Enhancing borehole wall stability during drilling of unstable intervals using biopolymer-silicate drilling fluids
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31471/2304-7399-2026-22(83)-141-157Keywords:
drilling fluid, sodium silicate, biopolymer mud, unstable formations, rheological properties, filtration, wellbore stability.Abstract
This paper investigates the effectiveness of biopolymer-silicate drilling fluids for drilling through unstable wellbore intervals. It is demonstrated that drilling through clay-rich and fractured formations leads to complications such as borehole caving and sloughing, solid phase buildup in the mud, and degraded cuttings transport efficiency. The study justifies a specific formulation for the biopolymer-silicate fluid, incorporating modified starch, Duo-Vis biopolymer, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), sodium silicate, sodium chloride, and sodium hydroxide. A comparative analysis was conducted between the technological parameters of the proposed fluid and the actual performance of the potassium chloride biopolymer mud used in Well No. 9 of the Hrabynska field. Findings indicate that the silicate reagent enhances the inhibitive properties of the drilling fluid, reduces fluid loss, and strengthens the wellbore walls by forming silica gels within the rock pore space. The proposed fluid maintains stable rheological properties, ensures efficient hole cleaning, and meets all technical drilling requirements. Field trials conducted during the drilling of Well No. 5 at the Hrabynska field confirmed the fluid’s efficiency and technical viability for managing wellbore instability in challenging intervals.
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Copyright (c) 2026 І. Ф. Дудич, М. В. Сенюшкович, В. В. Богославець , О. Б. Марцинків, І. І. Витвицький , Р. Р. Ганчук
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