Enhanced Drill Cuttings Analysis for Drill-in Fluids Design

摘要

Even though drill cuttings are first hand actual reservoirrninformation, their conventional analysis during mud logging isrnlimited and under estimated as source of relevant information.rnDrill-in fluid design becomes successful if bridging materialsrnsuch as sized salt or calcium carbonate is matched with porerngeometric attributes of formation rock.rnA novell approach for drill cuttings analysis is being underrnuse to select the optimum sizing for bridging material, whenrnthere is no core information available.rnAfter using a combined technique of Scanning ElectronrnMicroscopy (SEM), chemical analysis by Energy Dispersive Xrnray Spectroscopy (EDS) and Backscattered Electron Imagesrn(BSEI) digital processing and analysis, it is possible to get keyrnparameters to design a more efficient Drill-in fluid. It can helprnalso in the selection of screens for solids control in surfacernequipment.rnTextural parameters found with this technique includerngrain size distribution, shape and sorting. Porous spacerndescription such as (2D) porosity and pore throat sizerndistribution, that can be obtained in grain clusters coming fromrndrilling consolidated rock horizons. Rock fracturing trends,rnnatural or induced can also be observed. Therefore a morerndetailed sample description is achieved in relation tornconventional analysis.rnOnce this information has been processed, laboratoryrnfiltration tests can be performed on available reservoir orrnsimilar synthetic material, in order to recommend a betterrnformulation of Drill-in fluid for field use.