Contaminations

Drilling Fluid
Contaminants
Contamination and Treatment
1. Introduction
A contaminant is defined as any undesirable

component that causes a detrimental effect
when incorporated in a drilling fluid.
Any substance that is both undesirable and

detrimental may be classified as a contaminant.
The major source of the contamination is the

exposed formation; i.e. drilled solids, gas or
water.
The secondary source of contamination is

material added on the surface, cement slurries
and spacer, accidental additions of water or
base oil, and overtreatment with fluid products.
2. Indications
The primary indication of contamination is a

general instability of the drilling Fluid properties.
This instability may manifest itself as a difficulty

in controlling:
 Fluid loss
 Alkalinity
 Rheology
 MBT
Contamination can be both specific and general.
Contaminants can have a "masking“ effect on

each other.
3. Contaminants encountered while drilling
The drilling fluid becomes contaminated With
drilled solids as drilling commences.
Not all solids affect the drilling fluids system to

the same degree or in the same way.
Solids derived from shales represent the highest

potential for causing problems.
3.1. Drilled solids
 Active solids - clay fraction of shales
 Inactive solids - Sands, limestone, etc..
 Evaporite Salts:
 Sodium Chloride, NaCl
Potassium Chloride, KCl
Calcium Chloride, CaCl2
Magnesium Chloride, MgCl2
 Anhydrites, CaSO4
3.2. Water flows
Mixed Salt at various concentrations
3.3. Acid Gases
Carbon dioxide, CO2

Hydrogen sulfide, H2S
3.4. Hydrocarbons
Light or heavy oils

Coal
3.5. Thermal degradation of mud products

4. Contaminants Introduced at the Surface

(Accidental and intentional):
Cement, Ca (OH)2
Seawater (Mixed salts)
Completion or work over fluids
Spotting fluid (generally a type of oil)
Carbonate de Sodium, Na2 CO3
Bicarbonate de Sodium, NaHCO3
Bacteria
5. Cementing Job Contaminant
Cement contamination of a drilling fluid can

occur during primary or squeeze cementing
operations.
It can also be caused by a failure in the

cementing equipment, or as the result of a poor
cement job that has to be drilled out.
Wet or green cement will have a greater

contaminating affect than hard or set cement.
The only situation under which cement is

not a contaminant is when clear water, brines,
calcium base muds and oil base are used.
6. Chemically Treatable Contaminants
Chemical additions to overcome the effects of
drilled solids and to prevent the drilled solids
from becoming a problem.
Calcium, Ca++
Magnesium, Mg++
Chloride, Cl-
Soluble carbonates, CO3 --
Soluble Bicarbonates, HCO3-
Hydrogen sulfide, H2S
Carbon Dioxide, CO2
Bacteria
Contaminant
Identification
1. Solids Contamination (clay or shale)
Dispersed shales are serious contaminants to

Drilling fluids because they contain clays.
Clays are usually present in drilling fluids, whether
added intentionally to condition the mud or
incorporated into the mud as drilled solids.
Identification
 Solids increase
 MBT increase
 Alkalinity decrease
 High plastic viscosity
 High gel strengths
 Thick filter cake and Slight decrease in fluid loss
Control
Setting
Dilution (Dump and dilute method)
Mechanical Separation (Screening and applied g-
force settling)
Chemical treatment (Chemical Deflocculation).
Recommended Treatment
 Raise pH
 Disperse with thinners such as Phosphates or

lignosulfonate at elevated temperatures.
 Dilute with fresh water when the solids

content reaches a level where further
additions of dispersants will increase the
viscosity.
 Maximize use of solids control equipment
 Add dissolved lignite/polymer for filtration

control (HP-HT)
 Add barite for desired weight

2. Bicarbonate Contamination
Identification
No calcium
Low Pf
High Mf
Filtrate increase
Gel strength increase
This problem is usually caused by:
Over- treatment with NaHCO3 for cement

