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Guidelines CaCl2 Muds

Cacl2 mud guide

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ahmed darwish
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52 views2 pages

Guidelines CaCl2 Muds

Cacl2 mud guide

Uploaded by

ahmed darwish
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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General Guidelines for Running Calcium Chloride Muds

Calcium chloride muds are being used in some fields for several reasons (e.g. to reduce the
amount of solids to reach the required mud weight to control pore pressure, to drill some
formations with presence of anhydrite). Unfortunately dealing with divalent brines some
problems can occur if fluids are not properly managed as follows:

- Gelation of bio polymers in particular Xanthan Gum when pH > 9.5


- Greasing out of lubricants in pH >10
- Foaming issues
- The higher salinity in the mud affect the performance of polymers use to provide
suspension and filtration control specially when using divalent salts (Ca++). This problem
is related to the amount of free water for polymer hydration is reduced as the salinity is
increased. The high salinity also affects polymers temperature stability and tends to
accelerate polymer degradation. This is more critical when pH is higher than 9.5.

Proper actions should be taken to minimize above problems. Below you will find general
guidelines that will help in this job.

- Utilization of Bactericide to minimize potential for bacterial degradation and enhance


polymer performance. The treatment should be done to the water before adding the
polymers. B-54 biocide, Bactron (SAP No. 1000021556). 0.25-0.3 ppb water pre-
treatment should be enough.

- Application of de-foamer in the drill water before adding the polymers. This is especial
important when using CaCl2 mud to prevent foaming problems 0.5 ppb water pre-
treatment with available de-foamer should be enough.

- Pre-hydrate polymers (XC Polymer, starch) in fresh-water and provide good agitation
before adding to the system.

- Proper management of pH to minimize foaming and greasing out problems. Maintain pH


between 9-9.5 and never higher than 10 to avoid burning out the polymers or accelerate
degradation, also to minimize chances for foaming problem and/or lubricant greasing
out. Lime concentration in programs are only general guidelines and the mud engineer
should conduct pilot tests at rig site to adjust the optimum concentration of lime to be
added to maintain pH between 8.5 and 9.5 max.

- pH should be properly monitored by using a calibrated pH meter (glass electrode type)


and not with a pH paper. pH standard solutions should be available at rig site and pH
meter calibration should be checked every time before running a test. pH paper WILL
NOT give accurate pH values in saline solutions as the color change is masked by the
chloride ions in solutions and therefore should not be used to measure pH of calcium
chloride fluids.

- The mud engineer should run a quick check of the calcium chloride quality by preparing
a brine sample with salinity similar to the programmed values and checking the pH of
the sample in comparison with pH of mixing water. If a high pH difference is observed it
is possible the calcium chloride is contaminated and need to be reported to the office.

- Caustic soda should never be used to provide alkalinity in calcium chloride muds, always
use lime.

- If necessary use alternative measures to help in polymer stability and prevention of


degradation (oxygen scavenger PTS-200- SAP 1000829739 or FE-200 from BJ
contract). 2 ppb can be used for this purpose. This will also help to reduce corrosion
effect due to the high salinity.

- Avoid drilling out cement with calcium chloride muds as any spike in pH can cause the
gelation of bio-polymers e.g. Xanthan Gum. If pH increased, use citric acid (SAP
1000177936) to reduce pH if available.

- Mud Engineer should pilot test lubricant additions before adding to the active system.
pH control is even more critical when lubricants are present in the system.

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