Tramfloc® 1000 Series of drilling fluid friction reducers are vital to effective and economical drilling operations in various brines and downhole conditions world-wide. These case histories present the functional characteristics and results of various in-field trials run with a selection of

Tramfloc® Series of drilling fluid friction reducers in various brine compositions. All histories have their flow loop performance data reported to the nearest second, gpm flow rate and dosage in gallons per thousand gallons, GPT. Please contact our technical personnel for further information and product recommendations.

Case History 1, Fresh Water/Light Brines

This case compared the performance of three Tramfloc® 1000 Series of drilling fluid friction reducers: Tramfloc® 1019, EXP 9112 and EXP 9113. EXP denotes experimental formulations not yet commercialized.

Test brine: city water

Dosage: 0.5 GPT

Volumetric flow rate: 10 gpm

Pipe diameter: 0.375”

Brine: Fresh water

Conclusions

All three formulations achieved 73.8% friction reduction. However, Tramfloc® 1019 achieved its friction reduction in 6 seconds, EXP 9112 achieved its friction reduction in 16 seconds and EXP 9113 achieved its friction reduction in 50 seconds.

Remarks:

Tramfloc® 1019 – recommended for fresh water and for use with light brines composed of monovalent ions.

Tramfloc® EXP 9112 – recommended where significant amounts of multivalent ions are anticipated.

Tramfloc® EXP 9113 and 1020 – will function in fresh water but they are not preferred as they have inverting surfactants optimized high TDS brines and flowback waters.

Case History 2, Low TDS Monovalent Brines

This case compared the performance of three TRAMFLOC® 1000 Series of drilling fluid friction reducers: Tramfloc® 1019, EXP 9112 and Tramfloc® 1020. EXP denotes experimental formulations not yet commercialized.

Test brine: 20,000 ppm TDS as KCl

Dosage: 0.5 GPT

Volumetric flow rate: 10 gpm

Pipe diameter: 0.375”

Brine: 20,000 ppm TDS as KCl

Cations: monovalent – 10,490 ppm; multivalent – 0 ppm

Anions: Cl – 9,510 ppm; others – 0 ppm

Conclusions

All three formulations achieved between 70 and 74% friction reduction. However,
Tramfloc® 1020 achieved its friction reduction in 6 seconds, Tramfloc® 1019 achieved its friction reduction in 12 seconds and EXP 9112 achieved its friction reduction in 51 seconds.

Remarks:

Tramfloc® 1019 – recommended for fresh water and for use with light brines composed of predominantly of monovalent ions. Still effective in 20,000 TDS KCl.

Tramfloc® EXP 9112 – recommended where significant amounts of multivalent ions are anticipated.

Tramfloc® 1020 – Not suitable once significant levels of multivalent ions are present. Has inverting surfactants optimized high TDS brines and flowback waters.

Case History 3, High TDS Monovalent Brines

This case compared the performance of three TRAMFLOC® 1000 Series of drilling fluid friction reducers: Tramfloc® 1019, EXP 9113 and Tramfloc® 1020. EXP denotes experimental

formulations not yet commercialized.

Test brine: 80,000 ppm TDS as KCl

Dosage: 0.5 GPT

Volumetric flow rate: 10 gpm

Pipe diameter: 0.375”

Brine: 80,000 ppm TDS as KCl

Cations: monovalent – 41,949 ppm; multivalent – 0 ppm

Anions: Cl – 38,042 ppm; others – 0 ppm

Conclusions

All three formulations achieved between 70 and 73% friction reduction. However,
Tramfloc® EXP 9113 achieved its friction reduction in 18 seconds, Tramfloc® 1020 achieved its friction reduction in 24 seconds and Tramfloc® EXP 1019 achieved its friction reduction in 52 seconds.

Remarks:

Tramfloc® 1019 – not recommended – has surfactant system designed for fresh water/light brines.

Tramfloc® EXP 9113 – recommended for high TDS brines containing either monovalent or multivalent ions.

Tramfloc® 1020 – Recommended for high TDS brines containing predominantly monovalent ions. It has inverting surfactants optimized high TDS brines and flowback waters but is not suitable once significant levels of multivalent cations are present.

