Clay minerals and their placements within the pore structure often cause formation damage when in contact with non-native fluids. Before entering a reservoir, the correct fluid needs to be designed or selected. For this it is essential that the formation rock properties are understood. PanTerra has the equipment and staff to assist with proper reservoir characterization. Typical tools are: thin Section analysis for evaluation of macroscopic features, pore morphology and mineral identification; XRD for full composition of rock; (b)SEM and EDX for evaluating clay minerals and elements; mercury injection for pore throat size distribution, porosity and permeability.

At PanTerra we have a fluid lab to test composition, physical properties and rheology of crude oil, production water, formation water and completion fluids.

Interactions between non-native fluid and reservoir fluids can be tested in the laboratory. Also non -native fluids and their compatibility with the reservoir can be evaluated. If these experiments are done before drilling a new well, it can prevent, unpleasant surprises as low productivity. PanTerra believes it is better to prevent formation damage than to solve formation damage issues. For this we typically perform: Composition of oil and waters; Mixing fluids and evaluation of emulsion, scale of precipitations; Coreflow testing to ensure that drill mud or completion fluids are non-damaging.

Reservoir condition coreflooding in the lab can be performed to test drilling mud (invasion). In these tests we evaluate if the filter cake can be properly formed on the reservoir core. If there is any damage by invasion of (mud) particles and incompatible filtrate, the coreflood will quantify the degree of productivity/permeability decline. Often these corefloods are supported by doing pre-coreflood petrographic investigation and post-coreflood investigation. Our coreflooding equipment is designed for reservoir condition, has automated data acquisition and wetted parts are made of Hastelloy-C. Besides drill mud evaluation, the coreflooding rigs are also used for fines migration testing and critical velocity. (I.e. the velocity of the fluid at which fine particles in the rock become dislodged and travel through the pore system.)