contamination
gradual influx of carbon dioxide gas

Mud Properties
Sample From  FL •Pit  FL •Pit
Time Sample Taken 06:00 09:50
Flowline Temperature  °F °C 135 135
Depth  Ft m 16,300 16,340
Weight  lb/gal lb/cu. Ft. Sp.G. 15.0 15.0
Funnel Viscosity  sec/qt sec/L 47 86
Plastic Viscosity (cP) 33 56
Yield Point  lb/100 ft2 Pa 13 37
Gel Strength (10 sec/10 min)  lb/100 ft2 Pa 3/10 21/49
Filtrate API (cm3/30 min) 8 16.8
API HPHT Filtrate (cm3/30 min.) @ 250 °F 17.5 28
Cake Thickness  32nd in. mm 4 4
Solids Content (% by vol) 22 26
Liquid Content (% by vol) 0/78 0/74
Sand Content (% by vol) Tr Tr
MBT  lb/bbl equiv cm3/cm3 mud 20 20
pH  strip meter 10.5 8.8
Alkalinity Mud (Pm) cm3 N50 H2SO4/cm3 1.6 0.70
Alkalinity Filtrate (Pf/Mf ) cm3 N50 H2SO4/cm3 1.2/3.1 1.1/17.4
Chloride (mg/l) 3,400 3,600
Total Hardness as Calcium (mg/l) 200 0
 Increase pH with lime Ca(OH)2, pH 9.5 to 10.0.

May be necessary to supplement lime with
caustic soda (NaOH).
 Maintain 150 to 200 mg/l of (Ca++) in the

filtrate to buffer the problem so that it does not
reoccur.
This is usually easy to obtain with lime

treatments
 Add thinners for chemical dispersing of clays

and rheology control.
 Add water for dehydration effects.

3. Carbonate Contamination
High concentrations of total carbonates (>1000

mg/l) will have a detrimental effect on
freshwater-bentonite drilling fluids.
This problem is usually induced by :
Carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air is

incorporated into the mud through mud mixers
and solids-removal equipment discharges.
Over-treatment with soda ash or bicarbonate of

soda when treating cement or gyp contamination.
 thermal degradation of organic additives such

as lignite and lignosulfonate at temperatures
in excess of 325°F.
CO2 gas zone continues to leak gas into then

fluid.
Another minor source of carbonates is bacterial

action on organic additives.
Identification
 High yield point and progressive gel strengths

 Increasing Pf with constant PH
 Disparity between the Pf / Mf alkalinity
 High filtrate
 High Pf
 No calcium (most of the time)
 Solids (retort) are normal
 Pm alkalinity is lower than the Mf
 No change in Pv
Control
Avoid over treatment by controlling the total
hardness as calcium of the filtrate between 150
to 200 mg/l.
Do not pre-treat system with large amounts of

soda ash.
Add caustic soda (NaOH) when a CO2 gas zone

continues to leak gas into the fluid.
Lime and gyp can be added together to

achieve the proper pH, and to precipitate CaCO3
from the system.
Methods of Determining Carbonates
 Pf / Mf Method
Amount of 0.02 H2SO4 required to reduce the

pH of a drilling fluid filtrate sample from an
exsisting pH to an 8.3 pH and a 4.3 pH
 pH / Pf Method
Amount of 0.02N H2SO4 required to reduce the

pH of a drilling fluid filtrate sample from an
existing pH to an 8.3 pH
 Garrett Gas Train

Mud Properties
Depth  Ft m 10,520 10,645
Gel Strength (10 sec/10 min)  lb/100 ft2 Pa 2/ 6 14/ 35
Filtrate API (cm3/30 min) 5.0 17.4
API HPHT Filtrate (cm3/30 min.) @ 250 °F 12 40
Alkalinity Filtrate (Pf/Mf ) cm3 N50 H2SO4/cm3 1.4/2.8 15.4/30
When acid gas continues to contaminate the

fluid, the normal reaction is to add caustic
(NaOH), thus forming CO32- and HCO3- depending
on pH.
The addition of deflocculants may be required

to improve flow properties once the carbonate
ions have been neutralized.
A rule of thumb is: if the Mf is greater than 5,

and greater than 4 times the Pf, then carbonates
may be present.
A Garrett Gas Train should be used to verify the

presence of carbonates.
pH is less than 10.3, lime (Ca(OH)2) should be

used to increase the pH because it is both a
source of hydroxyl ions and a source of calcium
to precipitate the carbonates.
pH is between 10.3 and 11.3, both lime and

