VersDRIL high-performance oil-based drilling fluid is an advanced drilling fluid system specially designed for complex geological conditions. It integrates the latest emulsification technology and rheological control concepts, achieving exceptional performance such as ultra-low viscosity, low equivalent circulating density (ECD), strong sealing, and pollution resistance through optimized formulations and processes. VersDRIL drilling fluid exhibits significant advantages in various drilling operations such as shale gas, deepwater wells, and high-temperature high-pressure wells, becoming an important technological support in modern drilling engineering. 

Features 

1.    Ultra-low viscosity control: The VersDRIL drilling fluid achieves ultra-low viscosity with a plastic viscosity (PV) of ≤30mPa·s (@1.50g/cm³) through precise control of rheological parameters, which helps to reduce friction resistance and pump pressure loss during drilling, increasing drilling efficiency. 

2.    Low ECD characteristics: Its low equivalent circulating density (ECD) value ≤0.12g/cm³ helps to reduce formation pressure agitation, protect oil and gas layers, and lower the risk of well loss.

3.    Excellent Lubricity: EP friction coefficient (CF) ≤ 0.08, significantly reduces the friction resistance between the drilling tools and the wellbore, reduces tool wear, and enhances drilling safety. 

4.    Strong Emulsification Stability: Demulsification voltage (ES) ≥ 600V, ensuring stable dispersion of oil and water phases during drilling, making it less prone to phase separation. 

5.    Outstanding Sealing Performance: High-temperature high-pressure fluid loss (FLHTHP) ≤ 3.0 mL, effectively sealing micro-cracks and pores in the formation, improving wellbore stability and reducing drilling fluid loss. 

6.    Low Damage to Oil and Gas Layers: Permeability recovery rate ≥ 85%, indicating that the drilling fluid causes minimal damage to oil and gas layers, conducive to efficient development of oil and gas resources. 

Advantages 

1.    Improved Drilling Efficiency: Ultra-low viscosity and low ECD characteristics help reduce resistance and pump pressure during the drilling process, accelerating drilling speed. 

2.    Enhanced Wellbore Stability: Under the combined effect of strong sealing performance and excellent lubricity, wellbore stability is improved, reducing wellbore collapse and tool sticking phenomena. 

3.    Protection of Oil and Gas Layers: The low damage characteristic to oil and gas layers is beneficial for effective protection and efficient development of oil and gas resources. 

4.    Reduced Operating Costs: By minimizing drilling accidents and improving drilling efficiency, the overall operating costs are lowered. 

5.    Easy Maintenance: Regularly replenishing the gel maintains the stability of the drilling fluid performance, making operations simple and quick. 

Applications 

1.    Complex Mudstone Formations: Mudstone formations often have strong water sensitivity and are prone to collapse, requiring high standards for drilling fluids. VersDRIL drilling fluid effectively prevents hydration expansion and wellbore collapse due to its strong inhibitory and sealing properties, enhancing wellbore stability. 

2.    Saline Formations: Salts in saline formations can easily contaminate drilling fluids, affecting their performance. VersDRIL drilling fluid maintains stable performance in saline formations due to its excellent pollution resistance, reducing drilling risks. 

3.    Deepwater Wells: In deepwater drilling operations, drilling fluids need good suspension and rock-carrying capabilities. VersDRIL drilling fluid maintains stable suspension and effective rock carrying in deepwater wells due to its excellent emulsification stability and rheological control properties, ensuring smooth drilling operations. 

4.    Extended Reach Wells: Extended reach wells have long drilling distances and complex trajectories, requiring high lubrication and friction control for drilling fluids. VersDRIL drilling fluid significantly reduces resistance and torque during drilling due to its low ECD, low friction, and excellent lubrication performance, improving drilling efficiency. 

5.    Horizontal Wells: In horizontal well drilling operations, the trajectory extends horizontally, requiring high stability, rock-carrying capability, and wellbore cleaning ability of the drilling fluid. VersDRIL drilling fluid plays an important role in horizontal well drilling due to its ultra-low viscosity control, strong sealing properties, and good wellbore cleaning capability. 

6.    High-Temperature High-Pressure Wells: In high-temperature high-pressure wells, drilling fluids must have good high-temperature high-pressure resistance and stability. VersDRIL drilling fluid maintains stable performance and rheology in high-temperature and high-pressure environments due to its unique formulation and process design, ensuring smooth drilling operations. 

In summary, VersDRIL high-performance oil-based drilling fluid performs excellently in various formations and well conditions, including complex mudstone formations, high-temperature high-pressure formations, saline formations, as well as deepwater wells, extended reach wells, and horizontal wells, providing significant technical support and assurance for modern drilling projects. 

System Supporting Additives 

VersEMUL Main Emulsifier 

VersCOAT Auxiliary Emulsifier 

RHEVIS Cutting Agent

JHFLO Fluid Loss Reducer 

Key Additive VersEMUL Main Emulsifier Introduction 

VersEMUL main emulsifier is a high-performance emulsifier specifically designed for oil-based drilling fluid systems. It typically features excellent emulsifying ability, thermal stability, and pollution resistance, maintaining the stability and performance of drilling fluids in high-temperature and high-pressure environments. This emulsifier is usually composed of various surfactants and other additives to meet the needs under different drilling conditions. 

