Managing wellbore instability in troublesome SEA shale formations

摘要

Shale instability results in an estimated US1.3 billion annual expenditure by the petroleum industry. As environmental concerns restrict the use of oil-base fluids, there is an urgent need for water-based fluids (WBF) that meet key performance measures, especially while drilling high-angle, extended-reach well trajectories through water-sensitive shale formations. The following article was prepared for Asian Oil & Gas by US Tare of Halliburton, FK Mody of Shell International E&P Inc and CP Tan of CSIRO Petroleum.