VERSATRIM

Cuttings retention reducer for oil-based muds

VERSATRIM additive is designed to reduce the amount of oil retained by drill cuttings generated with an oil‐base fluid. VERSATRIM additive also decreases high‐shear‐rate viscosities in high‐water‐content VERSACLEAN and VERSAPORT systems.

Applications

VERSATRIM additive is formulated as a daily treatment for oil‐base mud to reduce the total oil retained by drill cuttings. VERSATRIM additive also lowers apparent viscosities at high‐shear rates in high‐water‐content oil‐base fluids. Low‐shear‐rate viscosities are only minimally affected. VERSATRIM additive also provides lower fluid losses and increased emulsion stabilities for most oil‐base mud systems. A normal optimum initial treatment is 2 to 6 lb/bbl (5.7 to 11.4 kg/m³). The effective concentration of VERSATRIM additive depends on several criteria, including oil/water ratio (OWR), solids content, desired viscosity and existing emulsifier content. Pilot testing for rheology control at the rig site is recommended.

Applications

Drilling with high‐water‐content oil‐base fluids has increased primarily as a result of the need to meet low values of cuttings oil retention (COR). Other factors affecting the COR values obtained at the rig site are mud viscosity and solids control efficiency.

Unfortunately, increasing water content brings a severe increase in viscosity, especially in the high‐shear range. This results in high plastic and apparent viscosities. These high viscosities not only adversely affect the COR, but also the solids control efficiency.

VERSATRIM additive aids in controlling these high viscosities and, more importantly, lowering COR values.  Treatment with 3.0 lb/bbl of VERSATRIM additive showed 22.7% reduction in COR values in a 50:50 OWR field mud. Owing to the nature of VERSATRIM additive and its solids activity, daily treatments are necessary to maintain low COR values.

VERSATRIM additive adjusts the wettability of solids so they are more efficiently wetted, thus requiring less oil to accommodate them. High‐shear‐rate viscosities are the most affected due to the increased wetting efficiency. In addition, VERSATRIM additive alters the effective surface of the particles, making them more uniform in shape.

Advantages

• Lowers the total amount of oil retained on drill cuttings generated from drilling with an oil‐ base mud system
• Aids in adjusting the rheology of thick high‐water‐content oil‐base fluids by lowering apparent and plastic viscosities
• Compatible with existing VERSACLEAN and VERSAPORT systems
• Increases solids tolerance in high‐water‐content oil‐base fluids
• Provides secondary enhancement of emulsion stability and HTHP fluid loss control