DRILLING FLUIDS

Scomi Oiltools
Realising Potential in
Oilfield Drilling Solutions
Scomi Oiltools is one of the worlds leading providers
of innovative high-performance drilling fluids and
state-of-the-art waste management solutions. The
organisation features a highly qualified team of over
2,500 engineers and professionals, with combined
experience of over 60 years, spread over 54 locations
in 26 countries, plus 24-hour, round-the-clock technical
support worldwide.
Scomi Oiltools is fully equipped to provide integrated
packaged services comprising drilling fluids and
engineering services, solids control and drilling waste
management equipment and services to serve the
oil and gas industry. Our drilling solutions are
engineered to achieve optimal results while strictly
complying with international environmental standards.
Our services include:

Drilling Fluids & Engineering Services

Drilling Waste Management Equipment & Services
Operations & Maintenance, Project Management.
At Scomi Oiltools, it is our ultimate goal to help our
clients recognise and realise their vast potential.
Thereby optimising their productivity and catalysing
their businesses to new levels of performance.
Scomi Oiltools Realising Potential.

DRILLING FLUIDS &

ENGINEERING SERVICES
Scomi Oiltools is a global provider of Drilling &
Completion Fluids and Drilling Waste Management
solutions. With the reach of our international
infrastructure, and the expertise of our experienced
personnel, Scomi Oiltools is able to offer customers
the benefits of truly integrated and engineered
solutions.
Our fluids operations are supported by the Global
Research & Technology Centre headquartered
in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This centre, led by
international experts in their field, provides the
technical support to all Scomi Oiltools operations
and manages extensive dedicated laboratory
facilities with a keen focus on research and
development. The centre employs a process-driven
framework to ensure consistent best practice in
product development, technical troubleshooting,
training, procurement and product quality
assurance and control.
The dedication to service quality has created an
increase in the companys business, establishing
operations across Asia-Pacific, the Middle East,
Europe and the USA.
Scomi Oiltools is a progressive global service
company, moving into new territories, offering
performance-driven Drilling & Completion Fluids
and Drilling Waste Management solutions.

WATER-BASED SYSTEMS
HYdro-Foil Classic KCl / PHPA system
HYdro-Foil Gen 1 Inhibitive, engineered cloud
point glycol system
HyPR-Drill

High Performance
Water-Based Mud

HYdro-Foil S8

Silicate system

HyPR-Foil S8

 igh-performance
H
silicate system

HYdro-Therm 
High-temperature,
high-pressure system
Opta-Flo

Reservoir drill-in fluid

Rheo-PLEX 
MMO system for superior
hole cleaning
NON-AQUEOUS INVERT EMULSION FLUIDS
CONFI-DRILL Premium invert emulsion
system
CONFI-DENSE High-temperature,
high-pressure, oil-based fluid
CONFI-Deep Flat rheology OBM for use in
deep water
Opta-Vert

Reservoir drill-in fluid

EXTRA-Vert 
Non-toxic, biodegradable
ester chemistry
ENGINEERING SUPPORT SOFTWARE
HyPR-FORM

Daily reporting

HyPR-CALC Hydraulics modeling software

DRILLING FLUIDS
WATER-BASED
SYSTEMS

Our water-based drilling fluid systems

deliver cost-effective performance with
minimal environmental impact. We are a
pioneer in developing high-performance
systems specially formulated for a myriad
of applications even in environmentally
sensitive drilling areas.

HYDRO-FOIL

is the original KCI / PHPA low solids, non-dispersed

fluid system that is primarily used to drill moderately
reactive shales.
FEATURES AND BENEFITS

The two primary shale inhibitors in the system are potassium

ions for cation exchange with the clays, to reduce hydration
and swelling, and partially hydrolysed polyacrylamide to
encapsulate drilled cuttings for more effective solids
removal efficiency on surface. In recent times environmental
restrictions onshore have restricted the discharge of
chloride-based fluids, which has resulted in the use of
alternative aqueous-based fluids, including:

RELATIVE INHIBITION OF REACTIVE SHALES IN KCI

SOLUTION
80

TYPICAL FORMULATION AND PROPERTIES OF A

HYDRO-FOIL SYSTEM
PRODUCT
KCI / PHPA
K2S04 /

PHPA

60

INHIBITION (%)

Moderately inhibitive water-based fluids.

Environmentally acceptable and dischargeable in most areas.
Relatively low lubricity coefficients.
Easy to mix.
Simple and fast to upgrade the inhibition of the system.
Cost-effective.

Drillwater (bbl/bbl) 0.85 0.85

40

20

0
0

KCI (%)

KCI (lb/bbl)

30

Caustic Soda

to pH 8.5

to pH 9.0

HYDRO-ZAN (lb/bbl)

0.75 - 1.0

0.75 - 1.0

HYDRO-STARCH (lb/bbl)

2.0 - 3.0

HYDRO-PAC LV (lb/bbl) 3.0

HYDRO-CAP (lb/bbl) 2.0 2.0

DRILL-BAR (lb/bbl)

71

Potassium sulphate
Potassium carbonate
Potassium acetate
Potassium formate

Drilled Solids (lb/bbl) 30

Developed in the late 1970s, salt / PHPA systems have

been used extensively throughout the world and still have
applications in the field today.

71
30

PROPERTIES
Density (lb/gal)

10.5 10.5

Plastic Viscosity (cP)

+/- 20

+/- 25

Yield Point (lb/100 ft2)

+/- 30

+/- 20

Gels (lb/100 ft2)

7 / 10 / 12

10 / 12 / 16

API Fluid Loss (cc/30 min)

< 5

<6

WATER-BASED SYSTEMS

For this to be the case, there must be some mechanism of

association and disassociation of the polyol in the circulating
system. The nature of these structures and their stability
in aqueous fluids is strongly controlled by the presence of
potassium cations with certain polyols.
It can be concluded that shale inhibition and formation
protection will be achieved from one or both of these
mechanisms by:

is an established inhibitive water-based fluid

designed to meet difficult drilling targets with
minimal environmental impact.

HYDRO-FOIL GEN 1 represents a significant advance on

the basic HYDRO-FOIL system. The key enhancement of the
Gen 1 system is the addition of low molecular weight polyols,
the generic name for a wide range of chemicals which includes
glycerol, polyglycerol, polyethylene, glycols, polypropylene
glycol, polyalkylene glycols and alcohol ethoxylates. These
chemicals are water soluble and non-toxic, passing existing
environmental protocols worldwide.

reservoirs.

Low dilution and maintenance cost.

Increased protection against stuck
pipe.

Compared with, for example, a HYDRO-FOIL (KCI/PHPA) fluid,

polyol systems exhibit improved wellbore conditions and
produce firmer cuttings that do not readily disperse into the
mud leading to reduced dilution rates which offset the higher
make up cost of the fluid.
Other wellbore problems, including bit balling, stuck pipe
and stuck loggings tools are also generally reduced. These
attributes frequently combine to give faster drilling rates,
fewer or less severe drilling problems and reduced mud
volumes that translate into reduced drilling and fluid costs.
MECHANISM OF SHALE STABILISATION
The cloud point of polyol is the temperature at which it starts
to change from being soluble to becoming insoluble in water.

invasive fluids by clouding out.

As the temperature of the fluid increases, the polyol starts to

come out of solution and an otherwise clear liquid starts to
become opaque and cloudy. The temperature at which this
occurs is usually very precise and is particular to each polyol type.
VISUALISATION OF POLYOL BEHAVIOUR AS A FUNCTION OF
TEMPERATURE

Polyol and water together at ambient

temperature; the polyol is 100% water
soluble.

Solution is heated until the polyol reaches

cloud point and becomes insoluble. A
thermally activated micro emulsion forms.

The graph overleaf, illustrates the effect of KCI concentration on

polyol cloud point, which is also dependent on the total salinity
of the solution, type of electrolyte, molecular weight and type
and concentration of polyol.
Given the range of cloud points the polyol is selected based
upon its cloud point, at a specified salinity and the cloud point
can be adjusted by altering the salinity of the liquid phase.
Research concludes that the polyol is absorbed by the clay.
During the absorption process, water is displaced from the clay
surface and ordered structures of polyol are formed. A weak
attachment is postulated because of the observation that there
is no rapid depletion of the polyol in the drilling fluid system.

