Particles and fluids invasion into the pore spaces causes serious damage to the formation, resulting reduction in petroleum production. In order to prevent permeability damage for a well effectively, the damage mechanisms should be identified. In this study, water-based drilling fluid was compared to oil-based drilling fluids based on microscopic observation. The cores were damaged by several drilling fluid systems. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to observe the damage mechanism caused by the drilling fluids. Results showed that the ester based drilling fluid system caused the most serious damage followed by synthetic oil based system and KCI-polymer system. Fine solids and filtrate migration and emulsion blockage are believed to be the major mechanisms controlling the changes in flow properties for the sandstone samples.

Topics
Petroleum, Emulsions, Polymers, Scanning electron microscopy, Chemical compounds, Fluid systems
1.
G. R.
 
Gray
 and
H. C. H.
 
Darley
,
Composition and Properties of Oil Well Drilling Fluids
(4th Ed. 
Gulf Publishing Co.
,
Houston. Texas
,
1981
).
Google Scholar
 
2.
A. R.
 
Ismail
,
J. M.
 
Peden
 and
A. M.
 
Arshad
, “
The Effect of Solids Concentration and Formation Characteristics on Formation Damage and Permeability Recovery
,” in
Society of Petroleum Engineers, Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Conference
,
Melbourne, Australia
, (7-10 Nov.,
1994
), pp.
203
–
213
.
Google Scholar
 
3.
D. O.
 
Sanner
 and
J. J.
 
Azar
, “
Alteration of Reservoir Rock Wettability and Its Flow Properties Caused by Oil-Based and Water-Based Drilling Muds
,” in
Society of Petroleum Engineers, Intl. Symposium on Formation Damage Control
,
Lafayette, Louisiana
. (7-10 Feb.
1994
), pp.
171
–
180
.
Google Scholar
 
4.
X.
 
Kong
 and
M.O.
 
Ohadi
, “
Applications of Micro and Nano Technologies in the Oil and &Gas Iindustry – An Overview of the Recent Progress
”, in
Society of Petroleum Engineers, Intl. Petroleum Conference & Exhibition, Abu Dhabi, UAE
(1-4 Nov.
2010
).
Google Scholar
 
5.
A.R.
 
Ismail
,
A.
 
Aftab
,
Z.H.
 
Ibupoto
 and
N.
 
Zolkifile
,
Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering
,
139
 
264
–
275
(
2016
)
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2016.01.036
Google Scholar
 
6.
O.
 
Mahmoud
 and
H.A.
 
Nasr-El-Din
, “
Nanoparticle-Based Drilling Fluids for Minimizing Formation Damage in HP/HT Applications
”, in
Society of Petroleum Engineers, Intl. Conference & Exhibition on Formation Damage Control, Lafayette, Louisiana
(24-26 Feb.
2016
).
Google Scholar
 
7.
I.
 
Fjelde
, “
Formation Damages Caused by Emulsions During Drilling with Emulsified Drilling Fluids
”, in
Society of Petroleum Engineers, Intl. Symposium on Oilfield Chemistry, Houston, Texas
(28 Feb. - 2 Mar.
2007
).
Google Scholar
 
This content is only available via PDF.
© 2017 Author(s).
2017
Author(s)
You do not currently have access to this content.