Deleum Oilfield Services Sdn Bhd: Removal of Barite Loaded Mud Cake for Well Start Up and Stimulation
Solids present in the mud along with weighting materials and additives form mud cake along the formation faces. Formation of a rapid and consistent mud cake helps to prevent mud and filtrate loss, preventing formation damage. It is essential to remove the mud cake after mud completion. Mud cake formed by barite loaded oil-based mud (OBM) presents problem in removal is a well, calling for a suitable cake dissolver. A dual dispersible formulation was developed for the removal of the cake. This formulation was found to rapidly disintegrate and disperse the OBM mud cake. The formulation can even remove formation damage related to ingress of mud cake in highly permeable formation by squeezing it 2 ft behind the casing.