Abstract

Most of us are aware of the opportunity that exists for increasing recovery factor by applying proven technologies from other parts of the globe. Although, there are a large number of technical publications that list the benefits of applyin g these technologies to specific reservoirs, however many of them have not been tested in the lab/field to check whether it can be customized/ tailored for Indian scenarios or not. As for the case when the lab results show positive results, transferring the technologies to the field has a high probability for success. Safety, minor cost and minor formation damage which are the basic goals of good drilling practices are not achievable when formation pressures are drawn down in mature reservoirs e.g. most of the producing fields in India. The problems associated with the pressure variances encountered in mature fields, coupled with the constraints of conventional fluid and equipment technologies to properly provide an equitable solution, have driven the need for a new approach to drilling and work-over operations within depleted reservoirs. One of the latest approaches to this dilemma is the use of the Aphron Based Drilling Fluid Technology, which is now used globally to drill through depleted reservoirs/wells. This paper discusses the application of the Aphron Based Drilling Fluid Technology, with its success stories from field, which is offering a unique opportunity to significantly improve the operational and economic aspects for continued development of marginal assets across the globe.