Jv. Fisk et al., DEVELOPMENT AND FIELD TRIAL OF 2 ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE WATER-BASED FLUIDS USED SEQUENTIALLY TO FREE STUCK PIPE, SPE drilling & completion, 13(1), 1998, pp. 52-55
Diesel-based spotting fluids have historically been used to free diffe
rentially stuck pipe. Increasing environmental regulatory pressures ha
ve prompted the development of environmentally acceptable water-based
spotting fluids. In spite of their widespread application, these new f
luids have had only sporadic success in freeing differentially stuck p
ipe in the field. An extensive laboratory research project was initiat
ed to identify potential chemistries that could offer increased perfor
mance and maintain environmental acceptability. Literature reviews rev
ealed that previous spotting-fluid research had focused mainly on the
spotting fluid providing lubrication between the drillpipe and mud fil
ter cakes. Laboratory data also revealed that the best preforming conv
entional spotting fluids were highly toxic to mysid shrimp. In accorda
nce with the new findings, a two-phase spot was developed. This paper
details a field application that validated the concept of the two-phas
e spot, and discusses its method of application.