Gilsonite in Drilling Fluid Loss Control Additive (FLC)

Gilsonite in Drilling Fluid

General Definition Gilsonite in Drilling Fluid Loss Control Additive (FLC)

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 fluid loss containing filtrate loss control fluids and chemical drilling mud additives, namely, containing filtrate loss control fluids for use in the oil and gas well drilling industry.

As indicated earlier, the additive of the invention comprises the product obtained by reacting together in the presence of water, quebracho, lignite, FLC, sodium sulfite, paraformaldehyde, and sodium hydroxide. Each of the indicated components is essential to obtain optimum results according to the invention.

The reaction conditions used to make the product of the invention can be fairly widely varied. Usually, however, the product is prepared by heating the indicated components in a sealed reaction vessel at a temperature in the order of 100 to 150C. for a period of 120 to 30 minutes, it being appreciated that shorter times can be used as the temperature is increased. It appears that the reaction results in sulphomethylation and causticization of a complex formed between the quebracho, lignite, and asphaltite although the chemistry involved is highly complex and not fully understood. In any case, the resulting composition, which is essentially water-soluble, is preferably dried and may be stored for subsequent blending with conventional clay-based aqueous drilling dispersions or drilling fluids. This blending advantageously is carried out on site although it will be appreciated that the additive may be pre-packed with the drilling fluids.

The invention relates to a composition comprising an HPHT fluid loss control aid, stable at elevated temperatures and which also acts as an excellent shale stabilizer, bore hold lubricant, sealant for depleted sand, and wall cake conditioner. The HPHT fluid loss control aid broadly comprises a Gilsonite (natural asphalt) which also contains a surfactant such as a nonionic surfactant. The HPHT fluid loss control aid also contains a solubilized lignite such as causticized lignite and carbon black. The fluid loss control aid reduces HPHT filtrate loss, has good stability at elevated temperatures such as at 300 °F, stabilizes troublesome shales and 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.
To achieve these and other advantages, and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described, the invention comprises a composition comprising an HPHT fluid loss control aid stable at elevated temperatures, and which also acts as an excellent shale stabilizer, borehole lubricant sealant for depleted sands, and wall cake conditioner. The HPHT fluid loss control aid broadly comprises Gilsonite, an asphaltic material or solidified hydrocarbon produced by RAHA Gilsonite Company in Iran. The Gilsonite employed according to the present invention also contains a surfactant, especially, a nonionic surfactant.

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, preven.

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Application of Gilsonite in Drilling Fluid Loss Control

An important characteristic of Gilsonite is its softening-point temperature. Gilsonite improves drilling efficiencies, wellbore stability, filter cake development, and more. 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. An important characteristic of Gilsonite is.

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:

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