An approach to improve wellbore stability in active shale formations using nanomaterials

Abstract

Drilling through active shale formations has been a challenging practice in the oil and gas industry for a long period of time, given the complexity of shale structure and its interaction with Water Based Muds (WBMs). Although there have been many additives and methodologies proposed for a safe drilling through shale formations using WBMs, little success has been reported to the application of these methods once tested under different field conditions. In this paper, a new WBM formulated by nanomaterials was proposed to stabilize active shale layers during drilling. A series of rheological, density, filtration loss, bentonite dispersion and shale recovery tests were conducted on the mud samples formulated by nanosilica and Nano Glass Flakes (NGFs). The results indicated that NGF, as a cheap but effective nanomaterial, is able to significantly reduce the flirtation loss without posing any significant impacts on the density and the rheology of WBMs. It also appeared that the bentonite molecules were incapable to either hydrate or disperse in the drilling fluid system in the presence of NGFs. It seems that NGFs can stabilize clay minerals and reduce the filtration loss as remarkably efficient additive, but caution must be taken to ensure that they are properly disperse in the WBMs.

Keywords

Water based muds / Active shale / Nano glass flakes / Nanosilica / Wellbore instability

Declaration of competing interests

We declare that there is no conflict of interests.

References

[1] X. Liu, W. Zeng, L. Liang, M. Lei, Wellbore stability analysis for horizontal wells in shale formations, J. Nat. Gas Sci. Eng. 31 (2016) 1-8.

[2] S.-A. Ouadfeul, L. Aliouane, Wellbore stability in shale gas reservoirs, A case study fromThe barnett shale, in: SPE North Africa Technical Conference and Exhibition, Society of Petroleum Engineers, 2015.

[3] A. Patel, E. Stamatakis, J.E. Friedheim, E. Davis,Highly inhibitive water-based fluid system provides superior chemical stabilization of reactive shale formations, in:National Drilling Conference, 2001.

[4] D. Chamberlain, J. Masikewich, C. Thaemlitz, Aqueous Drilling Fluid and Shale Inhibitor, Google Patents, 2002.

[5] A. Moslemizadeh, S.R. Shadizadeh, M. Moomenie, Experimental investigation of the effect of henna extract on the swelling of sodium bentonite in aqueous solution, Appl. Clay Sci. 105 (2015) 78-88.

[6] A. Patel, S. Stamatakis, S. Young, J. Friedheim,Advances in inhibitive waterbased drilling fluidsdcan they replace oil-based muds?, in:International Symposium on Oilfield Chemistry Society of Petroleum Engineers, 2007.

[7] H. Zhong, Z. Qiu, W. Huang, J. Qiao, H. Li, J. Cao, The development and application of a novel polyamine water-based drilling fluid, Pet. Sci. Technol. 32 (4) (2014) 497-504.

[8] M. Zakaria, M.M. Husein, G. Harland, Novel nanoparticle-based drilling fluid with improved characteristics, in: SPE International Oilfield Nanotechnology Conference and Exhibition, Society of Petroleum Engineers, 2012.

[9] K.P. Hoelscher, G. De Stefano, M. Riley, S. Young, Application of nanotechnology in drilling fluids, in: SPE International Oilfield Nanotechnology Conference and Exhibition, Society of Petroleum Engineers, 2012.

[10] M. Safari, A. Golsefatan, A. Rezaei, M. Jamialahmadi, Simulation of silica nanoparticle flooding for enhancing oil recovery, Pet. Sci. Technol. 33 (2) (2015) 152-158.

[11] M. Safari, A. Golsefatan, M. Jamialahmadi, Inhibition of scale formation using silica nanoparticle, J. Dispersion Sci. Technol. 35 (10) (2014) 1502-1510.

[12] S.M. Javeri, Z.M.W. Haindade, C.B. Jere, Mitigating loss circulation and differential sticking problems using silicon nanoparticles, in: SPE/IADC Middle East Drilling Technology Conference and Exhibition, Society of Petroleum Engineers, 2011.

[13] O. Contreras, G. Hareland, M. Husein, R. Nygaard, M. Al-Saba, Application of in-house prepared nanoparticles as filtration control additive to reduce formation damage, in: SPE International Symposium and Exhibition on Formation Damage Control, Society of Petroleum Engineers, 2014.

[14] J.T. Srivatsa, M.B. Ziaja,An experimental investigation on use of nanoparticles as fluid loss additives in a surfactant-polymer based drilling fluids, in:International Petroleum Technology Conference, 2011. International Petroleum Technology Conference).

