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3 - Coring Fluids

Coring fluids are designed to retrieve core samples without altering the formation properties. Water-based fluids like FloPro use non-damaging chemicals and bridging agents to maintain an uninvaded core center. Oil-based fluids like VersaCore also control HPHT and use emulsifiers to inhibit drilling. Key considerations in formulating coring fluids include HPHT control, proper bridging, filtrate quality, and use of tracers to differentiate fluid from formation fluids.

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ahmed otman
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82 views19 pages

3 - Coring Fluids

Coring fluids are designed to retrieve core samples without altering the formation properties. Water-based fluids like FloPro use non-damaging chemicals and bridging agents to maintain an uninvaded core center. Oil-based fluids like VersaCore also control HPHT and use emulsifiers to inhibit drilling. Key considerations in formulating coring fluids include HPHT control, proper bridging, filtrate quality, and use of tracers to differentiate fluid from formation fluids.

Uploaded by

ahmed otman
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Special Fluids

Coring Fluids

Cores are cut to provide the most reliable information


Concerning :
•Lithology
• Hydrocarbon saturation
• Texture
• Rock Structure
• Fossil Content
• Formation Dips and Tectonic Disturbance
Cores Laboratory Analysis

Laboratory Analysis of cores determines:


• Porosity
• Permeability
• Hydrocarbon Saturation
• Salinity of connate water
What do you expect from a
Coring Fluid ?

• Provide a coring material with un invaded center.


• Provide a filtrate that will not alter connate water saturation,
rock wetability or geological interpretation.
• Have properties that will Help to retrieve core from well bore.
• Maintain stable well bore.
Types of coring fluids

Water Base
Low solids, non damaging chemicals. Best example is
the Flo Pro system.

Oil Base coring fluids Versa core


Formulating Coring Fluids

Points to be considered:
1. HPHT
2. Bridging
3. Filtrate quality
4. Organic materials
5. Tracers
HPHT

The HPHT should be kept as low as possible.


Water base coring Fluids:
• In Flo Pro systems the HPHT is controlled by Flo
Trol and Polypac UL
• In other water base fluids SP-101 can be also used.
• In case of using Polymers care should be taken to
disperse the very well. Non dispersed or
coagulated polymer can lead to core jamming and
loss of core.
HPHT ….(cont.)

Oil base coring Fluids:


Versa Core systems, where the HPHT should be
kept as low as possible
Versa Trol which is a modified Gilsonite is
normally used to control HPHT
Ecotrol which is a Resin used to control HPHT in
Oil Base Fluids is M-I’S NT substance specially
designed for minimum formation damage.
Bridging

Bridging is the closing of pores’ throats of


reservoir rocks thus preventing invasion of any
undesirable fluid into reservoir rocks.
•CaCO3 is the most commonly used for bridging
because of its ease to grind according to the size of
pore throat and its high solubility in acid.
•Other materials such as M.I.X.II can also be used
due to its solubility in acid.
Bridging…(Cont.)

•The selection of the bridging agent size is a function


of pore throat diameter.
• As a rule of thumb the size particle of the bridging
agent should be from 1/3 to ½ of the pore throat
opening.
• A 30 ppb of bridging agent is normally sufficient for
bridging.
• The more fractures’ porosity and permeability the
more concentration we need of the bridging agent.
Organic Materials

• The presence of organic materials in the


coring fluid that gives “Florescence” with
U.V. can highly affect geological
interpretation.
This arises the need of tracers!
Tracers

• Tracers are chemical substances that are added to


the coring fluid in order to facilitate the
differentiation between the coring fluid filtrate and
the formation fluids.
• Tracers are normally soluble substances that do not
exist naturally in formation water.
• Example for water base coring fluids tracers are
“Nitrates” and “Bromides”.
• Example for oil Base coring fluid tracer is “Iodo-
Naphthalene”
Conversion of drilling mud to
Coring Fluid

• Only high weight muds should be converted


to coring fluids so as not to loose valuable
Barite.
• Minimize HPHT to minimum.
• Add bridging material after running
“OPTIBRIDGE”
• Add tracers if needed.
Water base coring fluids

• Flo Pro system is the best representing


system, due to the fact that all its solid are
either biodegradable or acid soluble.
• Flo Pro depends on its thixotropic
properties gained from the premium grade
(Xanthan gum) Flo Vis.
• Bridging and weight up through adding
sized CaCO3 to increase weight and bridge
Water base coring fluids (cont.)

• HPHT is also controlled by Flo Trol in


conjugation with Polypac UL and/or any
high temp. modified starch.
• KOH for PH control and as a potassium
source
• +/- 3% KCl for inhibition
Water base coring fluids (cont.)

• Typical Properties:
PV 20-27 Cp
YP 25-30 lbs/100ft2
Gels 7 -18 lbs/100 ft2
API < 5 CC/30 min.
HP-HT +/-11 CC/ 30 min.
Oil Base Coring Fluids

• Normally used in reservoir section where


maximum hole inhibition and Rop is
recommended.
• The most important precaution to be taken
is not to use excess Emulsifiers so as not to
enter with the filtrate into the formation and
alter the formation wetability.
Formulation of Oil Base
Coring Fluids
• VG69 10-11 PPb
• V HRP 1.5-3 PPb
• V MOD 1-2 PPb
• Lime 1-2 PPb
• V.COAT 6 PPb
• V.WET 4 PPb
• V. TROL 13-15 PPb
• Lo-wate as required
Typical oil base
coring fluid properties
• PV According to weight
• YP +/- 11 lbs/100ft2
• Gels 6/ 18 lbs/100ft2
• O/W ratio 95/5
• HPHT < 5 CC/30 min.

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