ID-SILICADRILL
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ID-SILICADRILL
The system that provides optimum shale inhibition and environmental compliance
ID-SILICADRILL systems are very flexible and easy to formulate.
ID-SILICADRILL muds are composed of the following products:
• Silicate - primary shale inhibitor – sodium & potassium silicate
• Potassium - secondary shale inhibitor
• Biopolymer - rheology control
• PAC / Starch - fluid loss control
• Compatible with conventional non-ionic fluid additives
• Used with various salts (KCl, K2SO4, NaCl, & K2CO3)
Silicate-based fluids were used decades ago. Now, proper formulation
and engineering design allow their successful use.
ID-SILICADRILL Features and Benefits
Features
• Highly inhibitive silicate chemistry
• Versatile polymer formulations that can meet a variety of applications
• Compliance with Category E in the North Sea
• Good economics for a high-performance water base fluid
• Polymer fluid design utilizing a shear-thinning biopolymer that contributes to good hole cleaning
• Low waste management cost
• Efficient drilling performance minimizing non-productive time (NPT)
Benefits
• Inhibits both reactive and dispersive shales and claystones.
• Drills near-gauge wellbores with superior stability for optimum log evaluation.
• Facilitates and enhances lithological interpretation and evaluation.
• Inherent corrosion inhibition
• Cement-compatible silicate chemistry enhances
After ID-SILICADRILL
Before ID-SILICADRILL
treatment: In the same
treatment: Cuttings from a
formation, ID-
reactive formation drilled
SILICADRILL produces a
with a conventional KCl
high degree of cutting
polymer fluid.
integrity.
Silicate Inhibitive Fluids
• Fluids based on salt polymer formulation using XC, STARCH and PACs
• Inhibition /well-bore stability excellent, approaches OBM performance
• Optimum performance at pH>12.0 which also prevents gelation
• Inhibition increases with the addition of salt-typically sodium and potassium chloride are used
• Fluids are non-corrosive
Inhibitive Mechanism
Debatable Mechanisms
• Highly mobile silicate species polymerize on contact with neutral pH pore water to form a gel network
which significantly reduces pore pressure penetration and hydration stress
• Silicate will also form insoluble precipitates with calcium and magnesium salts at the near well-bore-
forming a cementitious layer
ID-SILICADRILL
SILICATE INTERACTION WITH FORMATION AND
DRILL SOLID SURFACES
. .
. . .
FILTER CAK E .DEPOSITION . .. .
. . Si
. . .. . . . . . . .
PHYSICAL . . . . .
.. ..
&
CHEMICAL
.
.
. o H
BARRIER
TO H o
INVASION
Si
CLAY PLATELETS
NON-CLAY PARTICLES
Mechanism
Ca2+
Mg2+
Barrier formation at near well bore Ca2+
Mg 2+
pH 7
Invasion of filtrate (pH
12)
Gelation of invading silicate species in a lower pH environment
Precipitation of insoluble Ca2+, Mg2+ silicates
Chemical dissolution of Al/cementation of clays
Mechanism
7
Sodium silicate fluids form complex gelatinous structures, which react with the clay and non-clay surfaces of the
formation to provide an effective barrier to the imbibition of water, effectively stabilizing the shale structure .
Sealing Microfracture Shale with Silicate
8
Mechanism-Clay Alteration
a b c
Transmission Electron Micrographs of Kaolin clay treated with various fluids:
a. raw untreated clay
b. aged for 3 days at 300 F in distilled water
c. aged for 3 days at 300 F in a 3% aqueous sodium silicate solution at pH 12
Physical Characteristics
Viscosity / Temperature Profiles for Sodium Silicate Liquors
5000 2.5 : 1 (43%)
2.0 :1 (42%)
4500
1.6 :1 (48%)
4000 2.0 : 1 (42%) + 10% ethylene glycol
3500 2.0 : 1 (42%) + 5% KCl
Viscosity (cP)
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
-10 0 10 20 30
Temperature (°C)
ID-SILICADRILL and the Factors Determining Shale Inhibition
The ability of fluid to reduce shale hydration is proportional to the following:
• Increasing silicate concentration.
• Increasing salt concentration (KCl reducing shale hydration more than an equivalent level of NaCl).
• Minimum 10,000 ppm SiO2 required (3% v/v silicate solution).
• Optimum at higher pH (approaching pH 12) prevents fluid gelation.
