Sloughing Shale

Fluid systems are designed to address the following mechanisms:  

Reactive Clay Minerals

inhibits reaction with water

Fractured

plugs micro fractures

Pressurized

proper filter cake and mud density

Bacteria

In order to prevent bacterial degradation of natural polymers such as Xanthan Gum, treat the make up water with bleach. This may eliminate the need for costly biocide treatments as the well progresses.

Anhydrite

Select a clay-free polymer mud system. This will eliminate undesirable mud properties, loss of drilling time and costly treatments.

Lost circulation

Contingencies are put in place for lost circulation and area offsets are analyzed to understand the type of loss zones.

Density

Mud system designed to take into consideration the solids control limitations of drilling rigs.

Environmental Concerns

Where practical, mud additives are used that can be easily disposed in accordance with current industry regulations. This in turn reduces costly disposal options and the operators liability.

Sour Critical

A drilling fluid system needs to be maintained and contingencies in place as per IRP 1 Critical Sour Drilling.

Temperature

On deep foothills wells where bottom hole temperatures are in excess of 100°C, additives are used that do not degrade. This reduces drilling fluid costs and undesirable mud properties that could comprimise the drilling operation.