Pipe dope as a source of oil and gas formation damage

Since the beginning of the oil and gas industry, product (commonly known as “pipe dope” in the vernacular) has been used to join the threaded connections of tubing and casing tubes. These compounds can carry from 19% to 25% of heavy inorganic particles (such us lead, zinc, lithium and graphite among others) which provide the sealing properties to the pipe connections throughout a wide range of temperatures (API 5A3, 1996). Dopes are hydrocarbon resistant for the obvious reasons and provide lubrication to the connections during the thread engagement avoiding galling while maintaining the connection's mechanical integrity. However, the doping practice involves the manual application of the lubricant in a fashion that is rudimentary, non-systematic and unquantifiable. Any excess quantity of dope exuded during the make-up of connections could result in a series of problems inside the well like the clogging of sandscreens, valves and heads of the perforating guns (TCP). The excess of dope accumulated inside the tubing can also cause wire-line failures, reading problems of the logging tools during the data acquisition and completion fluids contamination. But the most severe and almost irreversible problem that the thread compound could bring inside the well is the damage produced to the near-well zone because it would be difficult to remove with both water-base or hydrocarbon-base solvents. This paper looks at the manner with which pipe dope is applied. Laboratory, field and core testing has been employed to quantify the effects of the material. It is concluded amply that pipe dope can cause severe damage in producing wells and, almost certainly, severe damage in injection wells.