Formation damage management through enhanced drilling efficiency: Mud weight and loss analysis in Asmari Formation, Iran

Abstract

Drilling fluid loss is one of the key challenges in the drilling operations of oil and gas wells, which has a direct effect on the formation damage and production operations. Hence, it is very important to study mud loss and investigate the factors affecting its locations. In this study, the fluid distribution model and its influencing factors in the Oligo-Miocene Asmari reservoir have been studied. For this purpose, the drilling data, mud loss maps, mud weight, and the condition of mud loss in one field have been analyzed. Additionally, this study aims to provide a more precise understanding of mud loss within the reservoir, as well as examining its correlation with drilling issues. The drilling history of the wells and maps of the mud weight required for drilling the Asmari Formation in different parts of the field were used.The drilling challenges encountered in the examined wells were systematically analyzed, and distribution maps highlighting the prevalence of these issues across various sectors were generated. Also, the density of wells with drilling problems was determined in different parts of the field, and areas with high risk were introduced. The results of this study show that the highest amount of loss, a volume of 120 bbl/h, has been occurred in the main anticline areas of the field (the southeast and northwest areas of the structure), where the highest mud weight of about 130 lb/ft³ was used. Most of the wells with drilling problems are located in this area of the field. Wells situated farther away from this region were drilled with notably reduced risk levels compared to those in closer proximity.