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== Ways to prevent barite sag ==
== Ways to prevent barite sag ==


Barite sag can lead to well-control issues and &#x5B;&#x5B;Stuck_pipe|stuck pipe&#x5D;&#x5D; and can aggravate [[Hole_cleaning|hole cleaning]]&nbsp;problems. A well-designed sweep program can help prevent or minimize the occurrence of sag. Recent field results indicate significant success in preventing sag using properly formulated weighted sweeps. When using an emulsion-based synthetic fluid that contains no commercial clays, operators have experienced little or no detectable barite sag, based on data retrieved from downhole pressure-sampling tools and drilling-fluid-density measurements recorded while circulating bottoms up.<ref name="r1">Burrows, K., Carbajal, D., Kirsner, J. et al. 2004. Benchmark Performance: Zero Barite Sag and Significantly Reduced Downhole Losses with the Industry's First Clay-Free Synthetic-Based Fluid. Presented at the IADC/SPE Drilling Conference, Dallas, Texas, 2-4 March. SPE-87138-MS. http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/87138-MS.</ref>&nbsp;<ref name="r2">Hsia, R. and Patrickis, A. 2004. Case History: Zero Whole Mud Losses Achieved During Casing and Cementing Operations on Challenging Deepwater Well Drilled with Clay-Free Synthetic-Based Fluid. Presented at the AADE Drilling Fluids Conference, Houston, 6–7 April. AADE-04-DF-HO-36.</ref>
Barite sag can lead to well-control issues and &#x5B;&#x5B;Stuck_pipe|stuck pipe&#x5D;&#x5D; and can aggravate [[Hole_cleaning|hole cleaning]]&nbsp;problems. A well-designed sweep program can help prevent or minimize the occurrence of sag. Recent field results indicate significant success in preventing sag using properly formulated weighted sweeps. When using an emulsion-based synthetic fluid that contains no commercial clays, operators have experienced little or no detectable barite sag, based on data retrieved from downhole pressure-sampling tools and drilling-fluid-density measurements recorded while circulating bottoms up.<ref name="r1">Burrows, K., Carbajal, D., Kirsner, J. et al. 2004. Benchmark Performance: Zero Barite Sag and Significantly Reduced Downhole Losses with the Industry's First Clay-Free Synthetic-Based Fluid. Presented at the IADC/SPE Drilling Conference, Dallas, Texas, 2-4 March. SPE-87138-MS. http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/87138-MS.</ref>&nbsp;<ref name="r2">Hsia, R. and Patrickis, A. 2004. Case History: Zero Whole Mud Losses Achieved During Casing and Cementing Operations on Challenging Deepwater Well Drilled with Clay-Free Synthetic-Based Fluid. Presented at the AADE Drilling Fluids Conference, Houston, 6–7 April. AADE-04-DF-HO-36. http://www.aade.org/app/download/7238832156/AADE-04-DF-HO-36.pdf (PDF)</ref>


== References ==
== References ==
Line 11: Line 11:
== Noteworthy papers in OnePetro ==
== Noteworthy papers in OnePetro ==


W. Dye, SPE, G. Mullen, SPE, and W. Gusler, SPE, Baker Hughes Drilling Fluids: Field-Proven Technology To Manage Dynamic Barite Sag, 98167-MS, [http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/98167-MS http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/98167-MS]
Dye, W. M., Mullen, G. A., & Gusler, W. J. 2006. Field-Proven Technology To Manage Dynamic Barite Sag. Society of Petroleum Engineers.&nbsp; [http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/98167-MS http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/98167-MS]


Paul D. Scott, Marathon Oil Company; Mario Zamora, Catalin Aldea, M-I: Barite-Sag Management: Challenges, Strategies, Opportunities, 87136-MS, [http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/87136-MS http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/87136-MS]
Scott, P. D., Zamora, M., & Aldea, C. 2004. Barite-Sag Management: Challenges, Strategies, Opportunities. Society of Petroleum Engineers.&nbsp;[http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/87136-MS http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/87136-MS]


== External links ==
== External links ==

Revision as of 08:41, 13 August 2015

Barite sag can occur in high-angle wells (possibly at 35°, but increasingly likely at ≥ 50°, then diminishing as the interval approaches 75 to 90°). The most severe sag incidents typically occur in the 45 to 65° range. Sag causes a decrease in drilling-fluid density for fluids closer to the surface and an increase in density in fluids closer to bottom, as compared to the previous circulating mud weights. Barite sag is particularly noticeable when circulating bottoms up after a long noncirculating period, where lighter mud weights are observed followed by heavier mud weights close to bottoms-up. The barite particles settle to the low side of the wellbore and then this heavier slurry slides towards the bottom of the well, creating an accumulation of heavier weighted fluid around the lower part of the annulus. Barite sag occurs most often in low viscosity/low gel strength fluids, in low shear rate conditions, in freshly prepared fluids with minimal drill solids, and in high temperature wells (where the dowhole viscosity is reduced due to increased temperature).

Ways to prevent barite sag

Barite sag can lead to well-control issues and [[Stuck_pipe|stuck pipe]] and can aggravate hole cleaning problems. A well-designed sweep program can help prevent or minimize the occurrence of sag. Recent field results indicate significant success in preventing sag using properly formulated weighted sweeps. When using an emulsion-based synthetic fluid that contains no commercial clays, operators have experienced little or no detectable barite sag, based on data retrieved from downhole pressure-sampling tools and drilling-fluid-density measurements recorded while circulating bottoms up.[1] [2]

References

  1. Burrows, K., Carbajal, D., Kirsner, J. et al. 2004. Benchmark Performance: Zero Barite Sag and Significantly Reduced Downhole Losses with the Industry's First Clay-Free Synthetic-Based Fluid. Presented at the IADC/SPE Drilling Conference, Dallas, Texas, 2-4 March. SPE-87138-MS. http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/87138-MS.
  2. Hsia, R. and Patrickis, A. 2004. Case History: Zero Whole Mud Losses Achieved During Casing and Cementing Operations on Challenging Deepwater Well Drilled with Clay-Free Synthetic-Based Fluid. Presented at the AADE Drilling Fluids Conference, Houston, 6–7 April. AADE-04-DF-HO-36. http://www.aade.org/app/download/7238832156/AADE-04-DF-HO-36.pdf (PDF)

Noteworthy papers in OnePetro

Dye, W. M., Mullen, G. A., & Gusler, W. J. 2006. Field-Proven Technology To Manage Dynamic Barite Sag. Society of Petroleum Engineers.  http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/98167-MS

Scott, P. D., Zamora, M., & Aldea, C. 2004. Barite-Sag Management: Challenges, Strategies, Opportunities. Society of Petroleum Engineers. http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/87136-MS

External links

See also

Drilling fluid challenges

PEH:Drilling Fluids

Category