Abstract
Reducing the filtrate volume and eliminating the solid invasion is very important and critical in drilling tight reservoir. This will eliminate water blocking which is the common problem in drilling tight gas formation.
The objectives of this study are to evaluate the effect of using sodium silicate, assess the changes of the rheological properties of water-based drilling fluid, determine filtrate volume and filter cake thickness, and optimize the concentration of sodium silicate to be used.
The obtained results showed that there was no effect of adding sodium silicate to the drilling fluid on density and pH. At room temperature, the optimum concentration of sodium silicate was 0.075 wt.% wt. which no change was observed in the yield point plastic viscosity ratio and at the same time, the plastic viscosity, yield point, and gel strength were enhanced. At higher temperature 120 and 170℉, the optimum concentration of sodium silicate was 0.075 wt.% which enhanced the rheological properties of the drilling fluid. Sodium silicate worked as a catalyst and as a result, it enhanced barite solubility at 200℉. The cumulative filtrate volume was decreased by 53% when using 0.075 wt.% of sodium silicate and the filter cake thickness was decreased by 65%. The retained permeability was 100% and the CT number before filtration and after removal was very closed, confirming no solid invasion was observed in the core.
