Characteristics of Drilling Fluids

By C. P. PARSONS, * DUNCAN, OKLA.

(Tulsa Meeting. October, 1930)

To properly account for the various characteristics of drilling muds

obtained in different areas and geological horizons, it is necessary to
study the composition of the mud from a chemical and physical stand-
point as determined by the proportions and activities of the various solid
contituents that are present in various states of division.
Briefly summarized, science teaches that there are three states of
division into which these solid constituents or particles may be grouped:
< namely, the suspended state, the individual particles of which are known
as suspensoids; the colloidal state, in which the individual particles
are termed colloids; and the crystalloidal state, wherein the individual
particles are held in true solution and are termed crystalloids.
The suspended state is one wherein the particles are fairly large and
are present as molecular complexes, having none of the properties of
colloids or crystalloids. Since matter varies in physical character and
in chemical activities with its state of division, t.hese coarser suspensoids
do not themselves materially affect the physical or chemical properties
of the solution in which they are suspended. On the other hand, they
are distinctly detrimental in drilling muds and it is desirable that they
be removed. Under the general classification of suspensoids are included
sand, gravel and cuttings which contribute nothing to the colloidal
stability or other desirable properties of the drilling fluid.
As the state of division approaches but does not reach a molecular
simplification, the term "colloidal state" is used in describing this condi-
tion. The colloidal state arises when one form of matter is in a very
fine state of division and is distributed through a second phase. The
material in the finely divided state is called the dispersed phase, while the
liquid in which it is dispersed is called the dispersive phase. These
particles of matter are in a colloidal state and will not settle out from the
disp£'rsive phase so long as colloidal conditions are stable. Moreover,
th£'y exhibit the property of having an oscillating movement around a
central position in solution (the Brownian movement).
In the third state of division, the crystalloidal state, the individual
part iell's are held in t.rue solution and are usually present as single mole-
cuIPs 01' ions. In a drilling fluid the water content of the fluid contains
* Fil'ld Engineer, Halliburton Oil Well Cementing Co.
227
228 CHARACTERISTICS OF DRILLING FLUIDS

considerable crystalloidal matter, usually in the form of soluble salts.

Solutions of crystalloids have different physical properties in so far as
boiling point, vapor pressure, etc., are concerned, from the solvent in
which the crystalloids are dissolved.
Colloids, on the other hand, exert very little or no effect on the physical
constants of the dispersive medium. Some colloids have absolutely no
effect on these properties, while others do possess such influences to some
degree, depending on whether the colloidal particles more nearly approach
the suspended or crystalloidal states, respectively.
Colloids are very susceptible to coagulation by chemicals, heat and
electrolytes and possess great absorptive and adsorptive powers. These
properties are extremely important in rotary drilling fluids and present a
formidable basis for unlimited study. The latter part of this paper pre-
sents some interesting laboratory results along this line.

PROPERTIES OF DRILLING FLUIDS

One form of flocculation or agglutination of colloidal materials in

drilling fluids is due to neutralization of the electric charges which these
materials carry. For instance, a clay suspension having negatively
charged colloidal particles is flocculated by materials carrying positive
charges. Since like charges repel and unlike charges attract, mixed
charges vary in stages of neutralization and flocculation. Such properties
present possibilities for chemical treatment of rotary drilling fluids
whereby thickening or thinning may be obtained by the proper selection
and combination of chemical reagents. In addition to the effect of
electric charges, there are other influences brought about by adsorption,
which can be made to sensitize a colloid so that it may be more easily
flocculated (precipitating a gel on the interfaces of the particles) or
which may act as a protective agent to retard flocculation and increase the
stability of the colloidal suspension.
In drilling fluids we are concerned with colloids having the property
of combining with water solutions to form gels. Gel is the general term
for a solid or semisolid colloidal state; gelatinous precipitates and jellies
being two forms of gels.
A stable colloidal solution, as applied to drilling fluids, consists of
very fine solid particles kept from settling by a protecting film or agent,
usually either protective colloids or electrolytic action or both; such
condition being sufficiently rugged to withstand constantly the severe
mechanical agitation and chemical contamination imposed on the fluid
while drilling.
When the colloidal Htat.c of Lhe Rolid particlps in a drilling fluid iH
disintegrated by chemical rather than by mechanical or electrical means,
this disintegration is called peptization. Certain salts, when picked up by
 C. P. PARSONS 229

