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Wellbore Skin: Why Its Presence and Properties Are So Difficult to Predict
Georg J Houben1, Matthias Halisch2, Reiner Dohrmann3
1Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, BGR, Stilleweg 2, 30655, Hannover, Germany.
Ground Water
|July 11, 2025
Summary
Wellbore skin, deposits on borehole walls, reduces water well efficiency. Monitoring drilling fluid density helps predict and prevent skin formation by identifying particle-rich layers.
Area of Science:
- Geology
- Hydrogeology
- Drilling Engineering
Background:
- Wellbore skin, composed of fine-grained particles, negatively impacts water well efficiency.
- Previous research noted variability in skin typology, thickness, and composition without clear explanations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the causes of variability in wellbore skin formation.
- To correlate drilling fluid properties with skin characteristics.
- To provide practical recommendations for well drillers.
Main Methods:
- Expanded analysis of skin samples from nine wells under similar geological and technical conditions.
- Monitored the evolution of drilling fluid density during the drilling process.
Main Results:
- Incohesive and poorly sorted geological layers identified as the primary source of skin particles.
- Thickest particle accumulations observed in highly permeable layers with initially high exfiltration rates.
- Correlation established between drilling fluid density changes and the presence of particle-providing layers.
Conclusions:
- Understanding geological source layers and drilling fluid dynamics is crucial for explaining wellbore skin variability.
- Continuous monitoring of drilling fluid density can serve as an indicator for potential wellbore skin formation.
- Recommendations provided for proactive well drilling management to mitigate skin-related efficiency losses.
