Operator Drills 10,000 ft in 8 Days, Onshore Pakistan | SLB

Operator drills 10,000 ft in 8 days using premium-performance aqueous drilling fluid system, saving 7 days

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Pakistan, Asia, Onshore

In the Sawan South Block of the Middle Indus Basin of Pakistan, a major operator drilled an outstanding 10,000 ft in 8 days by leveraging the UltraDril Plus™ premium-performance aqueous drilling fluid system with the UltraHib Plus™ premium-performance shale inhibitor. Used on one of the fastest wells drilled in the basin, the solution saved 7 days of rig time while reducing costs and ensuring wellbore stability.

In previous offset wells in the Middle Indus Basin, the operator encountered issues with bit balling in the 17½-in section and hole instability in the 12¼-in section. The new well to be drilled was complex and required a high-performance drilling fluid to achieve the desired ROP without compromising hole cleaning, wellbore stability, inhibition of reactive clays, or casing operations. To address this challenge, the UltraDril Plus system with the UltraHib Plus inhibitor was selected for its exceptional performance, excellent inhibition, and cost-effectiveness.

The unique formulation of the UltraDril Plus system enabled effective inhibition and provided a stable borehole, resulting in improved drilling performance. This led to reduced drilling time and significant rig cost savings for the operator. UltraHib Plus inhibitor, an amine-based clay inhibitor, was used to maintain wellbore stability and prevent bit balling. As a result, the well was drilled to total depth in 8.96 actual days versus 16 planned days, saving 7 days of rig time. Throughout the operation, wellbore stability was maintained, minimizing risks related to well control and NPT. Using this solution was critical for successfully drilling this complex well, effectively balancing efficiency, safety, and stability.

Graph shows the comparison of days vs. depth of the wells drilled in the Sawan South block.
The process from wellbore cleanout to POOH took only 9.2 days. In comparison, a traditional stacked completion typically takes around 16.6 days.
Photo of cuttings from the 17 1/2-in section and cuttings from the 12 1/4-in section at the Middle Indus Basin.
Featuring the UltraHib Plus premium-performance shale inhibitor, the UltraDril Plus system improved the quality and integrity of the cuttings from the 17½-in section (upper photo) and the 12¼-in section (lower photo) at the Middle Indus Basin.
Products Used