Part 2: Drilling in a clay formation? Do we Encapsulate, Disperse or Inhibit?
Drilling in clay formations can be challenging. Tooling choice and methodology are important contributors to the successful drilling of clays.
Equally important (and our focus here) is looking into some of the drilling fluid chemicals that can help with this formation type.
What are we trying to achieve when drilling in clays?
1. Giving free available water a job
Clay loves water. When drilling we use a lot of water for various reasons. When we use drilling fluid products we tie up the loose water that is available for the clays to consume and react. We give the water a job by being tied up in the chemical program, meaning there is less free water available for the clay to drink and react.
2. What are our core clay product additive chemical functions?
PHPA based polymer (POLY PLUS liquid or dry) encapsulates clay cuttings keeping them free from sticking to other cuttings and creating problems down hole. It also ‘strings’ up on borehole walls contributing to some lubricity.
A thinner or dispersant (RINGFREE) penetrates and breaks clays down. Having the greatest impact on bit balling, mud rings or clay sausages. Highly effective at stripping down clays and the viscosity associated with them.
An inhibitor (KLA GARD) has a significant effect on swelling and reactive clays. It creates a barrier that prevents water from making contact with the clay/bentonite at platelet level. In doing so, it has a major impact on the prevention of those clays swelling and spreading. In solution this chemical also migrates into the formation through the filtrate. So if your drill program has you stepping up hole sizes the formation already has some chemical inhibition to it which is an added part of KLA GARD’s performance.
Other associated clay based products;
PLATINUM D-D - Detergent for wetting or further penetrating clays. Also washing tooling.
PLATINUM ROD EASE - Premium lubrication. Lining tooling for maximum lubricity and making it difficult for clays to stick to tooling.
DUO VIS - Suspension. Not all clay cuttings are light, fluffy and just walk out the hole. Using a suspension enhancement product to increase our carrying capacity (yield point) always adds value.
Drilling fluids are always best viewed as a preventative component to the drilling process. Having the right drilling fluids from project commencement maximises the likelihood of a stress free and successful installation.
Having the right chemicals in the system, or on-board / at site for changes means we can keep the formation and cuttings in their most manageable state.
Most drillers are used to the phrase ‘mud programs’ or ‘fluid recipes’. We at Blick are here to optimise the above products, to suit the formation at hand, program or profile being undertaken and methologogly.
Contact Blick to use best in class drilling fluid additives on your next clay based project. Our Australia team is available on +61 3 9068 5688 (Melbourne) or +61 8 6271 3575 (Perth) and New Zealand on +64 7 849 2366.
