Drilling Fluids, Inc.
TECHNICAL SERVICES NEWSLETTER
Volume X, Number 6
November 1, 2006
WHAT DO YOU WANT IT TO BE?
MUD SCHOOL
By Michael Anderson
T
he opportunity that was been presented to me
by Geo Drilling Fluids to become a “Mud Engineer” was nothing short of unbelievable. At first,
my wife thought it was some kind of gimmick. She
was apprehensive about the whole job. “They are
going to pay you what, to do what, and they are going to give you what?” was the first line of defense
from her. She thought I was going into a shady
business venture with some undesirables. From
what I have gathered during my time in Mud
School, the only undesirables are the strange creatures walking up and down Union Avenue. After
some long hours of deliberation, I found myself
Mud School
1. Add 30 bbls of water to 200 bbl of 9.2 ppg
mud. How much Barite is needed to end up
with 9.4 ppg mud? a) 26 sacks, b) 18 sacks, c)
41 sacks, d) 23 sacks.
2. The most effective product for raising Gel
Strengths is: a) GEO ZAN, b) GEO Gel, c)
HEC, d) Benex.
3. I am going to drill out 1000’ of cement in 8
3/4” hole. What should I add? a) SAPP, b)
Omnipol, c) Desco, d) Bicarb.
ANSWERS ON PAGE 4
MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEETS
(MSDS)
M
any hazards exist in the workplace. We try
to mitigate these by using procedures that
prevent contact with these hazards. On the rig floor
pinch points and getting between a moving pipe and
an immovable object are discussed in safety meetings so that they may be avoided. These hazards are
obvious and the consequences of failing to stay out
of harms way immediate.
(Continued on page 2)
Hey!! Wake UP!!
This is the most dangerous
time of year. More accidents occur during November and December then
any other part of the year.
Make sure that your MSDS book and the
rig MSDS book contains information
about all the products that are on location.
On the mud pits some of the hazards are less
obvious. In particular some of the chemicals used to
make mud can be harmful. Most of the chemicals
MSDS
(Continued on page 6)
TECHNICAL SERVICES NEWSLETTER
Mud School
(Continued from page 1)
VOLUME X NUMBER 6
November 1, 2006
accomplish and I moved on with the frustrating
problems. More often than not, I figured out the
problem, with some simple insight from Andy. I often found my fellow mud students were more than
willing to share their insights into the drilling process. They always made me feel comfortable and I
never felt like I was asking a stupid question. This
is a tradition that I will continue after I learn what
I’m really doing. I am glad to be working for GEO
where fellowship is a big part of the company and
its employees.
So, now that I am leaving Mud School, I find
myself scared out of my wits, and hoping I soaked
up enough information to venture out onto the rigs
and not look or act like a complete worm. However,
I know that Andy and the rest of my new brothers
are only a phone call away and no matter what, I
am not alone out there. I would like to give a special thanks to Jim Clifford, Tom Needham, Bob
French, Ken Beas, Travis Adams, Bucket head
(Steve James), Eric (Ed, Kevin) Fjeldsted, Billy
Landreth, Dave Tatman, Mitch Simmons, Tracy
Langley, all the ladies in the office, and of course
Andy Philips. Thank you for a great five weeks!
Thank you GEO Drilling Fluids for making all this
happen for my family and me. Look out Rockies
here I come!
two-and- half weeks later in Mud School, far from
home.
It was hard to believe how the company took
care of all my accommodations. I was flown down
to Bakersfield from my home in Mont ana, put up in
a hotel for five weeks, provided with food and a vehicle to get to school and drive around town. On top
of all that I was being paid for going to school. The
only thing I had to worry about was going to Mud
School and learning something new and exciting.
“Am I dreaming?” I asked myself on several occasions. I remember a time in my life when I was
working full-time, going to school full-time, being
a father full-time, and paying for school out of my
own pocket. I was truly being taken care of now. I
was set up for success in the company right off the
bat. I had no excuse to fail, no excuse to give anything less than 110%.
Mud School offered a chance to tap into that
education I had paid for in the past. The use of Algebra, Chemistry, Geology, problem solving, and
good old fashioned common sense was par for the
course. Luckily, I had enjoyed the se subjects in the
past and was able to use what I had learned while in
Mud School. Little did I know while I was taking those courses in school that I would be using them much later and being paid handsomely for it. Those of you with kids, make
sure you help them learn and understand these
subjects. Who knows, they might use them to
get a job in the future that will help support a
family with a spouse and three children. The
first week of school turned out to be a cha llenging experience as I racked my brain to remember all the scholastic knowledge of my
past.
