Mitigation of Stuck Pipe Challenges in HPHT Conditions Using an Acid-Soluble Blend of Barite and Manganese Tetroxide as Weighting Materials for Drilling Fluids

摘要

Horizontal wells drilled in the Marrat (lower Jurassic), Minjur (upper Triassic) and Jilh (middle Triassic) formations in Saudi Arabia are known to present severe stuck pipe challenges. Stuck pipe in a horizontal well is a problem that can result in loss of tools, nonproductive time, the necessity for sidetracks and the loss of the well, thereby increasing wellbore construction cost. To mitigate the problems arising due to stuck pipe issues, a new drilling fluid was formulated using a combination of barite and manganese tetroxide (Mn3O4) as weighting agents. The use of this combination as a weighting material provides both operational and monetary benefits.