Selecting and designing a reservoir drill-in fluid (RDF) for wells with openhole standalone screens or gravel packs as lower-completion strategies can be complex, especially for high-temperature (HT) reservoirs. In response to these challenges, an HT water-based (WB) RDF system using a novel synthetic polymer was customized with optimal chemical concentrations and sized calcium carbonates to bridge reservoir pores while building a high-quality acid-soluble filter cake. Furthermore, a low-corrosive breaker was formulated to dissolve and disperse the filter cake after running the lower completion string to the bottom and setting the packer.
Background
The authors’ company recognized that significant challenges would arise in fluid design in its Perth Basin drilling campaign. Analysis of sidewall cores collected from the BSD-1 exploration well, drilled in 2019, and subsequent geomechanical studies indicated a high potential for sanding with increased drawdown.
