Choosing the right drilling foam

Introduction

Drilling is an important process in various industries such as oil and gas, tunneling, and dam construction. Using optimal chemicals in this process can have a great impact on improving drilling performance, reducing costs, and increasing productivity. One of these materials is drilling foam or soil amendment foam, which is used as a lubricant and stabilizer in drilling deep and semi-deep wells, oil wells, tunneling, dam construction, and other construction projects. In this article, we will fully review the characteristics, applications, advantages, and methods for selecting the right drilling foam.

What is drilling foam?

Drilling foam is a solution with a suitable viscosity that consists of compounds such as anionic, nonionic, amphoteric surfactants, and foam stabilizers. This compound helps in drilling in various soils and improves the performance of drilling equipment. Drilling foam is mainly used in the following cases:

• Drilling of salt and fresh water wells
• Drilling of oil and gas wells
• Drilling of tunnels with mechanized boring machines (TBM)
• Tunneling and dam construction projects
• Drilling of exploratory wells

Features of drilling foam:

Water-soluble: This feature makes it easily usable in different environments.

Safety: Drilling foam produced by specialized companies such as Abrizan is designed with environmental compatibility in mind.

Excellent solid carrying capacity: This foam is able to carry drilling sediments efficiently and prevent them from accumulating on the well wall or inside the drilling machine.

Advantages of using drilling foam:

Using drilling foam has several advantages, some of which are:

Reducing friction and increasing drilling speed:Drilling foam increases the efficiency of drilling operations by reducing friction between drilling equipment (drill bits, etc.) and soil.

Better transport of solids and drilling materials:Drilling foam helps to more easily remove fine drilled materials from the bottom of the well by creating a stable foam.

Reducing wear of drilling tools:The compounds in this foam reduce wear of cutting tools and increase their useful life.

Environmental compatibility:Standard drilling foams do not contain environmentally harmful compounds and are recommended for use in sensitive drilling.

Reducing soil adhesion:Some soils, especially clay soils, become sticky (clogging) during drilling. Drilling foam prevents this problem.

Anti-corrosion of metal equipment:Some drilling foam compounds have anti-corrosion properties that prevent rusting.

How to choose the right drilling foam?

Choosing the right drilling foam depends on several factors that must be considered according to the specific conditions of each project. The following are the most important criteria for choosing drilling foam:

1_ Project type and ground conditions

Water drilling:If the project involves drilling water wells, water foams that contain non-toxic surfactants are more suitable. This type of foam has high environmental compatibility and prevents water pollution.

Oil and gas drilling:In the oil and gas industry, due to the harsher conditions and higher temperatures, oil foams that are more resistant to heat are preferred.

Urban tunneling:In tunneling, especially in urban areas, foams that are able to reduce friction and wear between the drilling bits (TBM) and the soil are more suitable destruction of drilling equipment.

2_ Environmental conditions

Temperature: At high temperatures (over 80°C), foams that are heat resistant are essential. These foams are designed to be stable at high temperatures and provide adequate performance.

Soil type:In soft and moist soils, foams with high permeability are more suitable.

In rocky or hard soils, foams with high solids carrying capacity are recommended.

3_ Equipment compatibility

Anti-adhesion agents:Foams that are compatible with thickening agents such as CMC prevent soil from accumulating on tools. This feature helps to extend the life of equipment and reduce the need for maintenance.

Stability:The drilling foam must be sufficiently stable against pressure and heat to be present continuously during drilling operations.

4_ Foam stability and half-life

The half-life of the foam:The half-life of the drilling foam refers to the length of time the foam remains stable before breaking down. For long-term projects, use foams with a longer half-life.

Resistance to environmental conditions:The drilling foam must be able to withstand changes in temperature, pressure, and groundwater infiltration.

5_ Anti-wear properties

The drilling foam must have a high ability to reduce wear between machinery components and the soil. This feature prevents damage to drilling tools and increases their useful life.

6_ Anti-clogging

One of the most important features of drilling foam is its resistance to soil adhesion. This feature prevents soil from accumulating on the well wall or inside the drilling machine and optimizes the performance of the machinery.

7_ Anti-corrosion of metals

Drilling foam should not have a negative effect on the metals that make up the machinery and prevent metal corrosion. This helps extend the life of the machinery.

8_ Penetration rate and power in the ground

The penetration power of drilling foam is directly related to its efficiency in drilling. A foam with high penetration can effectively improve soil properties and prevent problems such as groundwater infiltration.

9_ Economical

The production and use costs of drilling foam should be reasonable to prevent increased project costs. Foams that reduce the total cost of the project by reducing drilling time and the need for machinery repairs are more suitable.

10_ Environmental compatibility

The use of green and environmentally friendly foams is one of the main criteria for selecting drilling foam. Foams that contain non-toxic materials prevent water and soil pollution and help protect the environment.

How to inject drilling foam

Drilling foam is usually injected in different parts of the drilling process:

On the tunnel work front:Foam injection in this part stabilizes the soil and prevents it from falling.

In the chamber behind the cutter head:This type of injection improves the performance of cutting tools and facilitates the soil extraction process.

In the screw conveyor:Foam injection in this part reduces friction and facilitates the transfer of excavated soil and rocks.

Abrizan Company and the production of drilling foam for saltwater and freshwater wells

As one of the leaders in the field of drilling auxiliary materials, Abrizan Company has designed and produced two types of special drilling foam for drilling saltwater and freshwater wells using advanced technology and extensive experience. These foams are designed to provide the best performance in different conditions, taking into account the specific conditions of each type of water. The drilling foam produced by Abrizan is known as one of the best options in the drilling industry due to the use of non-toxic and environmentally friendly materials.

Drilling foam for saltwater wells

Saltwater well drilling foam is designed by Abrizan Company to deal with the specific problems of drilling in areas that contain saline or brackish water ground layers. With its high capacity for carrying solids and controlling pressure, this foam prevents the accumulation of salts and sediments in the well wall. In addition, due to the use of surfactants resistant to salt compounds, saltwater well drilling foam has a longer service life and prevents environmental pollution.

Special drilling foam for fresh water wells

Freshwater well drilling foam is designed by Abrizan Company for drilling in areas where groundwater is free of salt or has low salinity. This foam with high permeability improves soil properties and prevents the accumulation of solid particles in the well wall. Freshwater well drilling foam, due to the use of safe and water-soluble materials, has high compatibility with the environment and prevents pollution of groundwater resources.

Considering the diverse requirements of the drilling industry, Abrizan Company seeks to provide efficient and sustainable solutions to various drilling problems by producing these two types of drilling foams. Abrizan foams are very popular among drilling industry professionals due to their high quality, environmental compatibility, and proper performance.

Conclusion

Drilling foam is one of the most important materials used in mechanized and traditional drilling, which has a significant impact on drilling efficiency by improving drilling conditions, reducing friction and wear, preventing soil adhesion, and increasing the life of equipment. The selection of the appropriate foam varies depending on the type of soil, environmental conditions, and type of project and should be examined based on technical and economic factors. The use of standard and environmentally friendly drilling foams can not only reduce costs, but also increase the productivity of drilling projects.

Manufacturing companies such as Abrizan Company play an important role in improving drilling processes and developing civil and industrial infrastructure by providing diverse and high-quality products. Therefore, when choosing drilling foam, it is crucial to pay attention to the product's characteristics and adapt it to the project's needs.