guard : Poly amine Produces a lattice around clay minerals (isolation), therefore electrostatically minimizing the
absorption of water, also coat the wellbores.

Max-Shield: It is a sealing polymer & shale stabilizer make plastering for formation, it prevents pore pressure
transmission.

57. How to increase LSRV reading RPM6 & RPM3?

In WBM we use XC-Polymer or bentonite, also otrol has secondary function of increasing LSRV while in OBM, you can
use either organophilic clays or organic polymers VERSAMOD.

58. In tandem pill what is viscosity coupling?

It is the friction drag between a uid and drill string. viscous coupling between the rotating pipe and the uid will disturb
accumulation of cutting bed. It will transmit energy to the outer side of the wellbore when using high RPM (150-180). In
tandem pill, low viscosity uids, pipe rotation, hence vicious coupling is expected to transmit energy through the uid
over a large distance.

59. What is the effect of O/W on ltrate?

As water increase, uid loss decrease because emulsi ed water droplets act as solids in the lter cake.

60. How is the CO2 contamination affect mud? How you treat it?

It comes from the air through mixing hopper and SCE discharges or from formations or overtreatment with carbonates,
As it dissolves, it becomes carbonic acid and converted to bicarbonate and/or carbonates depending on the pH of the
mud. Also CO2 can come from formation and formation water. The chemical reaction is reversible

It is identi ed by GGT which estimates the total carbonates in mg/l as CO3 & HCO, Also pf/mf method which cover pH
range of carbonate and bicarbonate and carbonic acid, if no carbonate, no reaction with sulfuric while if carbonates/
bicarbonates exist and mf will be slightly higher than pf, sulfuric used to convert all carbonate to bicarbonate at pH 8.3,
then convert bicarbonate to carbonic acid at pH 4.3. and mf will be much higher than pf.

Treatment with calcium “lime” only to carbonate to precipitate calcium carbonate above 10.3 pH.

Coexisting of carbonate/bicarbonate form a buffer compound of same pH but at increasing pf or mf levels. pH will
remain constant while pf increase, at pH more than 10.3, bicarbonate concentration is negligible.

Contamination decrease pH, increase viscosity and gel strength, mf, ltration rate, while decrease calcium and pf, pm.

61. What is the gel strength & type of it?

Gel strength (lb/100 ft2) :Electro chemicals attraction forces between particles of mud during static condition.Flat,
Progressive gel and Flash gel

62. what is the ECD, what is the relation between ECD & GPM, PV?

The increase in pressure due to friction of mud while circulation. ECD direct proportional with GPM, PV and annular
velocity square (AV2)
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 63. What is the effect of increasing PV in mud & drilling operations?

PV is the mechanical attraction forces between particles of mud. Factors affect on PV are concentration, shape and size of
solids. When PV increase, annular friction losses increases, ECD increases while ROP decreases.

64. What is YP & LSYP, and what is the difference between them.

YP is the electro chemicals attraction forces between particles of mud during circulation (carrying capacity during
circulation) while LSYP is the carrying capacity of mud at low velocity or true yield point or shear stress at zero shear rate
in modi ed power low

65. Why we are adding water in high density mud & the dilution rates?

To have free water in mud for hydration of chemicals and to avoid increasing in rheology. dilution rates ± 20 bbl/hr.

66. What is cation exchange capacity?

It id the compensating cations that are adsorbed on the clay surface due to de ciency in charge from replacement of Al
and Si by less charged cations. The quantity of cations per unit weight of clay is measured and reported as the MBT, The
MBT is expressed in milli equivalents per 100 g of dry clay (meq/100 g).

The CEC of montmorillonites is 80 to 150 of dry clay and chlorites 10 to 40 while kaolinites 3 to 10 meq/100 g of clay.
The Methylene Blue (MB) is an indicator of the apparent CEC of a clay.

67. What is the difference between PPT, HTHP and PSD? And why we run them?

HTHP: This is the test used to determine uid loss & lter cake lter under speci c condition:

PPT: The Permeability Plugging test is designed to provide more realistic of down-hole static ltration. PPT is ideal for
predicting how a drilling uid can form a permeable lter cake to seal off depleted/under pressure intervals.

PSD : provide real data about bridging distribution in mud by portable PSD using laser beam on mud sample ,results
shows in chart which detect D10 ,D50,D90. If hi percentage of pore sizes in mud this indication for good bridging.

68. what is meant by D50 for marble ne = 12 ? 50 % from particles size of this product =12 micron

69. what is meaning D90 separation = 75 micron ?