Whenever I could not remember a simple
formula, Andy was more than willing to force
me to dig deeper into the dark cavities of my
brain, almost to a point of pure frustration.
Usually, I found myself having two choices
when it came to that point, figure out the problem, or choke Andy. I did favor the later on
Latest Mud School: Michael Anderson—now
some occasions (I believe a few other mud students before me favored that on all occasions). working in the Rockies, Billy Landreth—now
Nevertheless, I knew what Andy was trying to working in Northern California, and Trevor Lan-
caster—now working in Southern California.
PAGE 2
TECHNICAL SERVICES NEWSLETTER
VOLUME X NUMBER 6
HEAVY OIL PROCEDURES
By Ken Beas
I
wrote this article to help inform all GEO employees about the procedures of the AERA Energy LLC Heavy Oil drilling process. Heavy Oil is
a high density and very high viscosity crude oil, so
thick it barely flows at room temperature. This type
of oil is a major part of the production in the Midway-Sunset and Kern River oil fields in Kern
County. The drilling process has many similarities
to drilling in Light Oil, but with a few exceptions.
For example mud weight, which controls hydrostatic pressure in the wellbore and prevents unwanted flow in the well, is usually between 8.8 ppg
and 9.2 ppg. Occasionally mud weights as high as
12.0 ppg may be needed if Bitumen is encountered.
November 1, 2006
the Light Oil drilling process. DMA (Cypan type
polyacrylate-polyacrylamide polymer) is used to
help reduce water loss as well as to provide lubricity.
If drilling through a high clay formation, Citric
acid or SAPP may be used to help reduce the pH to
help control the reactivity of the clays. Omnipol
should be used as a viscosity reducer.
In an elevated pH or high chloride environment
the use of Desco is recommended as a viscosity reducer. Desco and Omnipol also aid in fluid loss reduction.
The insert and shoe are drilled out with water.
Once this is complete the first change over to Potassium Chloride (KCl) is completed. Potassium
muds are the most widely accepted water based
mud systems for drilling dirty sands, those con-
BELRIDGE FIELD — PART OF MIDWAY-SUNSET FIELD IN WESTERN KERN
COUNTY. Heavy Oil wells alongside Light Oil Diatomite wells
Funnel viscosity can range from as low as 36
sec/qt to as high as 50 sec/qt. If drilling through air
sands a high viscosity must be used to help reduce
the problem of lost circulation. Once through the air
sands, a viscosity of 40 to 44 sec/qt. seems to wo rk
well unless drilling through high clay formations
when a lower viscosity is needed.
As far as chemicals go, the Heavy Oil drilling
process uses many of the same chemicals used in
taining a significant portion of swelling clays. KCl
is the most widely used Potassium source. 3% KCl
is used in the hole-opening process to inhibit
swelling of any clay in the producing sand as well
as preventing swelling of any interlayer shales.
Clarizan is added to the 3% KCl solution before opening the hole. Clarizan biopolymer is a
PAGE 3
Drilling Heavy Oil Wells
(Continued on page 4)
VOLUME X NUMBER 6
Drilling Heavy Oil Wells
(Continued from page 3)
clarified, high- viscosity xanthan gum that can be
used in most types of water-based fluids. It provides excellent carrying capacity as well as some
suspending characteristics. Xanthans are extremely
shear thinning providing an excellent fluid for removing cuttings with a minimum of pressure loss.
Upon the completion of the first change over
the drill string is pulled out of the hole and an under reamer is connected. The drill string is run
back into the hole to the casing shoe. Mud pressure extends the hole opener’s arms allowing the
teeth to cut a “shoulder” and the hole opening
process begins.
Once the hole has been opened through the
producing formation, the tools are pulled to the
shoe and the pit is dumped and cleaned for the final change over. This last change over should be
as clean as possible. For this reason, the mud pit
must be thoroughly cleaned before mixing 5 %
KCl. No viscosifier is used in this fluid.
At times Brine water may be needed to provide
sufficient hydrostatic pressure to control formation
pressures. Injected steam is often the source of elevated formation pressures. Brine is preferred because it has a higher densiy than 5% KCl and lacks
the contaminating solids that would be found in a
fluid weighted with Barite. SDIC is added to the
completion fluid to help break any residual Clarizan
which may be in the well bore. Once this change
over is complete, a liner is run to bottom to prepare
for the gravel packing process. The gravel is packed
between the well bore and the liner. This works as a
filter during the production of the oil.
I hope this article has added to the understanding of the Heavy Oil drilling process for all the
GEO mud engineers who have only worked in
Light Oil. Remember, these are just the general
guidelines when drilling Heavy Oil wells. There are
many variations to the general process that I have
outlined above. Different circumstances and different preferences by the rig supervisor can change the
procedure.
