CASE STUDY

Ultradril with Poroseal

By using the Ultradril High Performance Water Based System, a long
section of highly reactive clay was drilled trouble-free in shorter time than
scheduled.
Baris Alp, Country Manager, M-I SWACO Turkey

Well Information

LocationDeep Water, Offshore Black Sea, Turkey

Intervals drilled:
18.125 x 22-in. hole for a total of 135 m (443 ft.......................................................................................................from 2,805 to 2,940 m (9,203 9,646 ft)
16.5 x 20-in. hole for a total of 380 m (1,247 ft..................................................................................................... from 2,940 to 3,320 m (9,646 10,893 ft)
14.75 x 17.5-in. hole for a total of 268 m (879 ft..................................................................................................from 3,320 to 3,588 m (10,893 11,772 ft)
12.25 x 14.75-in. hole for a total of 801 m (2,628 ft............................................................................................ from 3,588 to 4,389 m (11,772 14,400 ft)
8.5-in. hole for a total of 954 m (3,130 ft............................................................................................................. from 4,389 to 5,343 m (14,400 17,530 ft)
Interval Angle............................................................................................................................................................................................................Vertical ( 0o)
Water depth....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 2,018 m (6,621 ft)
Mud weight............................................................................................................................................................................ 1.10 1.32 S.G. (9.2 11.0 lb/gal)

The Situation

The Offshore Black Sea area is well known for drilling difficulties like wellbore instability, bit balling and tight hole while tripping, caused
by the highly reactive shale formation. Other challenges for this Deep Water exploration well were considered to be Gas Hydrates,
narrow Mud Weight window, hole cleaning, fluid and waste volume handling. The Operator required formulating a high performance
inhibitive Water Based Mud not only to mitigate all technical challenges but also to minimize any environmental risk.

The Solution

The High Performance Water-Based drilling fluid Ultradril was selected to drill the most difficult sections of this well, knowing that this
system can be formulated to inhibit both dispersive and swelling clay formations using polyamine technology. Addition of Mono Ethylene
Glycol in the fluid formulation was required and detailed procedures were prepared to insure Gas Hydrate suppression. Also Poroseal,
a unique copolymer suitable for shale sealing was added in order to enhance inhibition properties and provide wellbore stability when
drilling micro-fractured and dispersive shales.

The Results

The well was completed in only 80 days, which includes a 118m (387 ft) supplementary interval (exploration reasons). Actually, the initial planned
Total Depth was reached in only 75 days, a 35% reduction of the Best Case scheduled time (115 days) or a 44% reduction compared to AFE
scheduled time (135 days). Considering the daily cost of a Deep Water Operation, the time reduction was considered a very good achievement.
The average Rate of Penetration (ROP) was ranging between 9.6 m/hr (31.5 ft/hr) in the 8.5-in. hole to 18.7 m/hr (61.4 ft/hr) in the16.5-in. hole, whilst
the instant ROP was intentionally limited to 20 m/hr (65.5 ft/hr) due to gas kicks and losses potential. The drilled cuttings were always firm and dry
with clear PDC bit marks, proving an inhibition level comparable with Oil Based Mud.
The only problems encountered during drilling were some seepage or partial losses (quickly solved by placing Lost Circulation Materials pills and
reduced flow rates) and few gas kicks, but these were expected due to narrow Mud Weight windows.
The Details
When designing the Ultradril system for this well, several key aspects were considered:

Provide proper inhibition level; monitor and adjust inhibitor concentrations while drilling based on depletion rate, hole and cuttings condition;

Insure Gas Hydrates suppression during each and every operational situation (static and dynamic condition);

Adjust fluid rheology to provide proper hole cleaning without exceeding formation fracture pressure;

Avoid drilling fluid related problems (hole instability, stuck pipe, circulation losses);

Plan and coordinate logistics for all materials and equipment to ensure smooth operation;

100% environmental compliance.

Due to the very large volumes required, most of the UltraDril system was prepared in the land mud plant and transferred to the rig, only minimal
dilution volumes being built on the drilling platform.
Proper inhibition was provided by several dedicated products: UltraHib the amine hydration suppressant: 2-4% by volume; UltraCap Plus
Encapsulator to prevent dispersion: 1.25-2.5 ppb (3.5-7.0 kg/m3); and KCl ionic inhibitor: 7-9% by weight.
Gas Hydrate suppression was very challenging to obtain, especially for the top hole sections, where Mud Weight was very low limiting brine
content; as a result, fully inhibited pills were tested and prepared to be placed during static conditions in the areas susceptible to plugging by
hydrates formation.
Low end rheology was optimized each interval by Duovis biopolymer addition to provide adequate hole cleaning; Virtual Hydraulics software
simulations together with pump pressure/ECD monitoring were used to ensure cuttings transport to surface and weighting material suspension.

Table 1. The UltraDril with Poroseal system Formulation

Product

Concentration

Function

Ultrahib

2-4

% by vol

Hydration Suppressant

Ultracap Plus

1.25 2.5

ppb

Encapsulator

UltraFree

2-3

% by vol

Lubricant/Anti-accretion agent

Poroseal

ppb

Shale Sealant

Duovis

1.0 1.5

ppb

Viscosity control and LSRV

KCl

7-9

% by wt

Ionic inhibitor

NaCl

0 - 16

% by wt

Gas Hydrates Suppressant

PolySal

3-4

ppb

Fluid Loss Control Agent

PolyPac UL

2-3

ppb

Fluid Loss Control Agent

MEG

% by vol

Gas Hydrates Suppressant

M-I Cide

0.2 0.3

ppb

Biocide

Calcium Carbonate

15 - 25

ppb

Bridging/Strengthening Agent

Barite

0 - 28

ppb

Weighting Agent

Table 2. The UltraDril with Poroseal system main properties by interval

Interval Hole Size (in)
Fluid Property

18.125x22

16.5x20

14.75x17.5

12.25x14.75

8.5

Mud Weight (ppg)

9.2-9.6

9.8-10.1

10.1-10.3

10.0-10.8

10.9-11.0

Yield Point (lb/100ft2)

22-27

21-23

23-24

19-24

19-24

6 &3 rpm (lb/100ft2)

9/7-7/6

7/6-8/6

7/5-8/6

8/5

8/6

API Fluid Loss (cc/30min)

4.8-3.4

3.4-2.2

2.8-2.2

2.0

1.8

MBT (ppb)

2.5

2.5

2.5

2.5

2.5

Questions? Well be glad to answer them.

If youd like to know more about the Ultradril system and how its performing for our other customers, please call the M-I SWACO office
nearest you!

This information is supplied solely for informational purposes and M-I SWACO makes no guarantees or
warranties, either expressed or implied, with respect to the accuracy and use of this data. All product
warranties and guarantees shall be governed by the Standard Terms of Sale. Nothing in this document
is legal advice or is a substitute for competent legal advice.

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