Notes on Hole Cleaning

In addition to 6- and 3-RPM readings, it was found that low-shear-rate viscosity created by the
polymer network in FLO-PRO systems was critical for hole cleaning and solids suspension in
horizontal and high-angle wells. This LSRV is measured using a Brookfield viscometer at a shear
rate of 0.3 RPM (the equivalent of 0.037 RPM on a VG meter) (*from MI Drilling Fluids Engineering
Manual 2.0)

LSYP = 2*F3-F6 (*from MI Mudware 2.0)

Recommenden LSYP:

0-35° LSYP > 0.6-0.8 Hole Diametr

>35° LSYP > 1.0-1.2 Hole Diametr (When laminar flow. If turbulent LSYP is less relevant)

For optimum performance from FLO-PRO* fluids, maintain Brookfield viscosity above
40,000 cP.

Mud Properties

Main mud selection criteria for drilling high angle holes are: hole-making ability (i.e. prevention of
bit-balling), wellbore stability in shale’s, friction coefficient and fluid loss control (i.e. prevention of
differential sticking). In most cases, these criteria strongly favor the use of SBM’s (exceptions are
areas with very high fracturing/ lost circulation risks).

Barite Sag is an important detrimental phenomenon that must be taken into account in the
selection and design of a mud system for high angle wells. Barite Sag may adversely affect ECD
and surge pressures, wellbore stability, packoff and lost circulation, and well control. Minimizing
barite sag tendency requires dedicated formulation of the mud for sag control (using sag control
agents such as organophilic clays), proactive monitoring (using special sag screening techniques
such as the VST test), and maintenance at the rig-site (especially maintaining adequate ultra low-
end rheology, i.e. < 3-rpm readings).

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For deepwater applications, mud rheology should be considered explicitly as a function of
temperature and pressure. Hole cleaning and ECD modeling should be conducted using
parameter input from Fann 70 (or equivalent) viscometer measurements. Mud checks at the rig-site
should be conducted at downhole circulating temperature, mud line temperature, and flow line
temperature.

The mud weight required for both wellbore stability (as determined by off-set data) and well control
should be maintained prior to drilling into formations. Field experience shows that it is usually
possible to maintain a mud weight of 0.2 – 0.3 ppg below the calculated mud weight (e.g. to
accommodate high ECD’s in small drilling margin environments), without suffering excessive hole
problems. However, maintaining even lower mud weights (e.g. > 0.5 ppg below calculated
recommended mud weight) will inevitably lead to wellbore enlargement (with caving’s and reduced
annular velocities complicating hole cleaning), packoff problems (with associated fracturing & lost
circulation risks), hole collapse, and stuck pipe.

The effect of mud compressibility (more pronounced for SBMs than for WBMs) always needs to be
taken into account when selecting and maintaining an optimum downhole mud weight. The use of
a pressurized mud balance is recommended to accurately measure surface mud weights.

Mud rheology should be optimized in accordance with hole cleaning simulations (e.g. Virtual
Hydraulics*). Simulations need to be carried out using mud properties as a function of temperature
and pressure, as determined by Fann 70 (or equivalent) viscometer. It is recommended to obtain
Fann 70 measurements of the mud sent out from the plant, and occasionally test mud samples
from the rig.

Use cuttings size (i.e. monitor shakers, consult with bit experts) to update hole-cleaning
predictions.

It is recommended to maintain the mud with appropriate low-end rheology (i.e. 6 rpm reading
preferably at 1 – 1.2 x hole size), provided other system limitations (e.g. restrictions on viscosity
due to ECD) are met as well. Note that it is difficult to modify low-end rheology independent from
high-end rheology (i.e. 600-rpm & 300-rpm reading that affect PV and YP).

