Rheological Property Measurement and Application of Formate-Based Drilling Fluids at Elevated Temperatures: A Review

Drilling fluids are crucial to address issues such as loss of well control and integrity, decline in well productivity, and improper hydraulic balance under elevated temperature and pressure in situ conditions. These issues can compromise safety and hamper field development programs. One such drilling fluid formulation comprises of formate-based mud which has shown potential to provide better fluid stability under elevated temperature and pressure conditions. However before jumping to any conclusion, it is important to critically review the past research works and compare the properties of formate-based muds with other available muds. In pursuit of getting an insight on the application of such formate-based muds, a thorough and extensive review of the research has been carried out. The current study looks at different aspects of rheological and physio-chemical properties of various mud systems using different measurement techniques for characterization. It also encompasses the properties measured during the field operations and explains the suitability of fluid properties. A statistical analysis of two formate-based mud rheological properties is also conducted to see any significant difference in their behavior. Based on these studies, a comprehensive evaluation framework for the mud systems is presented which can be used for assessing the suitability and application of fluid for field application.