Rheological Considerations for Drilling and Enhanced Oil Recovery Fluids

Abstract

Screening of models to determine the applicability based on absolute average error is an acceptable approach. It is an appropriate model that guarantees greater accuracy in hydraulic computations. An improperly performed hydraulic calculation would cause poor hole cleaning and drilling cost overrun due to excess rig time. Also, due to inhibiting factors such as gravity, viscous and capillary forces; enhanced oil recovery had been adopted as an alternative mechanism to aid flow in the reservoir. An approach to rheological parameters and model selection is presented. Underlying mechanisms and considerations in the technology of enhanced oil recovery are presented. Rheology of drilling fluid is considered for effective hole cleaning, adequate cuttings suspension, averting barite sag, and prevention of excessive pipe surge and swab pressures. Similarly, the rheological characteristics of enhanced oil recovery fluids are monitored to retard pore blocking and prevent polymer loss during the fluid injection process. Understanding the rheology at a low shear rate range of 0.1–100 s−1 of enhanced oil recovery fluids was highlighted. Advanced rheology equipment, viscoelastic behavior, nano-rheology, and smart fluids are matters of attention.