Abstract:
A method and apparatus for determining the effectiveness and reaction time of a breaker fluid in breaking a filter cake on the wall of a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation is disclosed. The method comprises employing an apparatus, such as for example the apparatus of the invention with a filter medium and the capability of applying differential pressure or dynamic conditions to form a filter cake on the filter medium with drilling mud. Breaker fluid is then substituted for the drilling mud, preferably without damage to the filter cake. The quantity of breaker fluid passing across the filter medium under static conditions is monitored over time. An increase in the rate of fluid passing across or through the medium indicates break-up of the filter cake.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to laboratory testing apparatuses and particularly to apparatuses and methods for determining the effectiveness and reaction time of an oil well bore hole filter cake breaker fluid.  
           [0003]    2. Description of Relevant Art  
           [0004]    Drilling fluid or drilling “mud” is used in drilling oil and gas wells to serve several purposes, including lubricating the drill bit, removing cuttings form the wellbore, and providing stability to the well. To accomplish its purposes, drilling fluid typically possesses several characteristics. One such characteristic is the ability if desired to form a coating or “filter cake” on the wall of the wellbore or borehole. The filter cake serves to stabilize the borehole and prevent loss of the liquid portion of the drilling mud through the walls of the borehole into the adjoining formations. This loss of liquid from the drilling mud, commonly referred to as fluid loss, is a function of many variables such as the composition of the drilling mud, the types of formations encountered in the drilling process, temperatures and pressure in the borehole, etc.  
           [0005]    The ability to test drilling muds under simulated borehole conditions to determine characteristics such as fluid loss is desirable and apparatuses for such testing have been demonstrated. See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,748,849, issued Jun. 7, 1988 to Jamison et al. Commercial equipment is also available. Fann Instruments Company, a Halliburton Company, provides a Model 90, Dynamic Filtration Tester, that is particularly effective for dynamically measuring fluid loss characteristics.  
           [0006]    Although a filter cake may be desirable during drilling a wellbore, removal of the cake is frequently desirable after the drilling is complete as the filter cake may interfere with production of oil and gas from the formation into the well. Thus, removal of filter cake from drilling fluids used to drill through producing zones of the formation is usually particularly desirable.  
           [0007]    Many highly permeable, softer sandstone formations are completed with horizontal wellbores. These are generally open hole completions with screens, or screens-plus-gravel packs. The filtercake from the drilling fluid or “drill-in” fluid (as drilling fluids used for drilling through production zones may also be called) is left in place until after completion operations are finished. When the completion operations are done, a cleanup solution is pumped into the well to remove the filtercake from the wellbore face. These cleanup solutions can be, for example, acid, chelating agents, oxidizers, enzyme treatments, or combinations thereof. A common disadvantage of any of these treatments is that the cleanup solutions tend to be highly reactive and may remove the filtercake at the point of circulation before the treatment can be placed over the entire open hole interval. This problem is especially common with clean-up solutions used to address the bridging particles used in payzone or “drill-in” fluids.  
           [0008]    There is a need for cleanup solutions that have a delayed effect on filtercake integrity. Such delay allows the cleanup solution to be circulated across the interval before “leakoff,” or before flow from a portion of the formation with filtercake removed occurs. Ideally, once the cleanup solution or filter cake breaker solution is in place in the wellbore, the cleanup solution begins reacting with the filtercake to remove it. If the delay could be made sufficiently long enough, the breaker solution could be placed with the gravel pack. Break time for this type application would need to be in the range of about four hours to as long as about twenty-four hours depending on the desire or need to have fluid loss control during subsequent pipe trips.  
