Water-based muds

EZ-MUD

Formulation The following table provides guidelines for formulating EZ-MUD systems. Products are listed in order of addition. Contingency products are denoted by an asterisk (*); they can be used with the primary products to obtain properties needed for specific situations.
Typical concentrations, lb/bbl (kg/m3)
0.1-1.5 (0.3-4) As needed 5-17.5 (14-50.0) 0.5-3 (1.4-9) 0.2-1 (0.6-3) 0.2-3.5 (0.6-10.0) 0.2-3.5 (0.6-10.0) As needed 0.1-1.0 (0.3-3) As needed As needed As needed As needed 0.2-3.0 (0.6-9)

Additive
Caustic soda/ Caustic potash Soda ash AQUAGEL EZ-MUD EZ-MUD DP CELLEX PAC BAROID BARAZAN PLUS *DEXTRID *BARO-TROL *FILTER-CHEK *ALDACIDE G *THERMA-THIN

Function
Alkalinity source (pH 9-10) Calcium remover Viscosifier Suspension agent Shale stabilizer Fluid loss control agent Fluid loss control agent Weighting agent Viscosifier Fluid loss control agent Fluid loss control agent Fluid loss control agent Biocide Deflocculant

Table 16-6: EZ-MUD product guidelines. This table lists products and provides typical product concentrations for formulating a EZ-MUD system.

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Baroid fluids handbook

Note: The base fluid can be fresh water, sea water, or brine. Add salt (as required) to increase salinity. Formulation guidelines Treat out hardness with soda ash and caustic soda being careful not to increase the pH above 10. Prehydrate AQUAGEL and AQUAGEL GOLD SEAL before using. Add EZ-MUD slowly through the hopper. A special shearing device may be helpful. Note: A viscosity hump will occur when the EZMUD is added. With shear, the viscosity should decrease as the system becomes deflocculated. Note: To obtain the same polymer concentration, use 1/3 as much EZ-MUD DP as liquid EZ-MUD. Breakover guidelines Most low-solids, nondispersed systems with a low-tomoderate pH range can be converted to an EZ-MUD system. To convert, follow these steps. 1. Check the mud's pH, hardness, MBT volume, and low-gravity solids content and adjust the mud, if necessary. Note: The higher the solids and MBT levels, the longer and more severe the breakover hump will be. 2. Add the recommended concentration of EZ-MUD.

Revised August 1, 1997

Caution: Extreme flocculation of the mud may occur, resulting in water separation. DO NOT add deflocculants at this time. The condition will subside after the EZ-MUD has been sheared.

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Water-based muds

3. Add CELLEX, PAC-R, or PAC-L, as required, for filtration control. Note: The system may become thin after adding a filtration control agent. 4. Add BAROID to increase mud weight, as required. Maintenance guidelines Maintain approximately 0.5 lb/bbl (1.5 kg/m3) of excess EZ-MUD in the filtrate as determined using the PHPA test. The pH should not exceed 10. Maintain a total hardness of less than 200 mg/L for maximum EZ-MUD stability. Presolubilize all caustic materials and add them slowly to the active system. This will prevent the system from getting pH hot spots. Use citric acid treatments to lower the pH, when necessary. Other weak acids can be used to lower pH elevated by cement contamination. If ammonia odor is detected while drilling cement, assume EZ-MUD content is zero.

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