• Evidence of synergy with poly-alkylene glycols. 45
100
40
80
35
Moisture (%)
Recovery (%)
60
30
40 25
20 20
0 15
9 10 11 12 9 10 11 12
pH
pH Effect of Fluid pH on Shale Inhibition
ID-SILICADRILL
Effect of Sodium Silicate Concentration on Shale Inhibition
100 40
80 36
Recovery (%)
Moisture (%)
60 32
40 28
20 24
0 20
0 4 8 0 4 8
% %
ID-SILICADRILL
Effect of Salt Concentration on Shale Inhibition
50
Sodium Silicate
3%
45 6%
Moisture (%)
40
35
30
25
20
Blank 15ppb 30ppb 54ppb 109ppb
25ppb
Sodium Chloride Potassium Chloride
ID-SILICADRILL
Synergy with Poly-alkylene Glycol
8% Sodium Silicate
30
25
Moisture (%)
20
15
0 1 3
ID-GLY MC (%)
ID-SILICADRILL-Premix Formulation
Fresh Water 0.662 bbl 300
Sodium Silicate Liquor 0.255 bbl
250
KCl 60.0 lb/bbl
Viscosity (cP)
ID-FLR XL 3.0 lb/bbl 200
ID-Flo 9.0 lb/bbl
150
25% v/v sodium silicate liquor 100
50
0
-5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Temperature (°C)
ID-SILICADRILL-Fluid Formulations and Properties
Product Clean Fluid Dirty Fluid
Fresh Water 0.725 bbl 0.709 bbl
KCl 35.0 lb 35.0 lb
Sodium Silicate 0.110 bbl 0.110 bbl
ID-VIS 1.0 lb 1.0 lb
ID-FLR XL 1.5 lb 1.5 lb
ID-FLO 4.5 lb 4.5 lb
ID-PTS 2.0 lb 2.0 lb
Hymod Prima - 35.0 lb
BARITE 152.8 lb 125.5 lb
Fluid PV YP 6 3 Gels pH API Na2O SiO2
cP lbs/100 ft2 lbs/ 100 ft2 cm3 mg/l mg/l
OCMA Clay
Clean 18 17 4 3 4/ - 12.5 11.6 27,900 52,125
Dirty 17 17 5 4 7/ 16 12.5 4.8 24,025 44,625
ID-SILICADRILL Comparative Inhibitive Fluid System
Comparative Shale Inhibition
100
90
80
70
% Recovery
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
FW \ ID-Bond KCL / ID-Bond ID-GLY DRILL ID-SILICA DRILL ID-SILICA DRILL / ID-Lube ID-ADVERT
SIL
Reactive Shales (High Smectite Content) Linear (Reactive Shales (High Smectite Content))
Highly Dispersive Shales
Salinity
100
90
80
70
% Shale Recovery
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0 30 60 100
Kg/m3 Salt Concentration (with 4% active Silicate)
KCL NaCl K2So4 K2Co3
Chemical Shale Inhibition
K Silicate Polymer
Polymer Base
Fluid Fluid
Selection of Silicate
• Laboratory results confirm the more 100%
effective inhibition performance with 90%
80%
% RECOVERY (Foss Eikeland)
the “higher ratio” silicate. 70%
60%
• The selection of the 2.4-2.8 ratio is a 50%
40%
compromise to obtain the maximum 30%
inhibition with optimum solubility. 20%
10%
0%
1.6 2.1 2.6 3.1
Silicate Ratio (SiO2:Na2O)
Corrosion
Corrosion Ring shows great results. 8 % Sodium Silicate was
used with No Bentonite. Corrosion Rate was less than 1
lb/ft2/year.
The corrosion Ring shows a good result & a low corrosion rate.
7% Sodium Silicate was used with 5 ppb bentonite. Corrosion
Rate was less than 1.6 lb/ft2/year.
The Corrosion Ring shows severe corrosion, including scale,
rust, and pitting. A normal corrosion Inhibitor was used, but no
silicate was used.
