Protect Formation Productivity

•Protecting the formations productivity is a big concern. After all the well was drilled to produce hydrocarbons, not as a science project.
•Formation damage can happen as a result of solids plugging up the porosity or permeability or through chemical or mechanical interactions with the formation •The type of the completion will determine the level of protect required –For example an open hole completion will require much more protection than a cement and perforation completion
•Consideration should be given to the type of fluid chosen to protect the formation
•Common mechanisms for formation damage are:
–Mud or drill solids invading the formation matrix, plugging pores.
–Swelling of formation clays within the reservoir, reducing permeability.
–Precipitation of solids as a result of mud filtrate and formation fluids being incompatible.
–Precipitation of solids from the mud filtrate with other fluids, such as brines or acids, during completion or stimulation procedures.
–Mud filtrate and formation fluids forming an emulsion, restricting permeability.
•Offset well information can help to predict formation damage
•Return permeability tests run with different fluids on cores will help to determine the best non-damaging fluids