EthicalChem announced today the release of MudOut, a cost effective, single-step approach to removing drilling mud filter cake. With a single treatment this streamlined product reduces time between well development and oil production by altering surface wettability, creating acidic conditions, and removing organic and inorganic components of built-up filter cake.
“Conventional filter cake removal methods require multiple formulations and injections steps which result in time consuming, expensive treatments.” said Dan Socci, CEO of EthicalChem. “MudOut’s unique formula simultaneously addresses multiple filter cake components, significantly lowering overall treatment costs and bringing wells into production faster. We are very pleased with the market reaction to this new product.”
Following extensive testing in collaboration with the Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering at Texas A&M University, MudOut has been proven to disperse oil-based filter cake and remove internal damage without significant corrosion impacts on steel and without a series of pretreatment stages. Dr. Hisham Nasr-El-Din Texas A&M University Professor and holder of the John Edgar Holt Chair, who oversaw product testing, said “We were pleased to test the MudOut product. It truly represents a significant advancement in filter cake removal technology, in terms of both filter cake removal performance and elimination of costly steps required by conventional treatment approaches.”
In Texas A&M tests conducted under a broad range of temperature and brine conditions, MudOut consistently removed 98% of filter cake. In comparison tests against formic acid, MudOut removed 95% of filter cake after four hours, while formic acid removed only 78%. In addition, a retained permeability stimulation effect from the MudOut treatment was observed from a permeability ratio (kf/ki) of 2.1. In comparison, a formic acid treatment permeability ratio was 1.2 under the same test conditions.
MudOUT
Description
EthicalChem’s MudOUT provides a new, single injection, high performance approach to filter cake breakdown and removal. This is innovative product combines a surfactant blend and coated oxidant to break up and degrade all components that bind filter cake together. The reaction generates low pH to dissolve carbonates and inorganics while the surfactant solubilizes organic components of the filter cake and the coated oxidant provides controlled, uniform breakdown of polymers. MudOUT can be optimized for a broad range of conditions, including low to high temperatures and brine concentrations.
Features/Benefits
•Single injection treatment
•Shorter time to production
•Improves permeability
•Controlled, uniform breakdown of filter cake
•Generates low pH without addition of an acid
Working in collaboration with Texas A&M, EthicalChem developed MudOut, an innovative, leadership performance, drilling mud filter cake remover that provides uniform breakdown of filter cake.
MudOut solubilizes, dissolves, and breaks down organic and inorganic components of filter cake in a single-step, creating water-wet surfaces and generating acidic conditions. MudOut eliminates the need for pre-treatment water-wetting or post-treatment acid injection steps while outperforming conventional approaches such as formic acid.
The MudOUT Advantage
•Single-step: no pre-treatment or follow up treatments required
•Uniform breakdown: no worm holes
•Complete removal: addresses organics and inorganics
The core technology in MudOut is the innovative, proprietary surfactant and oxidant system which works to address both the organic and inorganic components of filter cake. The plant-based green surfactant solubilizes and emulsifies hydrocarbons while the oxidant addresses polymers. Additionally, decomposition products create temporary acidic conditions at the tail end of the process which dissolve inorganic filter cake components such as calcium carbonates. MudOut treatments can be well-specific. The formulations ensure controlled, uniform reactions, and avoid partial filter cake removal or wormholes, in contrast to existing technologies. MudOut works effectively in varied conditions including high temperatures and high brine concentrations.
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