Second-generation synthetic drilling fluids
- M-I Drilling Fluids LLC, Houston, TX (United States)
At the start of the 1990`s, three synthetic materials were introduced: esters, ethers, and polyalphaolefins (PAO`s). Now heading toward the last half of this decade, a new generation of synthetics is gaining popularity--linear alpha olefins (LAO`s), internal or isomerized olefins (IO`s), and linear paraffins (LP`s). While similar, they also have differences, both as base fluids and as formulated drilling muds. These second-generation synthetic-based fluids (SBF`s) have benefits over their predecessors in that they have lower kinematic viscosity and are less expensive. As drilling fluids, these technical advantages give rise to a more flexible fluid to meet greater drilling demands for high-temperature/high-pressure (HTHP) applications, extended-reach-drilling projects, and deepwater drilling. As with the first-generation materials, environmental issues are the drivers for the development and use of these second-generation synthetics. Drilling with synthetic-based muds (SBM`s) or pseudo-oil-based muds (OBM`s) has become commonplace in both the Gulf of Mexico and North Sea areas.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 536498
- Journal Information:
- JPT, Journal of Petroleum Technology, Vol. 49, Issue 7; Other Information: PBD: Jul 1997
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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