OBM Test

Test performed for OBM are as follows: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Density. Funnel Viscosity. Rheology (PV, YP and Gel Strength). Retort. HTHP Filtrate Electrical Stability. Alkalinity. Chloride. Calcium.

Test from 1-5 are conducted in the same manner and have same significance as in Water Based Mud (WBM). The detail of remaining tests is given below:

Electrical Stability:
The electrical stability is an indication of how well (or tightly) the water is emulsified in the oil or synthetic phase. Higher values indicate a stronger emulsion and more stable fluid. Oil and the synthetic fluids do not conduct electricity. In the electrical stability test, the voltage (electrical potential) is increased across electrodes on a fixed-width probe until the emulsified water droplets connect (i.e. coalesce) to form a continuous bridge or circuit. The stronger the emulsion, the higher the voltage required to break down the emulsion completing the electrical circuit to conduct electricity. The unit of measure for recording the electrical stability is volts. Some of the most important factors that influence electrical stability are: Water content: Higher water content decreases electrical stability because the distance between water droplets decreases. This allows for easier electrical circuit completion through coalescence and a reduction in the electrical stability. Water-wet solids: Water-wet solids reduce emulsion stability. Water-wet solids act as water droplets with respect to electrical conductivity. Clusters of water-wet solids conduct electricity, producing the effect of larger water droplets and a reduction in electrical stability. Emulsion strength: Water droplets are larger and more weakly emulsified in new and unstable mud systems, causing these fluids to have significantly lower emulsion stability values. Increased shear and temperature and the incorporation of some drill solids significantly increase emulsion stability in freshly prepared fluids. In existing fluids, increasing the emulsifier and wetting agent concentration improves emulsion strength. Water droplet size and emulsifier concentration governs this aspect of emulsion stability. Temperature: The temperature at which the electrical stability measurement is made changes the emulsion stability and electrical conductance. The electrical stability should be measured at the same temperature (120F or 49C) to provide relevant data. Salt concentration: The electrical conductivity of water increases with increasing salt concentration. Increasing the salt concentration will usually cause a slight decrease in electrical stability. In addition, adding powdered salt can cause temporary instability until the salt becomes solubilized into the water phase. Saturation: When the water phase becomes salt saturated, especially with calcium chloride, salt will precipitate from solution as a water wet solid that reduces emulsion stability. In addition, when drilling salt sections careful attention to the amount and types of salts is

critical to preventing this unstable situation. Small additions of freshwater to reduce saturation and dissolve the salt will solve this problem. Weight material: High-density muds weighted with hematite or other special minerals often have lower electrical stabilities than muds weighted with barite.

An electrical stability meter is used to measure the relative stability of a water-in-oil emulsion. This measurement is made using a pair of accurately and permanently spaced electrode plates which are immersed in a fluid sample. A DC power source is used to provide an AC voltage which is applied to the electrode at a constant rate of voltage increase. The voltage at which the emulsion becomes conductive is indicated by current flow between the electrode plates, completing the circuit will (1) illuminate the indicator bulb when using a manual dial meter or (2) cause the numerical reading to stabilize when using a direct reading meter. Procedure: Screen sample through 12-mesh screen (Marsh Funnel) and place in viscometer heating cup. Heat sample to 120 5F (50 2C). The electrode probe can be cleaned using the base oil of the fluid system. After cleaning, the probe should be dried thoroughly. Hand-stir the 120F (50C) sample with the electrode probe for approximately 10 seconds to ensure that the composition and temperature of the fluid are uniform. Position the electrode probe so that it does not touch the bottom or sides of the container, and be sure that the electrode surfaces are completely covered by the sample. Depress and hold down button until displayed value stabilizes. Record the displayed value as the electrical stability (volts).Do not move the electrode probe during the voltage ramp. Repeat this test. The two ES values should not differ by more than 5%. If the values should differ by more than 5%, check the meter or electrode probe for malfunction. Record the average of the two ES measurements on the fluid report.

