Optimum Composition of Nanosilica in Synthetic Based Mud (SBM) For High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) Wells Application

The depleted of easy oil reservoir and followed by the decreasing of production rate of the existing field enforce drilling operation to find the reservoir in challenging environment condition which contain high pressure and high temperature (HPHT) to accommodate the global energy demand which continue to grow over the years. This HPHT environment tends to give some troublesome during drilling operation, particularly drilling fluid. Prolonged exposure of drilling fluid in HPHT condition will change the drilling fluid desired properties due to degradation of the chemical component. Although Synthetic Based Mud (SBM) is well known as the most suitable drilling fluid for most wellbore environment, but it still has some problem with chemical degradation while exposed to HPHT condition. Recently, as the early stage of research by conducting series laboratory experiments, the utilization of nanosilica has been introduced to the SBM as an additive and it has been proven to enhance SBM performance in HPHT.