Faculty of Engineering

Petroleum Engineering Department

Third stage
Drilling Engineering lab
Exp.No: 4 Date of Exp.: \1 \2017
(Group B)

Prepared by: Ahmad Fuad Rashed

Supervised by: Mr Pshtewa Jaf

Mr Muhammed Jamal
1
Aim
Funnel viscosity can only be used for checking radical changes in mud
viscosity.

2
Theory
Viscosity is a measurement relating to the flow properties of fluids. The
funnel viscosity test can indicate changes in fluid properties, with
measurements taken and recorded regularly. The marsh funnel is a
simple device routinely used to check fluid viscosity. The marsh funnel is
conical in shape; 152 mm in diameter at the top and 305 mm long with
the capacity of 1500 ml. A 12 mesh screen covers half of the top designed
to remove foreign matter and drill cuttings from the fluid. The fluid runs
through a fixed orifice at the bottom of the funnel and collected in the
mud jug. Based on a method published in 1931 by H.N.Marsh, a Marsh
cone is a flow cone with an aspect ratio of 2:1 and a working volume of
at least a litre. A Marsh funnel is a Marsh cone with a particular orifice
and a working volume of 1.5 litres. It consists of a cone 6 inches (152
mm) across and 12 inches in height (305 mm) to the apex of which is
fixed a tube 2 inches (50.8 mm) long and 3/16 inch (4.76 mm) internal
diameter. A 10-mesh screen is fixed near the top across half the cone. In
American practice (and most of the oil industry) the volume collected is a
quart. If water is used, the time should be 26 +/- 0.5 seconds. If the time
is less than this the tube is probably enlarged by erosion, if more it may
be blocked or damaged, and the funnel should be replaced. In some
companies, and Europe in particular, the volume collected is a litre, for
which the water funnel time should be 28 seconds.

Introduction of experiment

Stop watch Steel graduated cup

3
 Marsh funnel & measuring jug water

Calibration
Fill the funnel to the bottom of the screen (1500 ml) with water at 70 ºF
(plus or minus 0.5 ºF) time of outflow of the quart (946 ml) should be 26
seconds plus or minus 0.5 second.

4
Procedure
1-calebrate marsh funnel by water.
2-A mud sample is poured into the funnel.
3-the time taken for one quart (946cc) to flow out into a measuring cup is
recorded.

5
Calculation

6
Discussion
Q1\what is viscosity?
Ans\ Viscosity is a measurement of a fluids resistance to flow: the greater
the resistance, the higher the viscosity. As measured by the Marsh
Funnel, the viscosity of the fluid in question is influence by the density of
the fluid (solids content) and gelation rate (beneficiated solids content).
The viscosity of the drilling fluid in use should be based on a
combination of the following parameters: Drilling rate, pump and output
capacity, mud density, cuttings size, whole size and solids removal
equipment.

Q1\ what is marsh funnel?

Ans \ marsh funnel is used to make a very quick test of the viscosity of the
drilling mud. However, this device only gives an indication of changes in
viscosity and cannot be used to quantify the rheological properties of the
mud, such as the Yield Point or Plastic Viscosity.

Q2\ what is the factor get you error in this experiment?

Ans\
• Temperature.
• Error in stop watch timing.
• Error due to liquid droplet.

Q3\ what are the points to be careful about using marsh funnel?
• The funnel must be cleaned and dried after each use.
• Take special care not to bend or flatten the brass outlet tube at the
bottom of the funnel. The Marsh Funnel Viscosity readings are
computed using the exact diameter of this outlet and if outlet is
distorted the readings will be inaccurate

7
References
DrillingFormulas.Com. (2009, 8 1). Reduce mud weight by dilution.
Retrieved from DrillingFormulas:
http://www.drillingformulas.com/reduce-mud-weight-by-dilution/