Case History
X-Treme Clean system with MICRO-PRIME
displacement fluid reduced costs and risks
Efficiently cleaned wellbore and displaced fluid in
deepwater environment
Benefits
„„Removed cement column and cleaned
well without damaging or wearing
any casing IDs
„„Effectively
displaced synthetic mud to
brine and water-wet all surfaces
„„Reduced operation cost and risks with
integrated solutions
Background and challenges
„„Gulfof Mexico well at 27,200 ft
(8290 m) plug-back total depth,
8,150 ft (2484 m) water depth, and
23.5° deviation
„„Wellbore fluid was 14.8 ppg synthetic
oil-based mud
„„A 103/4-in. X 101/8-in. casing crossover
existed at a depth of 11,240 ft
„„Required drilling out cement and the
shoe track
„„Customer requested wellbore cleanup
with fluid displacement and cleaning
of the BOP stack
Baker Hughes solution and results
„„Baker Hughes deployed X-Treme Clean
wellbore cleanup and displacement
system and MICRO-PRIME
displacement fluids
„„Drilled
out more than 1,600 ft of
cement and the shoe track
„„Successfullydisplaced well to
completion fluid
An operator in the Gulf of Mexico had a
deepwater well that required milling of
cement and the shoe track followed by a
wellbore cleanup run. The well would then
be displaced from a 14.8 ppg drilling mud
to a 14.7 ppg zinc bromide.
Baker Hughes recommended using a full
portfolio of X-Treme Clean™ wellbore
cleanup (WBCU) tools and fluid services.
The workstring included the bit, a smooth
outside diameter string mill, casing
scraper, magnet, and full-function valve.
One main challenge in the operation
was the presence of a 103/4-in. X 101/8-in.
casing crossover at a depth of 11,240 ft
(3426 m). Upon reaching the restriction,
the string mill and bit were rotated
through the tight spot to reduce drag and
open it up. Running of the workstring was X-Treme Clean magnet at surface
then continued to the top of the cement
column at a depth of 24,441 ft (7450 m).
At this point, the rig crew began washing
down and reaming.
A final depth of 26,588 ft (8104 m) was
obtained after more than 1,600 ft (488 m)
of cement had been drilled out. One
hundred barrels of a high viscosity sweep
was circulated through the workstring
to clean up any debris left behind after
drilling. The full-function valve was
activated to allow the blowout preventers
(BOPs) to be jetted. Upon pulling out of
hole, 3 to 4 pounds (1.3 to 1.8 kg) of metal
shavings were removed from the magnets.
X-Treme Clean casing scraper at surface
Following the cement milling run, the
cleanup and displacement operation
commenced. The workstring included
a combination of tools to enhance the
cleanout operations by removing mud,
cement sheath, rust, scale, paraffin, and
other substances from the casing inside
diameter (ID). Included in the bottomhole
assembly (BHA) were X-Treme Clean
casing scrapers, brushes, multitask filter,
magnets, and two riser brushes. The
workstring was tripped in hole to a depth
of 26,571 ft (8099 m) over a 22.5-hour
period. A 100 bbl high viscosity pill was
circulated through the string. The MICRO-
PRIME™ system was selected specifically
for its ability to remove synthetic
oil-based residue from the wellbore
surfaces. The fluid displacement included
the following Baker Hughes spacers and
completion fluids:
Upon short-tripping the riser and BOP
cleaning BHA out of the hole, the
boot basket in the second riser brush
was observed to be full of debris. The
workstring was then tripped back in hole
and 15 bbl of a 19.2 ppg spike fluid were
pumped to bring the zinc bromide up to
the desired fluid density. When the tools
were back on surface, 132 pounds
(60 kg) of debris were recovered from
the XP magnets.
Baker Hughes used the X-Treme Clean
XP WBCU system in combination with
MICRO-PRIME fluid program to provide
the customer a comprehensive and
integrated solution to drill out cement,
perform wellbore cleanup operations, and
displace the well successfully.
X-Treme Clean riser brush at surface

Fluid Description Volume bbl Density ppg

Spacer #1 GT 3000 Base Oil 60 6.7
Spacer #2 Prime 100 Transition 100 14.7
Spacer #3 Prime 770 Surfactant 100 14.1
Spacer #4 Viscous 100 14.6
Zinc Bromide 950 14.7

Upon successfully completing the

displacement, the crew performed a
second BOP jetting operation by making
three passes through the stack at 10, 20,
and 30 RPM. At the completion of that
operation, the rams and annulars were
functioned. A 23/8-in. deactivation ball
dropped to close off the ports in the jet
sub. The workstring was then slacked off
to bottom to continue circulating 14.7 lb
zinc bromide until a consistent NTU
reading was obtained.

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