Thixotropy (i.e. gelation) allows for cuttings to remain suspended in the mud while static. Gel
strengths should be non-progressive (i.e. little difference between 10 min. and 30 min. gels) but
adequate to suspend cuttings (e.g. 10 sec. gel: 10 – 18 lbs/100ft2; 10 min. & 30 min. gels: 16 –28
lb/100ft2).

Good solids control, preventing cuttings/ solids breaking down to colloidal size in the mud, is
crucial to minimize PV (thereby minimizing pump pressure/ maximizing flow rates), keep YP in
check (thereby controlling ECD’s), and prevent gels from becoming progressive (thereby
preventing excessive swab & surge pressures). LGS should preferably be < 5%, API SP
(measuring solids control efficiency) should preferably be > 90% (note that high dilution rates to
maintain optimum properties will inflate drilling fluid costs).

Running SBMs with higher synthetic-to-water ratio (SWR) will help to thin the fluid, minimizing
pump pressures and maximizing flow rates for hole cleaning. Note that higher SWR’s will increase
the cost of the mud system.

Maintaining good shale inhibition and chemical wellbore stabilization is an important requirement
for drilling and cleaning high-deviation well bores, strongly favouring the use of SBMs. Poor

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inhibition and chemical stability will complicate hole cleaning by causing wellbore enlargement,
higher annular loading, and cuttings beds that are more difficult to remove (due to mutual sticking
of cuttings). Note that good shale inhibition may complicate hole cleaning in large diameter vertical
holes, as all cuttings are kept intact (i.e. no dispersion occurs) and must be removed from the hole.

Sweeps in high angle holes should be avoided, as they tend to be ineffective, make
controlling mud properties more difficult, and may increase the chance of pack-offs.

Barite sag is aggregated by low shear operations (e.g. slow pump rates and slow pipe rotation,
tripping, logging, small wellbore influx, slow fracture breathing etc.), which should be minimized if at
all possible. Mud treatment recommendations (e.g. maintenance requirements on sag control
agents such as organophilic clays in the correct ratios) should be strictly adhered to. Pro-active sag
monitoring using representative tests (e.g. VST) should be practiced. PWD information on static
mud weight while tripping yields valuable information on sag tendency and should be used to
optimize pump staging and mud circulation during trips.

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(*from SLB SP Manual)

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PV is defined as the resistance of a fluid to flow, due to mechanical friction caused by the
solid’s size, shape and density. PV is used to gauge the easiness for the fluid to flow, and it’s
ability to suspend cuttings. The unit measurement for PV is in centipoises.

YP, on the other hand, is an extrapolated value of the yield strength, at a shear rate of zero1. It’s
caused by the attracting electrochemical charges of the particles in the fluid. YP is measured in psi.

Hole Cleaning in wells above 60° and Extended Reach Wells (ERD)

In a WBM system, maintaining the viscosity (specifically, the 6 rpm reading on the Fann scale) to
between 1 and 1.5 times the borehole diameter has been proven effective. The same rules
generally apply for OBM and SBM as well, but typically the ratio is less than 1.2 times the borehole
diameter. For that reason, for OBM or SBM application, it’s desirable to have a thinner mud, low
plastic viscosity and higher oil to water ratio. The suggested range for OWR (for SBM and OBM)
for this application is around 80:20 to 90:10.

One rule of thumb on finding the right AV for vertical and low angle wells is “AV has to be at least
twice the slip velocity of the cuttings”.

It’s common practice to adjust the value for PV between 1 and 1.5 times the hole size, in inches,
for efficient hole cleaning ???.

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(*from SLB D&M Hole Cleaning Guide).

0-40° 40°-60° >60°

Flow Laminar Turbulent Turbulent
Rheology High YP and Gel In turbulent flow, cuttings In turbulent flow, cuttings
Strength transport is not transport is not
affected by rheology affected by rheology
Maximize YP/PV
Sweeps* Viscous Combination Combination
Agitation Mechanical Mechanical
* Not recommended by IPM
(*from Sedco Forex Hole Cleaning in Direccional Wells).

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