What would a podcast in the oilfield be without a DRW episode? In this episode, we are joined by a special guest David Ramsden-Wood, Host of #hottakeoftheday podcast, Author, and Principal at Prevail Energy. David dives into his views on the future of the oil and gas industry, his passion for the ever-evolving technologies, and […]

In this episode of the Flowline, Matt and Justin sit down with Gary Lankford, aka the legend of the Permian. Gary discusses how the Permian oilfield has evolved throughout the years along with his journey in the oil and gas business. Gary also shares his thoughts on the outlook of oil and gas along with […]

All year long, but especially during this season, we’re grateful for wonderful followers like you! May your table be filled with family and gratitude this season. Happy Thanksgiving from AES Drilling Fluids and The Flowline!

In this episode, we sit down with special guest Tom Simons, CEO of CES Energy Solutions, the parent company of AES Drilling Fluids. Join us as we chat with this inspirational man who started as a mud hand and evolved his passion for drilling fluids into building a multi-faceted corporation.

H2S: it’s out there, we need to be aware of it and know how to plan around it. In this episode, Matt and Justin discuss what Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) is, how it impacts drilling programs, and what mitigation plans can be put in place for when it is encountered.

And, we’re back with Part II of this exclusive interview with Fred Dupriest! Check out his presentation on our AES Drilling Fluids YouTube channel. If you’ve listened to more than a few episodes of The Flowline (AES Drilling Fluids Podcast), you’ve probably heard Matt and Justin talk about Fred Dupriest and everything he’s done to […]

If you’ve listened to more than a few episodes, you’ve probably heard Matt and Justin talk about Fred Dupriest and everything he’s done to educate the industry on critical fundamentals of drilling concepts – including drilling fluids. Over the next two episodes, we have the pleasure of joining him to discuss Limiter Redesign: Fluid Management […]

Water Flows or Water Intrusions can happen in intermediate sections, lateral sections, or anywhere the formation contains water-bearing zones. When these events occur, the large amount of water that ends up contaminating your drilling fluid system can cause havoc on the rig. In this episode, Matt and Justin talk about what happens in these scenarios, […]

In this episode, Matt and Justin sit down to discuss Formation Integrity and Leak Off Tests. Being the most common diagnostic tests, they dig into what they are, why they are important, and what mitigation strategies that can be put in place if things are not going so smoothly. Resource Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6ywHCJkqbo

Why are some people so fixed on the yield point focusing on the 6RPM reading? What’s the difference? Is one more reliable than the other when trying to determine if the mud has sufficient suspension capabilities?

International Podcast Day – September 30 – is an international celebration of the power of podcasts! The Flowline has grown so much in the last two years with 21K+ downloads, 75+ episodes, and countless sarcastic comments from Matt. We want to thank our listeners because, without you, we wouldn’t still be here and having this much […]

In this episode, Matt and Justin get back to talking mud, specifically liquid versus dry product additives. They dig into advantages and differences and what to consider when adding these products to your mud.

This episode concludes a two-part series on Drill Bits, with our special guest Sterling Robinson from Varel International. Sterling takes us into what bit hydraulics are and why they’re important. We also touch on what kind of technology and improvements have been made with respect to bit hydraulics, drilling performance, and more. http://www.varelintl.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/sterlingalexanderrobinson/

This episode kicks off a two-part series on drill bits with Sterling Robinson from Varel International. Tune to learn the ins and outs of drill bits with, of course, some banter on the side. http://www.varelintl.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/sterlingalexanderrobinson/

Going through a full mud school can be a lengthy process when covering such a wide range of high-level drilling fluid concepts. In this episode, Matt and Justin break down what a typical mud school consists of and share some stories of their own experiences.

What is a  TCC Rotomill and how does it work? How does it open up more options for drilling waste management? We interview Andrew Morris with TWMA to learn more.  

In this episode, Matt and Justin host Aylin Villalobos, a special guest and recent graduate from the University of Texas Permian Basin (UTBU). Aylin describes her journey and experience as a recent Petroleum Engineering graduate, her involvement in AADE and the importance of joining industry organizations, and why she firmly believes that there is a […]

Times are changing, the oilfield included. In this episode, Matt and Justin discuss transitions and shifts in job roles and taking on more or different responsibilities. How do you gauge your success and determine the expectations of you during these times?

People mention API Recommended Practices as standards all the time, but what do they tell us about drilling fluids? How do we use them? Justin and Matt will discuss an overview of the fluids-related API Recommended Practices and how they standardize many of the tasks we perform daily.

What is the process of running a retort and what are the components? When is this type of analysis applicable and why do we do it? In this episode, Matt and Justin run through the basics of a Retort Analysis and more.

Automation in the Oil and Gas industry; How do we get to the point of automation, what is the road map, and what does that look like? In this episode, we dive into these questions and more on The Flowline.

Stuck pipe is common enough where most of those in the drilling sector have come across this expensive issue. In this episode, Matt and Justin discuss the fundamentals and what can you do as a fluids expert to make a difference.