Lubricant
400
350
300
250
klbs
200
150
POW SOW RW
100
50
0
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000
DEPTH (ft)
Lubricant with different mud system
Lubricity Test Lubricity Test
ID-SILICADRIL 0.41
Glycol
0.48
0.39
Coefficient of Friction
Coefficient of Friction
0.43 0.37
0.35
0.38 0.33
0.31
0.33
0.29
0.28 0.27
0 2 4 6 8 10 0 2 4 6 8 10
Contact Time [Minutes] Contact Time [Minutes]
Lubricity Test Lubricity Test
GLYCOL + 2% Silicate ID-SILICADRIL + 3% Glycol
0.35
0.45 0.33
Coefficient of Friction
Coefficient of Friction
0.31
0.40
0.29
0.35 0.27
0.25
0.30
0.23
0.25 0.21
0 2 4 6 8 10 0 2 4 6 8 10
Contact Time [Minutes] Contact Time [Minutes]
Elastomer Compatibility
ELASTOMER COMMENTS
Glycol/PHPA
Buna N No Adverse Effects
Butyl Rubber No Adverse Effects
Carboxylated Nitroxile No Adverse Effects
Ethylene Propylene No Adverse Effects
Hydrogenated Acrylonitrile Butadiene (HSN) No Adverse Effects Glycol/PHPA
Nitrile No Adverse Effects
Polyurethane Preventative Maintenance Required
Polymite No Adverse Effects
Hypalon No Adverse Effects
AFLAS (TFEP) Preventative Maintenance Required
Viton Replacement Recommended Glycol/PHPA
Lubricity
Frictional Wear Almen-Wieland Lubricity Results
0.8
Blank
Friction Coefficient
0.7
3% DP97/016
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900
Load (daN)
Drilled Solids
Effect of Bentonite Contamination on Fluid Properties
Contamination PV YP pH 6 3 Gels API Na2O SiO2
(cp) (lb/100ft2) (cp) (cp) (lb/100ft2) (ml) (ppm) (ppm)
None 20 19 12.5 5 4 5/8 7.1 25,575 53,000
10 lb/bbl Bentonite 22 17 12.4 5 4 5/- 7.4 25,575 47,250
20 lb/bbl Bentonite 24 19 12.3 5 4 5/6 4.9 24,025 44,625
30 lb/bbl Bentonite 26 21 12.3 6 4 5/- 5.8 - -
40 lb/bbl Bentonite 27 26 12.1 6 5 6/7 3.9 23,250 42,750
50 lb/bbl Bentonite 31 28 12.1 7 5 6/- 5.1 23,250 41,625
60 lb/bbl Bentonite 33 30 11.9 8 6 7/9 3.3 20,150 39,000
Properties after heat ageing at 160
°F.
Cement and Chalk
Effect of Cement and Chalk Contamination on Fluid
Properties
Contamination PV YP pH 6 3 Gels API Na2O SiO2
(cp) (lb/100ft2) (cp) (cp) (lb/100ft2) (ml) (ppm) (ppm)
None 20 19 12.5 5 4 5/8 7.1 25,575 53,000
35 lb/bbl Chalk (Fine) 30 24 12.4 7 5 8/10 18.2 23,250 41,250
2.5% Cement Slurry(4) 28 30 13.0 13 11 9/15 4.8 20,150 31,500
5% Cement Slurry(4) 32 21 13.0 8 6 6/6 6.1 18,600 23,625
Properties after heat ageing at 160
°F.
Cement Slurry(4) 50% w/w slurry in fresh
water
Reservoir Damage Characteristics
Return Permeability Studies on Berea Sandstone
Cores
100
90
80
Return Permeability (%)
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0 2 4 6 10 11 13 15 17 19 22 23 24 25
Time (min)
NaCl Brine Mixed Brine (Ca, Mg, Fe)
HSE Issues
• The main hazard of sodium silicate liquor is attributable to high alkalinity.
• Rabbit dermal irritancy study on silicate drilling fluid indicated no reaction (up to 4 hours exposure).
• No field problems were reported with respect to skin irritancy of silicate drilling fluid on any well
intervals drilled using ID-SILICADRILL.
• PVC slicker suits are recommended if heavy contamination is expected.
• PVC or rubber gloves are recommended
• Eye contact must be avoided. Glasses or goggles should always be worn, preferably face visors while
working on the drill floor or in the mud processing area.
• Vapours from the drilling fluid will not be a problem, but mists possibly generated from the shale
shakers could be irritating to the respiratory tract. Adequate ventilation will keep mist to a minimum,
but if mists are generated respiratory protection in the form of a dust respirator type P1 is
recommended.
Environmental Impact
• Not classified as toxic or dangerous (main hazard attributable to high
alkalinity)
• Silicates are known to form an important resource in the marine food chain.
• OSPAR green list - Category ‘A’
• UK CNS (Chemical Notification Scheme) category ‘E’ rating
• The proposed Preliminary Assessment Information Rule under TOSCA
included soluble silicates :
• The environmental regulatory profile of soluble silicates provides the incentive
for their preference over more hazardous and more highly regulated alternate
materials
Conclusion
SILICATES ARE NOT AN INVERT EMULSION FLUID
Silicates Provide Excellent Shale Inhibitive Performance Comparable to an SBM
Potassium Ion Complements Silicate Performance
Potassium Silicate systems provide an excellent low-salinity inhibitive system
Higher Ratio Silicates Provide Optimum Drilling Performance
Return Permeability Tests Are Required to Determine Reservoir Application
Reaction Mechanism Occurs at the Shale Surface
Lubricants Can Alleviate Torque & Drag
32