           [0009]    Conducting breaker tests for this type of delay could be extremely time consuming and prone to variations from test to test if conducted manually. Repeatability of the filtercake deposition becomes even more important when conducting sensitivity testing of the various components of a proposed cleanup solution. A need exists for automating filter cake construction and beaker solution testing.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    For purposes of the present invention, known equipment for dynamically measuring fluid loss characteristics can be adapted to test filter cake breaker fluid. U.S. Pat. No. 4,748,849, for example, discloses an apparatus for dynamically testing fluid loss characteristics of a test fluid such as drilling mud. This apparatus comprises a filter medium cell with a generally vertically disposed, cylindrical wall section. The wall section has an inner surface and an outer surface. At least part and preferably all of the wall section is formed of a filter medium. A first chamber for a test fluid is in open communication with the inner surface of the cylindrical wall section of the cell. A second chamber is in open communication with the outer surface of the cylindrical wall section of the cell. A generally vertically disposed rotatable shaft is at least partially received in the filter medium cell and a rotator or other means is provided or included to rotate the shaft. The apparatus further includes a means to apply a differential pressure across at least a portion of the cylindrical wall section between the first chamber and the second chamber through the filter medium portion of the wall section. Means is also provided for measuring the amount of test fluid which passes from the first chamber to the second chamber through at least the filter medium portion of the wall section.  
           [0011]    To adapt such an apparatus as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,748,849 for use in the method of the present invention, the apparatus is preferably fitted with a manual or automatic valve in the filter line to reduce the possibility of filter cake damage if and when the apparatus is opened. Also, preferably, a guide is added to prevent the shear shaft from damaging the filter cake if and when the shaft is removed after forming the filter cake.  
           [0012]    In the method of the present invention, a dynamic filter cake is formed in such adapted apparatus of U.S. Pat. No. 4,748,849 or similar apparatus capable of forming a filter cake with drilling mud at a desired temperature and differential pressure, such as a temperature and pressure expected to be encountered in a subterranean wellbore. Filter cake breaker fluid is then substituted in the apparatus in place of the drilling mud. Such substitution may typically be effected by opening the apparatus and removing the drilling mud, by for example pouring the drilling mud out and replacing it with breaker fluid, or by for another example allowing the drilling mud to drain out into an auxiliary fluid container and adding the breaker fluid from another auxiliary fluid container, preferably without having to depressurize or cool the apparatus system. Collection of filtrate is begun, resumed or continued (filtrate likely having been collected during formation of the filter cake), and the quantity may be monitored over time. An increase in the filtration collection rate indicates filter cake removal. The greater the increase or rate of change, and the faster the flow of fluid, the greater the degree of filter cake removed. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of an apparatus of the invention, suitable for use in the method of this invention, parts of the apparatus being shown in elevated cross section.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is an elevated view, partly in section, of the filtration unit of the apparatus of FIG. 1.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is an elevated view, partly in section, of the measuring unit of the apparatus of FIG. 1.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is a graph showing filter cake break time versus breaker fluid concentration in a test example of the method of the invention using the apparatus of FIG. 1 at 132 degrees Fahrenheit, 50-psi differential pressure, and 11.5 lb/gal. NaCl brine.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 is a graph showing filter cake break time versus temperature in a test example of the method of the invention using the apparatus of FIG. 1 at 50-psi differential pressure, 11.5 lb/gal. NaCl/NaBr brine.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6 is a graph showing filter-cake break time versus pH in a test example of the method of the invention using the apparatus of FIG. 1 at 132 degrees Fahrenheit, 50-psi differential pressure, 11.5 lb/gal. NaCl/NaBr brine.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 7 is a graph showing use of the apparatus of FIG. 1 for filter-cake diagnostic testing.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 8 is a graph comparing dynamic cake deposition.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0021]    Referring to FIG. 1, an apparatus suitable for use in the method of the present invention is comprised of two main components—a filtration unit  1  and a measuring unit  2 . Units  1  and  2  are connected by a line  3  which provides fluid communication, in a manner described hereafter, between the filtration unit  1  and the measuring unit  2 .  
         [0022]    Referring to FIG. 2, the filtration unit  1 , also shown in FIG. 1, includes a generally cylindrical, vertically disposed housing  4  partially defining an interior chamber  5 . A heating jacket (not shown) surrounds housing  4  such that housing  4  and anything therein can be raised to a desired temperature. Chamber  5  is also partially defined by a generally cylindrical cap  6 , which is received in the open end of housing  4 . To effect a seal between cap  6  and housing  4 , thereby effectively sealing off chamber  5 , an O-ring  7  is provided. O-ring  7  is carried in an annular groove formed on the exterior surface of cap  6 . To secure cap  6  to housing  4 , threads in the cap  6  engage threads of housing  4 .  
