Ultrasonic Removal of Near Wellbore Damage Caused by Fines and Mud Solids

TitleUltrasonic Removal of Near Wellbore Damage Caused by Fines and Mud Solids
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication1995
AuthorsVenkitaraman, A., P. M. Roberts, and M. M. Sharma
JournalSPE Drilling & Completio
Volume10
Issue03
Start Page193
Pagination193-197
Date Published09/1995
ISSN1064-6671
Other NumbersSPE 27388-PA
KeywordsAcoustic Cleaning, Formation Damage
Abstract

Laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate the feasibility of using ultrasonic energy to reduce formation damage caused by fines and mud solids. Cores were damaged with drilling muds in a dynamic filtration cell. Damage due to fines migration was simulated using fresh water injection. The damaged cores were then treated with ultrasonic energy at various frequencies and intensities. Experiments were conducted with fully brine saturated cores and cores partially saturated with decane. The permeability was monitored as a function of ultrasonic treatment time, during backflow, for three different sections of each core. The permeability increase, the depth of treatment and the ultrasonic energy requirements were investigated for both sandstone and limestone cores. The results showed that the permeability increased by a factor of 3 to 7 after ultrasonic treatment for cores that were damaged by mud solids and fines migration. Treatment was successful for frequencies of approximately 20-80 KHz and acoustic intensities of approximately 20-250 W/m2. For these wavefield parameters, the effective depth of treatment for reducing fines damage was approximately 2.5 inches. Damage caused by mud infiltration penetrated only the first 2.5 inches of the cores and, thus, ultrasonic treatment had no effect on deeper sections.

 

 

DOI10.2118/27388-PA