42000_Aphron-GasTIPS-Article.pdf

Enhanced Wellbore Stabilization and Reservoir Productivity with Aphron Drilling Fluid Technology Laboratory research is required to provide understanding and validation of aphron drilling fluid technology as a viable and cost-effective alternative to underbalanced drilling of depleted oil and gas reservoirs. Many oil and gas reservoirs in the United States are mature and becoming increasingly depleted of hydrocarbons, which makes for more costly drilling. While the formations above and below these producing zones typically have much higher pore pressures and require high fluid density to stabilize them, exposure of a depleted zone to this high-density fluid can result in significant loss of whole drilling