High-tech glass bubbles improve oil and gas productivity

A new glass bubbles product from 3M Advanced Materials Division offers several opportunities to improve oil and gas productivity at a reduced cost.

The HGS4K28 is a high-strength, low-density additive, specially designed to afford greater density reduction capabilities than other lightweight additives under similar downhole conditions.

The use of HGS4K28 as a density reducing agent for completion, workover and cement slurries offers the potential for improved well integrity, reduced non-productive time and increased well productivity when drilling in highly depleted zones and weaker formations, as it may help minimize or eliminate problems associated with fluid loss, lost circulati on and formation damage.

“With the improvement in the strength-to-density ratio, our newest addition to the Glass Bubbles portfolio is ideal for low-to-moderate downhole pre ssures,” said Doug Rowen, business director of 3M Advanced Materials Division. “These hollow glass microspheres offer more strength at less volume, meaning you purchase less, ship less, inventory less, and reduc e storage costs.”

With HGS4K28, coupled with higher strength Glass Bubbles HGS19K46, which launched globally earlier this year, 3M demonstrates that less can be more, even under pressure, as these products reduce costs by creating lighter cement slurries and drilling fluids while requiring less additive to achieve target density at pressure.

Using less additive creates stronger, cured cement for better performance, and in drilling, completion and work-over fluids less additive gives customers more pressure control, as HGS4K28 and HGS19K46 help to achieve and maintain target density throughout the operation. Additionally, HGS4K28 and HGS19K46 allow customers to simplify their supply chain, inventory and operations to just a couple of grades of Glass Bubbles for a wide range of pressures.