Effect of drill cuttings mechanical properties on filter cake properties and mud-filtrate invasion

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

During the drilling operations, the fine drilled cuttings are mixed with the drilling fluid. Therefore, the properties of the drilling fluid and the filter cake are affected. In this paper, the effect of the variation in the mechanical properties for the drilled cuttings on the filter cake sealing properties (porosity and permeability) are investigated. Particles of drill cuttings with varying mechanical properties (Young’s modulus (E) and compressive strength (UCS)) were mixed with the drilling fluid to investigate a quantitative relationship by linking the E and UCS of the drilled cuttings to the filter cake porosity and permeability. API fluid loss test was conducted to form the filter cake using different drilling fluid samples. Unconfined compression test was performed to measure the drill cuttings mechanical properties (E & UCS). The results show that the effect of the mechanical properties on the filter cake sealing characteristic is a strong function of the cuttings concentration. For a cutting concentration less than 15 wt%, the mechanical properties of the drill cuttings have no effect on the filter cake properties.

Original languageEnglish
StatePublished - 2019

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
Copyright 2019 ARMA, American Rock Mechanics Association.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geochemistry and Petrology
  • Geophysics

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