Granular Subsurface Seal

Project Description

This project is aimed at developing and conducting physical tests on a new set of unique swellable materials that can expand into, seal and plug undesirable cavities and isolate distressed porous media downhole of an oil well.

During drilling, production, workover, stimulation and abandonment stages of an oil well life-cycle, different natural and synthetic sealing elements are deployed. They differentially provide filter cake to stabilise the walls of the hole, e.g. as fluid loss control agents for loss circulation control, flow diverters during stimulation or as reinforcement agents to plug cement cavities to prevent annular leakage of hydrocarbons and corresponding sustained casing pressures. There are different types of sealant systems ranging from granular or fibre to cross-linked polymers that form to swellable packers that are utilised with mixed results. Properties to take into consideration include:

• What are the best types of swellable materials that can be used?
• What should be the size distribution and concentration and integrity of the sealant for each lithology system and application?
• What is the impact of the sealing elements on base mud/carrier fluid chemistry and eventual properties?
• What are the optimum recipe formulations required for each application in relation to the base carrier fluid system such as synthetic based or water based carrier fluid systems?

In partnership with Resolute Energy Solutions and SEM Energy