A Review of the Performance of

Cesium Formate Brines in 150

Challenging HPHT Drilling and
Completion Operations, 1999-2008

John Downs
Cabot Specialty Fluids
www.formatebrines.com
Cesium formate
SG 2.3

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

Key features of cesium formate brine

in one slide ......
High-density clear brine SG 2.3 (19.2 ppg)

Drilling and completion fluid for HPHT wells

Supplied on rental terms

Very rare/expensive fluid: may cost > US$ 1 million/well
Improves project economics (which is why it is used!)
- Faster/safer well construction, lower NPT
- Improves well productivity
- Reduces risk and liability

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

Advances in technology through innovation

Advances in technology occur through either:

Incremental (evolutionary) innovation

- Minor or step-wise improvements to existing technologies

Radical (revolutionary) innovation

- Pathbreaking advances in technology that generally defy existing conventions
and offer a radically new solution to a need or problem

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

Revolutionary advances in well construction

fluid technology
In the period 1920-1980 three revolutionary innovations shaped the design
of well construction fluids:

Solid weighting agents

- Use of barite in drilling muds gives hydraulic well control and
improved wellbore stabilisation

Oil-based muds
- Improved ability to maintain wellbore stability in shale

Soluble weighting agents

- Use of bromide brines as clear high-density completion fluidsprovides well
control without solids

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

Subject and outline of presentation

Introducing cesium formate brine the 4th revolutionary
innovation in well construction fluid technology

The problem definition

- HPHT operations, where the first three revolutionary innovations fail

The development of the 4th revolutionary innovation

- The pioneering research on cesium formate brine by Shell
- The properties of cesium formate brine

Production and deployment of cesium formate by Cabot

User feedback from > 150 HPHT operations
- Has this innovation worked? Where? Why? How?

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

Modern HPHT well constructions where

previous revolutionary fluid innovations fail
Weighting solids
- Bad effect on circulating pressure losses and ECD
- Potential to sag, causing well control risk
- Gels required, causing high swab/surge pressures
- Can create thick filter cakes, encouraging differential sticking risk

Drilling muds based on oil or synthetic hydrocarbons

- Solvent for natural gas, creating a well control risk
- Gas/condensate influxes can destabilise OBM, causing barite sag

High-density bromide brines as soluble weighting agents

- Source of localised corrosion and SCC failure of CRA tubulars
- HSE hazard and creation of additional risk/liability

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

Risks posed by traditional drilling and

completion fluids in high-angle HPHT wells
Use of oil, barite or halide brines in HPHT well construction fluids can
have significant effects on project economics, safety and liability

Loss of well control

Differential sticking and loss of hole/string
Loss of well integrity and zonal isolation
Reduction in well productivity

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

SCC of Cr-steels in CaBr2 brine at 320oF,

0.2 bar O2 (CO2 gives same problem)
Super 13Cr, 1 month

22Cr, 2 months

25Cr, 2 months

Downs et al, Royal Society of Chemistry Chemistry in the Oil Industry Conference
Manchester, UK, 1st November 2005

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

Severe and long-lasting skin injuries due

to contact with halide brines and powders

- Deep skin necrosis injuries taking up to five months to heal

9

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

Risk of liability, clean up costs and fines as

a result of zinc bromide spillage/leakage
Zinc is a toxic heavy metal and there are financial consequences to
losing zinc bromide to the environment (even via production stream)

Priority marine pollutant

Heavy fines for polluting aquatic and onshore environment
Substantial clean up costs, and any contaminated waste is
classified as hazardous
Financial consequences of contaminating your production
stream
Cost of HSE risk can be quantified using new BrineWise
software program from Gaia Consulting

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

Making a better drilling and completion fluid

for HPHT well construction projects
Remove all weighting solids, oil and halides to correct the fluid
performance deficiencies

Reduce the flow resistance

Improve well control
Reduce local corrosion and SCC
Reduce HSE risk, liability and associated financial penalties

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

New drilling and completion fluid development

in Shell, 1990-97
Objective: Design an improved HPHT drilling-in and completion fluid
that was free of troublesome components

