West Texas Operator Utilizes STAR SHIELD® to Eliminate Mud Losses in the Delaware Basin

An operator drilling in Reeves County, Texas, planned to drill through the mechanically weak 3rd Bone Springs Sand/Hoban formations in the Delaware Basin. Offset well data indicated operators experienced mud losses and hole instability issues while drilling through these problematic formations in the 8 ½-in. production interval. Drilling through mechanically weak formations with narrow pore pressure and fracture gradient windows are often a challenge. Maintaining wellbore stability, while providing sufficient mud weight to prevent hole collapse without inducing mud losses can be difficult to manage.

The operator adopted the use of STAR SHIELD throughout the production interval to minimize whole mud losses and provide wellbore stability while drilling the curve and first 2,000-ft. of lateral section. STAR SHIELD was introduced into the active oil-based mud (OBM) circulating system while drilling out the intermediate casing shoe in the 8 ½-in. production interval. The intermediate casing shoe was drilled out with a 12.0 lb/gal OBM and a successful formation integrity test (FIT) was performed to 13.5 lb/gal equivalent mud weight (EMW). Hourly treatments of STAR SHIELD were added to the active circulating system to maintain appropriate concentrations while drilling the curve section through the fragile 3rd Bone Springs Sand and Hoban formations. Upon reaching the landing point, a trip was made for the lateral assembly with no issues at 11,024-ft. STAR SHIELD concentrations were maintained while drilling the first 2,000-ft. of lateral to a depth of 13,312-ft. measured depth (MD) and 10,436-ft. true vertical depth (TVD).

SOLIDS CONTROL
The operator utilized three primary shale shakers and a Mud Cube shaker system throughout this hole section. The primary shakers were equipped with API 70 mesh screens and the Mud Cube system was set up to downstream with API 100 mesh screens. Minimal STAR SHIELD depletion was observed at the shakers and Mud Cube system. The product was maintained as a background additive in the active circulating system at 8 lb/bbl with hourly treatments to account for dilution, new hole volume and cuttings attrition. The centrifuge was not utilized during this section and all adjustments proved effective in maintaining STAR SHIELD concentrations while managing low gravity solids (LGS) at 7-9%.