UNITS

Low reactivity

0.2 - 0.5 0.1 - 0.3 0.1 - 0.2

bbl/ft

Intermediate

0.4 - 0.7 0.3 - 0.6 0.2 - 0.4

bbl/ft

Highly reactive

0.5 - 1.0 0.4 - 0.8 0.3 - 0.6

bbl/ft

HYDRO-FOIL
HYDRO-FOIL GEN 1

100
90
80
70

50

60

40

50

30

40

20

30

10
0

HOLE SIZE

Type 171/2 121/2 81/2 inches

60

10

15

20

25

POTASSIUM CHLORIDE (KCI) WT%

CIRRUS

APPLICATION
The principle application of the HYDRO-FOIL GEN 1 system
is in the drilling of reactive shales. Cuttings and wellbore
stability are significantly improved through the improvement
in inhibition which is seen over a wide range of temperatures
related to the cloud point of the glycol. Polyol muds are
effective in most shale types but are particularly so in young or
relatively uncompacted shales with high clay contents.

CLAYSTONE

INHIBITION STUDIES WITH REACTIVE CLAYSTONES

Blocking the formation pores from further ingress of

70

Highly inhibitive water-based fluid. Ease of mixing and maintenance.

Excellent wellbore stability and Non-damaging to sensitive
Low environmental impact.
Low lubricity coefficients.

clay minerals present in shales.

CLOUD POINTS FOR VARIOUS POLYOLS IN KCI SOLUTIONS

FEATURES AND BENEFITS

cuttings integrity.

The polyol displacing water from adsorption sites on

TEMPERATURE (C)

HYDRO-FOIL
GEN 1

TYPICAL DILUTION RATES vs. HOLE SIZE

STRATUS

20
10

CUMULUS

NIMBUS

RECOVERY

HYDRATION

HARDNESS

TYPICAL FORMULATION AND PROPERTIES OF A HYDRO-FOIL GEN 1 SYSTEM

PRODUCT
FUNCTION

HYDRO-FOIL GEN 1
BHCT= 40 C

HYDRO-FOIL GEN 1
BHCT= 90 C

Drillwater (bbl/bbl)

Base fluid

0.85

0.75

KCI (lb/bbl)

Water activity and cation exchange

30

30

Caustic Soda / Potash

Alkalinity control

to pH 8.5 - 9.5

to pH 8.5 - 9.5

HYDRO-ZAN (lb/bbl)

Viscosifier

0.75 - 1.25

0.75 - 1.25

HYDRO-PAC LV (lb/bbl)

Fluid-loss control

1.0 - 2.0

1.0 - 2.0

HYDRO-CAP (lb/bbl)

Cutting encapsulator

2.0

2.0

CIRRUS CPG (v/v%)

Shale stabilisation

3.0

STRATUS CPG (v/v%)

Shale stabilisation

3.0

DRILL-BAR (lb/bbl)

Weighting agent

68

206

Drilled Solids (lb/bbl)

Drilled solids

30

30

Density (lb/gal)

10.5

13

Plastic Viscosity (cP)

15 - 25

25 - 35

ft2)

15 - 25

20 - 30

Gels (lb/100 ft2)

+/- 6/10

+/- 8/14

API Fluid Loss (cc/30 min)

<5

<5

PROPERTIES

Yield Point (lb/100

WATER-BASED SYSTEMS

The HyPR-DRILL system which can be utilised in a range of fluids varying from freshwater to saturated sodium chloride consists
of the following key products in combination with a range of standard drilling fluid additives:
CORE HyPR-DRILL SYSTEM COMPONENTS

HyPR-DRILL

is a new generation High Performance Water-Based

Mud (HPWBM), which provides wellbore stability,
enhanced inhibition and rapid penetration rates.
FEATURES AND BENEFITS

Excellent shale inhibition over other inhibitive WBM.

Enhanced wellbore stability.
Reduced drilling cost.
Reduced waste handling costs.
Excellent penetration rates.
Prevention of bit balling and shale accretion on drill string.
Easily formulated for applications ranging from land to
deepwater drilling.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

FUNCTION

HyPR-HIB

Quaternery Ammonium Salt

shale and clay hydration and
dispersant suppressant.

HyPR-HIB restricts the ability of reactive formations, clays and

shales, to absorb water from the drilling fluid.

HyPR-CAP

Encapsulation polymer
HyPR-CAP is a low molecular weight anionic polymer which can
minimises shale dispersion. be used in high concentrations to provide a polymer coating on
the clay and cuttings preventing water absorption and subsequent
dispersion. Cuttings remain intact and are readily removed
by solids control equipment with minimal dispersion into the
circulating system.

HyPR-DRL

ROP Enhancer and bit / drill collar

HyPR-DRL is a proprietary product designed to minimise balling
accretion minimisation. of the bit and drill string and deliver enhanced penetration rates.
The blend of lubricants and other products coat the drill-string
and bit to reduce and prevent the accretion of water wet, hydrated
cuttings.

HyPR-STAR

API fluid loss controlling agent

HyPR-STAR is a proprietary starch product; designed specifically

for the HyPR-DRILL system to control fluid loss without affecting
any other properties.

HyPR-DRILL systems are readily formulated in the field at the wellsite or in a liquid mud plant for delivery to offshore locations.
This highly inhibitive fluid exhibits low dilution rates which ensures that maintenance of the system is cost-effective and
minimises the logistics requirements for additional chemicals.
TYPICAL FORMULATION AND PROPERTIES OF HyPR-DRILL SYSTEMS

Drawing on a wide ranging review of HPWBM development

and performance coupled with extensive testing and
development of alternative products in the R&D labs of
Scomi Oiltools Global Research & Technology Centre,
GRTC, HyPR-DRILL has been developed to match and exceed
the performance of other water-based systems currently being
used and deliver performance as close as possible to that on
an invert emulsion system.
The use of HyPR-DRILL is particularly indicated where the
use of non-aqueous fluids will require very high costs for
waste management and disposal due to environmental
restrictions or facility limitations which prevent the installation
of waste handling equipment.

PRODUCT FUNCTION

HyPR-DRILL
FRESHWATER

HyPR-DRILL
6% KCl

HyPR-DRILL
20% NaCl

Drillwater (bbl/bbl)

Base fluid

0.83

0.81

0.77

KCl (lb/bbl)

Water activity and cation exchange

NA

18

NA

NaCl (lb/bbl)

Water activity and cation exchange

NA

NA

70

pH

Alkalinity

8.5 9.5

8.5 9.5

8.5 9.5

HyPR-CAP (lb/bbl)

Encapsulating polymer

80

HyPR-HIB (%)

Shale and clay inhibitor

60

HyPR-DRL (%)

Anti-accretion additive

2 3

2 3

2 3

CUMULUS CPG (%)

Cloud point glycol

HYDRO-ZAN (lb/bbl)

Viscosifier

1 2

1 2

12

HYDRO-STAR NF (lb/bbl)

Filtration control

3 5

3 5

35

DRILL-BAR (lb/bbl)

Weighting agent

91

79

41

10 10 10

16 24

15 20

15 20

20 25

18 24

20 25

< 4

<4

<3

Utilising a blend of proprietary ammonium salts in

combination with a low molecular weight, acrylic-based,
encapsulating polymer and a newly developed clay accretion
inhibitior, HyPR-DRILL delivers benefits normally associated
only with non-aqueous fluids.
LINEAR EXPANSION OF SHALE HyPR-DRILL (6% KCI)
PERCENT EXPANSION (%)

Environmental awareness and the application of stricter

regulations are, in many areas, restricting the discharge
of cuttings contaminated with synthetic or mineral oilbased fluids. These restrictions present logistical and waste
management costs, impact on installation design and may
present significant health and safety concerns as large
quantities of cuttings have to be handled and moved by crane
and vessel.

120
100

40
20
0

1000

2000

3000

TIME (MINUTES)
BENTONITE
SBM

PHPA / GLYCOL
HyPR-DRILL

PROPERTIES
Density (lb/gal)
Plastic Viscosity (cP)
Yield Point (lb/100 ft )
2

API Fluid Loss (cc/30 min)

WATER-BASED SYSTEMS

HYDRO-FOIL S8

is essentially a HYDRO-FOIL system which utilises

5 15% v/v sodium or potassium silicate solution
to enhance inhibition and mechanical wellbore
stability, particularly in highly fractured or
unconsolidated formations.
FEATURES AND BENEFITS

Excellent shale inhibition, exceeding that of any other type of

water-based fluids.

