Gilsonite in Drilling Fluid

General Definition

natural asphalt used in oilfields as a fluid loss additive in drilling fluids.

As an integral component of premium drilling fluid products, Gilsonite actively improves drilling efficiencies while reducing costs and minimizing the HSE impact associated with most drilling fluid additives.

Gilsonite in the oil and gas industry, drilling muds or fluids perform a number of functions that impact drilling speed, cost, efficiency and safety of the driller.

Forms a physical and chemical bond with permeable formations, creating an effective seal to prevent the passage of drilling fluid. By uniquely functioning as both a malleable and solid plugging agent, Gilsonite controls fluid loss and seepage, prevents lost circulation and protects reactive and low-reactive shale surfaces, even at elevated bottom hole temperatures.

By uniquely functioning as both a malleable and solid plugging agent, Gilsonite controls fluid loss and seepage, prevents lost circulation, and protects reactive and low-reactive shale surfaces, even at elevated bottom hole temperatures.

he addition of specially-treated Gilsonite to water-based drilling fluids helps minimize hole washout by stabilizing troublesome shale and sealing off highly permeable sands while reducing torque and drag. The drilling fluid loss control or mud is supplied at the surface of the well in large earthen pits or metal tanks and is pumped from these into the borehole through the drill pipe and the drill bit to the bottom of the hole. The mud returns to the surface between the drill pipe and the borehole wall, bringing with it the drill cuttings. The circulation of the mud serves not only to carry the cuttings to the surface but also to cool and lubricate the drill bit, thus making possible the further effective penetration of the bit into deeper geological strata. In conventional drilling operation a drilling mud based on bentonite or other materials such cane fiber, ground walnut hulls, sawdust, etc.

Gilsonite or Natural Bitumen has long been used in oilfields as a fluid loss additive in drilling fluids. In numerous grades and formulations, Gilsonite has been utilized to fight borehole instability complications, offer lubricity particularly in greatly diverged holes, and lately, as a bridging instrument to contest differential pressure sticking and deliver a less invasive coring fluid. It has scientifically proven that suitably framed Gilsonite products can minimalize hole collapse in foundations comprising water-sensitive sloughing shales, and diminish stuck pipe problems by creating a thin wall cake and an inter-matrix filter cake. Gilsonite products are broadly employed worldwide in water based, oil based, and synthetic based mud systems. Furthermore, Blended Gilsonite (Natural Asphalt) is effectively utilized in all water-based systems.

Gilsonite in Drilling fluids loss control component appears to be particularly important to fluid loss control as FLC and to act as a shale inhibitor. This loss control by itself would tend to cause an increase in fluid viscosity but this is effectively dealt with by the other components which make up the additive of the invention.

The invention relates to a composition comprising an HPHT fluid loss control aid, stable at elevated temperatures, and acting as an excellent shale stabilizer, borehole lubricant, sealant for depleted sand, and wall cake conditioner. The additive comprises a Gilsonite (natural asphalt) which contains a surfactant such as a nonionic surfactant. The fluid loss control aid reduces HPHT filtrate loss, has good stability at elevated temperatures, stabilizes troublesome shales, decreases borehole erosion, helps seal depleted sands, reduces torque and drag, causes no adverse effects on the flow properties of the properly conditioned drilling fluid, and lowers total well costs.

Gilsonite in the oil and gas industry, drilling muds or fluids perform various functions that impact drilling speed, cost, efficiency, and safety of the driller. By uniquely functioning as both a malleable and solid plugging agent, Gilsonite controls fluid loss and seepage, prevents lost circulation, and protects reactive and low-reactive shale surfaces, even at elevated bottom hole temperatures.

The reaction conditions used to make the product of the invention can be fairly widely varied, but usually involves heating the indicated components in a sealed reaction vessel at a temperature between 100 to 150C for 120 to 30 minutes. The resulting composition is essentially water-soluble, preferably dried and stored for subsequent blending with conventional clay-based aqueous drilling dispersions or drilling fluids. This blending advantageously is carried out on site, although it may be pre-packed with the drilling fluids.

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Application of Gilsonite in Drilling Fluid Loss Control

Gilsonite is a valuable additive used in drilling fluids to enhance various properties and improve drilling efficiency. Its unique characteristics, such as its high carbon content and low hydrogen content, make it an ideal candidate for enhancing fluid density and rheological properties.

By incorporating Gilsonite into drilling fluids, operators can increase the density of the fluid, which helps to control bottomhole pressure and prevent well bore instability. Additionally, Gilsonite can improve the rheological properties of drilling fluids, enhancing their ability to suspend cuttings and carry them to the surface. This reduces the risk of cuttings settling and causing pipe sticking or other drilling complications.

property of Gilsonite in Drilling Fluid

  • Enhances mud properties for HP/HT environments
  • Extends thermal life 10% or more
  • Prevents lost circulation
  • Minimizes differential sticking
  • Performs in WBM, OBM and SBM
  • Reduces cost vs. polymers
  • Delivers higher performance with no HSE risk

Gilsonite, Natural Asphalt products offer a variety of softening points to meet drilling requirements:

Gilsonite in Drilling Fluid

The best additive in avoiding differential sticking

With its unique chemical properties and physical characteristics, Gilsonite is scientifically proven to improve wellbore stability, plug micro-fractures, and bond and seal all types of formations. Gilsonite is the only drilling fluid additive that provides all of these benefits:

  • Controls fluid loss
  • Stabilizes shales
  • Prevents lost circulation
  • Strengthens the wellbore
  • Minimizes differential sticking
  • Performs in oil- and water-based drilling muds
  • Performs in HP/HT environments
  • Minimizes HSE risks

Gilsonite prevents lost circulation

It prevents lost circulation when alone or in combination to enhance the performance of other lost circulation materials (LCM).

Advantages of using Gilsonite in Drilling Fluid loss control

  • Controls fluid loss and seepage
  • Performs in HP/HT environments
  • Promotes effective filter cake development
  • Performs in oil- and water-based drilling muds
  • Stabilizes shales
  • Minimizes HSE risks
  • Strengthens the wellbore to increase wellbore stability
  • Minimizes differential sticking
  • Incompressible material
  • Specific gravity lower than the fluid
  • Wide range of temperature (high softening point between 175 to 235 ° C).
  • The resulting mixture has a low density without adding a large volume of water.
  • Solubility
  • Adhesive power
  • Promotes effective filter cake development
  • Performs in oil- and water-based drilling muds
  • Prevents lost circulation

Packing of Gilsonite Drilling Fluid

Gilsonite in Drilling Fluid Loss Control is packed in 25Kg or 50 LBS multi paper bag on pallet shrink wrapped or 500Kg/1000Kg super bag.

Datasheet of Drilling Fluid loss control

TESTRESULTTEST METHOD
ASH CONTENT,WT%5ASTM-D3174
MOISTURE CONTENT,WT%1ASTM-D3173
VOLATILE MATTER,WT%63ASTM-D3175
SOLUBILITY IS CS2,WT81ASTM-D4
SPECIFIC GRAVITY @25C1.11ASTM-3289
NORMAL NEPTHAN INSOLUBLES,WT%79ASTM-3279
COLOR IS MASSBLACK___________
COLOR IN STREAK OR POWDERBLACK___________
SOFTENING POINT,C210ASTM-D36
PENETRATION @25C0ASTM-D5

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