90 % from particles size of this product can pass through screen less than 75 micron

70. Why we use both primary and secondary emulsi er in OBM, what the mechanism of both?

Primary emulsi er is a fatty acid forming Ca soap with lime used to emulsify water and oil. It has hydrophilic head (loving
water) and hydrophobic tail (loving oil). while secondary Emulsi ers is a surfactant reduces surface tension between oil
and solid and change wettability of solid to be oil wet.

71. Why we use water in OBM, why we use CaCl2 in OBM?

We use water for organophilic clay yield and calcium chloride to create osmotic pressure between the mud and shale as
it has lower activity and higher weight and common ion effect with lime for alkalinity.

water activity of calcium chloride reach 0.4 on 37 wt% and sodium chloride reach 0.7 on 26 wt%

72. What is the effect of thick lter cake and it's relation with uid loss

Wellbore instability, e.g. stuck, surge & swab, higher ECD. thick lter cakes high ltration rate.

73. How to calculate Hydrostatic pressure and kill mud weight?

Hydrostatic pressure = Mwt (ppg) x 0.052 x TVD (ft)

KMW = [(SIDP)/ 0.052 X TVD] + Original mud weight

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 74. How to adjust O/R ration in case of water contamination

Add diesel to adjust O/R then adjust M.WT ,WPS & treat mud with lime & emulsi ers

Adjust O/W R by run retort test ,from W% calculate amount of water in OBM by bbls then calculate amount of total liquid
(O+W) in mud ,divided water amount /new water ratio = new total amount of liquid

Diesel needed to adjust O/W R = new total amount of liquid - old total liquid

Example : active pit 1000 bbls O/W R 75/25 after water contamination ,required O/W R 80/20

amount of liquid from retort o % = 62, w% =20 , s%=18

water in 1000 bbls = 20/100*1000=200 bbls (200 bbls after adjust o/w r will be constant)

So 200/.2=1000 bbl s, This is the total volume after add diesel

1000-820= 180 bbls diesel needed to add to adjust o/w to 80/20

Add weighting agent ,lime emulsi ers then add CaCl2 to adjust WPS

75. Why barite need to be Oil –wet in OBM system.

To avoid barite agglomeration and discarding at shakers or sag, and also shale swelling.

76. What is the most critical case you passed by through your career

Had gain while wiper trip due to the driller did not ll up hole w/ mud ,once reach to BTM and circulation P/U had gain
gas ( CO2), Determined SIDPP then call my supervisor and informed him about situation to make MOC (managing of
change), Kill the well by driller's method in2 circulations; First one to circulate in ux out the well by old mud weight.
Treated active w/ c.soda & lime ,FLR , & other chemicals, During kill the well had ballooned effect.

77. WPS selection / reason

To be more than or equilibrium formation salinity to create osmotic effect which prevent swelling shale due to transfer
water from low salinity to hi salinity

78. H2S TEST

Two tests used to detect H2S; Qualitative ( HACH test ) and Quantitative garret gas train (GGT)
HACH test GGT

• Add 2.5 ml of ltrate (or whole mud) to the test bottle. Three chambers, rubber hose, regulator,CO2
cartridge ,dragger tube
• Soluble sul des can be determined using mud ltrates.
Total sul des can be determined using mud. • First one ( add distilled water + 5 drops defoamer in
case OBM add demulsi er close lid + inject 2.5 ml
• Add 22.5 ml of fresh water. ltrate + inject 10 ml sulfuric acid )
• Insert the test paper inside the cap of the test bottle. • Using apply P from C02 cartridge ( 5-10 psi )in H2S test
,wait 15 min
• Place a lm of octyl alcohol above the water line in test
• Take stand length * dragger tube factor /N of ml f
• bottle to eliminate excessive foaming.
• Using N cartridge in CO2 test
• Add 1 ml of sulfuric acid 5N. • C02 & C02 using as carrier gas
• Add one fresh Alka Seltzer tablet and immediately • Dragger tube used to detect the amount of H2S by
screw the cap containing the test paper onto the bottle ppm BY color
Always use fresh tablets.
• Sulfuric acid used to release H2S from sample
• After the tablet has dissolved, remove test paper and • We can using ltrate or mud sample
compare it to the color chart. Multiply the result by 10.

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79. How to improve ES in OBM? Check lime to increase excess lime, then add emulsi er if lime is okay.

80. Talk about wettability of barite

In OBM if barite wet w/ water lead to barite sag & increasing in mud rheology

Treated by add wetting agent to change wettability of barite to be oil wet by decrease surface tension between oil &
barite also add primary emulsi er & lime

In WBM must be Barite wet w/ water to avoid occulation by open water hose on active pit.

81. HI M.WT OBM issues

High solids contents give high PV's, YP's and gel strengths. Thick lter cakes ,Barite sag. It should have high O/R
( because water act as solids in OBM ) and good emulsion (wetting agent) & good rheology.