Alkalinity (Pom):
The phenolphthalein alkalinity (Pom) of an oil- or synthetic-base mud is a measure of the excess lime content. Conventional invert emulsion systems use the primary emulsifier and calcium from lime to form calcium soaps for the emulsion. The POM of conventional systems should be maintained above 2.5 cm3 of 0.1 N sulfuric acid, with typical values being 5 to 10. If the POM of a conventional system falls below 2.5 for an extended period of time, the emulsion may become unstable. Generally, high alkalinity produces a more stable water in-oil emulsion. Relaxed filtrate systems use surfactant emulsifiers that do not require lime to maintain stable emulsions. In relaxed-filtrate systems, the POM is normally maintained at approximately 1 to 2 cm3 of 0.1 N sulfuric acid to buffer against acid gases. Lime is added to oil- and synthetic base drilling fluids for alkalinity and calcium to treat carbon dioxide (CO2) or hydrogen sulfide (H2S) contamination. Most oil- and synthetic-base drilling fluids have a relatively high tolerance for lime. Reagent: Xylene-isopropyl alcohol mixture (50:50). Phenolphthalein Indicator. Sulfuric acid solution, 0.1N H2SO4

Procedure: Put 100 ml of Xylene/IPA blend in glass jar. Disperse 2 ml of oil mud into the solvent and add 200 ml of distilled water. Add 15 drops of phenolphthalein. Stir rapidly with a magnetic stirrer.

While stirring, slowly titrate with 0.1N H2SO4 until the pink color just disappears. Continue stirring and if no pink color reappears within one min, stop stirring. It may be necessary to stop stirring and allow the mixture to separate into two phases to more clearly see the color in the aqueous phase. Let the sample stand for 5 min. If no pink color reappears, the end point has been reached. If the pink color returns titrate a second time with sulfuric acid. If pink color returns a third time titrate again. Do not titrate after the third time. Pom = ml of 0.1 N H2SO4 per ml mud Excess lime (lb/bbl) = Pom x 1.295.

CaCl2 Content: Calcium chloride is added to increase the emulsified water phase salinity to provide inhibition of shales and reactive solids. The range for calcium chloride content is usually 25 to 35% by weight. Chloride: Reagent: Potassium Chromate Indicator. 0.282N AgNO3 solution.

Procedure: Using the same sample as used for the alkalinity procedure, make sure the mixture is acidic by adding 1 to 2 drops, or more, of 0.1N sulfuric acid. Add 10 to 15 drops of potassium chromate indicator solution. While stirring rapidly with a magnetic stirrer, slowly titrate with 0.282N silver nitrate until a salmon pink color remains stable for at least one minute. If a question exists as to if the end point has been reached, it may be necessary to stop the stirring and allow separation of the two phases to occur. Total Cl in mud (mg/l) = ml of 0.282N AgNO3 x 10,000 per ml mud.

Calcium: Reagent: Xylene-isopropyl alcohol mixture (50:50). Calver II Indicator powder. 8N sodium hydroxide buffer solution. Deionized water. EDTA solution (Strong Versenate or equivalent) 0.1 molar, 1 ml = 4,000 mg/l calcium), also known as x 10 strong.

Procedure: Add 100 ml of 50/50 xylene/isopropanol to jar. Displace 2 ml of oil mud into the jar. Cap the jar tightly and shake for 1 min. Add 200 ml deionized water to the jar. Add 3 ml 1N sodium hydroxide buffer solution. Add 0.1 to 0.25 g Calver II Indicator powder. Recap the jar and shake again for 2 min. Set jar aside for 15 to 30 sec to allow the two phases to separate. If a reddish color appears in the aqueous (lower) phase, this indicates that calcium is present.

Place jar on the magnetic stirrer. Stir only fast enough to agitate the aqueous phase without remixing the upper and lower phases. Titrate very slowly with 0.1 molar EDTA or Strong Versenate solution. A very distinct color change from the reddish color to a blue green color indicates the end point has been reached. Ca2+ = 4000 (0.1M EDTA ml)/oil fluid sample ml