Cheaper than glycol systems although maintenance additions are

expected to be higher so this cost advantage can be eroded if the
rig has poor solids control.

Good environmental properties for offshore applications.

Potential to seal micro-fractured shales.
Low corrosion rates.
The main application for silicate fluids is the replacement of
oil and synthetic fluids in difficult drilling applications, e.g.
wells containing reactive claystones. Silicate fluids exhibit a
very high degree of shale inhibition exceeding that of glycol
fluids, however, they have a number of limitations which
must be considered in fluid selection.
MECHANISM OF SHALE STABILISATION
When HYDRO-FOIL S8 mud filtrate and pore water mix, the
alkalinity of the fluid filtrate is lowered from pH 12 resulting
in the spontaneous precipitation of a silica gel at the near
wellbore. Coupled with this, dissolved divalent cations in the
pore fluid will precipitate silicate salts, e.g. calcium silicate.
These precipitates, or gels, form a semi permeable membrane
which prevents further fluid filtrate invasion and retards pore
pressure transmission of the hydrostatic mud column to rock
matrix. The wellbore and shale are thus pressure isolated.
This latter phenomenon is critical in tectonically stressed
and fractured shales, which require sufficient overbalance
mud pressure to support the borehole from collapsing. The
presence of solutes such as NaCl and KCl is synergistic, as
solutes will balance the mud and shale activities to reduce
the net flow of ions into the shale. The presence of K+ is
useful as it will exchange for Ca++ and Mg++ at the clay

surface, making these ions available to form precipitates. It

should be noted that non-aqueous fluids cannot stabilise
such fractured shales, as they are restricted from entering
or invading the shales due to capillary threshold pressures,
which are significant for intact shales with small pores but
are negligible for shales with open fractures. Soluble silicates,
however, have the ability to fill small cracks and pressure seal
them.

TABLE 4: TYPICAL FORMULATION AND PROPERTIES OF A HYDRO-FOIL S8 SYSTEM

PRODUCT FUNCTION HYDRO-FOIL S8

HYDRO-FOIL S8

Drillwater (bbl/bbl)

0.74

0.65

KCl (lb/bbl) Water activity

and cation exchange

30

25

Caustic Soda / Potash

Alkalinity control

to pH 12 12.5

to pH 12 12.5

Soda Ash

Hardness control

to < 400 mg/L

to < 400 mg/L

HYDRO-ZAN (lb/bbl)

Viscosifier

0.75 1.0

0.75 1.25

HYDRO-PAC UL (lb/bbl)

Fluid loss control

2.5

2.5

HYDRO-STAR CMS (lb/bbl)

Fluid loss control

2.0

2.0

HYDRO-SIL S (v/v%)

Shale stabilisation

11.0

9.0

OX-SCAV (lb/bbl)

Oxygen scavenger

1.0 1.5

1.0 1.5

DRILL-BAR (lb/bbl)

Weighting agent

155

340

Density (lb/gal)

12

15

Plastic Viscosity (cP)

20 30

25 35

Yield Point (lb/100 ft2)

15 25

20 30

Gels (lb/100 ft2)

+/- 6/10

+/- 8/14

API Fluid Loss (cc/30 min)

< 6

<6

pH

12 12.5

12 12.5

Base fluid

PROPERTIES

Note: HYDRO-SIL S liquor has an sg of 1.5 and contains 28.1% by weight of SiO2.

SEALING OF MICRO-FRACTURED SHALES BY SILICATES

Fracture Propagation
Mp FLUID
INGRESS

Mp > Fp

Non-inhibitive Fluid

Mp = Fp = Mechanical Failure

Silicate Gel / Precipitate

Mp FLUID
INGRESS
Mp > Fp

Mp
HYDRO-FOIL S8 Fluid

Mp = Fp = Mechanical Stability

WATER-BASED SYSTEMS

TYPICAL FORMULATION AND PROPERTIES OF

HYPR-FOIL S8 WITH POTASSIUM SULPHATE
PRODUCT CONCENTRATION

operations.

Potential to seal micro-fractured shales.

Treated cuttings with potential to be used as fertiliser.
Lubricant offers significant improvement in lubricity of silicate fluids.
Low corrosion rates.

HYDRO-ZAN (lb/bbl) 1.5

HYDRO-PAC LV (lb/bbl) 2.5

Intensive development has identitifed high-performing

polymers to be used in the system to deliver excellent low
end rheology and fluid loss.
The treated cuttings and waste mud should yield soil material
rich in potassium and nitrates which enhance plant growth
without the introduction of potentially harmful contaminants.
Sodium and chloride are excluded from the drilling fluids
formation minimising their concentration in the drill cuttings.
The fertiliser rich soil can be sold or given away to farmers
or used for beneficial fill. Operators are presented with an
opportunity for the reuse of drilling cuttings or disposed mud
which essentially eliminates long term disposal liability and
cost.

PERCENT EXPANSION (%)

HyPR-FOIL S8 is a high-performance silicate system wherein

sodium and chloride ions have been replaced with potassium
cations from carbonates, sulphates, acetates, nitrates and/
or hydroxides. Potentially harmful leachates are ultimately
removed by precipitation as insoluble calcium salts.

200 RPM 44

100 RPM 29

6 RPM 12

0
-2

1000

2000

3000

TIME (MINUTES)
- SHOWS THAT ALL SILICATE SYSTEMS EXHIBIT EXCELLENT SHALE INHIBITION
WITH < 10% SWELLING
SOD. SILICATE & KCI CONTROL
POT. SILICATE & POT. CARBONATE
POT. SILICATE & POT. SULPHATE
POT. SILICATE & POT. ACETATE

92.00

HYDRO
FOIL S8

K2SO4

0.45
0.413

0.40
0.35

0.353

0.30
0.262

0.25

0.207

0.20
0.15
0.10
0.05

PV (cP) 21

0.00

YP (lb/100

CH3CO2K

MUD LUBRICITY COEFFICIENT OF HYPR-FOIL S8 SYSTEM

WITH HYDRO-LUBE SL

3 RPM 10

ft2) 33

K2CO3

SILICATE SYSTEM

Rheology -

300 RPM 54

93.00

Potassium Hydroxide (lb/bbl) 2

600 RPM 75

94.00

DRILL-BAR (lb/bbl) 42

10

99.26

95.00

90.00

12

98.99

96.00

OX-SCAV (lb/bbl) 1

Mud Weight (lb/gal) 10.0

LINEAR EXPANSION OF SHALE COMPARING DIFFERENT
TYPES OF SALT IN SILICATE MUD SYSTEM

98.76

97.00

91.00

AHR 16 HRS, 194 F

98.92

98.00

OPTA-STAR PLUS (lb/bbl) 6

TYPICAL PROPERTIES
The disposal of drilled cuttings, particularly in sensitive
areas on land, poses significant environmental burdens and
very high costs for disposal and site remediation. A low-cost
method of treating cuttings and waste fluids producing a
reusable material offers potentially significant savings, both
financial and environmental.

99.00

HYDRO-SIL K (lb/bbl) 38

Potassium Carbonate (lb/bbl) 2

Chloride-free, highly inhibitive fluid for environmentally sensitive land

100.00

Drillwater (bbl/bbl) 0.82

Potassium Sulphate (lb/bbl) 35

FEATURES AND BENEFITS

SHALE RECOVERY COMPARING DIFFERENT TYPES OF

SILICATE DRILLING FLUID

SHALE RECOVERY (%)

is a high-performance silicate system engineered

and patented, to provide a sodium chloride free
drilling fluid for sensitive environments and cuttings
treatment, providing a recycling route for the
cuttings thus minimising environmental impact.

MUD LUBRICITY COEFICIENT

HyPR-FOIL S8

DISTILLED
WATER

BASE

BASE + 3%
HYDRO
-LUBE SL

BASE + 5%
HYDRO
-LUBE SL

Gel 10 sec (lb/100 ft2) 9

Gel 10 min (lb/100 ft2) 11
pH Mud 12.1

Lubricity of the system, a traditional drawback with silicate

systems, is readily improved with the addition of HYDROLUBE SL.

