Optimization of FLOPRO NT Reservoir Drill-in Fluid on Different

Densities – 10.8 ppg and 11.5 ppg

Project Summary

The objective of this technical memorandum is to optimize two FLOPRO NT Reservoir Drill-in Fluid (RDF)
formulations to be used by ADMA, while drilling the reservoir, on different densities 10.8 lb/gal (1.29 SG)
and 11.5 lb/gal (1.38 SG). Additionally, a 10.8 lb/gal low salinity fluid was optimized to be used by ADMA
while running Combinable Magnetic Resonance Tool. Based on information provided by ADMA and PSD
analysis evaluated before, M-I SWACO formulated and optimized a FLOPRO NT RDF. FLOPRO NT was
optimized to be used on Sodium Chloride/Sodium Bromide brines as base fluid and achieve high density
without loading the system with solids. FLOPRO NT systems are water based systems designed to
minimize completion concerns - formation damage, solids plugging, and clay hydration as well as
maximize drilling concerns - ROP, wellbore stability, fluid loss control and hole cleaning.

Table 1 outlines the tested FLOPRO NT formulation on its different densities and an executive summary
of the results noted throughout the testing.

Table 1 – Summary of FLOPRO NT Tests for ADMA

# FLOPRO NT RDF Testing Condition Observation

1) NaCl/NaBr base brine
2) 8 ppb FLO-TROL
1 pressure
3) 1 ppb FLO-VIS PLUS
10.8 lb/gal
(1.29 SG)
4) 5 ppb SAFE-CARB 2
5) 20 ppb SAFE-CARB 20
6) 15 ppb SAFE-CARB 40
● Stable rheology
▪ 16-hr dynamic aging
● 6/3 RPM readings AHR: 14/12
@280°F/100 psi
● HTHP Spurt of 1.6 ml, 30 min of 8
▪ FAO-10 (35 micron disk)
ml
@280°F/500 psi differential
● API FL 2.8 ml
▪ 16-hr dynamic aging ● Stable rheology
@280°F/100 psi ● 6/3 RPM readings AHR: 9/7
▪ 120-hr static aging ● HTHP Spurt of 4 ml, 30 min of
@250°F/100 psi 12.2 ml
▪ FAO-10 (35 micron disk) ● API FL 3.2 ml

1) NaCl/NaBr base brine
2) 8 ppb DUALFLO HT
2 3) 1 ppb FLO-VIS PLUS
10.8 lb/gal 4) 5 ppb SAFE-CARB 2
(1.29 SG) 5) 20 ppb SAFE-CARB 20
6) 15 ppb SAFE-CARB 40
● Stable rheology
▪ 16-hr dynamic aging
● 6/3 RPM readings AHR: 19/16
@280°F/100 psi
● HTHP Spurt of 1.6 ml, 30 min of
▪ FAO-10 (35 micron disk)
6.8 ml
@280°F/500 psi differential
● API FL 2.8 ml
pressure
▪ 16-hr dynamic aging ● Stable rheology
@280°F/100 psi ● 6/3 RPM readings AHR: 16/14
▪ 120-hr static aging ● HTHP Spurt of 2.4 ml, 30 min of
@280°F/100 psi 8.4 ml
▪ FAO-10 (35 micron disk) ● API FL 3.0 ml

