Making Real-Time Fluid Decisions with Real-Time Fluid Data at the Rig Site

Abstract

Abstract Critical decision making is a common occurrence in oilfield production, and operators depend on accurate drilling-fluid data to determine the appropriate course of action for the success of their drilling program. Many critical downhole decisions made by operators are based on drilling-fluid data that could be up to 24 hours old and do not accurately reflect the current fluid conditions in the wellbore. During these potentially hazardous situations, the rig site drilling-fluids representative must contend with drilling fluid issues and may not have the time to conduct repeated, consecutive, and consistent tests on the fluid to offer accurate recommendations to the operator. Decisions may be impacted or delayed by using fluid properties measured before or after issues are identified, and problems may escalate. Automating routine fluid-property tests provides access to more precise and dependable drilling-fluid properties in real time, which, in turn, can lead to real-time data that becomes vital when crucial decisions must be made. A major oilfield service company recently conducted field trials of its automated drilling-fluids measurement equipment in South Texas. Automated measurements of density and rheological properties were conducted on water-based and oil-based drilling fluids. Traditional measurement routines were also conducted throughout the field trials for the purpose of comparative analysis with the automated equipment. Automated and traditional measurement recordings were compiled at the rig site, and data were exchanged to the service company’s laboratory facility for analysis. Data exchanges were accomplished via the service company’s proprietary software, which can be used for analysis, data transmission, and data display. This paper discusses the results of these field trials and focuses on the comparative analysis of the automated measurements and traditional measurements, strengths and limitations of the instruments, the integration of the instrument package into the routine functions of a drilling rig, the service company’s capabilities of presenting the real-time data, and the overall lessons learned during the course of the field trials.