Maximizing recovery using completion and workover fluids

Journal Article · Tue Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1986 · Pet. Eng. Int.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5562639

Acosta, D

Poor productivity of promising new wells, or reworked old wells, can almost always be traced to undesirable characteristics of completion or workover fluids. While formation damage cannot be prevented, it can be minimized. The two major damaging mechanisms associated with fluid in the borehole are fluid and solids invasion. Fluid invasion is caused by loss of filtrate from borehole fluid and its typically limited to a few inches up to a few feet from the borehole. Problems associated with fluid invasion include: Emulsion blocks; Water blocks; Changes in wettablity; Hydration of formation clays; Migration of formation fines; Precipitation of inorganic salts; Particle plugging from entrained solids. Emulsion blocks result from the interaction of filtrate with formation fluids. This results in highly viscous mixtures and capillary blocking by insular bubbles. Water blocking is caused by capillary pressure which promotes the displacement of oil or gas around the well bore by filrate from a water-base mud. Sometimes, not all this water is produced out of the formation which can reduce the relative permeability to oil or gas.

• Research Organization: Petrolite Oil Field Chemicals Group, Houston, TX
• OSTI ID: 5562639
• Journal Information: Pet. Eng. Int.; (United States), Journal Name: Pet. Eng. Int.; (United States) Vol. 58:4; ISSN PEEID
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
03 NATURAL GAS
030300 -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
BOREHOLES
CAVITIES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CLAYS
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
DRILLING FLUIDS
EMULSIONS
FLUID FLOW
FLUIDS
FORMATION DAMAGE
HYDRATION
INHIBITION
MIXTURES
NATURAL GAS WELLS
OIL WELLS
PERMEABILITY
PLUGGING
PRECIPITATION
PRODUCTION
SALTS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLIDS FLOW
SOLVATION
VISCOSITY
WELL COMPLETION
WELLS
WETTABILITY