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 1) NaCl/NaBr base brine
2) 8 ppb FLO-TROL
3) 1 ppb FLO-VIS PLUS
3 ▪ 72-hr static aging @280°F/100
4) 5 ppb SAFE-CARB 2
10.8 lb/gal
5) 20 ppb SAFE-CARB 20
(1.29 SG)
6) 15 ppb SAFE-CARB 40
Low Salinity
7) 90.26 ppb Barite
Fluid
40% Formulation 1 + 60%
Low Salinity Formulation
1) NaCl/NaBr base brine
2) 8 / 9 ppb DUALFLO HT
4 3) 0.8 / 1 ppb FLO-VIS
11.5 lb/gal PLUS
(1.38 SG) 4) 5 ppb SAFE-CARB 2
5) 20 ppb SAFE-CARB 20
6) 15 ppb SAFE-CARB 40
1) NaCl/NaBr base brine
2) 4 ppb DUALFLO HT
4 ppb FLO-TROL
3) 1 ppb FLO-VIS PLUS
5 4) 5 ppb SAFE-CARB 2
11.5 lb/gal 5) 20 ppb SAFE-CARB 20
(1.38 SG) 6) 15 ppb SAFE-CARB 40
50% Formulation 1 + 50%
formulation 4 (Weight up)
Results and Discussion
FLOPRO NT Reservoir Drill-in Fluid (RDF) was formulated utilizing Sodium Chloride/Sodium Bromide brine
as the base fluid on different concentrations for each fluid (Table 2). The system was blended, sheared
and dynamically aged (hot rolled) for 16 hours at 280ºF - 300ºF, bottom hole temperature.
● Stable rheology
psi
● 6/3 RPM readings AHR: 10/9
▪ FAO-10 (35 micron disk)
●Chlorides: 86,000 mg/L
@280°F/500 psi differential
pressure
▪ 16-hr dynamic aging ● Stable rheology
@300°F/100 psi ● 6/3 RPM readings AHR: 16/12
▪ FAO-10 (35 micron disk) ● HTHP Spurt of 2.4 ml, 30 min of
@300°F/500 psi differential 4.8 ml
pressure
▪ 16-hr dynamic aging
@300°F/100 psi
● Stable rheology
▪ 74-hr static aging @300°F/100
● 6/3 RPM readings AHR: 7/5
psi
● HTHP Spurt of 1.6 ml, 30 min of
▪ FAO-10 (35 micron disk)
6.4 ml
@300°F/500 psi differential
pressure
▪ 72-hr static aging @300°F/100
psi ● Stable rheology
▪ FAO-10 (35 micron disk) ● 6/3 RPM readings AHR: 6/5
@300°F/500 psi differential
pressure
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 Table 2 – FLOPRO NT RDF Formulation
1 2 3 4 5
10.8 lb/gal
10.8 lb/gal 10.8 lb/gal 11.5 lb/gal 11.5 lb/gal
Product Function (1.29 SG)
(1.29 SG) (1.29 SG) (1.38 SG) (1.38 SG)
LSF
Concentration
Base Fluid
10.0 lb/gal NaCl 370.91 lb/bbl 370.91 lb/bbl 164.52 lb/bbl 0.59 bbl/bbl 0.59 bbl/bbl
Density
Base Fluid
12.5 lb/gal NaBr 19.32 lb/bbl 19.32 lb/bbl - 0.33 bbl/bbl 0.33 bbl/bbl
Density
Water Base Fluid - - 170.22 lb/bbl - -
Fluid Loss
FLO-TROL 8.0 lb/bbl - 8.0 lb/bbl - 4.0 lb/bbl
Control-Viscosity
Fluid Loss
DUALFLO HT - 8.0 lb/bbl - 9.0 lb/bbl 4.0 lb/bbl
Control-Viscosity

FLO-VIS PLUS Viscosity 1.0 lb/bbl 1.0 lb/bbl 1.0 lb/bbl 1.0 lb/bbl 1.0 lb/bbl
Temperature
PTS 200 5.0 lb/bbl 5.0 lb/bbl 5.0 lb/bbl 5.0 lb/bbl 5.0 lb/bbl
Stabilizer
Soda Ash pH 0.5 lb/bbl 0.5 lb/bbl 0.5 lb/bbl 0.5 lb/bbl 0.5 lb/bbl
Magnesium Oxide pH Buffer 0.5 lb/bbl 0.5 lb/bbl 0.5 lb/bbl 0.5 lb/bbl 0.5 lb/bbl
M-I CIDE Bactericide 0.37 lb/bbl 0.37 lb/bbl 0.37 lb/bbl 0.37 lb/bbl 0.37 lb/bbl
SAF-SCAV HS H2S Scavenger 0.5 lb/bbl 0.5 lb/bbl 0.5 lb/bbl 0.5 lb/bbl 0.5 lb/bbl
Zinc Carbonate H2S Scavenger 5.0 lb/bbl 5.0 lb/bbl 5.0 lb/bbl 5.0 lb/bbl 5.0 lb/bbl
Oxygen
OS-1L 0.1 lb/bbl 0.1 lb/bbl 0.1 lb/bbl 0.1 lb/bbl 0.1 lb/bbl
Scavenger
Corrosion
CONQOR 404 0.5 lb/bbl 0.5 lb/bbl 0.5 lb/bbl 0.5 lb/bbl 0.5 lb/bbl
Inhibitor
Weighting
Barite - - 55.51 lb/bbl - -
Material
SAFE-CARB 2 Pore Bridging 5.0 lb/bbl 5.0 lb/bbl 5.0 lb/bbl 5.0 lb/bbl 5.0 lb/bbl
SAFE-CARB 20 Pore Bridging 20.0 lb/bbl 20.0 lb/bbl 20.0 lb/bbl 20.0 lb/bbl 20.0 lb/bbl
SAFE-CARB 40 Pore Bridging 15.0 lb/bbl 15.0 lb/bbl 15.0 lb/bbl 15.0 lb/bbl 15.0 lb/bbl

PSD was determined by OPTIBRIDGE, M-I proprietary software, to define optimum Particle Size
Distribution (PSD) for pore data of 75 micron. The PSD calculation is shown in Figure 1. The PSD was
optimized to ensure minimum spurt (initial) loss, lower overall fluid loss and fluid loss rate tendency.
SAFECARB 2 is added to minimize spurt (initial) loss and enable the filter cake to be formed quicker and
minimize overall fluid loss. Table 3 shows optimum formation bridging required minimizing fluid and solids
invasion.

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Figure 1 shows PSD targeted versus optimum PSD by using 40 lb/bbl of bridging material concentration. PSD was
optimized to ensure minimum overall fluid loss, minimum spurt (initial) loss and fluid loss rate tendency.

