The proper selection of drilling fluids formulations and its treatment has always been a challenge and requires a great effort to ensure optimum drilling performance. The objective of this paper is to assist the mud engineer in selecting the water-based drilling fluid formulations that are best suited for a certain application. To achieve this target, the field practices were combined with the literature to study the most practiced water-based drilling fluid recipes used for onshore gas applications in the Middle East (i.e., spud mud, high-bentonite spud mud, salt/polymer mud, and high-overbalanced mud). From both field practices and deep literature review, it is recommended that both spud mud and high-bentonite spud mud be prepared and pre-hydrated for 4–6 h before a well spud. Also, it is important to add detergents with high-viscosity sweeps to avoid the bit balling and maintain the gel strength. While for salt/polymer mud, the regular addition of sodium sulfite is necessary for polymers stabilization, and the efficient solids control equipment performance is essential. To avoid the solids sagging issues associated with drilling high-pressure high-temperature deep gas reservoirs, it is recommended to either uses sag resistance materials, micronized weighting materials, or a combination of different weighting materials. The high-overbalanced mud is the most effective and efficient type when drilling a combination of natural fractured depleted gas reservoirs with high-pressure gas reservoirs.

正确选择钻井液配方及其处理一直是一个挑战，需要付出巨大的努力才能确保最佳的钻井性能。本文的目的是协助泥浆工程师选择最适合特定应用的水基钻井液配方。为实现这一目标，将野外实践与文献相结合，研究了中东用于陆上天然气应用的最常用的水基钻井液配方（例如，桩渣泥，高膨润土桩渣泥，盐/聚合物泥，和高平衡泥浆）。从现场实践和深入的文献综述来看，建议在井眼之前，准备井眼泥和高膨润土井眼泥并预水化4-6小时。所以，重要的是要添加具有高粘度扫描的清洁剂，以避免钻头起球并保持凝胶强度。对于盐/聚合物泥而言，必须定期添加亚硫酸钠以稳定聚合物，并且有效的固体控制设备性能至关重要。为避免与钻井高温高压深层气藏相关的固体流挂问题，建议使用抗流挂性材料，微粉化加重材料或不同加重材料的组合。当钻探天然裂缝性贫气气藏与高压气藏的组合时，高平衡泥浆是最有效和高效的类型。定期添加亚硫酸钠对于稳定聚合物非常必要，有效的固体控制设备性能至关重要。为避免与钻探高压高温深层气藏相关的固体流挂问题，建议使用抗流挂性材料，微粉化加重材料或不同加重材料的组合。当钻探天然裂缝性贫气气藏与高压气藏的组合时，高平衡泥浆是最有效和最有效的类型。定期添加亚硫酸钠对于稳定聚合物非常必要，有效的固体控制设备性能至关重要。为避免与钻探高压高温深层气藏相关的固体流挂问题，建议使用抗流挂性材料，微粉化加重材料或不同加重材料的组合。当钻探天然裂缝性贫气气藏与高压气藏的组合时，高平衡泥浆是最有效和最有效的类型。微粉化的加重材料，或不同加重材料的组合。当钻探天然裂缝性贫气气藏与高压气藏的组合时，高平衡泥浆是最有效和最有效的类型。微粉化的加重材料，或不同加重材料的组合。当钻探天然裂缝性贫气气藏与高压气藏的组合时，高平衡泥浆是最有效和最有效的类型。