Emphasis: Southeastern New Mexico. Weak intensified acid relieves headaches of Morrow completions

Journal Article · Fri Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1978 · Drill Bit; (United States)

OSTI ID:6003423

Pitts, J P

A weak intensified acid treatment is increasing in favor as a viable completion technique in the Morrow sands of S.E. New Mexico. Morrow completions always have been a source of conjecture and experimentation due to 3 basic problems associated with the Morrow sands: swelling clays, which account for a minority of the clays (2 to 4%) in the Morrow rock; migrating clays or fines such as iron chloride and kaolinite, which can account for up to 7% of the rock by weight; and fluids in the rock pores which can occur anytime during the life of the well as a result of drilling fluid invasion. It was not until the scanning electronic microscope (SEM) made its debut in the oil patch that engineers realized that migrating clays were a large part of completion problems in the Morrow. Core samples were taken from the Morrow which was known to be susceptible to formation damage. They were submitted to a variety of flow and solubility studies in an attempt to evolve a fluid capable of removing the fines. The studies indicated that HCl and HF acids in very low concentrations were the answer. In low concentration they would remove the fines without damaging the formation.

• OSTI ID: 6003423
• Journal Information: Drill Bit; (United States), Journal Name: Drill Bit; (United States) Vol. 27:9; ISSN DRBIA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
030900* -- Natural Gas-- Artificial Stimulation
Plowshare-- (-1989)
ACIDIZATION
CLAYS
DRILL CORES
DRILLING FLUIDS
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
FEDERAL REGION VI
FLUIDS
FORMATION DAMAGE
HYDROCHLORIC ACID
HYDROFLUORIC ACID
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
MICROSCOPY
NATURAL GAS WELLS
NEW MEXICO
NORTH AMERICA
PARTICLES
REMOVAL
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
STIMULATION
USA
WELL COMPLETION
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS