SAGDRIL

The drilling-fluid system that keeps you

moving ahead, even in sticky tar sand
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Features
INTEGRATED FLUIDS ENGINEERING
*
(IFE*) combined with latest-
generation SAGD drilling fluid
Minimizes fluid impact on
bitumen and cleans cuttings
at surface
Dual tar control through TARLIFT
*
and TARSURF
*
Excellent hole cleaning
and suspension
Separates and cleans different
waste streams
Benefits
New approach for drilling and
drilling waste management
Mud cooler not needed (flow line
temperature >35 C [95 F] may
require cooling)
Minimizes hole washout %
Minimizes waste generation
Liner run without incidents
Easy to engineer
No cuttings beds formed
Maximizes ROP, saves drilling time
WedevelopedtheSAGDRILsystem
togiveyoutheupper hand
inthetar sands

A P P L I C A T I O N S
Wells drilling in the Athabasca tar
sands and in any area where Steam
Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) is
used to drill for, and produce, crude
oil from bitumen deposits.

P R O B L E M S
The sticky bitumen clings to bits,
BHAs, drill pipe and shaker screens,
and the wellbore can erode easily if
the drilling fluid is too hot or contains
critical amounts of solvents.

S O L U T I O N S
The water-base SAGDRIL
*
drilling-fluid
system resists bitumen accretion and
screen blinding while keeping the
wellbore clean and intact for tight
build radii and extended-reach
horizontal sections.

E C O N O M I C S
The SAGDRIL system significantly
reduces drilling time and expense
by promoting faster, cleaner drilling;
by maintaining wellbore integrity and
by significantly reducing cleanup costs.

