Successful shale drilling using a new environmentally compatible potassium carbonate/polymer/polyGlycol mud system: design and field experiences

摘要

THis paper presents laboratory data and field application results on a new water based mud system which utilizes Potassium Carbonate, a special polymer formulation and a polylycol. The surfactant properties of the polyglycol around it's cloud point, the existence of normal force and extensional viscosity in the mud prepared under low shear, and the successful application of the mud system in southern Italy to drill massive shale sections with high kaolinite clay content are all discussed.