Free of barite
Free of oil
Free of halides

12

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

Shells research strategy base the new

fluid on a non-halide brine
Required brine properties

13

Density to at least 19 ppg

Safe
Minimal environmental impact
Non-corrosive
Compatible with elastomers
Minimal formation damage
Shale stabilising

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

The formate brine family

1.0 S.G.
8.3 ppg

NaCOOH

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

1.3 S.G.
10.8 ppg

KCOOH

1.57 S.G.
13.1 ppg

CsCOOH

2.3 S.G.
19.2 ppg

Formate brines ideal non-halide brines

Sodium, potassium or cesium

15

formates dissolved in water

Density up to 19.2 ppg
Non-toxic
Safe to handle, pH 9-10
Classified as PLONOR (PARCOM)
No limitations on cuttings
disposal (except in GOM)
Cesium formate
Non-corrosive, no SCC
SG 2.3
Protect against CO2 corrosion
Minimise formation damage
Provide protection for polymers against thermal degradation

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

Formate brines ideal non-halide brines

Lubricating
Hydrate inhibition
Compatible with Aflas, Kalrez and Chemraz elastomers
Not compatible with elastomers that are sensitive to alkaline fluids
(e.g. Nitrile, Viton)

Positive influence on shales

-

reduce shale swelling

reduce filtrate invasion
reduce pore pressure penetration
induce osmotic back-flow

Cesium formate
SG 2.3

16

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

Formates and the marine environment

Formate ion is readily biodegradable to CO2 and H2O

The alkali metal ions are all prevalent in seawater
- 2nd (Na), 6th (K) and 29th (Cs) most abundant

One cubic mile seawater contains 1,700,000 tonnes of K ion!

Full wellbore of K formate brine contains 170 tonnes of K ion
Discharge of wellbore full of 13 ppg K formate brine:
- Increase K levels by 1.7 mg/l in 1 km3 sea

- Temporary increase of 0.45% above base levels

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

Formates environmental risk assessment

METOC plc* carried out a comprehensive (350-page)

environmental risk assessment on formate brines
Main conclusion:
The discharge of moderate amounts of formate brines
into the marine environment is not likely to cause significant
environmental impacts

* Environmental risk management consultants www.metoc.co.uk

18

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

Clear formate brine being reclaimed from used

cesium formate drilling mud, using RVF

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

No stress corrosion cracking of CRA in

formate brines
1.7 SG K/Cs formate, 160oC, 10,000 ppm Cl with 0.2 bar O2
Super 13Cr, 3 months

Ref : SPE 100438

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

Duplex 22Cr, 3 months

Duplex 25Cr, 3 months

Traditional formate drilling fluid formulation

(for up to 320oF)
Component

Function

Concentration

Formate brine

Density
Lubricity
Polymer protection
Biocide

1 bbl

Xanthan

Viscosity
Fluid loss control

1 2 ppb

PAC or modified starch

Fluid loss control

4 8 ppb

Sized calcium carbonate

Filter cake agent

15 20 ppb

K2CO3/KHCO3

Buffer
Acid gas corrosion control

2 8 ppb

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

New-style formate drilling fluid formulation

(for up to 500oF)
Component

Function

Concentration

Formate brine

Density
Lubricity
Polymer protection
Biocide

1 bbl

Synthetic polymer

Viscosity
Fluid loss control

5 15 ppb

Sepiolite

Fluid loss control

5 8 ppb

Graphite coated CaCO3

Filter cake agent

10 20 ppb

K2CO3/KHCO3

Buffer
Acid gas corrosion control

2 8 ppb

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

Formate-based drilling fluids

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

Formate brines
theoretical drilling benefits
Reduced risk of differential sticking

Very thin lubricious filter cakes

Reduced risk of differential sticking at high overbalance

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

Formate brines
theoretical drilling benefits
Better hydraulics
Lower Surge and Swab Pressures
- Faster tripping times
- Reduced risk of hole instability
or well control incidents

Lower System Pressure Losses

- More power to motor

Lower ECD
- Drill in narrower window between pore
and fracture pressure gradients
- Less chance of fracturing well
and causing lost circulation

