Soran University

Faculty of Engineering
Department of Petroleum Engineering

Drilling Engineering I [PETE 308]

Title: Gel Strength

Experiment No:06
Name: Aso Shaxawan Fahad
Group: A1
Date: 14/10/2019
Supervisor (s): Mr. Fuad
Mr. rawezh
Contents

Aim ............................................................................................................................................................... 1

Theory ........................................................................................................................................................... 1

Apparatus ...................................................................................................................................................... 2

Procedure ...................................................................................................................................................... 3

Result and Discussion ................................................................................................................................... 3

Conclusion .................................................................................................................................................... 4

Reference ...................................................................................................................................................... 5

List of Figures

Figure 1 Baroid Rheometer ............................................................................................................. 1

Figure 2 drilling mud ...................................................................................................................... 2
Figure 3 beaker ............................................................................................................................... 2
Figure 4 baroid Rheometer ............................................................................................................. 2
Figure 5 stop watch ......................................................................................................................... 2
Figure 6 mixer ................................................................................................................................. 2
Figure 7 spatula ............................................................................................................................... 2

List of Tables

Table 1 result................................................................................................................................... 3
Aim
To measure the gel strength of the drilling mud by using rotational viscometer.

Theory
Gel strength is one of the significant rheological properties of drilling fluid because it
shows the ability of the drilling mud to suspend drill solids and weighting materials when
circulation is stopped. The gel strength can be defined as the shear stress of drilling fluid measured
at low shear rate after the drilling mud is stationary, or static, for a definite period of time. The gel
strength of the mud gives an indication of the pressure needed to allow flow after the mud has been
stayed undisturbed for some time. The mud will create high pump pressure to break circulation
after the mud is static for long time if the mud has high gel strength. The more the mud gel, the
more the pump pressure will be needed to start circulation again. Gel strength can be measure by
Baroid rheometer, as shown in Figure 1, and it is measure in Ib / 100.ft2 (Lyons, 2011).

. Gel strengths are measured after allowing the mud to stand quiescent for any time interval
of interest, but they are routinely measured after 10 s (initial gel strength) and 10 min. The dial
reading gives the gel strength in approximately pounds per hundred square feet (Gray, 2011)

Figure 1 Baroid Rheometer

1
Apparatus
Material

 Drilling Mud shown in figure 2

Equipment

 Beaker shown in figure 3

 Baroid Rheometer – to measure gel strength shown in figure 4
 Stop watch – to measure time shown in figure 5
 Mixer – to mixing drilling mud shown in figure 6.
 Spatula shown in figure 7.

Figure 6 drilling mud Figure 4 beaker Figure 5 baroid Rheometer

Figure 7 stop watch

Figure 3 mixer Figure 2 spatula

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Procedure
a) Bring the prepared drilling mud and remix again by mixer.
b) Clean and dry all parts of the rotational viscometer such as rotor, bop and cup.
c) Fill the cup with the drilling mud until the remark line.
d) Tighten rotor and inner cylinder shaft.
e) Put the cup on the stand base by centralizing the pins of the cup bottom into the holes on
the stand base.
f) shift the cup and stand base until the mud covers the line mention on the rotor.
g) Stir the mud at 600 RPM for about 15 seconds, and switch off.
h) Wait for 10 seconds, change the rotary speed setting to 3 RPM and agitating the mud.
i) Read the maximum deflection of the dial.
j) Reaped the same procedure for 10 minutes.

Result and Discussion

Table 1 result

Gel strength – 10s (Ib/100ft2) 79

Gel Strength – 10min (Ib/100ft2) 118

In this experiment, gel strength of a prepared mud was to be found by using rheometer. At
the first attempt that was 10 seconds, the obtained value for gel strength was 79 Ib/100ft2. At the
second attempt, the acquired reading on the rheometer was 118 Ib/100ft2. The difference between
10 seconds and 10 minutes cause to the mud prepared a few day ago and misreading while
measuring gel strength on rheometer.

3
Conclusion
Gel strength is one of the significant drilling fluid properties and it is measured by
rheometer. And it is essential for suspending the drilling solids to avoid loss circulation. For high
gel strength high pump pressure is needed. Accurate use of the rheometer gives accurate results,
in some cases the resultant gel strength is not 100% accurate because their may be some
inefficiency during the test such as: not mixing the mud completely and/or not recording the time
correctly.

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Reference
Caenn, R., Darley, H.C. and Gray, G.R., 2011. Composition and properties of drilling and
completion fluids. Gulf professional publishing.
Lyons, W. a. P.G. E., 2011. Standard handbook of petroleum and natural gas engineering. 3rd
ed.s.1.: Elsevier.