         [0023]    The chamber  5  is further defined by a generally cylindrical housing  8 . Housing  8  is received in the open end of housing  4 . To effect a seal between housing  4  and housing  8 , an O-ring  13  is provided. O-ring  13  is carried in an annular grooved formed on the interior surface of housing  4 . Housing  8  is made of a high strength non-magnetic material so that it offers minimum resistance to magnetic fields. One example material suitable for comprising housing  8  is metal alloy UNS N05500, available from many sources. Other non-magnetic materials could be used, even for example plastic or fiberglass. A bore  10  with a plurality of diameters extends through the housing  8 , providing a position for bearing  9 , and extending chamber  5 . An annular groove in the exterior surface of bearing  9  restrains an O-ring  11 , which seals the radial joint between housing  8  and housing  12 . The end of housing  12  that is connected to housing  8  is provided with male threads  15   a,  which engage matching female threads  15   b  in housing  8 .  
         [0024]    A plurality of threaded ports are positioned in housing  12  to provide communication means to chamber  5  via bore  16  in housing  12 . One of those ports is positioned on the axial centerline of housing  12 , and is threaded to receive a seal  17 . Seal  17  holds a temperature probe  18  for determining the temperature of the fluids in the chamber  5  by electronic means. Temperature probe  18  could be of the thermocouple or RTD type, and extends along the centerlines of housings  12 ,  8  and  4  into housing  4 , below the level to which a liquid sample would be poured into chamber  5 . A fitting  41  connects to a fluid conduit that leads to a controlled source of pressurized gas (not shown). Pressure can be applied through fitting  41  to pressurize the interior chamber  5 .  
         [0025]    A generally cylindrical support  19  connects on the axial centerline to cap  6 , by means of female threads  20   a  in the end and matching projecting male threads  20   b  on the cap  6 . Fluid communication through port  21  to the top of support  19  is enabled by means of bores  22  of varying length and diameters. O-ring  23 , in a radial groove in cap  6 , around the end of the support  19 , seals chamber  5  from the bores  22 . The outside cylindrical surface of the support  19  has a course male thread. A bore  24 , partially through the centerline of support  19 , and an intersecting slot  25  through support  19 , provides access to a bearing  26 . In the preferred embodiment of this invention, the bearing is a miniature angular contact ball bearing, but other type bearings could be used.  
         [0026]    Hollow cylindrical filter medium  42  is held tightly in the axial direction in filter holder  40 . The inner surface of the filter medium wall  43  and the outer surface of a general cylindrical shaft  27  with a plurality of diameters form a uniform cylindrical annular gap  51  that communicates directly with chamber  5 . At least a portion, and preferably all, of the wall  43  of filter medium  42  is formed of a material which is at least partially permeable to liquids. Such materials include, without limitation, sintered metals, layered screens, natural mineral materials, synthetic materials, etc. The inner bore  47  of filter holder  40 , which is generally cylindrical, is sized to snugly receive filter medium  42 . This forms an annular gap between the filter medium  42 , and the inner bore  47  of the filter holder  40 . An annular seal  44  effects a seal between the lower end of filter medium  42  and the top of support  19 . A similar annular seal  45  effects a seal between the top end of filter medium  42  and the generally cylindrical retainer  46 . Retainer  46  is held in place by retaining ring  50 , in a groove in the top of the filter holder  40 . An O-ring  48 , retained in a groove in the outer surface of retainer  46 , effects a seal between the retainer  46  and the smooth inner bore  47  of filter holder  40 . Similarly, O-ring  49 , retained in a groove in the outer surface of the upper end of support  19 , effects a seal between the smooth inner bore  47  of filter holder  40  and the top end of support  19 . By screwing the filter holder  40  onto support  19 , axial force is applied to seals  44  and  45 , effectively isolating the annular space at the inner bore  47  from communication with chamber  5 , except through filter medium  42 . However, the annular space at the inner bore  47  is connected to port  21  through bores  22  and a small cross-bore (not shown) in support  19 , above O-ring  49 . Therefore, if chamber  5  is filled to a level  52  above the filter medium  42  with a test liquid, and it is pressurized with gas introduced through fitting  41  into the upper portion of chamber  5 , the test liquid will be forced radially through the filter medium  42 . The test liquid will then flow into the annular space at the inner bore  47  of the filter holder  40 , and conducted to port  21 . The rate at which the test liquid flows through the filter medium  42  will be a function of the permeability of the filter medium  42 , the pressure difference between chamber  5  and port  21 , the viscosity of the liquid, the tendency of the components of the test liquid to plug the pores of the filter medium  42 , and the time that it flows.  