gyp should be used together to provide a source
of calcium without changing the pH.
pH of the mud is above 11.3 where calcium is

not very soluble, gyps (CaSO4) should be used as
a source of calcium and to reduce pH.
 Only CO3 ion can be treated with free Calcium
 At a pH of 11.7, the bicarobonate ions are

changed to carbonate ions.
Treatment with Lime
Treatment with Gypsum
If pH is dropped to below 10, the carbonates

are converted to bicarbonates. Very high
viscosity and gel strengths can be the results
Effect of bicarbonate and carbonate

concentration on YP:
4. Salt Contamination
The three naturally occurring types of rocks salt

encountered in drilling in drilling operation are:
 Halite(NaCl)
 Sylvite (KCl)
 Carnallite (K MgCl3 • 6H2O)
Two other common salts are:
 Magnesium chloride (MgCl2)
 Calcium Chloride (CaCl2).
These two salts do not occur naturally in the

crystalline form du to their extreme solubility.
Identification
 API and HT-HP filtrate loss increase
 Drop in pH
 Drop in alkalinity (Pf/Mf)
 Chloride ion increase
 Increased soluble calcium.
 Funnel viscosity increase
 Gel Strength increase
 Fluctuation in density - if a salt water flow is

encountered
 "Grainy" appearance to mud.

Control
 Saturation of the fluid may be necessary to
prevent large solution cavities or displace with
an oil or synthetic-base system to prevent
wellbore enlargement if a large salt section is
to be drilled.
Remember that as the temperature of a salt

solution increases, the solubility of the salt in
that solution increases. So a saturated system at
surface temperature is capable of holding more
salt in solution at elevated temperatures.
Mud Properties
Depth  Ft m 10,600 10,750
Chloride (mg/l) 2,100 28,600
 Treat with thinners (lignosulfonates) to reduce
viscosity, gel strength, and yield point.
 Adjust pH with caustic soda.
 Add polymers for filtrate loss.
 If the existing salt contamination level cannot
be tolerated or if continued contamination is
expected, such as drilling massive salt
sections, the fluid should converted to a
saturated salt system or use an oil-based mud.
 If the clay solids content of the fluid is too
high, water dilution may also be necessary.

5. Cement Contaminant
Identification
High Pm/Pf
High viscosity, high gel strengths
 Dramatic increase in pH
 Calcium ion increases.
Control
 Most fluids require a 9.5-10.5 pH.
 Very little hard cement will react with the
bicarbonate of soda and can lead to gelation
problems with over treatment.
 If contamination is severe, a lime system
should be considered.
 Use solids-removal equipment
Mud Properties
Depth  Ft m 11,675 11,750
 Add bicarbonate of soda (NaHCO3) to

precipitate calcium and reduce the pH.
Ca(OH)2 + NaHCO3  CaCO3  + NaOH + H2O
 Control total hardness as calcium of the

filtrate between 150 - 200 mg/l to avoid over
treatment
 SAPP is a very powerful phosphate thinner having

a pH of approximately 4.0.
It will have a threefold effect combating cement

contamination by dispersing (thinning) the mud,
lowering the pH, and sequestering (removing) the
Calcium at the same time.
 Add water for dehydration and barite to

maintain weight
 Treating with Citric Acid (H3C6H5O7) as this

precipitates cement as Calcium Citrate and reduces
pH.
When using a polymer system, polymers will be

hydrolyzed by high pH, so reduce pH and precipitate
Calcium immediately.
6. Anhydrite Contamination
Anhydrite and gypsum are both calcium sulfate
and nearly identical in chemical composition.
Gypsum (CaSO4.2H2O), with its attached water,

is more soluble than anhydrite (CaSO4).
Identification
 No change in density
 Decrease in pH
 Decrease in Pf/Mf
 No change to slight increase in Pv
 Increase in calcium ion
 High yield point and gel strengths
 Sulfate ion increase
 Small white cuttings over shale shaker.
Control
A common method of drilling anhydrite

formations is to adjust the pH to 9.5 and add
thinners.
 Solubility of CaSO4 is controlled by pH:
 Increased pH and temperature decreases the

solubility of gyps
 Increased chlorides increase the solubility of

gyps
 It is also necessary to maintain a low MBT.

