A combination of small sample testing and numerical modelling offers a powerful tool for identification of mud chemistry effects on wellbore stability in shales. The tool allows for modelling of how the stability limits for the mud-weight varies with time, based on measured time scales and magnitudes for the various processes involved. It may also assist in estimation of the optimal amounts of chemical additives in the mud.

Keywords:
laboratory test, drilling fluids and materials, concentration, shale, drilling fluid selection and formulation, drilling fluid property, borehole wall, upstream oil & gas, drilling fluid formulation, mud chemistry effect
Subjects:
Wellbore Design, Drilling Operations, Drilling Fluids and Materials, Reservoir Characterization, Wellbore integrity, Drilling fluid selection and formulation (chemistry, properties), Reservoir geomechanics
Copyright 2002, Society of Petroleum Engineers
You can access this article if you purchase or spend a download.