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Drilling Fluid Volumes

 Surface Volume: Horizontal Cylindrical Tank

o Drilling fluids in the active pit system

o Tank Diameter D (ft);  and radius R (ft)

o Fluid height in the tank Hf (ft) ; height of empty section He (ft)

o Tank Length L (ft)

o Fluid volume Calculations

He

Hf

Drilling Fluid Volumes

 Surface Volume: Horizontal Cylindrical Tank 
(filled more than half)

He
𝜃 𝑑𝑒𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑠 2 ∗ 𝑐𝑜𝑠 R 

Hf
Arc area  𝐷2 *

Triangular area 2∗ ∗ 𝑅 𝐻 2 ∗tan  𝜃/2 }

Total Fluid volume (bbl) =  .
{  𝐷2 – [ Arc area – Triangular area] }  

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Drilling Fluid Volumes Oil-field Units bbl, gal, ft

1 𝑏𝑏𝑙 5.6146 𝑓𝑡3
 Hole Volume 1 ft  = 1’ = 12 inch 12"

o Drill‐string component or Pipe Fluid Capacity    
Drill‐pipe 
(Pipe/drill‐string ID in inches)
Annular 
capacity
o Drilling Fluid Pipe Volume

Pipe 
capacity
o Annular Fluid Capacity    
Drill‐collar

(Casing/open‐hole ID in inches) Drill‐collar 
capacity

o Drilling Fluid Annular Volume 

Triplex Pump Output

A Triplex Pump is a kind of a pump that uses 3 plungers to reduce pulsation of
the single reciprocating plunger pumps.
https://youtu.be/SF832mZL1RU?t=26

• Liner size in inches
• Stroke length in inches
• Efficiency expressed as fraction
• PO = pump output in bbl/stroke

Image Source: http://www.triplexmudpump.com/F‐1300‐triplex‐mud‐
pumps.php

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Volume Displacement Strokes

Important Conversion Chart

bbl 5.6148 ft3

Poise  0.1 Pa.s

Viscometer dial reading (lb/100ft2) 5.11  dyne/cm2

g/cm3                                                                                                                             0.433                                psi/ft