UDC

622.244.442

Authors

Ruzhnikov Aleksey Grigoryevich
Institute of Oil and Gas, Ukhta State Technical University (Ukhta, Russia)
e-mail: ARuzhnikov@mail.ru

Abstract

Wellbore stability in shale formations is one of the major problems while drilling oil and gas wells. As it had been proven in several studies, shale instability is mainly related to the penetration of drilling fluid into laminations/fractures (between bedding planes and through the microfractures of shale), causing mechanical failure and, consequently, wall cavitation. This, in turn, results in the fluid loss by the drilling fluid. The paper aims to review the key methods of measuring fluid loss, determine the limitations of each test and compare the measurement results. In addition, it provides recommendations on fluid loss measurement at shale drilling.

Keywords

lithified deposits, well-drilling, fluid loss, drilling fluid, spurt loss

References

1. Lal M. Stabil’nost’ slantsev: Vzaimodeystvie burovogo flyuida i prochnost’ slantsev [Shale Stability: Drilling Fluid Interaction and Shale Strength]. Zhurnal neftyanykh tekhnologiy, April 1999, p. 10.
   
2. Ruzhnikov A.G. Stability of Production Section in South Iraq. Oil and Gas Business: Electronic Scientific Journal, 2013, no. 6, pp. 58–80.
   
3. Halliburton. Solving Challenges. Available at: http://www.halliburton.com (accessed 25 December 2013).
   
4. ANSI/API 13I/ISO 10416. Recommended Practice for Laboratory Testing of Drilling Fluids. 2004. 125 p.