API Filtrate (cc/30 min) 4.0

pH Filtrate 12.3

WATER-BASED SYSTEMS

CORE HYDRO-THERM PRODUCTS

HYDRO-THERM

systems have proven effectiveness in hightemperature conditions and in the presence of

contaminants, both in the field and in the laboratory.
FEATURES AND BENEFITS

Thermal stability.
Flexibility that extends conventional systems beyond their normal limits.
Shale stability.
Excellent return permeability.
Reduce corrosion rates.
Lubricity.
Environmentally acceptable.
Economical.

PRODUCT

DESCRIPTION

FUNCTION

HYDRO THERM I

AMPS / AM Copolymer

HTHP Filtration Control

HYDRO THERM II

AMPS / AM Copolymer

HTHP Filtration Control

HYDRO THIN HT

 eflocculant & rheology stabiliser for

D
high-temperature environments

Thermal Stability

HYDRO LIG

Lignite

HTHP Filtration Control

HYDRO SPERSE HT

S ulphonated Copolymer
deflocculant & rheology stabiliser
for high-temperature environments

HTHP Filtration Control

Deflocculant

OX SCAV

Oxygen scavenger

Polymer Extender

HYDRO POL

Synthetic Copolymer

HTHP Filtration Control

HYDRO REZ

Synthetic Resin HTHP Filtration Control &

Rheology Stabiliser

HYDRO THIN HT II

 eflocculant & rheology stabiliser for

D
high-temperature environments

HYDRO SPERSE RS

Sulphonated Copolymer HTHP Deflocculant &

Rheology Stabiliser

HYDRO CHECK

Sulphonated Copolymer HTHP Deflocculant &

Rheology Stabiliser

HYDRAMINE HT

Amine-based Corrosion Inhibitor

Thermal Stability

HTHP Corrosion Inhibitor

TABLE 1: TYPICAL FORMULATION AND PROPERTIES OF THE HYDRO-THERM SYSTEM

HYDRO-THERM is an extremely flexible, water-based drilling
fluid system used when temperature, contaminants, and / or
borehole instability make conventional systems impractical or
uneconomical.
HYDRO-THERM is primarily a synthetic polymer-based system
that is stable to > 204 C (400 F). The use of the HYDRO-THERM
products allow for the conversion of conventional mud systems
e.g. HYDRO-FOIL systems, to a HYDRO-THERM HTHP drilling
fluid without the need for complete displacement.
The HYDRO-THERM system is successful because it minimises
the reliance on the use of commercial bentonite for the control
of the suspension and filtration.
The system is composed of combinations of the products
shown overleaf, and if required, on combination with third
party specialist products dependent on pH, temperature and
total hardness of the drilling fluid.

PRODUCT
FUNCTION HYDRO-THERM
BHT= 176 C
Freshwater

Base fluid

0.44

KCI (lb/bbl)

Water activity
& cation exchange

Caustic Soda / Potash

Alkalinity control

0.3

DRILL GEL (lb/bbl)

Viscosifier

HYDRO-THERM II (lb/bbl)

HTHP fluid loss

HYDRO-SPERSE HT (lb/bbl)

Rheology stabiliser
& deflocculant

OX-SCAV (lb/bbl)

Oxygen scavenger

0.5

DRILL-BAR (lb/bbl)

Weighting agent

492

PROPERTIES
Density (lb/gal)

17.5

Plastic Viscosity (cP)

48

Yield Point (lb/100 ft )

18

API Fluid Loss (cc/30 min)

HTHP Fluid Loss

300 F / 500 (cc/30 min)

20

WATER-BASED SYSTEMS

COMPARATIVE RETURN PERMEABILITY DATAMEDIUM PERM CORES (200-500 mD)

mD
100

350

90

300

80
70

250

60

200

OPTA-FLO

drill-in fluids are custom designed to provide

minimal reservoir damage over a wide range of
porosites and permeabilities, whilst at the same
time providing an easily removable filtercake on
drawdown that typically does not require breakers
or acid clean-ups.
FEATURES AND BENEFITS

Non-damaging low skin values, high-return permeability.

Negligible lift-off pressures required for rapid cleanup.
Ultra low-permeability filtercake low leak off and stuck pipe mitigation.
Low friction factors.
Environmentally compliant.
Reduces remediation costs.
Works with any completion assembly.
The system is custom designed for each individual reservoir
and uses a range of high-quality components and design tools
to facilitate the design process. One such tool is the HyPRSIZER software programme that allows the fluids engineer to
optimise the concentration and particle size distribution of the
bridging agent to ensure solids are deposited across the pore
throats with minimum invasion yet seal off the reservoir with a
thin, compact and resilient filtercake.
The result a system that provides strong benefits as a highperformance, non-damaging drill-in fluid that optimises
production rates across a wide range of completion methods:

Open-hole gravel-pack or non-gravel-pack completions

Expandable slotted screen completions
Slotted and perforated liner completions
Cased-hole completions where hole cleaning or minimising

40

100

30

INITIAL PERMEABILITY TO OIL

20

RETURN PERMEABILITY @ 100 PSI

10

% RETURN PERM

50
0

Mud 1:
OPTA-FLO

Mud 2:
OPTA-FLO

Mud 3:
Mud 4:
COMPETITOR A COMPETITOR B

THE KEY PRODUCTS IN THE OPTA-FLO SYSTEM ARE;

PRODUCT

DESCRIPTION

FUNCTION

OPTA-VIS

High clarity viscosifier

Viscosity control

OPTA-ZAN

High clarity viscosifier

Viscosity control

OPTA-STAR PLUS

Modified starch derivative

Fluid loss control

OPTA-CARB

Custom sized calcium carbonate

Bridging agent

OPTA-ZYME S

Enzyme

Filtercake breaker

RE-VERT

Surfactant

Emulsion prevention

TYPICAL FORMULATION AND PROPERTIES OF AN OPTA-FLO SYSTEM

PRODUCT

FUNCTION OPTA-FLO

Drillwater (bbl/bbl)

Base fluid

0.92

KCl (lb/bbl)

Water activity and cation exchange

22.0

Performance can be enhanced with the addition of RE-VERT,

a surfactant to aid in preventing emulsion formation.

Caustic Soda / Potash

Alkalinity control

to pH 8.5 - 9.0

The use of an enzyme, OPTA-ZYME S, has proven highly

beneficial, in post-drilling treatment to aid in filtercake removal
and deliver enhanced production rates.

OPTA-VIS (lb/bbl)

Viscosifier

1.0 - 2.0

OPTA-STAR PLUS (lb/bbl)

Fluid loss control

3.0 - 5.0

OPTA-CARB (lb/bbl)

Bridging agent

30.0 - 50.0

Glutaraldehyde (gal/100 bbl)

Biocide

3.0 - 5.0

The OPTA-FLO system is naturally lubricious, with the filtercakes

polymer coating imparting surface lubricity thus minimising
torque and drag. This feature is especially critical in horizontal
wells. The OPTA-FLO systems non-damaging properties are
evident both in the laboratory and when initial production field
figures are compared to a reservoirs anticipated production.
EFFECTIVE BRIDGING OFF AT WELLBORE

fluid invasion is critical

The OPTA-FLO system has all the characteristics required of a

high-performance drilling fluid. The system is shear thinning
providing good hole-cleaning properties which can be adjusted,
as needed, to meet specific wellbore requirements. OPTA-FLO
formulations can be effectively designed in both low-density and
high-density brines to achieve desired rheological properties.

50

150

Pore
Throat

Rock
Filtercake
Interface

Formation
Matrix

PROPERTIES
Density (Ib/gal)

9.4

Plastic Viscosity (cP)

12 - 18

Yield Point (lb/100 ft )

12 - 20

6 RPM Reading

> 10

Brookfield Viscosity (cP)

> 40,000

API Fluid Loss (cc/30 mins)

< 4.0

External
Filtercake

WATER-BASED SYSTEMS

RHEO-PLEX

is a mixed metal oxide system that delivers a highly

thixotropic (shear thinning) water-based fluid in an
environmentally and cost-effective package.

Annotation of the flow profile

of RHEO-PLEX in the wellbore.
Stationary, gelled layer of mud.

FEATURES AND BENEFITS

Zero shear-stress at wall

Minimal dynamic fluid loss
Protects poorly consolidated or fractured formations
Helps prevent seepage losses
No erosion of wellbore

Exceptional hole cleaning.

Low torque and drag.
Low ECDs.
Excellent solids removal efficiency.
Proactive lost circulation remedy whilst drilling.
Excellent HSE profile.
Cost effective.

