Analysis of a Strong-Inhibition Polyamine Drilling Fluid

Drilling technologies based on oil-based drilling fluids and strong inhibitory saltwater fluids are affected by drawbacks such as downhole accidents where sticking and wellbore instabilities occur. Existing polyamine drilling fluids also exhibit problems such as easy decomposition and poor inhibition performances. In order to mitigate these issues, additives can be used, such as polyamine inhibitors and the synthesis of nanometer filtrate reducers. Tests conducted in the frame of this study with a polyamine drilling fluid and such additives show that this fluid has the same inhibitory, plugging, lubricating, and wellbore-stability performances as oil-based drilling fluids. However, it has long-term anti-wear performances even better than those of oil-based drilling fluids. The outcomes of a series of comparisons with other sample cases (other wells) are reported and the advantages related to the proposed fluid discussed in detail.