         [0027]    Bearing  26  supports and accurately centralizes one end of shaft  27 . Shaft  27  is supported at the upper end by radial bearing  9 . In the preferred embodiment, shaft  27  is made up of two components, connected by means of axial threads. Shaft  27  has a bore  31  partially through its length, along its centerline. Bore  31  provides clearance so that shaft  27  can be rotated about the stationary temperature probe  18 , which extends down the center of the bore when the shaft is installed. Shaft  27  can be removed or installed as determined by the needs of the test.  
         [0028]    Shaft  27  is driven magnetically by means of a generally rectangular magnetically soft rotor  32 . A bore through rotor  32  allows it to receive shaft  27 , which passes through it. Rotor  32  is secured to the shaft  27  by means of a threaded set screw  33 , which engages a flat on the outer surface of shaft  27 . The rotor is sized so that when it rotates it just clears the inside surface of housing  8  with the minimum practical gap. Thus, shaft  27  can be rotated inside of chamber  5  without the use of dynamic seals.  
         [0029]    The upper section of shaft  27  carries a plurality of permanent magnets  28 , equally spaced about the outer surface of shaft component  27   a,  such that when the shaft is rotated, a rotating magnetic field is created. The rotating magnetic field can be detected by electronic means, to measure the rotation rate of the shaft. In the preferred embodiment of this invention, a Hall effect device  29  is used to detect the rotating magnetic field of shaft  27 . The magnetic field is conveyed to the Hall effect device  29  by means of at least two magnetically soft rods  30  that fit into bored holes in housing  12 , forming a magnetic circuit. The bored holes that receive rods  30  penetrate close to bore  16  but do not enter it. This allows detection of the rotational speed of shaft  27  without the use of seals. The housing  12  and upper shaft component  27   a  must both be made of a non-magnetic material to prevent the dissipation of the shaft  27 &#39;s rotating magnetic field. One example material suitable for comprising the housing  12  and shaft component  27   a  is metal alloy UNS N05500, available from many sources. Other non-magnetic materials could be used, even for example plastic or fiberglass.  
         [0030]    Also threaded to the male thread of housing  12 , by means of a web in the gap between housings  8  and  12  is a generally cylindrical bearing journal  14  of various diameters. Bearing journal  14  supports a bearing bushing  34  on a stepped increase in the diameter of the outer surface of bearing journal  14 , which acts as a thrust bearing. Bearing bushing  34  is tightly received into a bore in generally cylindrical magnetic rotor  35 , so that it turns with the magnetic rotor  35 . Magnetic rotor  35  is comprised of a magnetically soft material such as low carbon steel, so that it may convey magnetic fields. Retaining ring  37  prevents upward motion of magnetic rotor  35  on bearing journal  14 . A large bore in the bottom end of magnetic rotor  35  positions two magnets  39  so that when magnetic rotor  35  is rotated, the magnets  39  just clear housing  8 . This minimizes the gap between the magnets  39  and the shaft rotor  32 , so that a strong magnetic field can be conveyed between them for maximum torque transmission. The two magnets  39  are positioned diametrically opposed in shallow grooves in the inside surface of bore  38 . A V-belt groove  36  in the outside surface of magnetic rotor  35  is used to drive the magnetic rotor  35 , turning the shaft  27  at any desired rotational speed.  
