Mud

Properties and measurements

Types:
- Pneumatic-air, gas, mist. Foam
- Water based
- Oil based

What is a drilling fluid?

Drilling fluid is any fluid that is used in a drilling
operation in which that fluid is circulated or
pumped from the surface, down the drill string,
through the bit and back to the surface via the
annulus.
A Fluid Can Either Be a Gas or a Liquid.
Air is a gaseous fluid.
Foam is an aerated liquid.
Water is a liquid fluid.
Oil is a liquid fluid. (Diesel and Mineral oils)
Synthetic Polymeric Liquids are also used as drilling
fluids. (Olefins and Esters)

Functions of Drilling Fluids

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.

Remove cuttings from the well.

Control formation pressure.
Suspend and release cuttings.
Seal permeable formations.
Maintain well bore stability.
Minimize reservoir damage.
Cool, lubricate and support the bit and drilling assembly.
Transmit hydraulic energy to tools and bit.
Ensure adequate formation evaluation.
Control corrosion.
Facilitate cementing and completion.
Minimize impact on environment.
Prevent gas hydrate formation.

Choice of Drilling Fluid

Performance choose the fluid that does the job
Inhibition
Rheology
Fluid Loss
Temperature

Environment damage to the environment should be

avoided
Safety To all personnel
Cost Average DF Costs = 10% well costs
Availability Check first
Storage Can be easily forgotten

Choice of Drilling Fluid

Shale Inhibition
Formation
Protection

Lubricity

Thermal
Stability

Tolerance to
Contaminants

Environmental
Footprint

Corrosion
Inhibition
Drilling Performance

Oil Based Mud

Ester Based Mud
LAO System
KCl/PHPA
KCl/Glycol System

Operators Objectives

Environmental compliance

Lower cost / higher efficiency

- focus on shale control

Better productivity
- focus on formation damage

Mud Circulating System

Common Types of Drilling Fluids

Water Based Drilling Fluids
Invert Emulsion Drilling Fluids (NADF)
Oil Base Muds

Synthetic Base Muds

Water Base Drilling Fluids

COMPONENTS OF WATER BASE MUDS
Water

Solids

Soluble
Chemicals

Fresh
Water

Necessary
Solids
Sea
Water

Salt Enhanced
Water

Chlorides
Calcium
Magnesium

Chlorides
Calcium
Potassium

Drilled
Solids

Low Gravity

High Gravity

Reactive

Inert

Commercial Clays
Polymers
Chemicals

Weight Material

Smectite Clays
Contaminants

MISC.

Oil/Synthetic Base Drilling Fluids

COMPONENTS OF NON - AQUEOUS FLUIDS
External
Phase
Oil Soluble
Liquid Additives

Internal
Phase
Ca2+ and OHfrom Lime

Surfactants
Rheo. Modifers
Liq. Polymers
Thinners

Non-Chloride
Activity Reducers

Glycols
Ca2+ and Mg2+
Acetates
Nitrates

Oil Base
Fluid

Synthetic
Fluid

Diesel Oil
Mineral Oil
Refined LP's

Olefins
Esters
Synthetic LP's

25% - 30%

CaCl2
Activity =
0.747 - 0.637

Solids

Necessary
Solids

Drilled
Solids

Organophyllic Clay
Weight Material
Salt (CaCl2)
FLC Additives

MISC.

FLUIDS Technology Development

Drilling Fluid Properties

The tests and reporting

procedures for drilling
fluids are documented
in the API Specification
13 B.

Physical properties

Density or mud weight ppg or SG.

Marsh Funnel Viscosity seconds per quart.

Plastic viscosity centipoise.

Yield point lbs per 100 sq. ft or as pascal

Gels centipoise, 10 seconds & 10 minutes.

Fluid loss or filtration rate - mls per 30 mins.

HTHP filtration rate - mls per 30 mins.

Chemical properties

pH

Alkalinities, filtrate. Pf/Mf.

Alkalinity, mud. - Pm

Total hardness calcium and magnesium ions.

Calcium concentration calcium ion.

Total chloride ion.

Solids analysis

% volume, oil.

% volume, water.

% volume, solids.

% volume, solids corrected.

Average specific gravity solids as S.G.

%, low gravity solids.

%, high gravity solids.

% sand content.

% clay.

MBT (CEC) gives the amount of clay in the mud

expressed as ppb, equivalent clay.

Other analyses depending

on mud type.

%, KCl concentration.

(KCl PHPA)

Potassium chloride, ppb.

(KCl PHPA)

Excess polymer, ppb.

(KCl PHPA)

%, glycol.

(KCl PHPA)

Excess lime, ppb.

(Lime muds)

Oil / Water ratio.

(SBM, OBM)

Electrical stability, volts.

(SBM, OBM)

END