 Prior to penetrating the anhydrite, the pH

should be increased to approximately 10.0-10.5
with Caustic Soda.
The higher the pH, the less soluble Calcium

becomes.
If the anhydrite contamination is severe and

the section to be drilled is quite thick, the mud
system may be allowed to “GYP” over and
dispersed to control any flocculation.
Mud Properties
Depth  Ft m 11,700 11,850
Weight  lb/gal lb/cu. Ft. Sp.G.
13.1 13.2
Funnel Viscosity  sec/qt sec/L
41 61
MBT  lb/bbl equiv cm3/cm3 mud 18.5 18.5
 May be controlled by adding soda ash Na2CO3 if the

pH is below 9.5, the bicarbonate ion converts to
carbonate then reacts with the filtrate calcium to
precipitate CaCO3
 Should the pH be above 9.5, use bicarbonate
of soda.
 The pH must be maintained in the range of
9.5 to 10.5 with caustic soda NaOH or
caustic potash KOH.
 If converting to a Calcium based system, this
pH range limits the solubility of gyp and
enhances the performance of the lignosulfonate.

After adding soda ash, a chemical dispersant,

lignosulfonates is usually added to help reduce
viscosity and gel strength.
Lignosulfonate and lignite are effective in the

presence of calcium.
Phosphates have the ability to complex filtrate

calcium.
If the contamination is not severe, usually the

treatment involves adding Soda Ash Na2CO3 to
precipitate the Calcium ion as Calcium Carbonate.
CaSO4 + Na2CO3  CaCO3  + Na2SO4
 If large amounts are encountered, the mud

system should be converted to a calcium base
system.
7. Hi Temp Contamination
Most polymeric products commonly used in

water based drilling fluids rapidly degrade at
temperatures over 300°F.
Temperature effects on invert emulsion drilling

fluids will vary depending on the base fluid
used, the stability of the emulsifiers, and the
viscosifier used.
Ester based fluids for example will

undergo thermal degradation, particularly in
the presence of lime, at temperatures
exceeding 160°C.
Identification
 Flow line temperature increase
 API and HT-HP filtration increase
 Solids increases
 pH decreases
 Alkalinity decreases
Control
 Massive treatments with lignite ties-up

calcium and gelation may occur if there is not
enough free calcium in the fluid water.
 Do not over treat with polymer deflocculants.

Much lower concentrations are required than
for lignite/lignosulfonate treatment.
Mud Properties
Depth  Ft m 12,500 12,700
API HPHT Filtrate (cm3/30 min.) @ 250 °F 10.0 30.0
Add surfactants.
Add water/caustic for dehydration.
Reduce bentonite content.

8. H2S Contaminant
Symptoms
 H2S gas in filtrate or mud
 pH decrease
 Discoloration of mud, turns dark colour due to
formation of FeS from baryte
Formation of a black FeS scale on steel drill
pipe.
 Rotten egg odor.
Control
The only permanent solution to controlling H2S
gas is to increase the mud density. That is, H2S
gas will react with the Hydroxyl ions to dissociate
into Bisulfide (HS-) or Sulfide (S-) ions, which are
not detrimental to rig personnel or metal goods.
A high pH of 10.5-11.0 should be maintained at
all times while drilling through any potential H2S
bearing zone.
Mud Properties
Depth  Ft m 8788 8999
 Raise the PH to at least 11,5 to 12 with caustic

soda.
H2S + OH- HS- + H2O
HS- + OH- S2- + H2O
Add starch or polymers to reduce fluid loss.
 Add Zinc Oxyde or Ironite Sponge.
S-- + Zn++ ZnS
Fe3O4 + 3 H2S 3 FeS + 4 H2O + 2 H+

