Importance of Drilling Fluids in Geotechnical Engineering

Drilling fluid is often known as drilling mud and is very essential in oil, gas and horizontal directional drilling.

Function of Drilling Mud:

• Control the pressure in holes
• Prevent from collapsing the hole
• Remove cuttings from the bottom of the well
• Maintain stability
• Cool and lubricate drill string and add buoyancy to it
• Minimize the impact on environment
• Seal permeable formations
• Facilitate cementing

Types of Drilling Fluids:

The Classification of Drilling Fluids depends on the depth, drill and hardness of the bed rock. The main types include –

• Water based systems – It includes fresh water and salt water
• Oil based systems
• Synthetic systems – These fluids are mainly vegetable esters, poly alpha olefins, internal olefins, synthetic paraffin and so on.
• Pneumatic fluid systems

Zinc Bromide Solution:

Chemical – Zinc Bromide

Formula – ZnBr2

Several types of specialized chemicals are used in petroleum industry for challenging oil and gas exploration projects. These chemicals are necessary for different phases of drilling. Zinc Bromide Solution is such an example of special chemical. It is a high density acidic salt that is used as a workover fluid to build high pressure wells because the solution is non-damaging to the formation and thermally stable also. The highly dense brine solution provides 20pounds/gallon weight to the fluid which is necessary to hold the oil and gas particles in the wells. But the low pH characteristics and osmolarity can cause corrosion and handling problems. In some cases like saltwater mud where presence of Zinc Bromide solution doesn’t affect the mud performance, there it can be used to scavenge sulfides from the system. The fluid is too much dehydrating, so workers must use slicker suits and rubber boots. Lower density brines are obtained by blending Calcium Bromide with the solution.

Calcium Bromide Solution:

Chemical - Calcium Bromide

Formula - CaBr2

Among the several completion fluids Calcium Bromide (CaBr2) is the right choice for oil drilling industries that are concerned about their quality and results. For upstream oil and gas operations, this fluid is used to control wellbore pressure. It can be used alone or mixed with Calcium Chloride (CaCl3) to prepare 11.5 to 14.5 ppg solid-free brines. It is easily available and mainly used for long term projects because it improves the efficiency of the drilling fluid. Quick density improvements can be achieved also.

Completion 19.2TM consists Zinc Bromide and Calcium Bromide together that is a very useful fluid with 19.2 pound per gallon density. Chemcon Specialty Chemicals Pvt. Ltd. is one of the Leading Manufacturers of Oilfield Chemicals.