This unique rheological profile also exhibits extremely high and

flat gels. These gels are very fragile, easily broken on start up of
circulation, but are sufficient to suspend cuttings under static
conditions. The system provides unsurpassed hole cleaning,
even at very low circulating rates.
The figure on the right shows the results of a test using a
capillary viscometer to measure the pressure drop along a pipe
at constant flow rate. The RHEO-PLEX system gave a lower
pressure drop than the gel fluid, despite having a higher
yield point. These correlates with reduced pump pressures seen
in the field.
Evidence for this flow profile comes from observations made
on surface flowlines and from the occurrence of negative
lag times (cuttings appear to reach the surface faster than
they should).

The ability of RHEO-PLEX to proactively control severe losses

in fractured and vugular formations has been demonstrated
time and again. RHEO-PLEX is capable of achieving this as its
unique thixotropic rheology profile results in the fluid forming
a gel in the fractures due to the low shear regime present.

70

8.75 psi

60

YP = 65

40

20

Soda Ash

Alkalinity control

to < 400 mg/l hardness

DRILL GEL UA (lb/bbl)

Viscosifier

8.0 12.0

RHEO-PLEX (lb/bbl)

Complexing agent

0.8 1.2

HYDRO-STAR CMS (lb/bbl)

Fluid loss control

3.0 5.0

Caustic Soda

pH control

to pH 10.5

DRILL-BAR (lb/bbl)

Weighting agent

192

35 40

10

6 RPM Reading

20 30

Gels (lb/100 ft2)

20 / 30

API Fluid Loss (cc/30 min)

<8

3
2
1

10
0

0.85

Yield Point (lb/100 ft2)

4
3.5 psi

Base fluid

15 20

30

Drillwater (bbl/bbl)

Plastic Viscosity (cP)

7
6

YP = 45

RHEO-PLEX

12

50

FUNCTION

Density (lb/gal)

PRESSURE DROP ALONG PIPE FOR A CONVENTIONAL GEL

FLUID VS. RHEO-PLEX
80

PRODUCT

PROPERTIES

Pressure (psi)

Milling operations
Drilling fractured and vugular lost-circulation zones
Stabilising unconsolidated formations
Coiled tubing drilling
High-angle and horizontal wells

RHEO-PLEX is a third generation of Mixed-Metal Oxide (MMO)

products engineered to provide the cost-effective performance
of the mixed-metal hydroxides used in past years. Unlike its
predecessors, however, the RHEO-PLEX system delivers an
enhanced rheological profile and stability in a package that is
easy to design, mix and maintain.

Yield point (lbm/100 ft2)

The system exhibits a unique rheological profile that makes

it ideal for a wide variety of applicatons, such as:

TYPICAL FORMULATION AND PROPERTIES OF A RHEO-PLEX SYSTEM

GEL MUD

RHEO-PLEX
SYSTEM

WATER-BASED SYSTEMS

DRILLING FLUIDS
NON-AQUEOUS
SYSTEMS

Our non-aqueous drilling fluid systems

are designed for demanding applications,
including those requiring a high degree
of inhibition and thermal stability. Our
range has solutions specially designed
for technically challenging, yet costconscious applications to deliver optimum
performance in conventional and
unconventional drilling applications.

CONFI-DRILL

Invert Emulsion Drilling Fluids systems have long

been the preferred system of many operators for
providing excellent borehole stability under
extreme drilling conditions.
FEATURES AND BENEFITS

Increased rate of penetration, reducing overall well cost.

Provides excellent wellbore stability while drilling through reactive shales.
Maximise lubricity for drilling high-angle, extended reach and horizontal

TYPICAL BASE FLUID PROPERTIES

BASE FLUID

DENSITY (SG)

KV @ 40 C CST

FLASH POINT C

POUR POINT C

LTMO

0.80

+/- 2.0

> 85

< -10

LP

0.78

+/- 2.5

> 110

4 -10

LAO

0.78

+/- 2.5

> 110

< -10

IO

0.79

+/- 3.6

> 125

< -10

CORE CONFI-DRILL SYSTEM COMPONENTS

PRODUCT

FUNCTION

GENERIC CHEMISTRY

CONFI-GEL

Viscosifier

Organophilic bentonite

Prevents formation related problems such as bit balling, heaving gumbo

CONFI-GEL HT

Viscosifier

Organophilic hectorite

The ability to choose low base fluid to water ratios to reduce formulation

CONFI-MUL P

Primary emulsifier

Primary emulsifier

CONFI-MUL S

Secondary emulsifier

Secondary emulsifier

CONFI-TROL

Fluid loss controller

Gilsonite

CONFI-SEAL

Fluid loss controller

Organophilic lignite

CONFI-MOD

Low end rheology modifier

Dimer / Trimer acid

CONFI-COAT

Wetting agent

Surfactant

DRILL-BAR

Weighting agent

Barite

wells.

Provides low fluid loss as well as the best available filtercake to reduce
the potential for differential sticking.

and blinding of shale shaker screens.

cost and environmental impact.

Excellent temperature and contamination stability.

Flexible choice of base fluid allows compliance with Environmental
Regulations worldwide.

Superior return permeability results, ensuring minimal formation damage.

Provides excellent hole cleaning characteristics.
Wide range of drilling fluid properties and densities to suit various
drilling requirements.

Generates less waste than water-based fluid systems.

TYPICAL FORMULATIONS AND PROPERTIES OF A CONFI-DRILL SYSTEM WITH A LINEAR PARAFFIN

PRODUCT

The CONFI-DRILL invert emulsion system consists of three

phases: non-aqueous, brine and solids phase. The most
important parts of the system, however, are the emulsifying
chemicals designed to create and maintain the invert emulsion.
The system can be formulated using various base fluids,
including Low Toxicity Mineral Oil (LTMO), Linear Paraffin (LP),
Linear Alpha Olefin (LAO) and Internal Olefin (IO).

This system has excellent rheological and filtration

characteristics which are easily modified to meet changing
temperature and pressure conditions.
TYPICAL WELL COST COMPARISON USING CONFI-DRILL VS.
INHIBITIVE WBM
$

CONFI-DRILL is an invert emulsion system, the composition of

which can be tailored to meet environmental regulations and
performance criteria.
CONFI-DRILL is a very stable invert emulsion synthetic drilling
fluid, selected because of its great flexibility in meeting
changing drilling conditions.

10.5
MILLION

PROPERTIES DYNAMIC AGING

16 HOURS @ 250 F

Linear Paraffin (bbl/bbl) 0.60

Density (lb/gal) 10

Drillwater (lb/bbl) 0.21

PV (cP) 30

Calcium Chloride (lb/bbl) 24

YP (lb/100 ft ) 19

CONFI-MUL P (lb/bbl)

57

6 RPM 11

CONFI-MUL S (lb/bbl)

35

ES (Volts) 978

CONFI-GEL (lb/bbl)

8 10

OWR 75:25

CONFI-TROL (lb/bbl)

68

Excess Lime (lb/bbl) 2

Lime (lb/bbl)

68

HTHP (500 psi, 250 F)

< 4.0

DRILL-BAR (lb/bbl) 116

5
MILLION

CONFI-DRILL

CONFI-DRILL

WBM
NON-AQUEOUS SYSTEMS

CORE CONFI-DENSE SYSTEM COMPONENTS

CONFI-DENSE

PRODUCT

FUNCTION

GENERIC CHEMISTRY

CONFI GEL HT

Organophilic hectorite

Viscosifier

CONFI GEL XHT

Organophilic attapulgite

Viscosifier

CONFI MUL HT

Primary emulsifier

HT emulsifier

CONFI TROL F

Proprietary blend

HT fluid loss controller

CONFI TROL HT

HT softening point gilsonite

HT fluid loss controller

CONFI TROL XHT

Synthetic polymer

HT fluid loss controller

CONFI SEAL

Organophilic lignite

Fluid loss controller

CONFI RM

Dimer / Trimer acid

Low end rheology modifier

DRILL BAR

Barite

Weighting agent

DRILL BAR XP

4.4 SG Barite

Weighting agent

CONFI MUL XHT

Primary emulsifier

XHT emulsifier

Highly inhibitive.
Stable to temperatures above 400 F (204 C).
Exhibits minimal density differentiation (syneresis) under dynamic and

CONFI TEC HT

Secondary emulsifier

HT emulsifier

CONFI TEC XHT

Secondary emulsifier

XHT emulsifier

CONFI MOD HT

Polymeric viscosifier HT viscosifier and low end rheology modifier

CONFI RM HT

Polymeric viscosifier HT viscosifier and low end rheology modifier

Can be weighted to densities above 18.5 lb/gal using barite or

CONFI MOD XHT

Polymeric viscosifier XHT viscosifier and low end rheology modifier

CONFI RM XHT

Polymeric viscosifier XHT viscosifier and low end rheology modifier

Superior HT filtration control.