Higher Annular Flow Rates

- Better hole cleaning

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

Formate brines
theoretical drilling benefits
Improved well control and reduced risk
Barite sag eliminated
Thermal equilibrium reached quickly
- Reduces flow-check time

Low methane solubility and diffusion rates

- Easier kick detection
- Low rate of static influx

Mud properties not degraded by gas influx

Solubility of methane in drilling fluids: T = 300F (149C), P = 10,000 psi (690 bar)
Fluid

Solubility (kg/m3)

Diffusion coefficient
(m2/sec x 108)

Diffusion flux
(kg/m2s x 106)

OBM

164

1.15

53.30

WBM

2.92

3.98

Formate brine

0.80

0.25

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

Shells conclusion at the end of their

laboratory testing of formate brines in 1996
In theory, formate brines should make greatly improved HPHT
drill-in and completion fluids
Solids-free: better hydraulics, no sag, lower sticking risk
Oil-free: better well control
Halide-free: better corrosion control
Stability: viscosity and FLC stable to at least 170oC
Non-damaging: better well productivities
Low environmental impact: no need to treat cuttings
(except in GOM)
Lubricious: lower torque and drag

Validated by first HT drilling trials with potassium formate in 1996 (see SPE 59191 by Mobil)
but . no cesium formate available for HPHT wells requiring > SG 1.57/13.1 ppg

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

1993 Cabot buys tantalum mine at Lake Bernic, Canada

1996 Cabot invests $ 50 million in cesium mining and extraction plant at site
1998 Producing ~700 bbl/month of cesium formate brine

Cesium formate produced in Canada from

pollucite ore
Pollucite ore
Cs0.7Na0.2Rb0.04Al0.9Si2.1O6(H20)
Mined at Bernic Lake, Manitoba
Processed on site to Cs formate brine
Cs formate brine production
700 bbl/month
Brine stocks > 30,000 bbl

29

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

Cesium brines for HPHT and extreme

HPHT well operations
Cesium salt

Formula

Max. density (SG)

Temp. limit? (oC)

Cesium formate

CsCHO2

2.3

> 235 *

Cesium acetate

CsC2H3O2

2.2

> 300

Cesium carbonate

CsCO3

2.2

> 300

Cesium citrate

CsC6H8O7

2.4

> 200

Cesium tungstate

Cs2WO4

2.9

> 300

Cesium molybdonate

Cs2MO4

2.7

> 300

* Currently being used in Mako-6 well, Hungary: BHST 235oC

31

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

First field trials of cesium formate brine

by Shell September 1999 August 2002
17.20 18.86 ppg completion and workover fluid in six wells

32

Shell Shearwater field UK North Sea

Gas condensate reservoir
15,000 psi
BHST 365oF

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

Elgin and Franklin HPHT fields

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

Elgin and Franklin HPHT fields

Norphlet 863

Block 823

210

Temperature (C)

Mary Ann
Franklin
Erskine

Arun
Embla

160

Puffin
Kotelnevsko
North Ossum
500

600

700

Elf Operator

Elf Non-Operating Partner

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

Malossa
Tenguiz

Eugene Island
800

900

Initial Reservoir Pressure (bar)

Other Operator

Elgin
Shearwater
Trecate

F15
Lacq
Lille Frigg

110
400

West
Cameron

Thomasville

1000

1100

1200

1300

Use of cesium formate by TOTAL in the

Elgin/Franklin field November 1999 present
18.2 ppg completion fluid in eight wells

35

UK North Sea
Worlds largest HPHT field
Gas condensate reservoir
16,000 psi @ 20,000ft
BHST 400oF
140,000 bbl/day of condensate
13 million m3 gas /day
Brine left in wells for up to 24 months (well suspension)

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

First drill-in and completions by Statoil with

cesium formate brine January 2001 April 2002
Huldra field, offshore Norway, Gas condensate
- BHST: 297oF
- Fluid density: 15.75 ppg
- Six wells 600 ft reservoir sections 5-7/8 at 45-55o
- 12,000 mD sandstone
- Open hole, wire wrapped screens

