Using potassium to stabilize Gulf of Mexico shales

Journal Article · Wed Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1989 · World Oil; (USA)

OSTI ID:5275117

Hemphill, T ^[1]

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1. International Operations, Baroid Drilling Fluids, Houston, TX (US)

For many years, dispersed mud systems have predominated in the Gulf of Mexico. While these lignosulfonate systems generally have not promoted borehole stability, minimized shale hydration nor produced excellent caliper logs, they have provided acceptable rheological and filtration properties over a wide range of mud densities. Importantly, unlike nondispersed polymer muds, these lignosulfonate systems can withstand serious drill solids contamination, something that regularly occurs in the Gulf of Mexico drilling environment. The author describes a lignosulfonate system that replaces caustic soda with potassium hydroxide (KOH) and lignite with a potassium salt of humic acid has proved effective where conventional lignosulfonate systems have fallen short. Improved caliper logs and less clay hydration and dispersion occur where KOH and this K-LIG drilling fluid additive have been used.

• OSTI ID: 5275117
• Journal Information: World Oil; (USA), Vol. 209:5; ISSN 0043-8790
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
02 PETROLEUM
BOREHOLES
STABILIZATION
DRILLING FLUIDS
ADDITIVES
GULF OF MEXICO
OIL SHALES
WELL DRILLING
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
FUEL SLURRIES
HUMIC ACIDS
LIGNITE
POTASSIUM
RHEOLOGY
SULFONATES
ALKALI METALS
ATLANTIC OCEAN
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
BROWN COAL
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CARIBBEAN SEA
CAVITIES
COAL
DISPERSIONS
DRILLING
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
MATERIALS
METALS
MIXTURES
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SEAS
SLURRIES
SURFACE WATERS
SUSPENSIONS
040401* - Oil Shales & Tar Sands- In Situ Methods
True & Modified
040500 - Oil Shales & Tar Sands- Properties & Composition
020300 - Petroleum- Drilling & Production