Packer Fluid
The final stage of a completion involves spotting a packer fluid in the well. The packer fluid may be the
completion fluid used, in the case of low-density brines, or the packer fluid may be light density fluid
displaced into the well to replace high-density brines, used through the completion operation.
Packer fluids may be treated with corrosion inhibitors, oxygen scavengers, bactericides, scale inhibitors,
etc. in combination or as single additives. These additives are added to the packer fluid on the last
circulation, prior to landing the tubing string and should be made in a way as to minimize foaming and
air entrainment in the packer fluid.
Ideally, the entire additive package is added to volume of packer fluid sufficient to displace the hole
volume. However, depending on pit space, the additive package may have to be added on the “fly” or
batch mixed where a given volume is treated and displaced into the well until the entire volume of
packer fluid is spotted.
The inhibitors used to treat the brine are packaged in 55-gallon drums or 5-gallon pails. The additions
of the 5-gallon pails are made directly to the packer fluid, usually having
the pails on the pits and adding the contents directly into the pit volume. Additions of the 55-gallon
drums are usually harder since the drums may not be easily placed on the pits. Usually, a valve / hose
arrangement is used to deliver the drum contents into the brine or a diaphragm pump/hose arrangement
is used to deliver the contents into the brine. We would caution against using the hopper system as this
may contribute to foaming and air entrainment in the brine.
If high density brine is to be displaced from the well with a lighter packer fluid, then two (2) separate
fluid transport systems may be required. A determination must be made as to which fluid will be
transported in the boat tanks and which fluid will be transported in above-deck tanks. Also, a
determination will have to be made on how the fluid will be pumped to the rig, if space is available for
all of the packer fluid volume or will the fluid have to be pumped to the rig at the same time that fluid
from well is being pumped to the boat or above-deck tanks.
With proper pre-job planning and communication, these details can be worked out with little or no fluid
handling problems.
To summarize:
⇒ Is the fluid handling system capable of treating an entire hole volume; will filtration and
treatment on the “fly” or filtration and batch mixing be used?
⇒ How will the chemicals be added to the brine and is additional equipment available?
⇒ To displace high density brines with lighter density packer fluids will require two (2) fluid
transport systems; evacuation of the high density brines from the rig pits to make room for
the packer fluid; possibly spotting a tank on the rig; possible simultaneous pumping to rig
while returning to boat; isolation of high density brine/light brine interface.
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Inhibitors
Fluid Type Density Temperature Tbg. Metallurgy Inhibitor Pkg. Concentration
NaCl < 10 ppg < 250 degrees F Standard Safe-Cor 1 drum per 100 bbls
Safe-Scav Na 1 pail per 100 bbls
NaCl < 10 ppg 250 - 300 deg F Standard Safe-Cor 1 drum per 100 bbls
Safe-Scav Na 1 pail per 100 bbls
NaCl < 10 ppg > 300 degrees F Standard Safe-Cor HT 1 drum per 400 bbls
Safe-Scav HS 1 gallon per 100 bbls
Safe-Scav Na 1 pail per 500 bbls
NaCl < 10 ppg < 200 degrees F 13 Chrome Safe-Cor 1 drum per 100 bbls
Safe-Scav Na 1 pail per 100 bbls
pH of 9
NaCl < 10 ppg 200 - 300 deg F 13 Chrome Safe-Cor 1 drum per 100 bbls
Safe-Scav Na 1 pail per 100 bbls
pH of 9
NaCl < 10 ppg 300 - 325 deg F 13 Chrome Safe-Cor 1 drum per 100 bbls
Safe-Scav Na 1 pail per 100 bbls
pH of 9
CaCl < 11.6 ppg < 250 degrees F Standard Safe-Cor 1 drum per 100 bbls
Safe-Scav Ca 1 pail per 100 bbls
CaCl < 11.6 ppg 250 - 300 deg F Standard Safe-Cor 1 drum per 100 bbls
Safe-Scav Ca 1 pail per 100 bbls
CaCl < 11.6 ppg > 300 degrees F Standard Safe-Cor HT 1 drum per 400 bbls
Safe-Scav Ca 1 pail per 100 bbls
Safe-Scav HS 1 gallon per 100 bbls
CaCl/CaBr 11.6 - 15.1 < 250 degrees F Standard Safe-Cor 1 drum per 100 bbls
ppg
Safe-Scav Ca 1 pail per 100 bbls
CaCl/CaBr 11.6 - 15.1 250 - 300 deg F Standard Safe-Cor 1 drum per 100 bbls
ppg
Safe-Scav Ca 1 pail per 100 bbls
CaCl/CaBr 11.6 - 15.1 > 300 degrees F Standard Safe-Cor HT 1 drum per 400 bbls
ppg
Safe-Scav HS 1 gallon per 100 bbls
Safe-Scav Ca 1 pail per 100 bbls
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Inhibitors
Fluid Type Density Temperature Tbg. Metallurgy Inhibitor Pkg. Concentration
Calcium < 15.1 ppg < 200 degrees F 13 Chrome Safe-Cor 1 drum per 100 bbls
Brine
Safe-Scav Ca 1 pail per 100 bbls
pH > 6.5
Calcium < 15.1 ppg 200 - 300 deg F 13 Chrome Safe-Cor 1 drum per 100 bbls
Brine
Safe-Scav Ca 1 pail per 100 bbls
Calcium < 15.1 ppg 300 - 325 deg F 13 Chrome Safe-Cor 1 drum per 100 bbls
Brine
Safe-Scav Ca 1 pail per 100 bbls
Safe-Cor HT can be used at 1 dr per 400 bbls instead of Safe-Cor pH > 6.5
CaBr/ZnBr 15.2 - 19.2 < 400 degrees F Standard Safe-Cor HT 1 drum per 400 bbls
ppg
Safe-Scav Ca 1 pail per 100 bbls
Safe-Scav HS 1 gallon per 100 bbls
CaBr/ZnBr < 16 ppg < 300 degrees F 13 Chrome Safe-Cor HT 1 drum per 400 bbls
Safe-Scav Ca 1 pail per 100 bbls
Safe-Scav HS 1 gallon per 100 bbls
CaBr/ZnBr < 16 ppg > 300 degrees F 13 Chrome Safe-Cor HT 1 drum per 400 bbls
Safe-Scav Ca 1 pail per 100 bbls
Safe-Scav HS 1 gallon per 100 bbls
CaBr/ZnBr > 16 ppg < 300 degrees F 13 Chrome Safe-Cor HT 1 drum per 400 bbls
Safe-Scav Ca 1 pail per 100 bbls
Safe-Scav HS 2 gallons per 100
bbls
CaBr/ZnBr > 16 ppg > 300 degrees F 13 Chrome Safe-Cor HT 1 drum per 400 bbls
Safe-Scav Ca 1 pail per 100 bbls
Review all high temperature cases with MI Technical Center Safe-Scav HS 3 gallons per 100
bbls
Completion Fluids
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