Practical Approach to Adapt Flash Point Requirement of Synthetic Based Mud

Abstrak

In respect to risk of fire hazard, understanding of drilling fluid flash point is a critical factor in handling and use of synthetic based mud (SBM) throughout drilling of a well. It must be ensured that any fluid going thru the rig circulation system has flash point higher than the maximum anticipated flow line temperature of the drilling fluid or the maximum anticipated ambient temperature, whichever is the greater. A more rigorous condition by Pertamina Hulu Mahakam (PHM) requires, instead of the SBM, but the base oil used to build the SBM must have flash point value of minimum 10 C over the maximum flow line mud temperature during drilling operations. Smooth fluid 05 (SF-05), base oil produced by Pertamina Refinery Unit V Balikpapan was introduced to PHM drilling operation as a competitive replacement to the existing EDC 95-11 base oil. Study had performed to iterate SBM formulation using SF-05 that provide optimal drilling performance while maintain level of health and safety to operation. The SF-05 flash point is turn out to be approximate with the anticipated maximum flow line temperature while drilling main reservoir section in TUNU field, with safety margin less than 10^oC, thus not conform with PHM initial requirement. In order to proceed the job safely using SF-05, further assessment was done and more fit for purpose and practical approach was taken while still maintaining safety  requirement. Considering the base oil in its stand-alone form has never been used as drilling fluid and SBM as drilling fluid was formed by an emulsion of water, solids, additives and a base oil as prime portion, the flash point of SBM is expected to be higher than the flash point of its pure base oil. Several SBM formulations using SF-05 base fluid that was prepared in laboratory had shown flash point high enough to provide safety margin of 10^oC above the flow line temperature. This enable the drilling operation using SBM  based on SF-05 is carried out safely. With such approach, a specific Job Risk Assessment (JRA) is developed and some additional practices as control measures were applied in the field. Furthermore, this practical approach is now being adopted to update the company’s standard requirement.