Function 

1.    Emulsifying Action: VersEMUL main emulsifier significantly reduces the interfacial tension between oil and water, allowing water molecules to disperse more easily into the oil phase, forming a stable water-in-oil emulsion. 

2.    Stabilize Emulsions: By forming a robust molecular film at the oil-water interface, it prevents the coalescence and merging of oil droplets and water droplets, thereby maintaining emulsion stability. 

3.    Improve Lubricity: The emulsifier itself has certain lubricating properties, which can reduce friction between the drill bit and the wellbore, enhancing the penetration capability of the drill bit and drilling efficiency. 

4.    Pollution Resistance: Enhances the resistance of the drilling fluid system to external pollutants, maintaining the cleanliness and performance of the drilling fluid. 

5.    Fluid Loss Control: Effectively controls the fluid loss during the drilling process, ensuring the stability of the drilling fluid system and drilling safety. 

Applicable Range 

1.    Temperature: VersEMUL main emulsifier typically has high thermal stability, maintaining its emulsifying performance and stability in high-temperature environments. Generally, it can operate stably above 200°C. 

2.    System: VersEMUL main emulsifier is suitable for various oil-based drilling fluid systems, including diesel-based, white oil-based, and synthetic-based systems. It can be used under different geological conditions and drilling processes to meet various drilling needs. 

Key Additive VersCOAT Auxiliary Emulsifier Introduction 

VersCOAT auxiliary emulsifier is an auxiliary emulsifier specifically designed for oil-based drilling fluid systems. It is used in conjunction with the main emulsifier to enhance the emulsifying stability, high-temperature performance, and pollution resistance of the drilling fluid. This auxiliary emulsifier plays an important role in the drilling fluid system due to its unique molecular structure and chemical properties. 

Function 

1.    Enhance Emulsification Stability: VersCOAT auxiliary emulsifier can further reduce the interfacial tension between oil and water, enhancing the stability of the emulsion and preventing the separation and coalescence of oil droplets and water droplets. 

2.    Improve High-Temperature Performance: In high-temperature environments, the auxiliary emulsifier can protect the main emulsifier from thermal decomposition, maintaining the overall stability of the drilling fluid system. 

3.    Enhance Pollution Resistance: The auxiliary emulsifier can enhance the resistance of the drilling fluid system to external pollutants such as salts and calcium ions, maintaining the cleanliness and performance of the drilling fluid. 

4.    Improve Rheological Performance: By adjusting the rheological performance of the drilling fluid, the auxiliary emulsifier helps improve the performance of mud pumping and the cutting efficiency of the drill bit during the drilling process. 

Applicable Range 

1.    Temperature: VersCOAT auxiliary emulsifier typically has high thermal stability, maintaining its performance in high-temperature environments. Generally, it can operate stably above 200°C. 

2.    System: VersCOAT auxiliary emulsifier is suitable for various oil-based drilling fluid systems, including diesel-based, white oil-based, and synthetic-based systems. It can be used under different geological conditions and drilling processes to meet various drilling needs. 

Case Studies

This system has been successfully applied in over 500 wells in the Fuling shale gas demonstration area, during which the shale formations remained stable, the friction torque was steady, the drilling fluid performance was stable, and there were no occurrences of wellbore collapse or tool sticking phenomena, achieving excellent application results. 

Focal Page 29 shows a platform with four infill wells deployed in the Jianghan Oilfield, which are very close to neighboring wells and belong to the same target layer, posing a high risk of collision. The neighboring wells have already been fractured and put into production, leading to damage to the formation stress, making the underground extremely complex, with a high risk of loss and wellbore instability, thereby imposing higher requirements on the drilling fluid's anti-collapse and anti-loss performance.

On page 29, the S6HF well was initially drilled using oil-based drilling fluid from another company. After drilling from 560m to a well depth of 2825m, issues occurred during the drilling ascent, leading to stuck pipe problems, and repeated attempts to clean out the well and ream the hole were met with significant resistance. A large amount of cuttings was returned from the bottom of the well, with a maximum occurrence reaching 4m³, and the collapsed material was substantial and difficult to break. Considering the on-site situation, it was judged that the wellbore had collapsed. The difficulty of handling it was high, and the associated risks were also significant. At this point, the drilling and handling of the complex downhole issues had already taken 27 days. After a comprehensive analysis, the client company determined that the current wellbore could not meet subsequent operations and decided to fill the well and sidetrack, while switching to our company's high-performance oil-based drilling fluid system for the operation.

On page 29, the S6HF well was successfully drilled to a depth of 4338m, with a progressive advance of 2073m using high-performance oil-based drilling fluid. The horizontal section was 1581m long, and the drilling cycle lasted 14 days. During the on-site operations, the client aimed to improve the sealing effectiveness and compared various plugging materials from other companies. They found that our company's plugging agent delivered immediate results: the vibrating screen showed no abnormalities, and the process of tripping in and out of the well was smooth, laying a "solid" foundation for the successful completion of the drilling.