Technical Committee Drilling and Completion Technology

Investigation on the Damaging Potential of Drilling Fluids – Return Permeability Tests under Dynamic Conditions

The exploration and production of hydrocarbons is focused more and more on reservoirs at greater depths. This results in increasing temperatures and pressures in these regions. For an efficient exploitation it is essential to avoid any damage of the formation. In order to be able to estimate drilling fluids and treatment fluids with regard to their damaging potential, filtration tests - so called return permeability tests - in carrier rocks are carried out.

The literature review and analysis revealed that currently there is no return permeability testing equipment available that meets the increased requirements on pressure and temperature. Based on common conceptions the construction of a new circulation plant for temperatures of up to 180°C and pressures of up to 350 bar was proposed and carried out. In the second part of this report the built return permeability testing plant, feasible for static and dynamic filtration, is presented in detail. First results are documented.