Good luck in your future drilling practices and
always remember WORK SAFELY!
November 1, 2006
Ken Beas has worked for GEO as a mud engineer drilling at AERA Energy, LLC for a year doing
Heavy Oil wells. He is a graduate of GEO Drilling
Fluids mud school and is pleased to share his acquired knowledge in the hopes that it will help others “get up to speed” more quickly when they first
start working the west-side Heavy Oil areas.
CALIFORIA’S FIRST GAS WELL
T
he earliest production from a well drilled in
California was not from an oil well. A water
well, drilled in the City of Stockton (San Joaquin
County) between 1854 and 1858, reached a depth
of 1,002 feet and produced natural gas with the water. The gas was burned at the Stockton courthouse
for many years, even before Drake drilled his Pennsylvania oil well.
CALIFORIA’S FIRST OIL WELL
M
ajor production of oil in California began
with oil mines. In 1861 in Humboldt
County, the first well was drilled in California specifically for oil production. The well was unsuccessful, like numerous other Humboldt County
wells drilled between 1861 and 1864. However,
drilling activity soon began in earnest, and in 1865
and 1866 wells were drilled from Humboldt County
southward to Ventura. 65 companies were drilling
for oil in California in 1865.
The Union Mattole Oil Company completed a
well in the summer of 1865 in Humbolt County..
The well was not commercial, although it produced
some oil for a time. Reports conflict as to the exact
month of completion and the amount of the first oil
shipment, but by one account “Thirty barrels of oil
were shipped to San Francisco.” An by another
“Six, 20 gallon casks of crude oil” was the first
shipment of oil.
Stanford Brothers refined and sold the first shipment of oil from the Mattole well. They reportedly
sold the refined “burning oil” for $1.40 per gallon.
1. c) 41 sacks with a final volume of 233 bbls
2. b) GEO Gel
3. c) Desco
TECHNICAL SERVICES NEWSLETTER
ANSWERS TO WHAT DO YOU WANT IT TO BE?
PAGE 4
TECHNICAL SERVICES NEWSLETTER
VOLUME X NUMBER 6
HYDROSTATIC LOSS CAUSED BY
GAS-CUT MUD
November 1, 2006
GRAPHICAL APPLICATION
To find BHP loss due to gas cut mud:
A
graphical approach for determining
loss of hydrostatic pressure due to gas
cutting of drilling fluids has been developed to
simplify and interpret the severity of gas shows
on the surface. The graph at the back of this
newsletter provides a matrix for calculating the
actual effect of gas cut mud. What follows is a
simple solutions to Bottom Hole Pressure
(BHP) losses due to gas cutting.
Close tolerances between fracture gradient
and formation pressure requires an accurate
knowledge of BHP. Concerns about well control
when mud weights are cut by 10%-20% can
drive mud weight increases on even the shallowest wells. Using calculations based on the
compression of gas under pressure it can be
shown that even moderate gas cutting which reduces measured mud weights on the surface,
produces little effect on the effective hydrostatic head at depth. Moderate cutting usually
offers no threat to drilling safety, but does indicate that gas is entering the mud stream.
When minimum overbalances are being
used, or gas cutting becomes severe, an accurate method of determining the BHP reduction
is needed. This graphical solution disregards
the effect of gas density and thus provides a
tool useful for either gas or air. As such, it becomes useful for determining air injection vo lumes required for a desired reduction of hydrostatic pressure as well.
1.
Calculate the hydrostatic pressure of uncut mud. Although the weight of uncut return
mud is normally known, if necessary the weight
of uncut mud returning from the annulus can be
calculated using a sample of gas-cut mud:
Dilute gas-cut mud with an equal volume of
water.
Being careful not to let the solids settle, weigh
the diluted mud. Calculate uncut mud weight as
follows:
Wu =
(Wc) (Wd)
Wc + 8.3 - Wd
where: Wc = density of gas- cut mud, ppg
Wd = density of diluted mud, ppg
Wu = density of uncut mud, ppg
2.
Find the hydrostatic pressure of uncut
mud at the bottom of the chart.
Calculate hydrostatic head of uncut mud (BHP) at
depth as follows:
BHP = (MW in ppg x 0.052) x (depth in feet)
3.
Proceed up to intersect the proper
“percent gas in mud” line. Gas content (percent)
is calculated as follows:
SOLIDS CONTENT OF GAS CUT MUD
Percent gas in mud = ((Wu-Wc)/Wu) x 100
Gas cut mud not only has a lower apparent density, it also has a higher apparent solids content.
Neither of these is useful in evaluating the situation.