Table 3 – Optimized Particle Size Distribution

PSD Target Optimized PSD
(Microns) (Microns)
D90 75 123.1
D50 23.2 21.2
D10 0.9 0.9

The rheological properties and pH of the FLOPRO NT RDF system before and after dynamic aging at
280°F/300°F for 16 hours are shown in Table 3 below. The system exhibited good stable rheological
properties with the fluid showing additional yield as expected after the ageing period for 16 hours. The
pH is in the range of 10 - 10.8. 6/3 RPM readings are in the range of 19-14 / 16-12 for optimum for 8 ½”
and 6” hole cleaning.

The rheological properties and pH of the FLOPRO NT RDF system before and after static aging at
280°F/300°F are shown in Table 4 below. The system exhibited stable rheological properties with the fluid
showing minimal fluid degradation as expected after the ageing period. The pH is in the range of 10 - 10.8.

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 Table 3 – FLOPRO NT RDF Rheological Properties after dynamic aging
Properties
Hot rolling, 0F/
Initial 280 / 16 Initial 280 / 16 Initial 300 / 16
Hours
1 2 4
Fluid test 10.8 lb/gal 10.8 lb/gal 11.5 lb/gal
parameter @ (1.29 SG) (1.29 SG) (1.38 SG)
120°F FLO-TROL DUALFLO HT DUALFLO HT
(BHR) (AHR) (BHR) (AHR) (BHR) (AHR)
600 / 300 75/56 63/48 91/72 80/61 107/80 89/66
200 / 100 48/36 41/32 64/51 54/43 68/52 56/42
6/3 15/13 14/12 19/16 19/16 19/16 16/12
Gels 12/15 12/15 16/19 16/19 14/21 10/12
PV / YP 19/37 15/33 19/42 18/42 27/53 23/43
pH 10.69 10.59 10.63 10.52 10.56 10.48

Table 4 – FLOPRO NT RDF Rheological Properties after static aging

Properties
280/16 280/16 280/16
Hot rolling, 280/72 300/72
0F/ Hours Initial D + 120 Initial D + 120 Initial Initial D + 74 Initial
Static Static
Static Static Static
2 3 4 5
1
10.8 lb/gal 10.8 lb/gal 11.5 lb/gal 11.5 lb/gal
Fluid test 10.8 lb/gal
(1.29 SG) (1.29 SG) (1.38 SG) (1.38 SG)
parameter (1.29 SG)
DUAL-FLO HT Low Salinity DUALFLO HT DUALFLO HT
@ 120°F FLO-TROL
Fluid
(BHR) (AHR) (BHR) (AHR) (BHR) (AHR) (BHR) (AHR) (BHR) (AHR)
600 / 300 75/56 57/42 91/72 78/60 64/51 43/32 107/80 71/50 62/47 45/30
200 / 100 48/36 35/27 64/51 52/40 45/36 26/21 68/52 41/29 40/32 25/18
6/3 15/13 9/7 19/16 16/14 15/13 10/9 19/16 7/5 14/12 6/5
Gels 12/15 7/8 16/19 13/17 11/14 8/11 14/21 6/8 10/15 5/7
PV / YP 19/37 15/27 19/42 18/42 13/38 11/21 27/53 21/29 15/32 15/15
pH 10.69 10.33 10.63 10.28 11.2 10.22 10.56 10.38 11.29 10.52

Then 30-minutes static filter cakes were formed using a FAO-10 aloxite disk (35 microns) at 280°F - 300°F
and 500 psi differential pressure. The disk types were selected based on the reservoir pore sizes, were the
fluid loss measurement captures the efficiency of the bridging selection. The result of each fluid loss test
is shown in Table 5.

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 Table 5 – HTHP Fluid Loss Results @ 2800F - 3000F (500 psi Differential Pressure)
Modified HTHP Fluid Loss
@280F @280F @300F
1 2 4
10.8 lb/gal 10.8 lb/gal 11.5 lb/gal
Time
(1.29 SG) (1.29 SG) (1.38 SG)
FLOTROL DUALFLO HT DUALFLO HT
Spurt 1.6 1.6 2.4
1 min 2.0 1.8 2.6
4 min 3.2 2.6 2.8
9 min 4.4 3.6 3.2
16 min 6.2 4.4 3.6
25 min 7.4 5.6 4.4
30 min 8 6.8 4.8

Reference

BLANCA, Espinosa. Technical memorandum - Optimization of 10.8-lb/gal FLOPRO NT RDF, 10.8 lb/gal
Low Salinity Fluid, and 11.5 lb/gal of FLOPRO NT RDF. 16 August 2015.

Appendix

#866-4-HTHP Fluid Loss, Basic Guidelines for HTHP Fluid Loss Testing in the Completion Technology
Laboratories, Revision 2, 2010. Houston, Texas: API RP 13B-1

#866-8-Standardized Mixing Procedure for WBM, Revision 2, 2010. Houston, Texas: Laboratory Work
Instruction: Laboratory Work Instruction

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