Justification for using formate

- Improve well control
- Lower ECDs
- Run completion in same fluid
- Low risk of screen plugging
- Shale stabilisation
- Lubricating
- Safe for crews
- Environmentally benign

36

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

Highlights of Huldra drill-in and completion

(ref: SPE 74541)

Good well control (e.g. no barite to sag)

Low ECD
ROP similar to OBM
Stable hole in reactive shales
Good hole cleaning slick hole on trips
Smooth sand screen run in
Faster tripping
Rig time savings
Log interpretation manageable
Plateau production from first three wells
10 MM m3 gas /day and 30,000 bbl/day condensate

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

Current drill-in and completions by Statoil

with cesium formate brine June 2004 present
Kvitebjrn field, 16-well programme
- BHST: 311oF/155oC
- Fluid density: 17.40 ppg
- Eight wells so far 1000 ft reservoir sections at 24-30o
- Long interbedded shale and coal sequences
- Two completed with liners, six with screens

Justification for use (see SPE 105733):

- Increase production (see Huldra production)
- Improve well control
- Lower ECDs
- Good Health and Safety (safe to handle)
- Low environmental impact (see Agips use of formate brines in the Barents Sea)

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

Highlights of Kvitebjrn drill-in

and completion (see SPE 105733)
Good HPHT well control no incidents in two years
Low ECDs (lower than OBMs)
Moderate to high ROPs
Excellent well bore stability
Good hole cleaning
No stuck pipe. Low torque and drag
Smooth sand screen run ins (4 out of 5)
Good wireline logging runs (22 out of 24)
LWD drill and ream pass data gives reliable and consistent
net reservoir definition
Log interpretation matches core porosity
High production rates with low skin

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

Perforating in solids-free oil-based kill pill

weighted with cesium formate brine
Visund field
- BHST: 118oC
- Fluid density: SG 1.65
-13 wells 1000-2000 metre
horizontal sections
- Drilled with OBM ,completed with
perforated liners

Justification for use

- First 3 wells badly damaged by CaBr2 kill pill
- PI only 60-90 m3/bar/day

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

Perforating in solids-free oil-based kill pill

weighted with cesium formate brine
Visund Change to formatebased kill pill
(see SPE 73709, 58758 and 84910)
- Next three wells perforated in
formate fluid
- Also used new perforating guns,
in dynamic underbalance

Formate brine

Results
- Eliminated formation damage problem
- PI increased up to 900 m3/bar/day
- 300-600% PI improvement
- Best well: 53,000 bbl/day

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

Bromide brine

Perforating in cesium formate brine

kill pill BP Rhum field

Water depth:

108 m

Field concept:

3 Subsea Wells with 40 km tieback

Reservoir type:

High UCS sandstone

Reservoir depth and BHST:

4745 m TVDss and 150oC

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

Perforating in cesium formate brine kill pill

BP Rhum field (ref OTC 19242, 2008)
Dynamic underbalance
perforating with guns deployed
on drill pipe was seen as the
simplest and most cost effective
solution

Modelling indicated possibility of

5-1/2 DP to surface

7 Liner top
9-5/8 Casing shoe
Flow restrictors

3.5 Drillpipe to space-out

achieving same productivity as

underbalanced perforating

Reduces operational complexity

for completing large intervals

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

4.72" PerfoXtreme Guns PJ4505

HMX 5 SPF -72 phasing

Cesium formate brine kill pill formulation for

Rhum dynamic underbalance perforating
Based on standard formate
drilling mud formulation for
HPHT wells used since 1996

High yield point: 65-80

Designed to provide fluid loss
control for at least 72 hours
at 149C

62% return permeability in

laboratory core flood testing
(clear brine gave 84%)

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

Formate brine

SG 1.94

Xanthan

1 ppb

Modified starch
FL7plus

6 ppb

ULV PAC

6 ppb

Potassium carbonate

5 ppb

Calcium carbonate
solids

30 ppb

Perforating Rhum wells in cesium formate kill

pills conclusions (OTC 19242)
Combined use of dynamic underbalanced perforating (PURE
system) and Cs formate brine brings significant HSE benefits
- Keeping the well in overbalance until tubing hangar landed
- Facilitating perforating on DP in long reservoir intervals
- Eliminate the need to bring hydrocarbons to surface during perforating operations