Thin filtercake to reduce differential sticking tendency.

CONFI TROL FHT

Organophilic lignite

HT fluid loss controller

CONFI TROL L

Proprietary blend

HT fluid loss controller

CONFI TROL EHT

Proprietary blend

XHT fluid loss controller

is designed to provide emulsion and rheology

stability beyond the temperature limits of standard
CONFI-DRILL emulsion systems.
FEATURES AND BENEFITS

static conditions (barite sag).

alternative weight materials such as ilmenite, haematite or micromax.

TYPICAL FORMULATION AND PROPERTIES OF

A CONFI-DENSE SYSTEM
Increasing demand for drilling deviated HTHP wells has
resulted in the development of an HTHP non-aqueous drilling
fluid with unique suspension properties to avoid commonly
observed density differentiations under extreme conditions.
The CONFI-DENSE system is stable to temperatures above
400 F and exhibits minimal density differentiation under
dynamic and static conditions. The system can be weighted
to densities above 18.5 lb/gal (SG 2.20) using API barite, or
alternative weight materials including HyPR-BAR (fine grind
barite), NANO-BAR a proprietary, non sag, alternative weight
material with a minimum SG of 4.35, Haematite or Micromax.

The potential for barite sag can be a major concern issue

with non-aqueous fluids particularly in directional wells with
inclinations > 30 and mud weights > 12.0 lb/gal, a potential
which, if not addressed, can lead to critical well control issues
especially in HTHP wells. This potential is exacerbated at the
highest inclinations, 60 75 in long tangent ERD wells and
where thinning of the fluid occurs due to high temperatures
and pressures.

PRODUCT

PARTICLE SIZE AND SHAPE COMPARISON OF MICROMAX

VS. API BARITE

Iso-Paraffin (bbl/bbl) 0.48

Drillwater (bbl/bbl) 0.05
Calcium Chloride (lb/bbl) 7
CONFI-MUL HT (lb/bbl)

46

CONFI-TROL F (lb/bbl)

56

CONFI-GEL HT (lb/bbl)

24

CONFI-TROL HT (lb/bbl)

48

Lime (lb/bbl) 10
Calcium Carbonate (lb/bbl) 20

CONFI-DENSE is typically maintained with an O/W

range of 85/15 - 90/10 and is specifically designed for
use with commonly available synthetic base fluids.
Static barite sag tests with CONFI-DENSE show excellent
results that fall well within the sag factor criteria specified
by major oil companies. CONFI-DENSE also exhibits very
low amounts of supernatant oil (syneresis) in samples aged
both static and dynamically. Field tests demonstrate that the
laboratory formulation properties further improve during
drilling conditions as drill solids are incorporated into the
system combined with the shear from the drilling operation.

CONFI-DENSE

Rev Dust (lb/bbl) 30

DRILL-BAR (lb/bbl) 493
PROPERTIES DYNAMIC AGING
16 HOURS @ 350 F
Density (lb/gal) 17.5

A simple sag factor measurement has been developed to

conveniently express the degree of settling, with CONFIDENSE results being well within the acceptable range of
0.50 0.53.
Calculated as follows:
Sag factor =

p bot
(p bot + p top)

Where:
p top = Maximum density (top), g/cc
p bot = Maximum density (bottom), g/cc
Recent developments include the use of alternative different
particle size weighting materials such as fine grind barite,
HyPR-BAR, NANO-BAR, an alternative 4.35 SG weight material,
fine grind Haematite and Micromax, shown on previous page,
to deliver reduced sag potential and ECD values.
CONFI-DENSE is field proven in areas including Malaysia and
Thailand giving our customers exceptional HTHP drilling
performance.

PV (cP) 49
Micromax

Barite
20 microns

YP (lb/100 ft2) 18
6 RPM 8
ES (Volts) 1655
OWR 90:10
Excess Lime (lb/bbl) 4
HTHP (500 psi, 350 F)

< 2.0
NON-AQUEOUS SYSTEMS

CORE CONFI-DEEP SYSTEM COMPONENTS

PRESMOD is capable of providing a full

suite of hydraulics simulations including:

FEATURES AND BENEFITS

Highly inhibitive.
Flat rheological behaviour to provide efficient hole cleaning under the

in temperature, pressure and wellbore ballooning.

PRESMOD can be utilised both in the office for planning

and monitoring and on the rig for real time application
and decision making.

AFTER HOT ROLL @ 200 F for 16 hours

40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0

temperature and pressures experienced in deep water applications.

Contributes to reduced losses as inefficient ECD peaks due to poor hole

cleaning are eliminated.

40 F
70 F
TEMP (DEG F)

120 F 150 F

CONFI-DEEP + 25 ppb rev dust + 5 lb/bbc cemet

CONFI-DEEP = 40 ppb rev dust + 20% (v/v) seawater

alternative liquid viscosifiers from our product portfolio.

RHEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES CHARACTERISTICS

With our extensive involvement in deepwater drilling
operations, to 1500m water depth, Scomi Oiltools is able to
formulate customised deepwater drilling fluid systems to
meet customer-specific well requirements.
Scomi Oiltools uses a state-of-the-art temperature and
pressure simulator, PRESMOD, for deepwater and HTHP
hydraulics prediction.

yp (lb/100 ft2) / 6 rpm reading

AFTER HOT ROLL @ 200 F for 16 hours

Conventional invert drilling fluids address cold water issues

by lowering the viscosity at surface temperature in order to
achieve a decreased overall rheological profile to counter
the increased rheological profile under cold temperature
conditions, i.e. at the seafloor. This approach will give lower
ECD when encountering cold temperatures, however as a
consequence, what often results is poor hole cleaning, barite
sag and other downhole drilling problems related to a greatly
reduced low rheological profile under bottom hole static and
circulating temperatures. Conversely, adjusting the rheology
upwards to compensate for higher BHT will lead to high ECD
and excessive gel strengths producing pressure spikes that can
break down the formation and promote lost circulation.

40

Primary emulsifier

cDEEP-MOD

Flat rheology modifier

cDEEP-RM

Secondary viscosifier

cDEEP-TROL Fluid loss control additive

cDEEP-THIN Thinner for flat rheology
system
CONFI-MUL SA Rheology modifier for
newly mixed fluids in LMP

TYPICAL FORMULATION AND PROPERTIES OF A

CONFI-DEEP SYSTEM
FUNCTION

BASE FLUID (bbl/bbl) 0.61

CONFI-MUL SA (lb/bbl)

13

cDEEP-MUL (lb/bbl)

7 11

cDEEP-RM (lb/bbl)

0.5 2

cDEEP-TROL (lb/bbl)

25

cDEEP-MOD (lb/bbl)

14

Lime (lb/bbl) 8.0

Calcium Chloride (lb/bbl) 27.0

DRILL-BAR (lb/bbl) 153.0
PROPERTIES DYNAMIC AGING
16 HOURS @ 350 F
Density (lb/gal) 10.5

35

PV (cP) 22

30
25

YP (lb/100 ft2) 25

20

6 RPM 18

15
10

ES (Volts) 1055

5
0

cDEEP-MUL

Fresh Water (bbl/bbl) 0.2

CONFI-DEEP + 40 ppb rev dust

Reduced clay content allows optimised viscosity profiles with

FUNCTION

PRODUCT NAME

CONFI-DEEP SYSTEM STABILITY

yp (lb/100 ft2)

CONFI-DEEP

is an engineered synthetic-based fluid which,

unlike the conventional invert emulsion drilling
fluid systems, has a stable flat rheology for
deepwater drilling environments. The system,
which utilises low pour point base fluids, represents
a new generation in non-aqueous drilling fluids
technology by providing rheology properties, yield
point, low shear rates and gel strengths, that are
consistent over a wide range of temperatures.

Static and dynamic temperature profiles.

