Training Division - DFSG

January 2008

1 DRILLING FLUIDS
 A superior inhibitive water-based drilling fluid system

Silicates provide superior clay and shale stabilizing characteristics.

They are regarded as an environmentally-friendly and cost effective

alternative to OBM or SBM.

2 DRILLING FLUIDS
 SILICATE SYSTEM

Silicate Muds

is essentially a system that utilises 5 – 15%

v/v Sodium or Potassium Silicate solution to enhance inhibition and
mechanical wellbore stability, particularly in highly fractured or
unconsolidated formations.

The system pH is engineered to +/- 12 which has an adverse affect on

certain polymer additives.

The system is formulated using most conventional polymers, with the

exception of HYDRO-CAP (PHPA)

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 SILICATE SYSTEM

Silicate Muds

The main application for silicate fluids is to replace oil and synthetic
fluids in difficult drilling applications such as wells containing reactive
claystones.

Silicate fluids exhibit a very high degree of shale inhibition which

exceeds that of glycol muds.

However they also have a number of limitations which must be

considered in fluid selection.

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 SILICATE SYSTEM

Features and Benefits

Excellent shale & limestone/chalk inhibition and stability

Potential to seal micro-fractured shales.
Cheaper than glycol systems although maintenance additions are
expected to be higher so this cost advantage can be eroded if the rig
has poor solids control.
Low corrosion rates
Good environmental properties for offshore and onshore applications.
Ease of handling (liquid mud pre-blends, bulk inventories)
Engineering (easy to use once up & running)
Low cost advantage over synthetic fluids

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 SILICATE SYSTEM

Disadvantages

Debatable use for reservoir drilling (Unless perforate Liner)

Needs close monitoring (pH / Silicate)
Sensitive to Hardness (divalent ions)
Anhydrite formations / Acid Gases
Temperature stability only to +/- 260 F
“Green” Cement (Depletion of SiO2)
Lower Lubricity (M-M Coefficient of Friction - 0.34)

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 SILICATE SYSTEM

Silicate Muds

Utilizes soluble sodium silicate or potassium silicate

Is designed to drill in highly reactive clays and shales, in highly

dispersible formations, and in unconsolidated or rafted zones

Provides “Near Oil Mud” performance and hole calipers

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 SILICATE SYSTEM

How Do Silicates Work?

Provide a semi-permeable membrane to enable dehydration of

formation clays, similar to OBM

Supply an effective plastering or cementation mechanism, precipitated

/ gelled silicates

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Silicate Muds

Silicate muds are composed of the following:

Silicate - primary shale inhibitor (provides water barrier)

Potassium - secondary shale inhibitor (reduces swelling)
Bio-polymer - rheology control.
PAC/Starch - provides fluid loss control
Compatible with conventional anionic and non-ionic fluid additives
Used with monovalent salts (KCl & NaCl)

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 SILICATE SYSTEM

Silicate Muds

Silicates gel with reducing pH

Silicates precipitate with divalent cation
The presence of solutes such as NaCl and KCl is synergistic, as solutes
will balance the mud and shale activities to reduce the net flow of ions
into the shale.
The presence of K+ is useful as it will exchange for Ca++ and Mg++ at
the clay surface, making these ions available to form precipitates.
Precipitated/gelled silicates will bridge shale
Silicate fluids more stable with salts
Optimum inhibition at 7-10 v/v% silicate alone
Optimum inhibition at 5-8 v/v% silicate with salt
Soluble silicates unlike OBM and SBM have the ability to fill small cracks
and pressure-seal them.

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 SILICATE SYSTEM

Silicate Attachment Mechanism

Na -

OH
O O

Ca++
OH
OH

O
O

OH
Na -

OH
SiO2 OH
O O

Ca++
OH
OH O
O Mg++
Ca++
O
OH
O
OH

OH
SiO2 OH
O
OH
O

Ca
++

O
O Mg++
Ca++
OH
OH

O O
OH
Ca++

Silicates associate with each other, aided by divalent ions, as

well as clay surfaces and tubulars

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 SILICATE SYSTEM

Structure of Gelled Silicates

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 SILICATE SYSTEM

Sealing of Microfractured Shales by Silicates

Fracture propagation

Mp Fp
Mp FLUID Fp Non-inhibitive
Non inhibitive Fluid
INGRESS

Mp > Fp Mp = Fp = Mechanical Failure

Silicate gel/precipitate

Mp
Mp FLUID Fp HYDRO-
HYDRO-FOIL S8 Fluid
INGRESS Fp

Mp > Fp Mp > Fp = Mechanical Stability

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 SILICATE SYSTEM
Silicate Cementation of Rafted or Unconsolidated Formation

~ GELLED/PRECIPITATED SILICATES

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 SILICATE SYSTEM

SILICATES
100
90

% Recovery
Laboratory results confirm the 80
more effective inhibition 70
performance of the “higher
60
50
ratio” silicate. The selection of 40
the 2.6 - 2.8 ratio is a 30
compromise to obtain the 20
maximum inhibition with
10
0
optimum solubility.

Silicate ratio (SIO2:Na20)

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 SILICATE SYSTEM

Silicates - Engineering Guidelines

Monitor SiO2 and Na2O via titration. Report depletion rates and chart
trends

Monitor Pf/Mf/pH and chart trends

Control LGS below 7% and MBT below 15 lb/bbl

Monitor K+ and report. Report depletions rates and

chart trends

Monitor and report all other standard WBM properties

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 SILICATE SYSTEM

Silicate Depletions

Low to moderate in clays, shales, chalk, cured cement

Severe in anhydrite, green cement, divalent salts

Severe with carbon dioxide contamination

Severe in chalk at BHST > 190o

If desired, controlled depletions may be performed

using gypsum

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 SILICATE SYSTEM

Comparative Performance

Performance
80
70 Mud Cost
60 $/ft
50
40
30
20
10
0
Silicate KCl PHPA Ligno

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 SILICATE SYSTEM

Comparative Performance

Performance
100
90
Ave. ROP, ft/hr
80
70 Chemicals Used, lb/ft
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Silicate KCL/Polymer PHPA Ligno

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 SILICATE SYSTEM

Subject Well Results

Subject Well Depth vs Days

Time (days)
0 20 40 50
0
AFE
2,000
Actual
4,000

6,000
Depth (md)

8,000

10,000

12,000

13,500

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 SILICATE SYSTEM

Caliper Log - Subject Well

Hole Caliper - Inches
6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
5,550

5,650

5,750

5,850

5,950

6,050

6,150

6,250

6,350

6,450

6,550

6,650

6,750

6,850

6,950

7,050

7,150

7,250

7,350

7,450

21 DRILLING FLUIDS 12-1/4” Section