Degradation of wellbore strength and stability may be caused by swelling of drilled shale formations due to water invasion. To prevent further trouble, inhibited drilling muds are used. The paper focuses on shale formations inhibiting principle and describes results of laboratory and field testing of organic mineral-based inhibited drilling muds.

Igor S. Ignatyuk – Head of downhole technology and well service department
Lyubov K. Bruy – Head of Washing fluid laboratory,
Tatiana M. Tolkacheva – 1st grade process engineer,
Inna V. Dobrodeeva – 2nd grade process engineer,
Konstantin G. Paskaru – lead engineer,
Valery I. Morozov – 1st grade process engineer,
Washing fluid laboratory, BelNIPIneft
RUP “Production Company “Belorusneft”

Degradation of wellbore strength and stability may be caused by swelling of drilled shale formations due to water invasion. To prevent further trouble, inhibited drilling muds are used. The paper focuses on shale formations inhibiting principle and describes results of laboratory and field testing of organic mineral-based inhibited drilling muds.

Key words: inhibited drilling muds; organic minerals; inhibiting property; swelling ratio; viscosity.

Magomegali A. Omarov – General director;
Sergey I. Belan – Deputy Head of laboratory;
LLC “NPTs Podzemgidromineral”

The prospects for geothermal resources development in Russia are linked to the extensive use of geothermal energy for heating applications in the utilities sector and agribusiness, as well as electricity generation that allows saving of substantial amounts of conventional fuels. The article assesses prospects and offers solutions for utilization of geothermal resources as part of Russia’s energy industry. The assessment of geothermal capabilities of the south of Russia demonstrates economic potential of broader use of geothermal resources to replace natural gas.

Key words: geothermal resources, geothermal energy; geothermal fields; heat capacity; cost efficiency.

Vladimir O. Belorussov – Ph.D. in Engineering, Chief Research Officer,
OJSC NPO “Burovaya Tekhnika”

OJSC NPO “Burovaya Tekhnika” has developed a package of three software products under the umbrella term of DOPR (Dolotnaya Programma – Bit Program). The program allows scientific planning of bit time on bottom, with the calculated permissible percentage of bit teeth or bearing wear as compared to other wells, where these “optimal” results are obtained without any warranty that all drill bit capabilities have been employed, and these results are used in project planning.
DOPR-based drill bit wear results are for the first time ever provided with the guaranteed forecast accuracy required by IADS, that is with a tolerable error not exceeding 12.5 percent.

Key words: bit cutting structure; wear and tear of bit bearing assembly and teeth; weight on bit; rotation speed.

Boris A. Dotsenko – post graduate student; Gubkin State University of Oil and Gas;
Alexander S. Oganov – Ph.D., professor; Gubkin State University of Oil and Gas;
General director, Association of Drilling Contractors;
Alexander D. Polikarpov – Ph.D., head of research, CJSC “Oktopus”

In difficult geological conditions characterized by narrow compatible drilling intervals where well construction requires sophisticated technological solutions, conventional drilling technologies do not always ensure safe and efficient well drilling. One of the most advanced technologies is balanced pressure drilling that uses the principle of a balance between the bottomhole pressure and the formation pressure. The flexibility of the bottomhole pressure regulation is achieved through wellhead backpressure created with the help of a wellhead rotating diverter and additional surface equipment.

Key words: underbalance; balanced pressure drilling; shutoff valve; dc-exponent; rotating diverter.

Viktor A. Pridvizhkin – Ph.D., deputy general director for safety survey, certified expert;
LLC “ULK-MASHSERVIS”;
Evgeny K. Emrikh – chief designer;
LLC NPTs “Metallurg”

The average age of this country’s drilling rigs park is nearing the prescribed maximum. The equipment and characteristics of drilling rigs are determined by modern safety standards with regard to construction of directional wells and horizontal wells with severe doglegs in various climate and environment conditions. Therefore, modernization of the existing drilling rigs is one of solutions acceptable in the current economic situation. NPTs “Metallurg” is involved in development of the engineering project and the efforts to organize modernization of the local drilling rigs.

Key words: drilling rig; drilling equipment modernization; cementing system.

Vladimir I. Balaba – Ph.D., associate professor;
Gubkin University of Oil and Gas

The paper shows that specific problems that may arise during well construction can be effectively solved through self-regulation mechanism which helps to enhance safety of operations and improve well construction quality. At the early stage, the system of drilling process self-regulation should cover the following four areas: well engineering, well construction, contract drilling operations (drilling services), personnel training and safety survey.

Key words: well construction; self-regulation; drilling services.

Alexander D. Polikarpov – Ph.D. in Engineering, Research Director;
CJSC “Oktopus”

As the process of well casing in the fields of the Lower Volga Region and Pricaspian Depression has entered the final phases, and given the complex geological and hydrological conditions of the operations, there is a need for an integrated approach to a number of theoretical and practical issues of well casing, some of which need to be totally revised.
The paper analyzes results of various scientific and technical solutions that were used in conditions of the thick plastic saliniferous and shale strata, permafrost, subnormal and abnormal formation pressures, high concentration of hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide, and cross flows.

Key words: physical and chemical properties; hydrogen sulfide aggression; abnormal formation pressure; casing cementing; casing integrity; hydrodynamic conditions.