         [0031]    As earlier noted, chamber  5  is heated by means of a jacket (not shown) to allow test fluid in chamber  5  to be maintained at any desired temperature. The gas space in chamber  5 , above the fluid level  52 , is separated into two sections, in communication with each other, by means of the generally cylindrical bulkhead assembly  57 . Bulkhead assembly  57  is made up of bulkhead  53  and O-ring holder  54 . A plurality of screws  55  holds bulkhead  53  and O-ring holder  54  together. Bulkhead  53  is made of a material of low thermal conductivity, in this case, a plastic. O-ring  56 , retained in a groove in the exterior surface of O-ring holder  54 , is used to retain the bulkhead assembly  57  in place by means of friction with the inner surface of housing  8 . A bore through the center of bulkhead assembly  57  provides minimal clearance around shaft  27  so that shaft  27  can turn freely. Bulkhead assembly  57  provides a means of minimizing the transfer of heat to the upper, unheated sections of chamber  5 .  
         [0032]    In use, the vertically disposed assembly of housings  4 ,  8  and  12  is restrained from separating, under the influence of elevated pressures in chamber  5 , by means of a substantially rigid yoke (not shown). Suitable hinges and brackets (not shown) allow the assembled housings  4 ,  8  and  12  to be pivoted from the vertical position so that cap  6  clears the yoke (not shown) and the housings  4  and  8  can be separated.  
         [0033]    As earlier noted, the annular space at the inner bore  47  of filter holder  40  is in open communication with port  21  by means of bore  22 . Conduit or line  3  is also in open communication with port  21  and with measuring unit  2  via solenoid valve  57 . Referring to FIG. 3, a solenoid valve  58  is preferably inserted in line  3  to reduce the possibility of filter cake damage (at least to reduce damage below a significant degree or amount, i.e. an amount that might change test results or alter conclusions regarding the performance or effectiveness of a breaker fluid being tested according to the method of the invention) if the filtration unit  1  is opened to remove drilling mud.  
         [0034]    Also connected to line  3  through check valve  59  and pump  61  is a conduit  60  leading to a source of cold purge liquid. Referring to both FIGS. 2 and 3, if pressure is applied to chamber  5  via conduit  62 , with a drilling liquid or mud received in chamber  5 , mud permeating through the wall  43  of the filter medium  42  will enter annular space  47 , i.e., the mud will pass from chamber  5  to chamber annular space  47 , and will then be forced down bore  22 , out port  21  into line  3  through valve  57  and added valve  58  and into measuring unit  2 . A filter cake will form on the filter medium wall  43 .  
         [0035]    An optional guide  63  preferably positioned along the path of shaft  27  will allow removal of the shaft preferably with minimal disturbance of such filter cake. Shaft  27  is preferably removed for static testing of filter cake breaker fluids, according to the method of the invention.  
         [0036]    Referring to FIG. 3, the measuring unit  2 , also shown in FIG. 1, is shown in greater detail. Measuring unit  2  comprises a generally vertically disposed cylindrical tube  64  having a first end  65  and a second end  66  defining a piston chamber  67 . Received in the first end  65  of tube  64  is a first plug  68  having a side, fluid port  69  whereby a tubing fitting or the like can be received to connect port  69  through conduit  70  to a source of pressurized gas. A bore  76  allows gas communications between port  69  and upper piston chamber  67   b.  An O-ring  71  provides sealing between plug  68  and tube  64 . A second plug  72 , having a fluid port  73 , is received in the second end  66  of tube  64 . A bore  75  in second plug  72  allows fluid communications between port  73  and the lower chamber  67   a.  An O-ring  74  provides sealing between tube  64  and plug  72 . A purge valve  91 , connected to chamber  67  by a bore  92 , in conjunction with purge pump  61 , is used to flush air out of the lower piston chamber  67   a,  when the piston is in the fully downward position.  
         [0037]    A piston assembly shown generally as  77  in the fully upward position, is slidably mounted internally of tube  64 . Piston assembly  77  comprises a piston cap  78  which is secured to a piston head  79  by means of a screw  80  received in a threaded bore in the piston cap  78  of piston  77 . Piston head  79  is made of a magnetic material, preferably a magnetic type stainless steel. An annular seal ring  81  provides sealing between the tube  64  and the piston cap  78  of piston  77  thereby dividing chamber  67  into two separate chambers  67   a  and  67   b.    