Low mechanical skins confirm that Cs formate is non-damaging

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

Cesium formate applications 1999-2008

Over 150 HPHT jobs in 30 fields N. Sea, Europe, GOM, South

America and Asia Pacific. Usually four jobs in progress most months

Drill-in
Completion/workover
- as a brine and in LSOBM formulations (13.8 ppg)
- stand-by kill pill
- outstanding as HPHT perforating kill pill (Visund, Braemar, Judy, Rhum)

Long-term well suspension

Well testing
Stuck-pipe release pill (OBM drilling)
Melting hydrate plugs

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

Cesium formate
use segmented by application

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

Cesium formate brine

use segmented by operator

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

Feedback from users

extracts from SPE papers
General

Major operational success

Drilling benefits have given rig time savings
Reduced the time to complete well
Transition from drill-in fluid to completion fluid was simple
For our specific well conditions there was no other alternative
Selected cesium formate to minimise well control problems and
maximise well productivity

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

Feedback from users

extract from TOTAL presentation to IADC*
HSE
By deploying cesium formate brines in the Elgin, Franklin and
Glenelg fields, TOTAL has created new health, safety and
environmental standards for completion and work over brines
in the North Sea
Other oilfield operators have followed suit, and to our knowledge
zinc bromide brines are no longer used anywhere in Europe.
* Presentation to IADC World Drilling conference, Paris, June 2007 and article in Drilling Contractor magazine,
June 2007 issue

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

Feedback from users

extracts from SPE papers
Well control

No well control or loss situation

Extremely good well control environment
No sag potential
Elimination of gas diffusion into horizontal wells
Well stabilises quickly during flow checks
Unique track record: 15 HPHT wells drilled and completed with
cesium formate brine without one well control incident

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

Feedback from users

extracts from SPE papers
Hydraulics
ECD is s.g. 0.04 0.06 (0.30 0.50 ppg) lower than OBM
Reduced ECD improved ROP in hard formations
Fast tripping speeds
ECDs higher when drilling clay than when drilling sand
Lubrication
Torque values indicate friction factors as low as 0.22
No need to add lubricants
Low torque and drag

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

Feedback from users

extracts from SPE papers
Hole stability and cleaning
Good hole stability in interbedded sand and shales
Good hole stability
Caliper log of 8-1/2 hole shows 9 in shale sections..
Good hole cleaning
Wash-outs up to 20 in 8-1/2 hole at 45o inclination
Even after a few weeks of open hole, hole sizes over 9.5 have
been very rare

Differential sticking
Low potential for differential sticking
No incidence of stuck pipe
SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

Feedback from users TOTALs presentation

to IADC on the cost* of using Cs formate brine
Elgin well

Brine costs*
($, 000)

G3

913

G4

830

G5

602

G6

879

G7

807

* Includes all brine rental, losses and reconditioning charges

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

Conclusions
Cesium formate brine represents the 4th revolutionary
innovation in well construction fluid technology

Original innovation from Shell but produced, marketed and

serviced by Cabot Specialty Fluids

Field use has proven that cesium formate brine provides

important benefits in challenging HPHT well constructions:
- Enhanced drilling performance
- Improved well control
- Good well productivity
- Enhanced formation evaluation with LWD tools
- And an excellent HSE profile!

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

Cesium formate is available and being

used in Asia Pacific
The West Prospero rig used
for three completions with Cs
formate brine in ExxonMobils
Tapis field, Malaysia, 2007

Shell Brunei used cesium

formate brine last month

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

Key features of cesium formate brine in

one slide ......
High-density clear brine SG 2.3 (19.2 ppg)
Drilling and completion fluid for HPHT wells
Supplied on rental terms
Very rare/expensive fluid: may cost > US$ 1 million/well
Improves project economics
- Faster/safer well construction, lower NPT
- Improves well productivity
- Reduces risk and liability

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

BrineWise
A Tool for Pricing and Comparing the
Operational Costs, Waste and HSE Risk
of Completion Fluids

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

How BrineWise compares the true cost of

completion fluid options
Fluid costs
(price per bbl)

HSE costs
Consent &
Transport

Operational
Costs

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

+
+
+

Cost of using fluid

(waste, time,
handover to
production etc.)