Case History 5, High TDS Complex Brines

This case compared the performance of four Tramfloc® 1000 Series of drilling fluid friction reducers: Tramfloc® 1020, EXP 9113, EXP 9112 and Tramfloc® 1022. EXP denotes experimental formulations not yet commercialized.

Test brine: >190,000 ppm TDS (incl. >21,000 ppm TDS multivalent cations)

Dosage: 1.0 GPT

Volumetric flow rate: 10 gpm

Pipe diameter: 0.375”

Brine: 191,170 ppm TDS

Cations: monovalent – 51,320 ppm; multivalent – 21,453 ppm

Anions: Cl – 118,201 ppm; others – 196 ppm

Conclusions

All three formulations achieved between 50 and 73% friction reduction. However,
Tramfloc® EXP 9113 achieved its friction reduction in 40 seconds, Tramfloc® 1022 achieved its friction reduction in 44 seconds, Tramfloc® EXP 9112 achieved its friction reduction in 47 seconds and Tramfloc® 1020 achieved its friction reduction in 76 seconds.

Remarks:

Tramfloc® 1020 – Not recommended.

Tramfloc® 1022 – Recommended for high TDS brines where significant levels of multivalent cations are present.

Tramfloc® EXP 9112 – recommended for high TDS brines containing either monovalent or multivalent ions.

Tramfloc® EXP 9113 – recommended for high TDS brines containing either monovalent or multivalent ions.

Case History 6, Weighted Brines, 9.0#/gal CaCl2

This case compared the performance of four Tramfloc® 1000 Series of drilling fluid friction reducers: Tramfloc® 1022 and EXP 9114. EXP denotes experimental formulations not yet commercialized.

Test brine: 90,000 ppm TDS CaCl2 (>32,000 ppm multivalent cations)

Dosage: 0.5 GPT

Volumetric flow rate: 10 gpm

Pipe diameter: 0.375”

Brine: 90,000 ppm TDS CaCl2

Cations: monovalent – 0 ppm; multivalent – 32,497 ppm

Anions: Cl – 57,486 ppm; others – 0 ppm

Conclusions

Both formulations achieved between 70% friction reduction. However, Tramfloc® EXP 9114 achieved its friction reduction in 55 seconds, TRAMFLOC® 1022 achieved its friction reduction in 53 seconds.

Remarks:

Tramfloc® 1022 – Recommended for high TDS brines which contain extreme of multivalent cations. Recommended for Coiled Tubing operations using weighted brines.

Tramfloc® 1019, 1020, EXP 9112, and EXP 9113 – These products are not recommended for CaCl2 brines. Performance data omitted.

Tramfloc® EXP 9114 – recommended for high TDS brines containing extreme levels of multivalent ions, for those users who require a product with cationic character.

Case History 7, Weighted Brines, 10.0#/gal CaCl2

This case compared the performance of four Tramfloc®1000 Series of drilling fluid friction reducers: Tramfloc® 1022 and EXP 9114. EXP denotes experimental formulations not yet commercialized.

Test brine: 278,000 ppm TDS CaCl2 (>100,000 ppm multivalent cations)

Dosage: 1.0 GPT

Volumetric flow rate: 10 gpm

Pipe diameter: 0.375”

Brine: 278,000 ppm TDS CaCl2

Cations: monovalent – 0 ppm; multivalent – 100,381 ppm

Anions: Cl – 177,570 ppm; others – 0 ppm

Conclusions

Both formulations achieved between 70% friction reduction. However, Tramfloc® EXP 9114 achieved its friction reduction in 61 seconds, Tramfloc® 1022 achieved its friction reduction in 138 seconds.

Remarks:

Tramfloc® 1022 – Recommended for high TDS brines which contain extreme of multivalent cations. Recommended for Coiled Tubing operations using weighted brines.

Tramfloc® 1019, 1020, EXP 9112, and EXP 9113 – These products are not recommended for CaCl2 brines. Performance data omitted.

Tramfloc® EXP 9114 – recommended for high TDS brines containing extreme levels of multivalent ions, for those users who require a product with cationic character.