111(' drilli/l~ fluid frolll :-;alL wa(,er in :L wl'il, acL 1,0 llppj,il'lP lIu:-;j,ahle eolloiti:-;,
dpRlroying thc forceH of co)wHion alld adhesion.
The formation of gels wit.hin a drilling fluid increascs t.he vit:!cot:!ityof
the fluid and also contributes to the stability of the suspended particles.
In some instances a drilling fluid will be deficient in these gel-forming
bodies, hence the solids will settle out freely, while in other instances the

Smp10 No. 4

Location at West Pierce Van. Voshell, Oklahoma Ventura,

11011 Columbia, Junction, Texas Kansas C1ty Calit.
Texas Texas

Color L1ght brown- L1ght brown- Gray Gray Dark brown- Dark gray
1sh gray ish gray ish gray

Sp. Gr. 1.205 1.205 1.205 1.205 1.205 1.205

Wt. par Gal. 10 Lb. 10 Lb. 10 Lb. 10 Lb. 10 Lb. 10 Lb.
Litmus Slightly Slightly Strongly Slightly Strongly Slightlr
Reaction basic basic basic basic basic bssic
Viscositr 1.42 1.18 1.47 1.31 1.17 1.14
(lIater=l.O)
COLLOIDAL QUALITY

1 Hour

6 Hours
I :L% I~" IS" 1/2~ ~
.'"
~
• R%

12 Hours

FIG.
24 Hours
1 l'n.•'" .'0" .~.0
3% ISY-
I.-CHARACTERISTICS OF SIX SAMPLES OF NATURAL DRILLING FLUIDS TAKEN
~

FROM WELLS IN VARIOUS AREAS.

gel-forming bodies may be present in such large proportions that they

make the mud unduly viscous and thereby prevent the settling out of
sand and cuttings and the release of occluded gas. Natural muds from
different areas vary widely in the proportions of gel-forming bodies they
contain, hence have very different characteristics. In general the
natural drilling muds of Kansas, Oklahoma and North Texas grade from
230 CHARACTEHISTICS OF DRILLING FLlTIDfl

HIIHIWIlHOidH 10 lIIedillm colloids while Gulf (~oaRt ar(,ltH yield HOllW v('ry
hil!;hly col\oioal mlloR at cert.ain horizonH. Fil!;. 1 indicates I!;raphical\y
the colloidal qualities and other characteristics of six samples of drilling
fluids obtained in various areas.

CONTROL OF FLUID PROPERTIES

In some instances it is desirable to increase the gelatinous bodies

within a drilling fluid and this is done either by the addition of chemicals
which will react with some of the naturally occurring constituents of the
mud to form gelatinous bodies, or through the addition of materials that
form gels when combined with water.
On the other hand, in the treatment of muds which are unduly viscous,
having excessive proportions of colloidal gelatinous bodies, it is necessary
to add chemical reagents that will modify the cohesive and adhesive
effects within the mud. This applies, of course, when it is desired to keep

FIG. 2.-AcTUAL EFFECT OF BOTH HYDROGEN ION CONCENTRATION AND ADSORPTION ON

COLLOID QUALITY OF EL PASO CLAY.
Each sample contains the same amount of clay. Thc four samples on the rij!;ht
were very thick, owing to adsorption.

the weight constant, and when it might be desirable to decrease the

viscosity in order to increase the weight by the addition of weighting
material. This will make it possible to decrease the viscosity of the mud
to a point where sand, cuttings and occluded gas are more readily released,
although the stability of the colloidal suspension is not materially
decreased. Accompanying this change in viscosity there would be a
decided lightening of the load on the pumps.
In one type of compound (Stabilite) now used in the Gulf Coast area
for the chemical treatment of high-viscosity drilling fluids, the viscosity is
lowered to allow release of cuttings and prevent gas cutting or for the
aQdition of weighting material, but the colloidal state of the fluid is further
stabilized by the presence of a second colloid, which is strongly adsorbed
by the clay particles and acts to protect the particles from the influences
 C. P. PARSONS 231
tending to cause coagulation or agglutination. It also imparts to the
drilling fluid the property of forming a soft gel when the mud is quiet,
such as when the drill stem and pumps are stopped. This gelling prop-
erty acts to prevent sand and cuttings from settling to the bottom of the
hole and possibly sticking the drill pipe. Upon being slightly agitated the
mud returns to a highly fluid condition; which is easily handled by
the pumps. 0
It is reported t that recently in V
a field south of Beeville, Texas, a ~
well was drilling at about 5500 ft. /
in a formation that made a thick 0
\
viscous mud, which, with weighting 0
V 1"'-
material, weighed 12 lb. per gallon.
A high-pressure gas sand was then /'
/ "
r-.. .........
0
penetrated and the mud became
gas-cut and threatened to blowout
whenever an attempt was made to
I 2 3 4 5 6 1 8 9 10 11 !2
remove the drill stem. After a pH V.lue (Hydrogen 101' Contemnrlion)
number of unsuccessful attempts to FIG. 3.-EFFECT OF HYDROGEN ION CON-
CENTRATION ON COLLOIDAL QUALITY OF
remove the drill stem, the mud was BAROID IN 12 HR. AFTER AGITATION.
treated chemically by a process that Mixture contains 25 per cent. baroid,
thinned it without decreasing the by weight, with water solution of varying
hydrogen ion concentration.
weight of the fluid. This thin-
ning released the occluded gas and then allowed the addition of more
weighting material to 14 lb. per gallon. The drill stem was then removed.
This illustration is presented to show a phase of the practical side of
the subject.
In the chemical treatment of a drilling fluid the chief objective is to
obtain a colloidally stable fluid of a desired viscosity and weight; the
viscosity having a nature of slickness instead of stickiness, which allows
a readier release of cuttings, sand and occluded gas.
EFFECT OF HYDROGEN ION CONCENTRATION AND ADSORPTION