In this episode, Matt and Justin dig into Suspension and Packer Fluids. They discuss corrosion mitigation with respect to well suspension and what that looks like on the drilling side and how it ties into the completion side.

In this episode, AES’ Montana Farnum joins us on the Flowline to discuss his technical paper for the 2020 AADE Fluids Conference: A Comprehensive Fluids Engineering Approach to Deep Devonian SWDs Reduces Cost

Charles Welker, Business Intelligence Developer at AES, sits down with Matt and Justin to discuss his technical paper for the 2020 AADE Fluids Conference: A Data Analytics Platform Dedicated to Drilling Fluids.

Matt and Justin sit down with AES’ Andrew Hewett to discuss his technical paper for the 2020 AADE Fluids Conference: New Treatment Reduces Direct Emulsion Drilling Fluid Cost By Recycling System Components, Minimizing Dilution.

AES’ own Richard Toomes might have thought he was off the hook to present his paper when the 2020 AADE Fluids Conference was canceled… he thought wrong. In this episode, we sit down with Ricky and discuss his AADE Technical Paper: Horizontal Openhole Completion Techniques Revitalize Fields on the Texas Gulf Coast

Data analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence…what are they and why do people keep talking about them? How could these tools help the oilfield and how could they improve drilling fluids?

In this episode, we dive into filtration testing. It may seem a tad lab-intensive, but this type of testing can end up in the field on extreme wells or those that are a little more challenging. We run through some tests that you may have or have not heard of, so feel free to send […]

Aphrons are a method used to get a really low-density mud by using encapsulated micro-bubbles to lower the mud weight. Questions remain about how such fluids work, so in this episode, we will debunk some of the myths and discuss why you would or would not want to use them.

In this episode of the Flowline, Matt and Justin sit down with AES’s VP James Strickland to discuss what it’s like to run drilling fluids in an offshore environment. All three gentlemen have a unique experience of being offshore which helped provide insight on how drilling fluids are applied offshore along with their respective challenges.

Did you know that air is a fluid? You might not have a mud engineer, but sometimes we drill intervals on air. We’ll dig into what air drilling is and some concepts that are applied throughout the process.

Do you need a little encouragement through these tough times? The media has several sources that are predicting the “future”… do we have reasons to believe they are right? Do we have reasons to believe they are wrong? There is a lot to dig into when predicting what our future will hold, let’s talk through it […]

What are the considerations required for a good logging run? Tight fluid properties are one thing, but sometimes data acquisition requires a lot of consideration.

Going back to the fundamentals, we discuss the significance of engineering equations to help keep you on your game. Tune in to this week’s episode, as Matt and Justin break down Engineering Basics.

The size and distribution of particles in a drilling fluid can impact fluid performance. You may need big solids for bridging or wellbore strengthening. Small particles might result in poor fluid loss and progressive gels. How do we measure particle size distribution and why does it matter? Matt and Justin discuss this and more in […]

What do we put in mud to increase fluid density? In this episode, Matt and Justin dive into Weight Material 101, touching on barite and other additive options.

Organoclays, also known as Organophilic clays, are essential additives for many oil-based muds.  Organophilic clays and their function can vary widely given their application and environment. Tune in to this week’s episode to learn more!

Hydraulics are important when it comes to modeling a given fluids effect on wellbore pressures. The major goal of hydraulics optimization is to balance well control, hole cleaning, pump pressure, ECD and pressure drop across the bit. Tune in to this week’s episode as Justin and Matt dive into the details!

In this episode, Matt and Justin will take you through the different theories and techniques to make a good quality filtercake with the right particle blend.

Based upon a listener request, we are going to take you through the basics of drilling a well from spud to TD. Call it a DWOP, of sorts. We’ll talk intervals, casing, directional drilling, and even a little bit of mud.

In this episode, Matt and Justin discuss silicate mud. What it is, where can it can be applied and when to run it.

All oil systems provide extremely low mud weights – but they don’t come cheap. Are they even really 100% oil? Matt and Justin explain when you might use them and how they work.

Mud touches everything during the drilling process, including our tools. Matt and Justin discuss which tools are compatible with different drilling fluids and how we can address and plan for compatibility during drilling operations.

What are LCM squeezes? How are they applied? In this episode, Matt and Justin dig into these questions and discuss what to expect operationally and what to look out for. 

What is coil tubing? Matt and Justin break down the basics and discuss some of the challenges of the process. Coil tubing is a topic worth knowing about if you are familiar with fluids. For our listeners, if you have experience with coil tubing, please feel free to submit your own stories and experiences!

As a mud engineer, you need to be good at getting along with all kinds of people. Justin and Matt share some of the best ways to get along with everyone on location

What do you have to account for when drilling under extreme conditions? We’ll go over the challenges and risks when it comes to drilling under high pressure and/or high temperature.

In this week’s episode, we discuss Life in Operations Onshore and Offshore. We dig into differences in rigs, equipment, scenarios and tell more stories along the way.

You ask, we respond! We received a listener question on a paper AES had published on MMH Technology. Matt and Justin walk us through what Mixed Metal Hydroxides are, its properties and its applications in the world of drilling fluids.