Drilling Fluid Functions and Properties

The following table presents the main drilling fluid functions and properties.

FUNCTION
RELEVANT
PROPERTY
OF MUD AND RIG
SYSTEM
EFFECT OF PROPERTY
ON PENETRATION RATE
AND BOREHOLE

EFFECTIVE CONTROL

1) Removal of drilled
cuttings from the hole
a) Annular Velocity a) If excessive may create washouts in unconsolidated
formations.
a) Pump rates must be determined by hole cleaning
requirements whilst preventing discharge of whole mud across
the shale shakers.
b) Viscosity b) Increased viscosity may decrease penetration rate a) Raise by adding viscosifiers, e.g. Bentonite or Polymer
b) Lower by watering back or adding dispersants, e.g. CFL.
c) Reduce PV by removing solids.
Viscous slugs may be circulated for hole cleaning.
2) Control of
subsurface pressure
Mud Gradient a) Increased gradient, decreases penetration rate.
Policy relating to static overbalance will be maintained
at all times.

a) Raise by adding weighting agents e.g. Barites - Never

increase gradient using drilled solids.
b) Lower by dilution and effective use of solids removal
equipment.
c) Centrifuge to remove Barites.
d) Constant monitoring of all mud tank levels/flow checks.
3) Prevent the wall
from caving
a) Fluid loss.
b) Mud cake texture.
c) Mud gradient
d) Solids content.
e) Proper mud system
selection
a) Relaxed fluid loss systems tend to provide faster
penetration.
b) Thin, hard mud cakes reduce drag and torque.
c) Minimum overbalance on the pore pressure must
be maintained at all times.
d) Drilled solids produce softer and thicker filter
cakes. Excessive levels may also increase the viscosity
& reduce penetration rate.
e) Improper mud selection may induce hole problems
and reduce penetration rate
a) Lower FL by adding Bentonite, starch, CFL , PAC,
Resinex or plugging particles.
b) For surface hole utilise the plastering effect of Bentonite.
Deeper - thin by CFL addition, reduced Bentonite content,
reduce viscosity. Use resin type fluid loss additive.
c) Maintain required gradient by adding Barites or solids
removal.
d) Solids removal, thinners or dilution.
e) Observe returns and tank levels, and monitor drill speed
logs, torque, etc.
4) Release the
cuttings at the surface.
a) Gel strengths.
b) Viscosity.
c) Pump rate
d) Mud gradient.
e) Penetration rate.
f) Solids Removal
Equipment
a) High gel strengths increase break circulation
pressure and do not allow efficient release of cuttings
at surface.
b) High viscosity may reduce penetration rate and
solids removal efficiency.
c) High pump rate reduces solids removal efficiency.
d) Balance solids removal with mud gradient.
e) Faster penetration generates more solids to be
processed by solids removal equipment.
f) The finest possible shaker screens must be used
with due regard to viscosity and pump rate Operating
pressure should be 35 psi - 50 psi (dependant on MW)
for desander/desilter systems..
a) Decrease by dilution and addition of dispersants.
b) Use viscosifier / dispersant to raise / lower, as required.
c) Pump rates must be determined by hole cleaning
requirements whilst preventing discharge of whole mud across
the shale shakers.
5) Suspend cuttings
and weighting material
when circulation is
stopped.
a) Gel strengths
c) Mud gradient.

a) High gel strengths increase break circulation

pressure and do not allow efficient release of cuttings
at surface.
b) Increased gradient, decreases penetration rate but
will have to maintain effective overbalance at all
times. As above.
a) Use viscosifier / dispersant to raise / lower Gel strength as
required to maintain within specification. Before running
casing, viscosity and gel strength must be reduced to the
lowest practical level to reduce swab & surge pressures
b) Mud gradient must be determined by formation pressures
but a high mud gradient reduces settling velocity.
6) Help suspend the
weight of the drill
string and casing.
a) Mud Gradient a) Buoyancy decreases the weight that the surface
equipment has to support.
a) Mud gradient must be determined by formation pressures
but higher mud gradients will exhibit increased buoyancy.
7) To cool and
lubricate the bit and
drill pipe
a) Depends on mud and
bit type, temperature
gradient & depth.

b) Mud cake texture

affects drill pipe friction.
a) Inefficient cooling reduces bit life, especially with
PDC bits.

a) Refer to bit company literature for recommendations on

flow rate.
b) Mud cake should be thin and tough.

8. To prevent
damaging effects to
the formation
penetrated.
a) Mud gradient.
b) Fluid loss.
c) Mud type.
a) Minimum overbalance to reduce fluid loss.
b) To reduce flushing of reservoirs.
c) Prevent washout / emulsion or water blocking /
changes in wettability/ incompatibility.
a) Control by dilution or removal of weighting agent, as
required.
b) Lower by adding fluid loss additive or sized bridging
agents.
c) Proper mud selection with regard to formation damage.
d) Control pump rates.
9. To allow
maximum information
from the formations
penetrated.
See No. 8. Proper mud type selection to prevent excessive
washouts will provide better wireline log results.
As above.