Overview: Drilling and Completion Fluids (November 2005)
Authors: Carter Tom 
Published: February 2015

During the past year, technical papers concerning drilling and completion fluids were presented at SPE conferences held all over the world. Many were excellent papers, which makes it difficult to select three papers for this issue (note the additional-reading list). Interesting papers may escape your attention because they were presented at a far-away venue. Drilling- and completion-fluid topics were presented at 16 venues, all associated with active E&P areas around the world, including Houston; Amsterdam; Rio de Janeiro; Galveston, Texas; and Scheveningen, The Netherlands. Many of the topics were not specific to the area where the meeting was held; so you could miss a paper reporting information related to your geographic area of interest because it was presented at a conference halfway around the world.
The largest group of papers concerned case histories. The second largest group concerned new product and service development, followed by environmental and theory papers. The large number of case histories indicates the importance of technical-solution transfer (networking) to professionals responsible for operations in all areas.
How do we develop and test new fluid technology? Generally, the solution is the result of solving some unique problem that improves operations and safety and reduces overall project costs. Why did the industry stop using lime-based muds and switch to low-pH calcium muds? As drilling depths increased in the 1950s, high-lime-content muds with increased low-gravity-solids content exposed to high bottomhole temperatures would “set up” like cement, causing serious drilling problems. Thus, the change to low-pH calcium muds that were designed to prevent this reaction and still provide the high calcium content needed to stabilize reactive-shale formations. With the advent of high-performance shakers and other low-gravity-solids-removal equipment, the high-lime-content mud could be used again in areas where it was needed for borehole stability.
Has new fluid technology really contributed to better value for producing wells? The answer, in a word, is yes. The switch from mud to high-quality clear-brine completion fluids has improved and extended the economic value of medium- to low-permeability producing formations. Improved stimulation techniques to remove the drill-in filter cake in salt-based fluids also have added value. The list goes on. All of this technology was first reported in technical papers published by SPE. That is why you will continue to have access to valuable ideas and solutions in these pages in the future. I encourage you to continue to read on!
Available from the SPE eLibrary: www.spe.org
SPE 94523 “A New Inhibitive Water-Based Fluid: A Completely Cationic System,” by Rosa, R.C.R.S., Poland Química Ltda., et al.
SPE 93935 “Evaluation and Optimization of Solids-Control Equipment: Systems Reduce Waste Volumes, Improve Safety, and Lower Costs,” by Rengifo, R., PDVSA-Intevep, et al.
SPE 94269 “Development, Verification, and Improvement of a Sediment-Toxicity Test for Regulatory Compliance,” by Dorn, P.B., Shell Global Solutions Inc., et al.
SPE 94768 “Rock/Drilling-Fluid Interaction Studies on the Diffusion Cell,” by Muniz, E.S., GTEP PUC-Rio, et al.
SPE 92769 “Silicate-Based Fluid and Mud-Recovery System Combine To Stabilize Surface Formations of Azeri Wells,” by Alford, S.E., M-I Swaco, et al.
SPE 93003 “Evaluation of Cationic Water-Soluble Polymers With Improved Thermal Stability,” by Fernández, I.J., PDVSA-Intevep