Increase production by minimizing formation damage

M-I SWACO offers a comprehensive portfolio of clear-brine fluids that are displaced in the well once the drilling phase has been completed. These completion fluids are designed to minimize formation damage and control reservoir formation pressures. Our clear-brine completion fluids are typically prepared with soluble salts for density. These fluids are blended to certain specifications to take into consideration densities, TCT (freeze points), PCT (pressure/temperature freeze points), and clarity. Among our clear brine fluids are specially engineered formate and halide brine solutions.

Halide brines and blends

We offer a variety of halide brines and brine blends that are formulated to meet project requirements. These fluids can be used for completion, workover, or packer fluid applications.

• Ammonium chloride (dry)—suitable for low-density operations and as a clay and shale inhibitor (using 2% to 4%)
• Calcium bromide (liquid or dry)—inhibits hydration and migration of swelling clays (also available as either a calcium bromide/calcium chloride or zinc bromide/calcium bromide blend)
• Calcium chloride (liquid or dry)—reduces formation damage caused by solids or clay swelling, clay dispersion, or clay and solids migration
• Potassium chloride (liquid or dry)—stabilizes shale in water-sensitive clay and shale formation and clay-containing sandstones
• Sodium bromide (liquid or dry)—eliminates potential of formation damage due to precipitation of carbonate, bicarbonate, and sulfate compounds (also available as a sodium bromide/sodium chloride)
• Sodium chloride (liquid or dry)—suitable for low-density operations such as shallow low-pressure wells that do not require the special inhibitive properties of calcium or potassium systems

Formate brines

Formate salts are extremely soluble in water and form high-density, solids-free brines—reducing the need for weighting agents. M-I SWACO has a long history of engineering formate-based brine systems for various global applications, and the following brines and blends thereof provide the basis for our latest breakthrough in fluids engineering:

• Sodium formate
• Potassium formate
• Cesium formate

These brine systems reduce potential formation damage, have shale stabilizers to provide shale stability, and eliminate problems associated with precipitate formation.

Clear-Brine Fluids Offerings

Scavengers - Additives for removal of hydrogen sulfide or oxygen

Effectively remove contaminants from drilling fluid

M-I SWACO provides effective hydrogen sulfide and oxygen scavengers developed specifically for our line of clear-brine completion fluids.

Products in this line include

• SAFE-SCAV HS brine-soluble hydrogen sulfide scavenger—designed specifically to remove H2S from brine-based fluid systems. These scavengers are brine-soluble and remain soluble after reacting with H2S. Based on an organic chemical rather than the typical zinc- or iron-based compound, it provides a solids-free solution to H2S intrusion.
• SAFE-SCAV CA completion and workover brine oxygen scavenger—an organic, sulfur-free additive used in calcium-based brines and seawater. It is a fast-acting material that is effective even at low temperatures. With SAFE-SCAV CA, inhibit corrosion caused by the presence of dissolved oxygen in completion and workover brines. It is primarily intended to be used in calcium- and zinc-containing brines such as calcium chloride, calcium bromide, zinc bromide, and seawater.
• SAFE-SCAV NA completion, packer, and drilling fluid oxygen scavenger—a liquid bisulfite-based additive designed to be used in sodium- and potassium-based brines. It reacts with and eliminates dissolved oxygen as a possible source or corrosion in workover and completion fluids and in packer and drilling fluids. In addition to reducing oxygen corrosion, the SAFE-SCAV NA additive is essential to extending the temperature limit of polymers, such the FLO-TROL special starch-derivative filtration reducer (modified starch) used in the FLOPRO NT reservoir drill-in fluid system.

Nonemulsifiers - Additives to control emulsion formation in brines

Control emulsion formation in brines and reservoir drill-in fluids

M-I SWACO provides uniquely engineered nonemulsifiers, which are used to prevent the formation of a stable emulsion between clear-brine completion fluids and reservoir crude oil.

Our nonemulsifier line includes concentrated blends of surfactants and solvents that facilitate full reclamation of the completion brine.

Scale Inhibitors - Additives to control scale buildup

Prevent scale from blocking fluid flow

M-I SWACO scale inhibitors are applicable in most clear-brine completion fluid systems to deter calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate, and barium sulfate scaling.

Products in this line include

• SAFE-SCAVITE II phosphonate-base advanced calcium scale inhibitor—an organic acid that inhibits scaling and mitigates formation damage. It is soluble in most water-based fluids, including calcium chloride and calcium bromide completion brines, enhancing operational flexibility.
• SAFE-SCALE PRO specially formulated divalent brine scale inhibitor—designed to improve scale control in completion fluids. It is suitable in all types of brines, packer fluids, and P&A fluids and is useful only when a risk of scale deposition is likely to occur.
• SAFE-SCALE X completion fluid additive—designed to prevent scale growth in seawater and monovalent brines. The additive should be used where scale deposition is likely to occur in workover fluids, packer fluids, or plug-and-abandon fluids.

Defoamers - Reduce foam and air entrainment in water-based fluids 

Reduce foaming in water-based fluids

M-I SWACO provides defoaming agents for reducing the foaming tendencies in drilling and completion fluids.

Our low-toxicity defoaming additives deliver environmental acceptability when used at recommended concentrations and are effective in a variety of fluids.