82. What is the type of kill well methods

Wait and Weight

Wait and Weight Well Control Method or someone calls Engineer’s Method is a method to control well with one
circulation. Kill weight mud is displaced into drill string and kick (wellbore in ux) is removed while displacing a wellbore.

Steps of the weight and weight method for well control are as follow:

• Shut in the well.

• Allow pressure to stabilize and record stabilized shut in casing pressure, initial shut in drill pipe pressure, and pit gain. If
you have a oat in the drill string, you must bump the oat in order to see the shut-in drill pipe pressure. Please read
this following topic for oat bumping procedure >Float Bumping Procedures To Get Shut In Drill Pipe Pressure
• Perform well control calculations and following items must be gured out. Bottomhole pressure based on drill pipe
pressure (Read more about it>Formation Pressure from Kick Analysis)Kill Mud weight necessary to balance the kick
Drillpipe pressure scheduleMaximum surface casing pressure during well control operation . (Read more about it >
Maximum Surface Pressure from Gas In ux) Maximum pit gain during circulation (Read about it > Maximum pit gain
from gas kick in water based mud
• Raise mud weight in the system to required kill mud weight. (Read more about it > Kill Weight Mud
• Establish circulation to required kill rate by holding casing pressure constant.
• Follow drill pipe schedule until kill weight mud to the bit.
• Hold drill pipe pressure constant once kill weight mud out of the bit until complete circulation.
• Check mud weight out and ensure that mud weight out is equal to kill mud weight.
• Shut down and ow check to con rm if a well is static.
• Circulate and condition mud if required

The Driller’s Method

The Driller’s Method requires two circulations. rst circulation, to circulated out in ux with the original mud weight.
Constant BHP is maintained by holding circulating drill pipe pressure constant through the rst circulation. If the original
mud weight is insuf cient to balance the formation pressure, the well is killed by circulating a heavier mud (kill mud) in a
second circulation

83. why we use salt saturated polymer mud

In case drilling salt formations to avoid wash of formation & must be the salinity of mud near salinity of formation ( +/- 10
k ) they preferred less than 10 k

84. What is PHPA limitations?

PHPA limitation include Calcium more than 400-600 which cause precipitation or bridging, high pH cause ammonia
release (Hydrolysis), and high solids contents cause occulation. dose from 0.25 to 1.5 lb/bbl. mixed in separate tank to
avoid hump in viscosity with citric acid then bleed slowly to active or directly slowly.

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 85. Brine weight? Calcium chloride 11.2, NaCl 10, KCl 9.6

86. Fluid loss reducers temperature

Starch/Polysal 225F, Flotrol 250F same - Reservoir, MI-PAC 250F - 300F and Resinex 400F.

Resinex is resinated lignite used as high temperature FLR

Chrome Lignosulfonates: Spersene is thinner that is stable to 250-300F, at higher temperature CO2 released which may
lead to carbonate/bicarbonate contamination, needs caustic soda 2 lb

Lignite: Tannathin oxidized lignite and FLR in high temperature, secondary function is thinner, it needs caustic soda
because pH=4

87. Bit Balling

It is the tendency of clay and solids to adhere to metal surface of bit and BHA as a function of electro-chemical attraction
of clay-clay and clay-metal

Causes: low clearance, no inhibition, bit design ‘PDC when cuttings are compressed’, poor hydraulics and hole cleaning

Prevention: control uid loss, use detergent/glycol to change surface tension, use inhibitive mud system, optimize bit
design and hydraulics ‘TFA with proper nozzle size,

Indicators: slow ROP that can’t be enhanced by changing drilling parameters, high ECD and bit pressure drop due to
plugged nozzle, tendency to swab and high overpulls while tripping out.

Treatment: Dispersing by caustic pill/thinner, Eroding by nutplug, pumping glycol/detergent, HCl for calcareous shale,
POOH and clean.

88. NTU, TSS, TCT

NTU: Nephelometric Turbidity Unit to measure clarity of brines by scattering or adsorbing light using NTU meter, this
procedure does not determine size or quantity of insoluble solids in brine. it should be less than 20. Clarity is necessary
to eliminate formation plugging by solids. Corrosion & biocide soluble chemicals will affect NTU reading not TSS.

TSS: Total insoluble suspended solids in weight percent that is trapped by a lter, lter sample, heat in oven, weight the
lter. < 0.05%. [TSS = (Final weight mg - Initial weight mg) / Sample volume mL]

TCT: At which salt crystals will form, max temp following the supercooling.

FCTA: crystal form below TCT during super cooling.

LCTD: during the heating cycle where crystals dissolve during sample warm up.

89. How to evaluate ltration unit? checking TSS, NTU before/after ltration

90. Waste management - how much barrel in a skid (box)? 13 barrels of cuttings.

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