Dynamic down hole rheological profiling.
ECD, ESD projections over time and temperature.
Prediction of pit volume changes with time due to changes

PRODUCT NAME

40 F

70 F

120 F 150 F

TEMP (DEG F)

OWR 75:25
Excess Lime (lb/bbl) 3

#01-SBM YP

CONFI-DEEP YP

#01-SBM 6 RPM

CONFI-DEEP 6 RPM

HTHP (500 psi, 225 F)

< 2.0

Drilling fluids formulated with the CONFI-DEEP technology are

designed to minimise the downhole losses normally associated
with deepwater drilling. CONFI-DEEP achieves this with the use
of an enhanced rheological modifier thus minimising the use of
organophilic clay in the formulation. The result is a fluid system
which has exceptional low end rheological characteristics over
a wide temperature range, thereby promoting hole cleaning,
whilst minimising ECD, surge and swab pressures.
NON-AQUEOUS SYSTEMS

CORE OPTA-VERT SYSTEM COMPONENTS

OPTA-VERT

drill-in fluids are custom designed to provide

minimal reservoir damage over a wide range of
porosities and permeabilities, whilst at the same
time providing an easily removable filtercake on
drawdown.
FEATURES AND BENEFITS

Non-damaging low skin values, high return permeability.

Negligible lift-off pressures required for rapid cleanup.
Ultra-low-permeability filtercake low leak off and stuck pipe mitigation.
Highly inhibitive.
Low friction factors.
Reduced remediation costs.

PRODUCT

FUNCTION

GENERIC CHEMISTRY

CONFI-MUL P

Primary emulsifier

Primary emulsifier

CONFI-MUL S

Secondary emulsifier

Secondary emulsifier

CONFI-GEL / CONFI-GEL HT

Viscosifier

Organophilic bentonite

CONFI-MOD

Low end rheology modifier

Dimer / Trimer acid

OPTA-CARB

Custom sized bridging agent

Calcium carbonate

OPTA-MUL

2 in 1 emulsifier for low mud weighting

Primary and secondary emulsifier

TYPICAL FORMULATION AND PROPERTIES OF AN OPTA-VERT SYSTEM

PRODUCT BASE

OPTA-VERT

PROPERTIES DYNAMIC AGING 16

HOURS @ 275 F

FLUID 0.65

Density (lb/gal) 9.1

Drillwater (bbl/bbl) 0.12

PV (cP) 26

Calcium Chloride (lb/bbl) 15

YP (lb/100 ft2) 21

CONFI-MUL P (lb/bbl)

68

6 RPM 13

CONFI-MUL S (lb/bbl)

34

ES (Volts) 1040

CONFI-GEL (lb/bbl)

46

OWR 85:15

CONFI-GEL HT (lb/bbl)

24

Excess Lime (lb/bbl) 4

CONFI-TROL HT (lb/bbl)

68

HTHP (500 psi, 275 F)

<4

Lime (lb/bbl) 10
The system is custom designed for each individual reservoir
and uses a range of high-quality components and design
tools to facilitate the design process. One such tool is the
HyPR-SIZER software programme that allows the fluids
engineer to optimise the concentration and particle size
distribution of the bridging agent to ensure solids are
deposited across the pore throats with minimum invasion,
while sealing off the reservoir with a thin, compact and
resilient filtercake.
OPTA-VERT is recommended for reservoir drill-in and
coring applications with a raised potential for problems,
e.g. emulsion blocking, associated with water-based drill-in
fluids. Problems minimised by OPTA-VERT include:

Wellbore instability caused by hydratable shales above

The result a system that provides strong benefits as a

high-performance, non-damaging drill-in fluid that optimises
production rates across a wide range of completion methods:

Open-hole gravel-pack or non-gravel-pack completions

Expandable slotted screen completions
Slotted or perforated liner completions
Cased-hole completions where hole cleaning
or minimising fluid invasion is critical

The OPTA-VERT system delivers all of the characteristics

required of a drilling fluid being highly inhibitive and ideally
suited to drilling interbedded reservoirs with shale.
The OPTA-VERT system is naturally lubricious making it an
ideal choice for horizontal wells.

Fluid instability related to high bottom hole

The OPTA-VERT systems non-damaging properties are evident

both in the laboratory and in the field when initial production
figures are compared to the reservoirs anticipated production.

Excessive torque and drag related to high-angle and

EMULSION BLOCKING IN A RESERVOIR

or interbedded with reservoir sands

temperatures

extended reach drilling

OPTA-CARB (Ib/bbl)

10 55 (As required)

RETURN PERMEABILITY FOR THREE OPTA-VERT FORMULATIONS AGAINST +/- 1000 md CLASHACH SANDSTONE
OPERATIONAL
PORE VOLUME
SEQUENCE
(cc)

FILTRATE LOSS
BASE OIL
ON APPLYING
PERM (md)
THE DRILLING
MUD (ml)

OIL PERMEABILITY
AFTER DRAWDOWN
AT 800 PSI (md)
(% CHANGE ON BASE PERM)

11.2 lb/gal
11.657
OPTA-VERT
(Sample A) drilling mud
followed by drawdown
to dead crude oil

5.117
935
(0.439 PV)

813
(-13.0%)

11.2 lb/gal
9.792
OPTA-VERT
(Sample B) drilling mud
followed by drawdown
to dead crude oil

4.432
984
(0.453 PV)

935
(-4.98%)

11.2 lb/gal
11.568
OPTA-VERT
(Sample C) drilling mud
followed by drawdown
to dead crude oil

3.923
947
(0.339 PV)

900
(-4.96%)

NON-AQUEOUS SYSTEMS

EXTRA-VERT

is a synthetic invert emulsion drilling fluid based on

non-toxic, biodegradable ester chemistry.
FEATURES AND BENEFITS

Excellent wellbore stability and cuttings integrity.

Low environmental impact suitable for discharge in most
offshore waters.

Formulated with high-quality products specifically selected for

COMPARATIVE LUBRICITY COEFFICIENTS FOR VARIOUS

TYPES OF DRILLING FLUID SYSTEMS

TYPICAL FORMULATION AND PROPERTIES OF AN

EXTRA-VERT SYSTEM

The system is intrinsically lubricious.

Non-damaging to sensitive reservoirs.
Increased protection against stuck pipe.

DRILLING FLUID SYSTEM

LUBRICITY
COEFFICIENT

PRODUCT

an ester-base fluid.

Promotes high rates of penetration and reduced drilling days.

This base fluid is produced specifically for synthetic drilling

fluid applications as an environmentally safe alternative to
both traditional and synthetic oil-based drilling fluid systems.
EXTRA-VERT is formulated with emulsifiers, rheology
modifiers and surfactants which exhibit low toxicity and high
biodegradability. The EXTRA-VERT system is temperature
stable to > 160 C (320 F) and can be formulated to densities
greater than 1.92 sg (16.0 lb/gal).
The EXTRA-VERT system conforms to current legislation
in the majority of worldwide locations including the Gulf
of Mexico (EPA).
EXTRA-VERT is a viable alternative where traditional invert
emulsion systems are precluded from use by environmental
regulations and operators must consider the expense of
alternative waste disposal technologies such as cutting
re-injection and ship to shore.

EXTRA-VERT is inherently lubricious due to the ester-base fluid

and provides extremely low torque and drag in deviated and
extended reach wells.
EXTRA-VERT is readily formulated with non-chloride salts
for use in land operations.

HYDRO-FOIL GEN 1
Field Mud 0.27
HYDRO-FOIL GEN 1 &
LUBRI-GREEN 0.18

EXTRA-VERT

Ester OMC 586 (bbl/bbl) 0.53

Drillwater (bbl/bbl) 0.26
Sodium Formate (lb/bbl) 25
CONFI-MUL P (lb/bbl)

13

CONFI-DRILL (IO) 0.19

CONFI-MUL S (lb/bbl)

35

CONFI-DRILL (LMO) 0.21

CONFI-GEL (lb/bbl)

46

EXTRA-VERT 0.15

CONFI-TROL (lb/bbl)

46

Lime (lb/bbl) 1
DRILL-BAR (lb/bbl) 82
PROPERTIES DYNAMIC AGING
16 HOURS @ 225 F
Density (lb/gal) 9.5
PV (cP) 27
YP (lb/100 ft ) 15
6 RPM 7
ES (Volts) 500
OWR 70:30
Excess Lime (lb/bbl) 2
HTHP (500 psi, 225 F)

< 4.0

NON-AQUEOUS SYSTEMS

DRILLING FLUIDS
ENGINEERING SUPPORT
SOFTWARE

Our range of drilling fluids engineering

support software are designed to help
the upstream oil and gas industry convert
information into useful knowledge
for improved decision-making while
minimising risks. With the combination of
our proprietary software HyPR-FORM and
HyPR-CALC as well as licensed software
including Drillbench Presmod, KMC Crystal
Maze, HyDRA-FLASH and HyPR-SIZER, we
are well-equipped to deliver the necessary
tools you need to plan, execute and analyse
a variety of well types.