Theoretically, clay particles reach a state of maximum dispersion in a

fluid when alkali is added in sufficient quantitie!3 to raise the pH value
(hydrogen ion concentration) to above 9. If that condition alone held
true, the addition of an alkali to drilling fluids would be expected to thin
the mud.
Actually, however, in many natural drilling fluids, the reaction is
entirely different. In such cases the addition of alka.1ies or alkaline salts
produces flocculation and increased viscosity. Fig. 2 illustrates this
effect on a clay. ~ This effect is due to the presence of soluble metallic
1 Communication from T. B. Wayne, Chemical Engineer, Honston, Texas.
2 HEI PaRo clay," from Findlay, T!'xas.
232 CHARACTEIUSTICS 01<' DHILLING I<'LUID::>

salts bordering on a state of true solution in the water content of the

drilling fluid, and to the presence of metallic salts in the clay particles.
These metallic salts in the mud react through the process of adsorption,
with the alkali or alkaline salts added to the mud, forming gelatinous
precipitates which actually increase the viscosity of the mud. This
is illustrated by the four samples with pH values from 8.2 to 11.9 shown
in Fig. 2. At the same time that this secondary reaction occurs, there

FIG.
~ ~ i tIIII j i ~ ~
1.0 2.0

4.-SAME EFFECT AS IN
.3.0 4.0 So 6.0

FIG. 3 ON BAROm
7.0

IN
8.0

1Yz
9.0 (0.0 11·0 12.0

HR. AFTER AGITATION IS STOPPED.

is a deflocculating action which affects the electrolytic condition of the

primary colloids, but the net result is increased viscosity. The point
of this explanation is that the flocculating or deflocculating actions of
alkalies on drilling fluids should be interpreted not only on the basis of
change in pH values but also on the basis of chemical changes due to
adsorption. Fig. 2 shows· the combined effect of hydrogen ion concentra-
tion and adsorption on a certain clay while Fig. 5 shows the effect on a

FIG. 5.-AcTUAL EFFECT OF HYDROGEN ION CONCENTRATION ON BARom.

more inert substance (baroid). In Fig. 5 there is nO evidence of adsorp-

tion on the barite particles, but the cloudiness of the upper part of the
three bottles next to the last one on the right is due to adsorption on
the colloidal material that is in baroid. The action of some alkalies and
silicates (caustic soda, soda ash, sodium silicate, etc.), which are used in
similar problems of other industries, produces some immediate results in
changing the viscosity of a drilling fluid, but their use in an uncombined
form should be accompanied by an assurance that the surface film of cohe-
 C. P. PARSONS 233
~ivI' IlIal,I,I'I' Jlrodllcl~d i~ :,i1l!licipllf,]y ~t.ahlp not. 1.0 I/l' 1':t~il.Y hrokpll Ilown
a.~it,al.i()n whik drilling, or hy t.hp Iwpl.izing act,ion of !'1a.\t, wat,l'l":-;
IInciPl"
picked up in the wells. 'Opls formed by these uncombined alkalies often
are of a type subject to "weeping"; i. e., contraction of the gel and
liberation of free water.
The special factors in the study of clay suspensions in drilling fluids
that are not present in similar problems of other industries, and con-
sequently not covered by precedent, are the highly concentrated and
widely varied crystalloidal content of the dispersive phase, and the severe
mechanical demand and chemical contamination imposed on the fluid
while drilling.
For discussion, see page 250.