Enabling Technologies for Hard-Rock Mining Applications

1 4/2/2013 Confidential Information © 2010 M-I SWACO

Enabling Technologies for Hard-Rock

Mining Applications

Daryl Cullum, M-I SWACO, A Schlumberger Company

20 – 21 March, 2013

TerraTek, Salt Lake City, Utah


Enabling Technologies for Hard-Rock Mining Applications

• Coring Fluids

• Benign rock, usually no specialized coring fluids

• Low Solids Non-Dispersed (LSND)

• Shear thinning mixed-metal oxide (DRILPLEX)

Drilling and Coring Drilling Fluids Used in Hard-Rock Drilling

• Drilling Fluids

• Most widely used - Oil-based fluids

• Seldom used – DRILPLEX for losses, High-Temperature Polymer, High-Performance Water-Based (HPWB) utilizing amine chemistry



Hard-Rock Mining Challenges – Core Recovery



• How does it work?

Downhole Losses – DRILPLEX HDD

Pressure

Drop (Pa)

Bingham

Yield Point

(Pa)

Wellbore radius

rw (m)

Maximum depth of invasion rmax (m)

Fracture Width (m)



• Amine chemistry designed using

lab testing and molecular modeling

to give optimized shale and clay

stabilization without requirement

for salts. Result is better

performance with improved

environmental profile

Shale Stabilization – Amine Chemistry



Hydraulics Modeling – SPECTRUM • Hole size – 3.85”

• Rod size – 3.5 x 3.06”

• Total flow area – 6.46 in2

• ROP – 15 ft/hr

• Rotary – 300 rpm

• WOB – 250 lbs

• Depth – 1500’

• Density – 8.5 ppg

• PV – 14 cps

• YP – 7 lbs/100 ft2

• Gels – 2/5 lbs/100 ft2

• Temperature

74º F surface

92º F at TD



SPECTRUM Hydraulics Modeling – Flow Rate 30 gal/min




0

750

1500 0 2000 1500 1000 500

1 psi/ft Fracture Gradient









SPECTRUM Hydraulics Modeling – Flow Rate 30 gpm, Hole Size 3.95”



Fracture Sealing – Particulates Not Suitable as WBS



Fracture Sealing – Particulates Suitable for WBS



• Slot testing equipment

• Evaluation of fractures to 5mm / 0.2 inches

• Most successful utilize particulates (SAFECARB)

Fracture Sealing



Possible New Technologies – Synthetic Cement Project

Property Requirement

HSE Safe to handle

Rheology Similar to typical SBM

Density 9-15 ppg

Pump/Set Time 4-8 hours

Temperature range 80°F to 250°F

Ease of operation Mixable and pumpable

Compressive Strength ≥ 500 psi

Tensile Strength Higher than cement

Longevity Equivalent to cement

Gas Permeability None

• Project Goal - study chemical solutions that can be applied either in the drilling fluid, or via a dedicated fluid pill, to efficiently support a casing string and isolate wellbore regions as necessary.



• Complete line of products for hard-rock drilling

and coring fluids

• http://www.slb.com/services/miswaco/services/

hdd.aspx

• Technical assistance

• Gary Matula

• [email protected]

M-I SWACO HDD Mining & Waterwell



• Technical Support

• New Products

• How does M-I SWACO initiate product development or new product applications?

• Internal requests

• CUSTOMER FEEDBACK

What can M-I SWACO do to help you?

Documents

Enabling Technologies for Hard-Rock Mining Applications