Methods of ranking formation stabilizer performance
Methods of ranking formation stabilizer performance are described. The methods include obtaining drill cuttings from a subterranean formation, grinding and sieving the drill cuttings to a particle size larger than 200 mesh, adding a formation stabilizer solution to the ground and sieved drill cuttings to form a mixture, agitating the mixture, and measuring turbidity of the agitated mixture.
1. A method comprising:
producing drill cuttings in a drilling fluid as a subterranean formation is drilled with the drilling fluid, wherein the subterranean formation comprises shale;
separating the drill cuttings from the drilling fluid to obtain drill cuttings from the subterranean formation;
grinding and sieving the drill cuttings to a particle size between 420 microns to 595 microns;
adding a formation stabilizer solution to the ground and sieved drill cuttings to form a mixture;
agitating the mixture; and
measuring turbidity of the agitated mixture.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising deducing a chemical stability, a mechanical stability, or both, of the formation from the turbidity measurement.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising correlating the turbidity measurement to a rock mechanical stability.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the rock mechanical stability comprises a hardness, a compressive strength, a tensile strength, a shear strength, a stiffness, or any combination thereof.
5. The method of claim 2 , wherein a chemical stability, a mechanical stability, or both are deduced at a planar feature.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the planar feature comprises a fracture face of the formation.
7. The method of claim 1 , performed on-site or off-site.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the shale comprises clays of the smectite group, the kaolin group, the ilite group, the chlorite group, or any combination thereof.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein agitating the mixture comprises rotating the mixture end-over-end.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the formation stabilizer solution comprises one or more of potassium chloride, sodium chloride, ammonium chloride, tetramethyl ammonium chloride, a cationic polymer, a cationic surfactant, a hydrophobic resin, a transition metal, a furfuryl alcohol, ethylene glycol, a quaternary amine, or a bisquaternary amine.
11. A method comprising:
producing drill cuttings in a drilling fluid as a subterranean formation is drilled with the drilling fluid, wherein the subterranean formation comprises shale;
separating the drill cuttings from the drilling fluid to obtain drill cuttings from the subterranean formation;
grinding and sieving the drill cuttings to a particle size between 420 microns to 595 microns;
adding a plurality of formation stabilizer solutions to the ground and sieved drill cuttings to form a plurality of mixtures;
agitating the plurality of mixtures; and
measuring turbidity of the plurality of agitated mixtures.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising comparing the turbidity of the plurality of agitated mixtures and selecting the least turbid mixture.
13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising deducing a chemical stability, a mechanical stability, or both, of the formation from the turbidity measurements.
14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising correlating the turbidity measurements to a rock hardness.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the rock hardness comprises a Brinell hardness, a strength or a stiffness.
16. The method of claim 11 , wherein a chemical stability, a mechanical stability, or both are deduced at any representative location of drilling cuttings of the formation.
17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the formation stabilizer solutions comprise one or more of potassium chloride, sodium chloride, ammonium chloride, tetramethyl ammonium chloride, a cationic polymer, a cationic surfactant, a hydrophobic resin, a transition metal, a furfuryl alcohol, ethylene glycol, a quaternary amine, or a bisquaternary amine.
18. A method of ranking formation stabilizer performance comprising:
producing drill cuttings in a drilling fluid as a shale formation is drilled with the drilling fluid;
separating the drill cuttings from the drilling fluid to obtain drill cuttings from the shale formation;
grinding and sieving the drill cuttings to a particle size between 420 microns to 595 microns;
adding a plurality of formation stabilizer solutions to the ground and sieved drill cuttings to form a plurality of mixtures;
rotating the plurality of mixtures end-over-end;
measuring turbidity of the plurality of agitated mixtures;
comparing the turbidity of the plurality of agitated mixtures; and
selecting the least turbid mixture.
19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising treating the shale formation with the formation stabilizer solution in the least turbid mixture.
20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the formation stabilizer solutions comprise one or more of potassium chloride, sodium chloride, ammonium chloride, tetramethyl ammonium chloride, a cationic polymer, a cationic surfactant, a hydrophobic resin, a transition metal, a furfuryl alcohol, ethylene glycol, a quaternary amine, or a bisquaternary amine.