HyPR-FORM

is a superior software application that brings a

dramatic new level of rig site technical excellence to
our customers worldwide through comprehensive
data management and reporting. It is a fluids
reporting software designed to assist drilling fluid
engineers in setting up a well, recording mud data,
tracking inventory and creating daily and
end-of-well reports.
FEATURES AND BENEFITS

Concise, high-quality reports.

Extensive product database creation.
Planned and actual data comparison.
End of well analysis and graphics.
Well data transfer capabilities.

Standardised data gathering and reports.

A technology innovation by the Scomi Oiltools Software Design Team, HyPRFORM has powerful reporting and graphing capabilities. It allows users to create
various reports based on daily, interval, whole well or even time-based reports.

HyPR-FORM is used to capture and filter technical data

easily. It is very user-friendly, easy to use and contains all the
engineering calculations normally used while drilling wells.
It allows users to input well data efficiently and effectively
through visual daily mud report presentation.

Product
Concentration

Well Details

HyPR-FORM also paves the way towards the creation of a

central data repository system. This will help us identify and
implement best practices and allow us to make timely and
powerful decisions, to continue to help our customers to the
next level.

Well
Classification

Rig Setup

Set Mud
Property Target

Pit Setup

Fluid Properties

Solid Control Setup

Inventory & Volume

Management

Reports available include:

Cost Summary and Detail Reports list of products, quantity and cost.
Fluid Property Report fluid property targets and test results such as density,
temperature, viscosity, PV, YP, etc.

HSE Report HSE KPIs, activities and observation cards.

Hydraulics Report depth and fluid details, pressure losses, bit and hole

Pumps & Bits Calculation

Mud Losses
Hole Geometry

Inventory & Cost

Summary

Receive & Backload

Products

hydralics, hole cleanning and ECD.

Oil on Cutting Report mud density, sample cuttings test results such as
weight, volume etc.

Product Concentration Report list of product and their concentration.

P roduct Reconciliation Report initial, received, returned, used, balance and
total product details.

Volume Report volume of products used, losses encountered, received,

returned, etc.

Well KPI cost performance, fluid targets, HSE and other KPIs.
ENGINEERING SUPPORT SOFTWARE

HyPR-CALC

is a comprehensive drilling hydraulics programme

to assist the user in all aspects of the circulation
system including pressure management and
wellbore stability. It incorporates fluid displacement
simulation, surge and swab calculations, mud
rheology modeling, ECD and HTHP rheological
properties and density.

HYPR-CALC GRAPH AND TABULAR REPORTS

Circulation Hydraulic

Hydrostatic Pressure

Frictional Pressure Loss

FEATURES AND BENEFITS

Fluid displacement simulation.

HTHP mud rheological properties and density.
Constant or sin cycle drillstring eccentricity.
Pressure, velocity, flow type, and cutting accumulation prediction.
Surface pressure loss calculation.
Surge / Swab calculation.
Tracking in-situ properties of circulating fluid.
Survey data or well trajectory planning.
3D well trajectory plot.
Formation temperature and pressure by gradient or measured points.

3D Wellbore View

Surge / Swab

Sensitivity Analysis

HyPR-CALC takes into account all the considerations below in

its design calculations:

Corrected bottom hole pressure prediction

Downhole rheology and density corrected for temperature
and pressure

Pressure surge due to drillstring movement

Tool joints effects
Drillstring rotation and eccentricity especially in deviated /

HyPR-CALC, a technology innovation by the Scomi Oiltools

Software Design Team, has been used for over 5 years in all
parts of the world including Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin
America.

Q Design

Under Reaming

Fluid Displacement

HyPR-CALC incorporates state-of-the-art visualisation

technology that goes beyond mere presentation. The various
2D / 3D graphs and tabular reports allow users to efficiently
and accurately perform design calculations through visual
and animated schematics.

horizontal section

Dynamic fluid temperature profiling

Fluid displacements
Hydraulics calculation options using Herschel-Buckley,
Bingham Plastic, Newtonian & Power Law model

ENGINEERING SUPPORT SOFTWARE

GRTC

GLOBAL RESEARCH
& TECHNOLOGY
CENTRE

is the Global Research & Technology Centre for

Scomi Oiltools. Established in Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia, the centre is ISO 9001 certified, and
provides state-of-the-art facilities for R&D, training
and QAQC, as well as operational technical
support for our global operations. Our cell R&D
centres are also in Houston, USA for drilling waste
management.
Our activities and services include:

Research & Development

Training
QAQC
Technical Support Services
Powered by innovation

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

The flow of technology and information among people,

enterprises and institutions is key to an innovative process,
and lends to the interaction which turns ideas into a process,
product or service. As an advocate of such holistic solutions,
Scomi Oiltools harnesses the power of innovation to generate
value for our clients.

To meet customer-focused research challenges in drilling

fluids and drilling waste management, the team at GRTC
integrates business-driven projects with value-added technical
consultancy and laboratory services.

At GRTC, we have extensive facilities for research and

development, technical services, quality assurance quality
control and industrial training. Our laboratories also provide
technical support, including troubleshooting services, and
training for our global operations.
At GRTC we train our engineers in basic, advanced and
intensive courses in drilling fluids. A curriculum for drilling
waste management is included to further prepare our
engineers to approach the entire drilling process in a more
holistic manner. GRTC is also open to our key customers where
training may be customised for their technical personnel.

The magnitude and complexity of oil and gas exploration and

development require us to work closely with our co-researchers
to ensure that we meet the exacting industry requirements
for high-performance water-based fluids, flat rheology nonaqueous fluids for deepwater drilling and non-damaging
reservoir drilling fluids. Furthermore, our collaborative projects
with customers and universities extend our ability to resolve
a regionally limited problem or develop broad strategic
capabilities.

GLOBAL RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY CENTRE

TECHNICAL SERVICES

TRAINING CENTRE

Our advisory personnel provide technical assistance and

specific expertise in the application of drilling fluids technology
for wellbore construction and productivity optimisation on
location. These include:

Our employees are essential to the companys future growth

and success. Naturally, we are fully committed to developing
capable, confident and competent employees, with an
emphasis placed on the continuous upgrade and development
of skills and competencies.

Development of new fluids technologies.

Design, modification and adaptation of fluid systems.
Problem-solving and troubleshooting.
Recommendations of products and solutions.
Transfers of technology.
Collection and management of performance data.
Guidance on technical product line training.
Communication with the drilling industry, institutions,
and professional bodies.

We also hone and develop the skills of our clients personnel

worldwide. To date, we have trained over 400 chemists,
technologists and engineers from over 20 countries as drilling
fluid technologists. In addition, we have conducted advanced
seminars, software training and drilling fluids operations
management training for hundreds of personnel.
Apart from our customised courses, we also have computer
training facilities and a dedicated training laboratory with all
the equipment a drilling fluid technologist may encounter
offshore or onshore. Trainees are also introduced to advanced
analytical and software tools as well as specialised equipment
for specialty jobs.

QAQC
To maintain the quality and performance at GRTC, we employ
a team of QAQC professionals who use state-of-the-art
equipment to regularly perform random checks and productspecific testing to ensure that our products comply with
industry-certified standards. The team also manages our ISO
certification.

GLOBAL RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY CENTRE

WATER-BASED SYSTEMS

www.scomioiltools.com.my
Asia
Middle East
Americas
West Africa

T
T
T
T

+603 7717 3000

+9714 8838 236
+1281 260 6016
+234 803 402 8010

F
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F
F

+603 7728 5202

+9714 8838 920
+1281 260 6969
+1832 550 2582

Terms & conditions apply. Please refer to www.scomigroup.com.my/t&c for further information.
Copyright 2013 Scomi Oilfield Limited (Bermuda). All Rights Reserved.
BRCDF-Rev0613

E kl.sales@my.scomioiltools.com
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