AADE Houston FMG Meeting

 Presenting – “The Science Behind the Solution: MICRO-WASH and Microemulsion Technologies”

 

To maximize performance from production zones, filter cake removal or “breaker” systems may be employed to dissolve and disperse oil- and synthetic-based reservoir drill-in fluid filter cakes left behind in open-hole reservoirs. These breaker systems are often formulated with one or multiple surfactants, solvents, an acid or acid precursor, corrosion inhibitor, and brine to provide the needed density. Typically, they function by solubilizing oil from the filter cake into the water-based breaker, water-wetting the solids, and dissolving those solids if they are acid-soluble.

 

MICRO-WASH™ was among the first field-proven mesophase technologies for open-hole filter cake clean-up. It is carefully tailored to form an in-situ microemulsion to create ultra-low interfacial tension, diffuse into the formation, solubilize oil-based damage, restore water-wet surfaces, and remove the filter cake. By hastening the formation of the in-situ microemulsion, this technology can also be used for wellbore clean-up displacement operations and for reservoir remediation to treat emulsion damage, water blocking, and water wetting issues.

 

Pioneered in 2007, the MICRO-WASH™ solution family has continually evolved along with microemulsion technology and rapidly changing completion fluid technologies. In 2022, GeoWASH™ was also enhanced to utilize microemulsion technology as a combined activation and filter cake removal fluid for the GeoFORM™ conformable sand management system.

 

MICRO-WASH performance doesn’t start in the wellbore; it starts at the molecular scale. Let’s go deep into the chemistry of microemulsions to uncover the science that makes these systems so powerful.

 

Laurie Hayden (she/her) has a B.S. degree in Chemistry from Rice University and 13 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, specializing in completion and reservoir fluids. A Houston native, she began her career researching carbon nanomaterials for carbon capture applications. She currently serves as the New Technology Leader for Drilling & Completion Fluids at Baker Hughes, where she drives innovation in next generation fluid technologies.. 

 

Presenting – “Application of Acid Precursor in Filter Cake Breaker for High Density Environment”

 

Acid precursors have been used during well completion to remove filter cake as an alternative to live acid treatments, offering operational advantages. They are less corrosive, environmentally preferable, and can be mixed and pumped using standard rig equipment, unlike live acids which require special tanks and pumps for safe handling. According to SLB's experience, traditional acid precursors have become less effective at removing filter cakes in high-density brines like Zinc Bromide compared to weighted live acid treatments, adding operational complexity at the rig site. To overcome these challenges, a new acid precursor has been developed for applications with high density requirement (>15.0 lbm/gal). This presentation highlights its use in such environments and presents a case study.

 

Tint Htoo Aung has over 13 years of experience in drilling fluids, spanning roles from Field Engineer to Technical Services Engineer. Most of his career has been focused on the design and execution of reservoir drill in fluids, filter cake breaker technologies, and completion fluids globally. 

 

Presenting – “Understanding Formation Damage Through Rapid Data Analysis”

 

The presentation will cover:

-It's not all sand: Misunderstanding formation damage.

-Data Driven: Rigorous and Rapid Analytical Techniques.

-Enhanced Chemistries: Matching the blend to the data.

-Data-based designs: Applying the medicine where the pain is.

-Stimulation progression: The feedback loop cycle

-Case Studies: It's not personal, it's just numbers

 

Justin Disney is the director of laboratory and R&D services at Jacam Catalyst.  He has been the laboratory director for 19 years, specializing in analytical chemistry, product development, and product performance testing.  He leads a team of over 100 scientists, engineers, and technicians in laboratories throughout the United States.  Prior to that, he was a metallurgist and manufacturing engineer for a high-precision bearing manufacturer.  Disney holds a BS degree in mechanical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

 

Darren Seib is the V.P of operations and engineering at STIMWRX, the stimulation division of Jacam Catalyst. After a 15-year career on the drilling side of oil and gas, he earned a degree in petroleum engineering from the University of Wyoming, where he excelled in reservoir and fluid-flow characteristics. His dream is to one day see recovery factors of effective porosity above 50% in the Permian Basin.