Cost of HSE risk

(scenario based)

HSE related
costs

=
=
=

Operational
Costs related
to fluid choice

HSE related
costs related
to fluid
choice

Overall
fluid related
cost for well

FLUID AND OPERATIONAL COSTS

Use of fluid
Fluid losses
Onshore transport
Shipping
Personal protection
COMPARATIVE
Suboptimal rig time
Delay inCOSTS
production
FLUID
Fluid related other operational costs
Total waste fluids, ship-to-shore
Produced water treatment on rig
Waste disposal
Cost of brine, contaminated production stream
Other, please specify
Other, please specify
Total operational
COSTS
AT RISKcosts

Cesium Formate
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

Zinc Bromide
0
0
0
0
20 000
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

20 000

FOR
THE
COST OF
RISK
ALTERNATIVES
Scenario 1 type incidents (ROAD)

Cesium Formate
20 %
1%
9 600
48 813
2 734
116 950
6 600
34 000
6 600
34 000
6 384
58 441

Zinc Bromide
20 %
1%
269 615
2 583 856
13 930
390 950
309 615
1 827 575
309 615
1 827 575
225 694
1 657 489

Cesium Formate

Zinc Bromide

20 000

US$

Scenario 2 type incidents (STORAGE)

Scenario 3 type incidents (SHIPPING)
Scenario 4 type incidents (RIG)
Average cost of incident consequences

Included in
comparison
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes

COST SUMMARY

Currency
COMPARATIVE
US$
US$NORMAL
US$
OPERATIONAL
US$
US$ COSTS
US$
US$
US$
US$
US$
US$
US$ COST OF
US$RELATED
US$
US$
Currency
US$ COMPARATIVE
US$AVERAGE COST
US$
PER WELL
US$
US$

(taking into
Currency
account HSE risk)

Operations as planned (79 % of wells)

Operations outside planned (small to average HSE
consequences, 20 % of wells)
Operations outside planned (larger than average HSE
consequences , 1 % of wells)

6 384

245 694

US$

58 441

1 677 489

US$

Average cost per well

1 861

81 714

US$

6 384

225 694

58 441

1 657 489

Additional cost, which is at risk to occur during WC (with

small to average incident confidence 20 %)
Additional cost, which is at risk to occur during WC (with
larger than average incident confidence 1 %)

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

HSE
RISK

US$
US$

The benefits of BrineWise

Combine fluid cost with operational cost

- Takes into account the cost of using the fluid as well as price per barrel

Compares completion fluid alternatives

- Default values given for cesium formate vs. zinc bromide
1) Calculator is not chemical specific
2) Some tailoring is required for other fluids to be compared

Based on using operation-specific data to arrive at overall

price tag
- No database, no numeric simulations = no false assumptions
- Allows data relevant to your operation to be included

Allows HSE risk to be taken into account as cost items

- Based on direct costs and related to operators own experience through

1) Setting incident frequencies (incident record/expectancy, risk aversion)
2) Putting a value tag on HSE through weighting

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

BrineWise calculates four cost scenarios

6 000 000
Cesium Formate

Zinc Bromide

5 000 000

US$

4 000 000
3 000 000
2 000 000
1 000 000
0
Fluid costs only Normal operation
costs

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008

Costs of an
incident w ith
small to average
consequences

Costs of an
incident w ith
larger than
average
consequences

BrineWise key management benefits

BrineWise allows systematic cost comparison of the

consequences of using particular completion fluids

Systematic fluid evaluation and costing incorporating:

- Fluid cost
- Operational costs
- HSE costs
- Incident-related costs

Shows costs for all operational departments including cost

consequences for production
Best overall value (lowest cost) fluid option clearly identified

SPE Chennai 16 July 2008