         [0038]    A generally cylindrical, linear variable resistor  82  is rigidly held in a central bore of first plug  68  by means of resistor holder  83 , which screws onto a male threaded projection  84  of first plug  68 . A three conductor electrical feed-through  85  is received in a central bore in first plug  68 . The feed-through provides a high pressure gas seal with three isolated electrical conductors passing through it. Connector  86  provides means to connect the three conductors to a substantially constant voltage source and electronic circuits that measure voltage (not shown). Connector  87  provides means to connect the electrical wires of the linear variable resistor  82  to the electrical feed-through  85 .  
         [0039]    A magnet  88  is rigidly attached to the threaded shaft  89  of linear variable resistor  82 , passing through a central bore in magnet  88 , by means of nuts  90 . Magnet  88  magnetically attaches to the magnet piston head  79  of piston assembly  77 . As the piston assembly  77  moves in the bore of tube  64 , it changes the position of the shaft of the linear variable resistor  82 , so that the resistance of the variable resistor  82  is substantially proportional to the vertical position of the piston assembly  77 . With a substantially constant voltage applied to the ends of the linear variable resistor  82 , the resistance change is converted to a variable voltage. With proper calibration, the position of the piston assembly  77  can be accurately correlated with the voltage from the linear variable resistor  82 . By this means, the position of the piston assembly  77  can be externally determined and recorded. Since the diameter of the bore of cylinder  64  is known, the instantaneous position of the piston assembly  77  can be used to calculate the volume of chamber  67   a.  The voltage signal from linear variable resistor  82  is sent to a digital computer, which records and displays the volume displacement of piston assembly  77  as a function of time.  
         [0040]    Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, automatic coordinated operation of solenoid valves  92 ,  93 ,  94  and  95  provides pressurized gas, usually nitrogen, to line  62  to adjust and maintain the pressure in chamber  5 . This pressure is detected by means of sensor  96 . The pressure in the piston chamber  67  of the measuring unit is controlled to be less than or equal to the pressure of chamber  5  by means of solenoid valves  97 ,  98 ,  99  and  95 , through line  70 . The pressure supplied to piston chamber  67  is measured by means of sensor  97 .  
         [0041]    Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and  3 , in operation for effecting the method of the invention, a filter medium  42  is placed in filter holder  40 . Housing  4  is then screwed onto cap  6 . Fluid line  3  is connected to the filter or filtration unit  1  and the measuring unit  2  and the purge pump  61  is run to flush air out of the system. At the same time, in measuring unit  2 , piston assembly  77  is positioned such that the cap  78  is against plug  72 , i.e., so that there is no displaced volume in tubular cylinder  64 , and chamber  67   a  is essentially of zero volume. Atter purging, the used purge liquid is poured out of the chamber  5  and replaced with drilling fluid to level  52 . The filtration unit is sealed by assembling the lower portion of the unit to the upper at the junction between housing  4  and  8 . The filtration unit  1  is then rotated to the vertical position so that it engages the previously noted yoke (not shown) at the top and bottom of the filtration unit. After the heating jacket (not shown) is closed around housing  4  (assuming heating is desired), the dynamic filtration system is ready to run.  
         [0042]    The motor (not shown) which drives the magnetic rotor  35  is started to impart rotation to shaft  27  at a pre-selected, constant speed. If desired, the filtration unit  1  is heated to a predetermined elevated temperature using the heating jacket around housing  4  (not shown). To control the pressure in chamber  5 , solenoid valves  92 ,  93 ,  94  and  95  are opened and closed in a coordinated manor to incrementally raise or lower the pressure through line  62 . At the same time, the operation of solenoid valves  94 ,  95 ,  98  and  99  are coordinated so that the pressure in the upper chamber  67   b  of the measuring unit  2  is kept equal to the pressure in chamber  5 . Under theses conditions, piston assembly  77  will be held in position by pressure equal to the difference between the pressure in chamber  5  and the pressure in piston chamber  67   b  exerted by pressurized gas from line  70 . This arrangement permits virtually unlimited control of the differential pressure across the wall  43  of the filter medium  42 .  
