Vol. 337 No. 3 (2026)
DOI https://doi.org/10.18799/24131830/2026/3/5024
Modification of the water-based drilling fluid composition to mitigate the filtrate invasion into formation
Relevance. Modern requirements for controlling the penetration of water-based drilling fluid filtrate into the bottom-hole zone of the reservoir during the opening of productive formations. The expected increases in oil production and productivity of the well depend on the quality of opening the target horizons, which in its turn depends on the degree of contamination of the bottom-hole zone. Aim. To control the invasion of filtrate into the reservoir using nanoparticles and polymer additives in water-based drilling fluids. Methods. Laboratory studies of rheological properties of drilling fluids with additives such as graphene powder and carboxymethylcellulose. Six laboratory methods were used to prepare and determine the properties of core samples, as well as to evaluate the properties of drilling fluids. During the laboratory part of the study: carbonate cores were cleaned with a Soxhlet extractor, their physical characteristics were measured and saturated with solutions based on potassium chloride, modified drilling fluids were prepared, after which their rheological properties were evaluated using a rotary viscometer, drilling fluid density was measured using mud balance, and cores were immersed in drilling fluids at high pressure (4 MPa) and temperature (140°C), resistivity of the samples was determined using the EPSA system. Results and conclusions. The article discusses a way to solve the problem of drilling fluid penetration into the reservoir due to excessive hydrostatic pressure during overbalanced drilling, which can lead to reservoir colmatage and cause serious financial losses during the well construction cycle. The authors have obtained drilling fluids with reduced filtrate invasion and improved rheological properties: increase in the plastic viscosity and yield strength of the solution, modification of the properties of gel strength (resistance), growth in electrical resistance, significant reduction in the volume of filtrate. The new approach made it possible to minimize colmatation of the bottom-hole zone of the formation due to improved structural and rheological parameters of the drilling fluid. The economic assessment using the example of one well demonstrated the profitability indicators of the best alternative above the baseline scenario: NPV (Net Present Value) – 5.4 times; IRR (Internal Rate of Return) – by 69%; Payback period – by 0.84 years; ROI (Return on Investment) – by 4.4. The results highlight both the technical and economic advantages of using modified drilling fluids.
For citation: Magomadov I.A., Uzdieva N.S. Modification of the water-based drilling fluid composition to mitigate the filtrate invasion into formation. Bulletin of the Tomsk Polytechnic University. Geo Assets Engineering, 2026, vol. 337, no. 3, pp. 139–146. https://doi.org/10.18799/24131830/2026/3/5024
Keywords:
oil and gas production, reservoir, drilling fluids, modification of drilling fluids, nanoparticles, filtrate, control of filtrate invasion, well drilling
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