RE: Great presentation.10 May 2021 15:52
Dai and DBD. Bentonite and Barite mixed with water to create a drilling mud to control the well and prevent blow outs, stop gas migrating to the surface--in O&G the gas may be explosive or could be H2S, neither is particularly welcome on a drill floor. In this case the N2 and He are asphyxiants and although the drilling is 'outside' in the open, a good dose of nirogen/He could take out the drill crew. Mud density/viscosity is calculated on downhole pressure, hydrostatic head and designed to keep the stuff in the hole--in the hole until you want it out, mud brings the cuttings back to surface and is then separated from the rock chippings (cuttings) and recycled. Viscosity checks are ongoing every few hours to make sure nothing has entered the well such as water/oil (not in this case though). Mud also cools and lubricates the drill bit and keeps the string from binding and getting stuck, unless you make it too heavy and clog the system and get a stuck pipe which is a nightmare for all drillers. Cement?--no, not unless you are shutting in the well or have mixed up your sacks in the sack store. SO, some of the equipment being assembled at the offsite warehouse place will include some sort of mud system, pump, mixer, reservoir and some materials. It is a small bore hole, not very deep therefore not millions of litres of mud, if its water based and comes out clean enough they may just dump it after but if they are being conservative and 'E' friendly, recover it and use it on the next hole. Tick tock, next news? Cleared the access route and improved the road? All the drilling equipment now delivered, checked and packed and ready to rumble, Top drill team assembled, driller would not want the reserve team on this one. Drill pad ready. that's it, in or out, showtime.