         [0043]    When the test conditions have been reached, the valves  94 ,  95 ,  98  and  99  are coordinated so that the pressure in the upper chamber  67   b  of the measuring unit  2  is incrementally reduced until the desired pressure differential between chamber  5  and chamber  67   b  has been established. At this point, filtrate solenoid valves  57  and  58  are opened. Since the pressure in chamber  5  will always be greater than the pressure in chamber  67   b,  and depending upon the permeability of the filter medium and the nature of the drilling mud, etc., fluid will flow through the permeable filter medium out of chamber  5  via the clearance or annulus  51  between shaft  27  and the radially inner surface  43  of filter cell medium  42 . The drilling mud will then pass into the annular space at the inner surface  47  of the filter holder  40 , through bore  22 , and will exit the filtration unit  1  via port  21  and line  3  through open solenoid valves  57  and  58  and finally through port  73  in plug  72  into chamber  67   a  adjacent end  66  of the measuring unit  2 . Drilling mud entering chamber  67   a  will displace piston assembly  77  away from end  72  toward end  65 . As this occurs, the resistance of the variable linear resistor  82  changes as a function of the volume of filtrate being accumulated in the chamber  67   a.  This accumulated volume, initially read as a voltage, is then conveniently recorded as volume measurement versus time by the control computer. With these values, the flow rate of drilling mud through the filter medium can be easily computed. A reduction in flow rate indicates a filter cake has formed on the surface  43  of the filter medium  42 .  
         [0044]    Once a filter cake has formed, breaker fluid is substituted for the drilling mud in the apparatus. Such substitution may be accomplished by opening the apparatus and pouring out the drilling mud (and pouring in the breaker fluid), or more preferably without altering the pressure in the apparatus, by allowing the drilling fluid to drain out preferably under the forces of gravity, and the breaker fluid to drain in (from an auxiliary container) also preferably under the force of gravity. In the case where the apparatus is opened, the shaft  27  will be removed from the center of the filter medium  42 , guided by guide  63 , preferably without disturbing the filter cake (or without damaging it to a significant degree, i.e., to an amount affecting the flow rate such that test results may be changed). Monitoring the flow rate of fluid—now breaker fluid instead of drilling mud—across the filter medium is continued or resumed under static conditions (i.e., without shearing).  
         [0045]    This apparatus is useful for simulating shearing similar to that which drilling mud would undergo when in actual use in a drilling operation. The annulus  51  simulates the annulus which would exist between a conventional drill string and the wall of a borehole during a drilling operation. As shaft  27  is rotated at any desired rate, the drilling mud in the annulus  51  sees a shearing action, which is a function of that rotational rate. The shear rate may be varied widely by virtue of the fact that not only can the shaft rotational speed be varied but the radial size of the annulus  51  can also be varied by changing the diameter of the lower portion of shaft  27 .  
         [0046]    Another feature of this apparatus is that the surfaces of the filter medium, which are exposed to the drilling mud and to the breaker fluid, are oriented in a generally vertical direction. Accordingly, settling out of solids, e.g., filter loss additives in the drilling mud, will not add to the filter cake. This feature is particularly important in static testing of the breaker fluid (i.e., when the shearing shaft  27  is not used or not rotated.) Moreover, the generally vertical orientation of the filter medium and its coaxial relationship to the shaft  27  simulates the geometry of an actual well.  
         [0047]    The simplified construction of this apparatus allows the filter medium to be changed and made from a variety of materials to simulate downhole formations.  
         [0048]    Experimental  
         [0049]    A breaker fluid was tested for producing a break in the range of about 10 to about 16 hours to allow breaker fluid placement with the gravel pack and enough time to remove the service tool from the well. An oxidizing breaker was chosen, for which a low-reactivity, low-temperature activator was available.  
         [0050]    The following testing procedure was used:  
         [0051]    1. The drilling fluid to be tested was prepared as set forth in Table 1 and hot rolled for 16 hours;  
         [0052]    2. The filter core was assembled into the coreholder of the apparatus of the invention with the shaft guide;  
         [0053]    3. The drilling fluid was loaded into the apparatus of the invention for filter-cake formation, according to the steps set forth in Table 2;  
         [0054]    4. Testing was done to verify the filter cake was formed satisfactorily;  
         [0055]    5. The drilling fluid was poured off;  
         [0056]    6. The cell and coreholder were rinsed without disturbing the filter cake;  
         [0057]    7. The breaker fluid to be tested (11.5 lb/gal NaCl/NaBr brine plus oxidizer/activator) was loaded into the apparatus of the invention; and  
         [0058]    8. The breaker fluid test was conducted according to the sequence set forth in Table 3.  