Before running the retort, gas cut mud can be diluted to break out the gas as long as a mathematical
adjustment is made. A 10% drink of water before
filling the retort cell means a 10% reduction in solids. Thus a 12.0 ppg mud with 18% solids after dilution would only have 16% solids. To correct the
result multiply 16% by 1.1.
4.
Read across to the right hand scale to
find the BHP loss due to gas content.
5.
Subtract pressure lost from original BHP
to find the new effective head (BHP) of gas- cut
mud.
PAGE 5
TECHNICAL SERVICES NEWSLETTER
MSDS
(Continued from page 1)
are environmentally friendly, but even the most
seemingly innocuous, like Gel, contains silica dust
which, if inhaled in sufficient quantities for a long
period can be hazardous.
To prevent injuries, some of which may only
result from very long term exposure, we provide
our mud engineers, the rig crews, and our customers with a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for
each of our products on the location. These documents contain detailed lists of the hazards associated with the use of the product as well as the procedures and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
that is required when using the product.
Make sure that your MSDS book and the rig
MSDS book contains information about all of our
products that are on location.
SAFETY GLASSES
SIGN AND RETURN THE
ATTACHED FORM
VEHICLE SAFETY
M
W
e covered the issue of wearing safety glasses
in this Newsletter a few months ago. As you
will recall the hazards are present both at work and
at home. Almost all of our customers have a policy
that requires all personnel to wear safety glasses on
the rig. This includes work on the lease such as
loading and unloading trucks, driving forklift, and
spotting for truck drivers.
A recent incident was brought to my attention.
Both the driver and the spotter (a mud engineer)
were not wearing safety glasses and the driver was
not wearing the provided seatbelt on the fork lift.
These lapses can result in injuries and serious consequences from our customer’s safety department.
BE CAREFUL AND FOLLOW ALL
THE RULES
HEAT RELATED ILLNESS
A
VOLUME X NUMBER 6
November 1, 2006
access to water and shade.
Please read this document and place it in your
employee handbook. We are required to have a record of your receipt of the program so please fill
out the last page and return it to the Bakersfield office.
The program contains a lot of good information
about avoiding heat related illness and how to treat
a person who is suffering from the heat. This may
be more applicable to your home life then your
work life.
PLEASE CAREFULLY READ THE ATTACHED POLICY AND PLACE IT IN YOUR
EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK
new section has been added to the Injury and
Illness Prevention Program. This section deals
with heat related illnesses and is mandated by the
state of California. This new regulation follows several deaths of workers this past summer who were
exposed to high heat conditions and had inadequate
ost GEO employees are good drivers with a
record of no accidents. Over the years some
have had a single incident where they ran into
something or were hit while driving along minding
their own business. And a few have had multiple
accidents, primarily involving lack of attention.
GEO employees who drive company vehicles
will find attached to this Newsletter a new policy
regarding accidents, otherwise known as Motor Vehicle Accident, Moving Vehicle Accidents or Motor
Vehicle Incidents. The variation in wording from
accident to incident and motor vehicles to moving
vehicles illustrates the attempts by the safety community to identify the problem and get people to
take responsibility for their actions. Good defensive
driving techniques can help you avoid most incidents, even when they are not your fault.
Looking both ways when you cross an intersection on a green light is a good example. You have
the right of way and if anyone were to hit you it
would be their fault. However, many intersection
broadside accidents would be prevented if the
driver with the right of way saw and yielded to the
red light running driver.
PAGE 6
PLEASE CAREFULLY READ THE
ATTACHED POLICY AND PLACE IT
IN YOUR EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK
TECHNICAL SERVICES NEWSLETTER
VOLUME X NUMBER 6
November 1, 2006
Percent Loss in
Mud Weight from
Gas Cutting
HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE LOSS
CAUSED BY GAS CUT MUD
LOSS IN HYDROSTATIC (PSI)
10,000
100,000
To find bottom hole pressure loss
due to gas cut mud:
1. Calculate hydrostatic pressure
of uncut mud. MW x 0.052 x
depth .
2 Start with hydrostatic pressure
at the bottom of the chart.
3. Proceed up to intersect the
Percent Loss in Mud Weight.
1 - (cut weight/uncut weight)
4. Read on right the loss in bottom
hole pressure due to gas cutting.
5. Subrtract loss from original
100%
10,000
95%
90%
85%
1,000
1,000
70%
60%
50%
100
40%
30%
100
20%
10%
10
10
5%
1
1
10
100
1,000
10,000
HYDROSTATIC
OF UNCUT
MUD
PAGE
7
100,000
LOSS IN HYDROSTATIC (PSI)
100,000