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Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Release
POWERVIS linear biopolymer proves to be a viable alternative to xanthan gum viscosifiers
Houston, Texas (June 8, 2010) –POWERVIS* linear biopolymer, the new viscosifier used in FLOPRO* reservoir drill-in fluid systems, enabled an operator in Alaska to drill a high-angle extended reach slim-hole Coiled Tubing Drilling (CTD) sidetrack while minimizing pressure loss and elevating low shear-rate viscosities.
“The POWERVIS biopolymer exhibited 10 to 22% lower operating system pressure loss,” said Rick Morris, project engineer, “and compared to a xanthan gum biopolymer, it reduced ECD by 0.8 lb/gal EMW.”
Previous long reach wells in the area experienced high ECD and system pressure losses up to 4,000 psi. FLOPRO SF reservoir drill-in fluid with a xanthan gum biopolymer had been used as the system viscosifier in previous sections but due to the nature of this section, the POWERVIS linear biopolymer was selected.
The initial comparative free-spin pressure loss was 650 psi lower than the xanthan gum system and when the agitator tool was added to drillstring during the remaining 500 ft (152 m) of the lateral section, the initial free-spin pump pressure with POWERVIS was 2,800 psi, approximately 700 psi lower than that of the standard FLOPRO SF RDF system viscosified with xanthan gum. When it is employed, the agitator tool alone will add 500 psi to overall system pressure loss.
POWERVIS is a rheology modifying agent used to provide viscosity and solids suspension in FLOPRO SF and
M-I SWACO, which is based in Houston, TX and jointly owned 60% by Smith International, Inc. (NYSE, PSE:Sii) and 40% by Schlumberger Limited (NYSE:SLB), is a leading provider of a wide range of products and engineering services designed to deliver Drilling Solutions, Environmental Solutions, Wellbore Productivity and Production Technologies. The company is strategically located in more than 70 countries.
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