E N V I R O N M E N T A L
The water-base SAGDRIL system
reduces both solid and liquid drilling
waste streams, and we can employ
the SAGDRIL tar-sand cuttings cleaner
to strip tar from drilled solids for
mix-bury-cover onsite.
To say that drilling Steam Assisted
Gravity Drainage (SAGD) wells is a
challenge would be an understate-
ment. SAGD drilling is a technically
demanding endeavor that involves
drilling hundreds of pairs of parallel
wells with a high degree of precision
through sticky tar sands in an envi-
ronmentally sensitive area.
A great deal of a SAGD programs
success depends upon finding a
highly specialized drilling fluid that
will keep the hole clean, without well-
bore erosion, for tight-build radii and
extended-reach, horizontal sections;
that will keep the bit and drillstring
clean to minimize bitumen-accretion
problems; and that will prevent screen
blinding at the shale shakers. Add to
that the need for an environmentally
compatible formulation that also
reduces the amount of drilling waste,
and the challenge to find the right
drilling-fluid system is even greater.
The SAGDRIL system gives
you exactly what you need
for this demanding work
M-I SWACO* developed the SAGDRIL
system to address the specific prob-
lems unique to drilling high build-
angles and long-reach horizontal
sections through the tar sands. The
system incorporates a combination
of surfactants and solvents, each
with a specific function. Extensive
laboratory testing of several solvent
and surfactant products resulted in
the selection of two products, TARLIFT
and TARSURF, for accretion control.
These products, working in conjunc-
tion with water-wetting surfactants
effectively control wellbore erosion
by forming a stable emulsion of the
solvents so their interaction with the
wellbore can be reduced.
The result of M-I SWACO research,
development and field testing is
a proven system that delivers the
features which help you get more
production from the tar sands at
a lower cost:
A water-base drilling fluid that
relies on a strong water-wetting
agent to minimize accretion of
the sticky tar sands on the bit and
drillstring while it minimizes
shaker-screen blinding
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Oil-wetting surfactants to encapsu-
late tarry cuttings and promote their
effective removal by the shakers and
other solids-control equipment such
as centrifuges
A rheological profile optimized
for minimal wellbore erosion
Rheology that ensures optimum hole
conditions while drilling and running
casing and production liners
Onsite fluids engineers who monitor
the systems Low-Shear-Rate Viscosity
(LSRV) with a Brookfield viscometer
In a laboratory test to simulate hole erosion in var-
ious drilling fluids, technicians rotated calibrated
tar-sand cores at controlled temperatures and
rotating speeds in solvent/xanthan gum formula-
tions or SAGDRIL fluid. Periodically, the technicians
measured the cores to check for erosion. The
solvent/xanthan gum formulations were more
aggressive, causing higher erosion, while the
SAGDRIL fluid proved to be the least aggressive.
0.5 Reduction in diameter (mm)
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0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200
Time, min
Differential Rotor Decay
SAGDRIL fluid
Solvent-base System A
Solvent-base System B
Solvent-base System C
Compared to wells drilled with traditional
solvent-base systems, SAGDRIL wells have
realized significant savings in disposal costs of
both solid and liquid drilling waste. They have
also seen a significant reduction in solids-control
costs and overall project costs.
400 tonnes
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
Drilling Waste
Solvent/xanthan gum system
SAGDRIL system
Product Functions and Descriptions
Product Function Description
TARVIS
*
Rheological properties, especially LSRV Biopolymer
TARSURF
*
Anti-accretion drilling-fluid additive Blend of solvents and surfactants
TARLIFT
*
Anti-accretion drilling-fluid additive Blend of solvents and surfactants
TARCLEAN
*
Anti-accretion for rig equipment Solvent
Enhances LSRV and
promotes clean wellbore
Significantly reduces
occurrence of accretion
Low risk of stuck pipe
Reduces time running
casing and liner strings
Lowers power demand
Simplifies logistics
In the Wellbore At the Bit
was developed
M-I SWACO products and technologies
deliver value for the customer because we
listen to what our customers want and
need. Then we find the solution that gets
the job done in a safe, timely, cost-effective
and environmentally responsible manner.
The SAGDRIL systems
stable wellbore helps you
beyond just drilling
Another area where the SAGDRIL sys-
tem helps your operation run more
smoothly is in running casing and
liners. High operating temperatures,
thermal expansion and high stress
levels in the casing and cement sheath
are facts of life in SAGD drilling. Add
to that the absolute requirement that
an excellent pipe/cement and cement/
formation bond be accomplished
throughout the intermediate casing,
and you have quite a challenge for
any drilling fluid. And thats precisely
why the SAGDRIL system isnt just
any drilling fluid. It helps you achieve
your running and cementing goals
by ensuring maximum lubricity while
running the intermediate casing, and
it aids increating a better cement bond
by delivering anin-gauge wellbore.
INTEGRATED FLUIDS
ENGINEERING: Making sure
you get everything the
SAGDRIL system can deliver
As good as it is, the SAGDRIL system is
still just one of the elements you rely
on to drill a successful well. To make
sure that all the fluids-related services
and equipment on your well work in
concert with each other to shorten
drilling time, increase production, meet
environmental regulations and lower
overall costs, M-I SWACO has developed
INTEGRATED FLUIDS ENGINEERING (IFE).
The IFE approach is a synergistic,
comprehensive fluids solution that
employs benchmarking to optimize
