Compositions Including Relatively Low Reactivity Acids, Mixed with
viscoelastic surfactants (VESs) and internal breakers may serve as
drill-in fluids to open underground hydrocarbon reservoirs with carbonate
contents of 10 wt % or above. The drill-in fluids have low viscosities in
the drilling pipe. After the fluid flows out of the drill bit, the acids
react with carbonates in the formation thereby increasing the pH of the
drill-in fluids causing the VES to gel the fluid at the bottom of the
hole and the downhole annulus between the drilling pipe and the formation
rock. The viscosified drill-in fluid will reduce fluid loss and will
carry no dissolved drilling debris to the surface. After drilling through
the targeted formation, the internal breakers in the viscosified drill-in
fluids will break down the fluids to permit their removal, and the well
is ready to produce with very little or no near well bore damage.