Other
Contaminants
1. Bacteria
 Aerobic bacteria
 Anaerobic bacteria
The main problems are:
 Degradation of organic polymers (viscosifiers

and fluid loss additives), reducing viscosity and
increasing fluid loss.
 Degradation of polymers and resins under

anaerobic conditions, producing sulfides or H2S.
The result of the degradation process is:
 Reduce the pH .
 Increases in corrosion rate.
Prevention
 Maintain a relatively high pH over storage
 Use bacterial resistant polymers
 Maintenance of salinity
 Addition of bactericide.
Bacterial Contamination
identification
 H2S gas in filtrate or mud
 pH decrease
 Small decrease in calcium
Control
 Bacterial activity will be reduced by

maintaining a small amount of toxin in the fluid.
Since the bacteria use starch as a food source , it

is necessary to replace the destroyed polymers.
 Maintaining a small concentration of biocide to

inhibit future bacterial expansion.
2. Salt Water-Flow and Gaz -Kick

Contamination
There are liquid or gaseous fluids, present in the

well formation, which can be released into the
wellbore.
Theses fluids may cause adverse drilling fluids

contamination’s which require treatment and can
also be a hazard to the safety of drilling
operation.
This integrity of such formation is maintained by

having sufficient drilling fluid density.
Identification
 Increase in mud pit level.

 Increase in rate of returns from wellbore.
Treatment
 Shut pump down.

Close in the well with BOP.
 Increase the mud weight to the required
density while circulating the kick out.
 If it is a gas kick, remove the gas from the
system by the use of surface circulating
equipment and de-gassers.
 If it is a saltwater flow, dump salt-water at the
surface, then condition the fluid with
additional deflocculants and caustic soda.
Magnesium Contamination
Magnesium is encountered when seawater is used

as makeup water. It has also been encountered as
magnesium water flows.
Identification
Magnesium has similar effects as calcium on mud

properties such as increased flow properties and
fluid loss.
Treatment
Can be precipitated with caustic soda as insoluble
magnesium hydroxide Mg(OH)2.
Most of the magnesium ion will be precipitated
when pH is increased to 10.0.
Additional filtrate control agents, deflocculants
will be required to restore drilling fluid properties.
In the case of massive magnesium contamination,
it is impractical to treat it out; therefore, options
are: (1) to attempt to maintain a low pH system
with Mg++ ion present, or switch to an oil mud.

Contaminations

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Contaminations

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Drilling Fluid

A contaminant is defined as any undesirable

Any substance that is both undesirable and

The major source of the contamination is the

The secondary source of contamination is

The primary indication of contamination is a

This instability may manifest itself as a difficulty

Contamination can be both specific and general.

Contaminants can have a "masking“ effect on

3. Contaminants encountered while drilling

The drilling fluid becomes contaminated With

drilled solids as drilling commences.

Not all solids affect the drilling fluids system to

Solids derived from shales represent the highest

3.1. Drilled solids

 Active solids - clay fraction of shales

 Inactive solids - Sands, limestone, etc..

 Sodium Chloride, NaCl

Potassium Chloride, KCl

Calcium Chloride, CaCl2

Magnesium Chloride, MgCl2

3.2. Water flows

Mixed Salt at various concentrations

3.3. Acid Gases

Carbon dioxide, CO2

Light or heavy oils

3.5. Thermal degradation of mud products

4. Contaminants Introduced at the Surface

Seawater (Mixed salts)

Completion or work over fluids

Spotting fluid (generally a type of oil)

Carbonate de Sodium, Na2 CO3

Bicarbonate de Sodium, NaHCO3

5. Cementing Job Contaminant

Cement contamination of a drilling fluid can

It can also be caused by a failure in the

Wet or green cement will have a greater

The only situation under which cement is

6. Chemically Treatable Contaminants

Chemical additions to overcome the effects of

drilled solids and to prevent the drilled solids

from becoming a problem.

Soluble carbonates, CO3 --

Soluble Bicarbonates, HCO3-

Hydrogen sulfide, H2S

Carbon Dioxide, CO2

1. Solids Contamination (clay or shale)

Dispersed shales are serious contaminants to

 Disperse with thinners such as Phosphates or

 Dilute with fresh water when the solids

 Maximize use of solids control equipment

 Add dissolved lignite/polymer for filtration

 Add barite for desired weight

Gel strength increase

This problem is usually caused by:

Over- treatment with NaHCO3 for cement

gradual influx of carbon dioxide gas

 Increase pH with lime Ca(OH)2, pH 9.5 to 10.0.

 Maintain 150 to 200 mg/l of (Ca++) in the

This is usually easy to obtain with lime

 Add thinners for chemical dispersing of clays

 Add water for dehydration effects.

High concentrations of total carbonates (>1000