fluids and drilling waste management,
lower overall project costs, and provide
a single point of contact for fluids-
related issues on your SAGD project.
During well planning, certified
M-I SWACO IFE personnel coordi-
nate all the factors that influence the
environmental performance of the
well, including fluids, drilling waste
management methods and equipment,
and post-well operations. With all the
wells aspects planned far in advance,
and a true integration of personnel, serv-
ices and equipment, the IFE approach
will make sure you get the most from
your SAGDRIL system and reduce your
overall drilling and completion costs.
Rig
Significantly reduces
solid drilling waste
Significantly reduces
liquid drilling waste
Increases fluid recovery
Maximizes recycling
and reuse of fluids
Drilling Waste Management
Lowers power demand
Simplifies logistics
Lowers pump rates
Lowers pump pressures
Reduces fuel consumption
Reduces rig time
Reduces equipment needs
Reduces solids loading
Increases shaker-screen life
Reduces dilution factor
Solids Control
VALUE
M-I SWACO SAGDRIL drilling fluid
to deliver enhanced value to our customers SAGD operations:
Very tough drilling: The Athabasca tar sands
Tar sand is thought to be the result
of ancient crude oil migrating up
through existing deposits of riverine
sand. Uponreaching the surface of the
earth, weathering and perhaps air
chemistry resulted in a thickening of
the hydrocarbons into bitumen, or tar.
Then, over the millennia, weather and
geologic action covered the semi-solid
bitumen with layers of soil, or in the
case of the Athabasca sands, muskeg.
At 10 C (50 F) tar viscosity is greater
than 2,000,000 cP and will hold the sand
particles together. At 150 C (302 F) the
viscosity is only 1,500 cP thin enough
for production. Fortunately, the sand is
thought to remain in a water-wet state,
which allows for an easy separation of
the tar from the sand grains.
In the areas where the overburden
exceeds 50 m (~165 ft) , the bitumen
from Athabasca sands are recovered
through in-situ methods such as SAGD.
To do this, several horizontal well pairs
are drilled from a SAGD pad, with one
well in each pair about 5 m (16 ft) above
the other. Steam is injected into the
upper wellbore to liquefy the bitumen
which flows down to the lower wellbore
for collection.
Early tar sand drilling fluids
The first wells drilled into tar sand
resulted in an endless struggle with the
tar. The tar gummed up bits, BHAs and
drill pipe. Shaker screens became a mass
of tarry cuttings.
The screen-blinding problem was
eventually brought under control by
spraying a solvent on the shaker screens,
but this caused more problems. When
enough solvent was used to prevent
adhesion, the extra solvent in the mud
stream caused an unacceptable amount
of wellbore erosion. Cooling the drilling
fluid to 8 to 12 C (46 to 54 F) was
enough to keep the formation stable, but
it required the use of a mud cooler that
was expensive to rent and operate.
Suncor Firebag SAGDwell pad.
An aid to responsible drilling
waste management practices
SAGD pads are located in an environ-
mentally sensitive area of Northern
Alberta, and this makes drilling waste
management programs difficult and
costly to manage. With some reason-
ably careful drilling practices, however,
the SAGDRIL system can play an inte-
gral role in this important part of any
SAGD program.
M-I SWACO has formulated the sys-
tem to address the specific problem
areas of accretion, shaker-screen blind-
ing and wellbore erosion. A reduction
in accretion and shaker-screen blinding
have resulted in a significant increase
in shaker-screen life and a sharp
decrease in both fluid dilution and
drilling waste disposal costs. By con-
trolling wellbore erosion, the system
further reduces the amount of drilling
waste generated.
SAGDRIL wells have realized sig-
nificant savings in disposal costs of
both solid and liquid drilling waste.
They have also seen a significant
reduction in solids-control costs and
overall project costs.
Take advantage of
the SAGDRIL system
M-I SWACO representatives are trained
and experienced in helping operators
optimize their crude-drilling programs,
with solutions geared for success.
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The Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) Process
Two parallel wellbores are drilled
into the tar sand, one above the
other, usually about 5 m (16 ft) apart.
Once the wells have been completed,
high-pressure steam is injected into
the upper wellbore.
As the hot steam moves from the
liner slots in the upper wellbore out
into the tar sand, it softens the tarry
deposit. The water in the steam helps
to loosen the oil from the sand, and
it mixes with the oil.
2
1
Gravity moves the mixture of hot oil
and water down to the lower wellbore
where it enters through the liner slots.
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The oil/water mixture in the lower wellbore
is then pumped to the surface where it is
dewatered and processed into crude oil.
4
5th Floor, 700 2nd Street SW
Calgary, Alberta T2P 2W2
Tel: 4032905300
Fax: 4032905323
Toll-free: 8009994585
P.O. Box 42842
Houston, Texas 77242-2842
Tel: 2815611300
Fax: 2815611441
www.miswaco.com
E-mail: questions@miswaco.com
Technology Centers:
HOUSTON, TEXAS
Tel: 2815611300 Fax: 2815611441
ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND
Tel: 441224334634 Fax: 441224334650
STAVANGER, NORWAY
Tel: 4751577300 Fax: 4751570605
2005 M-I L.L.C. All rights reserved. *Mark of M-I L.L.C.
Cover graphic courtesy of Stonehenge Productions, Inc.
FBR.1903.0511.R1 (E) 1M Litho in U.S.A.
This information is supplied solely for informational purposes and M-I SWACO makes no
guarantees or warranties, either expressed or implied, with respect to the accuracy and use
of this data. All product warranties and guarantees shall be governed by the Standard Terms
of Sale. Nothing in this document is legal advice or is a substitute for competent legal advice.