Formation Damage

What’s the Formation Damage?

Is the reduction of permeability
in a reservoir rock
caused by the invasion of fluid(s)
and/or
solid(s) to the section adjacent to the well bore
(In some condition sets, can extend outward some
distance from the well bore).

The common term and measurement is “Skin Factor”.

 Causes?
1. Foreign particle invasion
2. Formation clay swelling
3. Chemically incompatible fluids
4. Oil wetting of the reservoir rock
5. Emulsion blocking
6. Fluid invasion (Water Blocking)
7. Polymer Inherent
1. Foreign Particle Invasion
“Plugging of the flow paths in the formation
by invading solids”

This type of damage occurs near the well bore or

perforation tunnel.
Dirty brines can be the cause.
The size of the invading particle is important.
The most common particles creating formation
damage include: Barite, Clay, Scale, Un-dissolved lost
circulation material (LCM), Drilled solids, Rust.
2. Formation Clay Swelling

“Formation clays swell

and break apart if they
meet most drilling fluid
filtrates”

 Especially if the
filtrates are fresh water
and/or have a high pH.

 As the clay particles

migrate, they block the
pore spaces.
2. Formation Clay Swelling
“Formation Clay Damage Control Summary”
• Illite - Don’t expose to a dispersive environment. No
lignosulfonates, keep pH below 10. Keep rate of filtration
down to reduce fluid velocity through pores.
• Kaolinite - Much the same as illite. But put more
emphasis on reducing fluid velocity through pores, if
loosely held.
• Smectite - Do not expose to fresh water to avoid
swelling. Use potassium-based or oil-based fluid.
• Chlorite - Avoid acid if possible. If not, use oxygen
scavengers and iron chelating agents
3. Chemically Incompatible Fluids
Is due to the precipitation of salts or insoluble ions.
4. Wettability of the Reservoir Rock

Sandstone almost always originally water wet.

Solids become coated with oil reducing K relative to oil
Usually occurs from action of surfactants:
• whole oil-mud loss to formation
• cationic surfactants in sandstone
• in oil-base mud filtrate
• anionic surfactants in limestone at pH 0-8
Oil wet mobile particles are more susceptible to plugging
Lower fluid loss to the formation
Don’t use excess surfactants/oil-wetting agents
5. Emulsion Blockage

• Emulsion formed inside formation

• Primarily water-in-oil emulsions (viscous)
• Goes hand-in-hand with oil-wetting
• Loss of oil mud filtrate containing high amounts of
excess emulsifier
• Loss of brine completion fluid to formation drilled
with oil base mud
6. Water Blockage

Build-up of water (filtrate) around wellbore

• Filtrate or brine invasion

• Reduces K relative to oil
• Can self - correct
• May increase bound water
• Drill in fluids - keep filtrate low use fluid loss
additives and/or bridging solids
• Brines - viscosity to slow fluid loss
7. Polymer Inherent