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Development Of An Automated Multi-Rate Viscometer For Drilling Fluids

Ilagan, Gem C
Parilla, Alfe Louis S.
Soria, Joenald M.

Method of Determining the Viscosity


In order to determine the viscosity of the drilling fluid, first the apparatus determine
the torque using the given current. The apparatus has a current sensor that needs the
current produced by the motor. The reading will be passed to the microcontroller. The
micro controller will use the current value to compute the torque. The equation used was:

(I ∗ Vo ∗ E ∗ 60)
𝑇=
RPM ∗ 2π
Where;
I = Current (A) E = motor efficiency
Vo = Voltage (V) T = Torque (Nm)

𝑇𝐼
µ=
4π2 ∗ 𝑅2 ∗ 𝑛 ∗ 𝐿

Where;
µ = Viscosity (Pa-s) R = Radius of stirrer (m)
T = Torque (Nm) L = height of the fluid (m)
I = length of annulus (m) n = rpm
Viscosity & Torque Relation
The stirrer inside the PVT cell is magnetically coupled to an electrical motor.
To rotate the stirrer the power drawn by the motor must increase to overcome the
viscous loading on the stirrer. It can be summated,
𝑉𝑖𝑠𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 ∝ 𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑟
𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑟 ∝ 𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑟
𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑟 = 𝑇𝑜𝑟𝑞𝑢𝑒 ∗ 𝑆𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑
A small brushed DC motor will be used to spin the stirrer in the cell. By keeping
the DC motor at a constant speed, the power required to overcome any viscosity changes
on the stirrer is the torque of the motor. Therefore,
𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 ∝ 𝑇𝑜𝑟𝑞𝑢𝑒
If the viscosity of the fluid increases then the torque from the motor will increase to
keep the stirrer at the desired speed. The torque of a DC motor is,

𝑇𝑜𝑟𝑞𝑢𝑒 = 𝐾 × 𝐶𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡

Where K is a motor constant and the same DC motor will be used throughout the data
acquisition.
Therefore,
𝑇𝑜𝑟𝑞𝑢𝑒 ∝ 𝐶𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡
In summation by keeping the speed of the DC motor at a constant by using a suitable
controller. The only variable is the current and the increase of current will mean an
increase load on the stirrer. Meaning,
𝐶𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 ∝ 𝑉𝑖𝑠𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦
By means of measuring the current to the stirrer the changes of viscosity of a fluid can
be
estimated.

Bunting, K 2014, Estimation of Fluid Viscosity from Stirring Motor Current, Charles
Darwin University
Development of an Automated Mud Rheometer Laboratory Apparatus
Cases, Leigh Andrei D.
Garcia, Francis Carlo A.
Silvestre, Neil M.

Simulation of Drilling Fluid


Methods of Simulating of Drilling Fluid in the Water
The main concern of simulating of drilling fluid in the water was to determine the
specific volume of water and amount of powder that is mixed. The simulation of drilling
fluid was based on the Material Safety Data Sheet of CR-650 Core Recovery Polymer
which stated that for every 1000 liters, 0.5 – 0.75 kilogram of core recovery polymer is
needed. Upon correlation, a concentration of 0.4 grams of core recovery in every 800mL
of water is derived
Volume Capacity of Agitator

In batch ribbon and paddle mixers, the higher the mixer’s fill level, the more passive
mixing occurs. In these mixers, as the fill level exceeds 50 percent and rises above the
agitator’s middle, mixing efficiency drops because more material fails to contact the
agitator and instead enters the passive mixing zone. Material in this zone not only takes
longer to mix but may never become completely mixed. However, using a fill level above
50 percent may be acceptable in an application where the mixing specification is relatively
loose (such as for some animal feeds) or where the user has plenty of time in the process
for a longer mixing cycle and wants to use a smaller mixer because of its reduced cost.
(Ewing, 2013)

In batch ribbon and paddle mixers, the higher the mixer’s fill level, the more passive
mixing occurs — that is, mixing in areas not in contact with the agitator. In these mixers,
as the fill level exceeds 50 percent and rises above the agitator’s middle, mixing efficiency
drops because more material fails to contact the agitator and instead enters the passive
mixing zone. Material in this zone not only takes longer to mix but may never become
completely mixed. However, using a fill level above 50 percent may be acceptable in an
application where the mixing specification is relatively loose (such as for some animal
feeds) or where the user has plenty of time in the process for a longer mixing cycle and
wants to use a smaller mixer because of its reduced cost. (Ewing, 2013)

In fact, fill level correlates inversely with mixer size and cost. So, for instance, mixing a
batch in a ribbon mixer that’s filled to 100 percent requires a much smaller and less
expensive mixer than processing the same-size (444- cubic-foot) batch in a mixer that’s
filled to 50 percent. The mixer supplier can typically provide mixers designed to work at
different fill levels. Based on experience with hundreds of mixing applications, the supplier
can recommend a practical fill level for your new horizontal batch mixer. Residence time
is the length of time material is in the mixer. In some cases, residence time expresses the
time required to distribute all the ingredients throughout the mixer. In others, it expresses
the time required to complete a chemical reaction in the mixer, such as the powder
ingredients’ absorption of a small amount of added water to form a smooth, consistent
mixture without clumps. (Ewing, 2013)
Shaft Speed of Agitator

Regardless of what style of agitator or impeller is used, proper sizing of


components is critical. Once compartment size has been determined, the impeller
diameter and corresponding horsepower requirements must be calculated. If the
maximum mud weight to be used with the rig is not known, it is best to base all calculations
on 20 lb/gal fluid (2.4 specific gravity [SG]). This will give a sufficient safety factor to allow
agitation of most any fluid without fear of overloading the motor. Most oilfield agitators
range in shaft speed from 50 to 90 rpm. (Richards, 2005)
Proposed Procedure

1. Prepare 8L of water-based drilling fluid by mixing 8 liters of water and 8grams of


CR-650 drilling powder.
2. Determine the density and viscosity of the prepared water-based drilling fluid.
3. Pour the prepared 8L water-based drilling fluid in the agitator.
4. Set the shaft speed to 100 rpm.
5. Start agitation and record the current readings every minute for 1hour.
6. Stop agitation and pour out the drilling fluid from the agitator and determine the
density.
7. Develop mathematical model of the current-time relationship in excel.

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