Reducing Formation Damage with Microbubble-Based Drilling Fluid: Understanding the Blocking Ability
Authors: Kuru E. , Bjorndalen N. , Jossy E. , Alvarez J.M. 
Published: March 2010

Commonly, bridging materials used to reduce formation damage and mud losses in the near wellbore region consist of solid particles. These particles need to be removed after drilling through processes such as acidizing. Microbubble-based drilling fluids utilize gas bubbles to bridge the pores instead of solid particles. These microbubbles can be removed during the initial stages of production, thereby, reducing the costs associated with stimulation processes.

Although there has been some work done on the flow of microbubbles through porous media, little is known regarding what conditions (e.g. viscosity, fluid composition, pressure) determine whether the microbubbles will or will not block the pores. Both the microbubble diameter and the rock pore size distribution play roles in determining sealing of the pores.

In order to gain an appreciation of the pore blocking mechanism, experiments were conducted using micro-model cells to visually understand the blocking mechanism. The composition of the fluid is varied, as well as the flow rate at which the fluid is injected. Through this, the pressure at which the microbubbles invade the medium for various compositions of the fluid for pore blocking is determined.

The average microbubble size at the invasion pressure is compared to the average pore size of the porous medium. By understanding the extent of the microbubble invasion under varying conditions, a greater comprehension of the pore blocking mechanism can be established. As well, the success rate of applying the microbubble system to various types of reservoirs can be evaluated.

Introduction

Common blocking agents used in the oil and gas industry to reduce formation damage and mud losses while drilling and to block highly permeable streaks in the reservoir during production can be composed of gels, solid particles, emulsions and foams(1). The ability of these fluids to block specific areas of the reservoir is determined through the reduction of permeability in high permeable zones and the ability to place the fluid in the correct area within the reservoir.

Specifically, many studies have been conducted on the blocking ability of foams in porous media(2–7). When discussing blocking ability, most of these studies are concerned with blocking the flow of gas(3). Albrecht and Marsden(3) found that, with an increase in surfactant concentration, the blocking effect was greater. The efficiency of foams to block gas propagation in porous media with crude oil was studied by Hanssen and Dalland(4). They tested many different surfactants and found that there was no correlation between gas blocking and interfacial tension and that only a few foams blocked the samples tested. They stated that the foam blocking is a complex phenomenon. Aarra and Skauge(5) and Aarra et al.(8) tested foams for gas mobility control in the North Sea with successful results. Nimir and Seright(6) compared the placement efficiency of foams to gels as blocking agents in various cores ranging in permeability from 7.5 to 900 mD. They used a C14–16α-olefin sulfonate and found that the foam was a better blocking agent when the low permeable zone is less than 7.5 mD and the high permeable zone is more than 80 mD.