The Haynesville play of North Louisiana, extending into East Texas, is characterized by deep wells with high bottomhole temperatures. These high temperatures can wreak havoc on drilling equipment and present challenges for mud systems. Additionally, the fractured and impact-resistant rocks that make up the formation can cause mud losses and affect ROP.

The Midland and Delaware basins of West Texas and eastern New Mexico are the most active drilling areas in the U.S. The Permian Basin is no stranger to common drilling challenges, like mud losses, bit balling and unconsolidated sands and clays (locally referred to as redbed or gumbo) that result in fouled bits and BHAs. Drilling in New Mexico also requires special expertise, as state regulations require closed-loop drilling systems for every well.

The Austin Chalk of Central Texas has developed a reputation for high temperatures and high mud losses. Wells drilled horizontally into the naturally-fractured chalk formation are always full of surprises. Cutting into an unexpected fracture can result in a kick if overpressured or losses if not. Onsite drilling fluids engineers must be on alert and ready to respond at a moment’s notice.  

At more than 400 miles long and 50 miles wide, the Eagle Ford play of South Texas presents wide-ranging drilling challenges depending on your location. Drilling targets may be as shallow as 4,000 ft in the northeast sections and as deep as 14,000 ft toward the southwest. This geographic expanse presents changing drilling conditions requiring different drilling fluids management approaches. 

Characterized by wells drilled south of the I-10 boundary, the South Louisiana drilling region is home to wetlands, swamps and other low-elevation drilling locations accessible only by boat. The frequent need to use drilling barges presents logistical challenges for moving and maintaining equipment and drilling supplies.  

The downhole drilling environment presents challenges due to numerous salt structures that produce tectonic stresses and unconsolidated sands and clays (locally referred to as gumbo) that result in fouled bits and BHAs.  

The Appalachian Basin covers large areas of Pennsylvania and West Virginia and parts of New York, Ohio, Maryland, Virginia and Kentucky. The basin includes two main shale plays: the Marcellus and the Utica. The Appalachian Basin holds significant deposits of dry natural gas. True vertical drilling depths range from 6,000 ft to 7,000 ft in the West Virginia and Pennsylvania areas of the Marcellus (which sits above the Utica) to 8,000 ft for areas of the Utica shale in Ohio.