                                                   TABLE 1                           Drill-In Formula Used       During Delayed-Breaker Tests                Component   Amount                            Water   0.465   bbl           12.3 lb/gal. NaBr Brine   0.465   bbl           NaCl   56.5   lb           KCl   7.1   lb           Xanthan   1.25   lb           Starch   7.0   lb           CaCO 3  5-micron   10.0   lb           CaCO 3  25-micron   25.0   lb           NaOH   0.1   lb           Rev Dust   20.0   lb                      
 
         [0059]    [0059]                                                                           TABLE 2                           Sequence for Filter Cake Formation            Step No.   1   2   3   4   5   6                    Time (min)   0   0   2   60   15   0       Static Pressure (psi)   800   800   800   800   800   0       Differential Pressure (psi)   0   500   500   500   500   0       Temperature (° F.)   132   132   132   132   132   115       Shear Rate (1/sec)   100   100   100   100   10   0       Filtrate Valve   Off   Off   Off   On   On   Off                    
         [0060]    [0060]                                                                           TABLE 3                           Sequence for Delayed Filter Cake Break            Step No.   1   2   3   4   5   6                    Time (min)   0   0   2   999   999   0       Static Pressure (psi)   800   800   800   800   800   0       Differential Pressure (psi)   0   50   50   50   50   0       Temperature (° F.)   132   132   132   132   132   115       Shear Rate (1/sec)   0   0   0   0   0   0       Filtrate Valve   Off   Off   Off   On   On   Off                    
         [0061]    Further with respect to Step 4 above, an example of a way to test for satisfactory formation of filter cake is by comparing the filter profile to others for the drilling fluid recipe. The filter profile is the curve of the filtrate versus time during dynamic filtration and cake deposition. When the same drilling fluid recipe is used, the filter profile should match. As shown in FIG. 8, tests performed several months apart still produced nearly identical curves. The slope of the curve at the latter part of the test indicates the thickness and permeability of the filter cake when the same viscosity fluid was used under the same differential pressure. The ability to obtain a particular filter-cake thickness is a result of a balance being reached between deposition and erosion forces. The filter-cake thickness will increase until shear forces on a particle at the surface of the filter cake are strong enough to overcome the forces acting on the particle to keep it in place (particle-to-particle attraction and viscous drag from leakoff). The filter cake will maintain this thickness as long as the imposed-shear and differential-pressure conditions do not change. Testing the same fluid under the same conditions results in repeatable and uniform filter cakes.  
         [0062]    Producing a series of essentially identical filter cakes and repeating the breaker fluid tests enables testing of the effects of even slight changes to the testing parameters. FIG. 4 shows the effect of the breaker fluid concentration on break time. FIG. 5 shows, for a particular breaker fluid concentration, the effect of wellbore cool-down during gravel pack treatment. Three tests each were run at two of the temperatures, as shown, with very good agreement in break times. Another example, shown in FIG. 6, gives the results at two breaker concentrations in which the effect of pH was tested.  
         [0063]    The apparatus of the invention can also be used to perform diagnostic testing on the properties of a filter cake. FIG. 7 shows the results of a “blank” breaker fluid test in which the base brine, without the oxidizer, was tested. After 8 hours, the differential pressure across the filter cake was increased from 50 to 500 psi. The leakoff rate did not increase by a factor of 10. This occurred because the filtercake was compressible, and the permeability was decreased by increased differential pressure. This test may also be performed to confirm that the breaker fluid curves are showing an actual break of the filter cake and not the flushing of polymers from the filter cake. The straight lines in FIG. 7 indicate that the filter cake was not being degraded as a result of brine being pumped through it.  
         [0064]    As these experiments indicate, delayed breaker fluid testing is preferably done by repeating the test using several filter cakes with the same thickness and properties and then comparing the filter profiles for several separate test runs.  
         [0065]    The foregoing description of the invention is intended to be a description of preferred embodiments. Various changes in the details of the described method and apparatus can be made without departing from the intended scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.