GSSPE Webinar: Drilling Fluids Qualification and Field Implementation – Following API and Going Beyond
Lecturer: Oliver Czuprat (Senior Chemist Drilling Fluids and Cement at Harbour Energy)
Formation damage by the drill-In fluid has been identified as a major risk for a high-temperature gas field in Norway. To ensure maximum hole clean-up and productivity, even after long term suspension, comprehensive lab testing of specific properties from drilling and completion fluids were carried out under downhole conditions, to ensure e.g. optimum bridging, minimizing formation damage, thermal stability and mobility. Long-term stability and mobility of the mud even after extended suspension time between drill-in and clean-up of the wells were evaluated using a novel static aging test under downhole temperature and high pressure. These experiments have shown that the downhole mud stability is commonly underestimated when the testing pressure is lower than in the field.
The test scope also included a detailed rheology characterization as well as complementary formation damage and return permeability tests, allowing to systematically optimize additive concentrations of the awarded fluid system.
This use of HPHT aging has been the key to proving the long-term stability and mobility of the combined Drill-In and Completion Fluid. This technique falls outside of current API RP testing practices, and is believed to be highly beneficial for qualification of fluids that will remain in the lower completion for long periods, especially in open hole completions under high temperature and pressure.
In a second field case, a systematic selection of a dual-use fluid for horizontal wells in an oilfield offshore Norway is presented. The success of the approach was again proven by no negative impact on productivity of the well compared to previously drilled and completed wells in the field. Furthermore, running the completion in drill-in fluid also resulted in significant de-risking of drilling operations, cost savings and eliminated logistical challenges from previous wells.
Event Details:
📅 Wednesday, 5th February 2025
🕑 15:00 - 16:00 CET
About the Lecturer:

Oliver Czuprat holds a diploma and Ph.D. from the Leibniz Universität Hannover. His research covered catalytic membrane reactors for the conversion of light hydrocarbons Since 2011, he holds the position as Senior Chemist Drilling Fluids & Cement at Harbour Energy´s Technology & Service Center located in Barnstorf, Germany.
Oliver is responsible for the drilling fluids and cement testing laboratory providing chemical support, quality check and optimization studies for domestic and international drilling, well workover operations, and P&A campaigns within Harbour Energy.
He is also the chairman of the workgroup “Drilling Fluids and Cement” within the German Scientific Society for Sustainable Energy, Mobility and Carbon Cycles e. V. (DGMK).
He has published several SPE papers and held presentations at domestic and international conferences covering drilling fluids and cement topics.