[15] M. Amanullah, A.M. Al-Tahini, Nano-technology-its significance in smart fluid development for oil and gas field application, in: SPE Saudi Arabia Section Technical Symposium, Society of Petroleum Engineers, 2009.

[16] M. Amanullah, M.K. AlArfaj, Z.A. Al-abdullatif, Preliminary test results of nanobased drilling fluids for oil and gas field application, in: SPE/IADC Drilling Conference and Exhibition, Society of Petroleum Engineers, 2011.

[17] M. Sadeghalvaad, S. Sabbaghi, The effect of the TiO₂/polyacrylamide nanocomposite on water-based drilling fluid properties, Powder Technol. 272 (2015) 113-119.

[18] M.M. Barry, Y. Jung, J.-K. Lee, T.X. Phuoc, M.K. Chyu, Fluid filtration and rheological properties of nanoparticle additive and intercalated clay hybrid bentonite drilling fluids, J. Pet. Sci. Eng. 127 (2015) 338-346.

[19] A. Ismail, A. Aftab, Z. Ibupoto, N. Zolkifile, The novel approach for the enhancement of rheological properties of water-based drilling fluids by using multi-walled carbon nanotube, nanosilica and glass beads, J. Pet. Sci. Eng. 139 (2016) 264-275.

[20] G. Cheraghian, M. Hemmati, M. Masihi, S. Bazgir, An experimental investigation of the enhanced oil recovery and improved performance of drilling fluids using titanium dioxide and fumed silica nanoparticles, J. Nanostruct. Chem. 3 (1) (2013) 78.

[21] M. Fakoya, S. Shah, Enhancement of filtration properties in surfactant-based and polymeric fluids by nanoparticles, in: SPE Eastern Regional Meeting, Society of Petroleum Engineers, 2014.

[22] S. Akhtarmanesh, M.A. Shahrabi, A. Atashnezhad, Improvement of wellbore stability in shale using nanoparticles, J. Pet. Sci. Eng. 112 (2013) 290-295.

[23] S. Taraghikhah, M. Kalhor Mohammadi, K. Tahmasbi Nowtaraki,Multifunctional nanoadditive in water based drilling fluid for improving shale stability, in:International Petroleum Technology Conference, 2015 (International Petroleum Technology Conference).

[24] Y. Kang, J. She, H. Zhang, L. You, M. Song, Strengthening shale wellbore with silica nanoparticles drilling fluid, Petroleum 2 (2) (2016) 189-195.

[25] A. Katende, N.V. Boyou, I. Ismail, D.Z. Chung, F. Sagala, N. Hussein, M.S. Ismail, Improving the performance of oil based mud and water based mud in a high temperature hole using nanosilica nanoparticles, Colloid. Surf. Physicochem. Eng. Asp. 577 (2019) 645-673.

[26] Z. Vryzas, V.C. Kelessidis, Nano-based drilling fluids: a review, Energies 10 (4) (2017) 540.

[27] H. Elochukwu, R. Gholami, S.S. Dol, An approach to improve the cuttings carrying capacity of nanosilica based muds, J. Pet. Sci. Eng. 152 (2017) 309-316.

[28] O.S. Guan, R. Gholami, A. Raza, M. Rabiei, N. Fakhari, V. Rasouli, O. Nabinezhad, A Nano-Particle Based Approach to Improve Filtration Control of Water Based Muds under High Pressure High Temperature Conditions, Petroleum, 2018.

[29] A. Ghadami, M. Ehsani, H.A. Khonakdar, Vinyl ester/glass flake nanocomposites: an overview of chemical and physical properties, J. Compos. Mater. 48 (13) (2014) 1585-1593.

[30] API-13B-1, Recommended Practice for Field Testing Water-Based Drilling Fluids,American Petroleum Institute, Washington, DC, 1997. API Recommended Practice 13B-1.

[31] D. Leonavicius, I. Pundien_ e, G. Girskas, J. Pranckevicien _ e, M. Kligys, The influence of carbon nanotubes on the properties of water solutions and fresh cement pastes, in: IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, IOP Publishing, 2017.

[32] R. Jain, V. Mahto, V. Sharma, Evaluation of polyacrylamide-graftedpolyethylene glycol/silica nanocomposite as potential additive in water based drilling mud for reactive shale formation, J. Nat. Gas Sci. Eng. 26 (2015) 526-537.

[33] R. Gholami, H. Elochukwu, N. Fakhari, M. Sarmadivaleh, A review on borehole instability in active shale formations: interactions, mechanisms and inhibitors, Earth Sci. Rev. 177 (2018) 2-13.