Drilling Fluid Report - Filtrate/Water Loss , Filter Cake Thickness

Filtrate/Water Loss                                   ml/30 min

Filter Cake Thickness                            1/32 inch

These two properties shall be dealt with together, as it is the filtration of mud that causes the build up of filter cake. Loss of fluid (usually water and soluble chemicals) from the mud to the formation occurs when the permeability is such that it allows fluid to pass through the pore spaces. As fluid is lost, a build up of mud solids occurs on the face of the wellbore.

This is the filter cake.

Two types of filtration occur; dynamic, while circulating and static, while the mud is at rest. Dynamic filtration reaches a constant rate when the rate of erosion of the filter cake due to circulating matches the rate of deposition of the filter cake. Static filtration will cause the cake to grow thicker with time, which results in a decrease in loss of fluids with time.

Mud measurements are confined to the static filtration. Filtration characteristics of a mud are determined by means of a filter press. The test consists of monitoring the rate at which fluid is forced from a filter press under specific conditions of time, temperature and pressure, then measuring the thickness of the residue deposited upon the filter paper.

Excessive filtration and thick filter cake build up are likely to cause the following problems:

1. Tight hole, causing excessive drag.

2. Increased pressure surges, due to reduced hole diameter.

3. Differential sticking, due to an increased pipe contact in filter cake.

4. Excessive formation damage and evaluation problems with wireline logs.

Most of these problems are caused by the filter cake and not the amount of filtration because the aim is to deposit a thin, impermeable filter cake. A low water loss may not do this, as the cake is also dependent upon solids size and distribution.

The standard fluid loss test is conducted over 30 minutes. The amount of filtrate increases with direct proportion to the square root of the time. This can be expressed by the following;

Q2 = (Q1 x T2)/T1

Where: Q2 is the unknown filtrate volume at time T2

Q1 is the known filtrate volume at time T1

Pressure also affects filtration by compressing the filter cake, reducing its permeability and therefore reducing the filtrate. Small plate-like particles act as the best filter cake builders and bentonite meets these requirements. 

Increased temperature has the effect of reducing the viscosity of the liquid phase and hence increasing filtration. With all other factors being constant, the amount of filtrate will vary with the square root of time. Proper dispersion of the colloidal clays in the mud gives a good overlap of particles, thus giving good filtration control. A flocculated mud, which has aggregates of particles, allows fluid to pass through easily. The addition of chemicals to act as dispersants will increase the efficiency of the filter cake.

The standard test is conducted at surface temperature at 100 psi and is recorded as the number of ml's of fluid lost in 30 minutes. An API high pressure/high temperature (Hp/Ht) test is conducted at 300° F and 500 psi.

The tests may be conducted using a portable filter press that uses CO2 cartridges or using a compressed air supply. The high pressure and high temperature test is conducted to simulate downhole conditions, since the degree of filtration may vary, depending upon the compressibility of the filter cake. A mud sample may be tested at standard temperatures and pressures, increased temperature and 100 psi, or at high temperatures and pressures. Increased pressure will indicate if the filter cake is compressible.

The primary fluid loss agent in most water based muds are the clays. These solids should have a size variation with a large percentage being under 1 micron. This will produce a filter cake with low porosity and permeability.

The use of centrifuges or cyclone solids removal equipment may cause filtration problems by removing the small size solids. Starch is also used as a fluid loss agent, the starch being treated is so that it will easily gelatinize and swell. Water soluble polymers are commonly used as viscosifiers, acting on the fluid phase which also reduces fluid loss.

Sodium Carboxyl-Methyl Cellulose (CMC) is an organic colloid with a long chain structure that can be polymerized into different lengths or grades. It is thought to act by either the long chains plugging narrow openings in the filter cake, curling into balls to act as plugs, or by coating the clay particles with a film. It will however, lose its effectiveness as salt concentrations rise above 50,000 ppm. A polyanoinic cellulose is used as the fluid loss agent in high salt concentration, low solids drilling fluids.