The Effects of Ultra-high Pressure and Temperature on the Rheological Properties of Water-based Drilling Fluids

The future of oil and gas exploration and production lies greatly in reaching to hydrocarbon resources that are located in deeper formations. As we drill into deeper formations we will experience higher pressures and temperatures. Understanding the rheological characteristics of the drilling fluids under elevated pressures and temperatures is essential for the drilling engineers. There is relatively little systematic understanding of how the flow behavior changes with downhole conditions. The rheology of the fluid is influenced by many factors. This research is focused on developing a methodology for testing and investigating the rheological behavior of water-based drilling fluids with different properties at HPHT conditions using a state-of-the-art viscometer capable of accurately measuring drilling fluids properties up to 600F and 40,000 psig. There is almost no published data to for changes in Drilling Fluids behavior under such Ultra-high pressures and temperatures. The results of this study show how the Viscosity, Yield Point and Gel Strength of a Water-based Drilling Fluid change under such conditions.