Section

drilling fluid functions

drilling fluid functions

introduction
The objective of a drilling operation is to drill, evaluate and complete a well that will produce oil and/or
gas efficiently. Drilling fluids perform numerous essential functions that help make this possible.
A properly designed drilling fluid will enable an operator to reach the desired geological objective
at the lowest overall cost. A fluid should enhance penetration rates, reduce hole problems and
minimise formation damage.
Removing cuttings from the well, maintaining wellbore stability and controlling formation pressures
are of primary importance on every well. Though the order of importance is determined by well design,
conditions and current operations, the most common drilling fluid functions are:
1 Transport cuttings from the well
2 Control formation pressures
3 Maintain stable wellbore
4 Seal permeable formations
5 Suspend cuttings downhole and release them on surface
6 Minimise reservoir damage
7 Cool, lubricate, and support the bit and drilling assembly
8 Transmit hydraulic energy to tools and bit
9 Ensure good data recovery
10 Control corrosion
11 Facilitate cementing and completion
12 Minimise HSE risk

primary functions
Drilling fluids are designed and formulated to perform three prime functions:
Control Formation Pressure
Transport Cuttings
Maintain Stable Wellbore

control formation pressure

A drilling fluid controls the subsurface pressure by its hydrostatic pressure. Hydrostatic pressure is
the force exerted by a fluid column and depends on the mud density and true vertical depth (TVD).
Borehole instability is a natural result of the unequal mechanical stresses and physico-chemical
interactions and pressures created when surfaces are exposed in the process of drilling a well. The
drilling fluid must overcome both the tendency for the hole to collapse from mechanical failure
and/or from chemical interaction of the formation with the drilling fluid.
Normal formation pressures vary from a pressure gradient of 0.433 psi/ft (9.79 kPa/m) (equivalent
to 8.33 lb/gal or SG 0.99 freshwater) in inland areas to 0.465 psi/ft (10.51 kPa/m) (equivalent to
8.95 lb/gal or SG 1.07) in marine basins. Elevation, location, and various geological processes and
histories create conditions where formation pressures depart considerably from these normal values.
The density of drilling fluid may range from that of air (essentially 0 psi/ft or 0 kPa/m), to in excess
of 20.0 lb/gal (1.04 psi/ft) or SG 2.40 (23.51 kPa/m).