| Xanthan gum (XG) and partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (PHPA) are used extensively as viscosifiers in the oil industry for different applications due to their unique rheological properties. An experimental study has been conducted to investigate formation damage characteristics of XG and PHPA based fluids.; Formation of internal cake due to the invasion of reservoir rock by drilling, completion, and fracturing fluids is one of the major causes of productivity reduction. A detailed investigation of the role of the rheology of viscoelastic fluids on the formation of "internal cake" has, therefore, been conducted in this study.; Extensional and shear viscosity measurements, and API filtration tests have been conducted by using fluids of 3 different XG and PHPA concentrations (0.5, 1.5, and 3.0 lb/bbl).; A series of core flow experiments have been conducted by using XG and PHPA solutions to investigate the effects of polymer concentration, fluid extensional and shear viscosity, and filtration loss characteristics on the original permeability of the porous media. |
