Assignment #3 PE313 Drilling and Well Design Name:

Drilling Fluids

1 List at least 5 functions of drilling mud.

2 What are the main components of the mud circulating system?

3 Currently the density of the drilling fluid in the mudpit is 10.5 ppg. You need to increase the mudweight to 13 ppg
by adding 4.2 sg barite. The final volume of 13 ppg mud should be 500 bbl.
Determine how many barrels of the original 10.5 ppg mud is required to obtain 500 bbl of the 13 ppg mud.

4 How many 100lb sacks of barite are required to increase

the mud weight from 11 ppg mud to 12.5 ppg when the original mud volume is 200 bbl?

A rotational viscometer contains a fluid that gives a dial reading of 27 at a rotor speed of 300rpm
and a dial reading of 51 at a rotor speed of 600 rpm. (Q5-Q8).

5 What is the apparent viscosity at 300 rpm reading?

6 What is the apparent viscosity at 600 rpm reading?

7 Calculate the yield point and plastic viscosity for the mud.

8 Is the fluid a Newtonian fluid? Explain your answer.

9 Determine the density of a brine mixed by adding 210 lbs of CaCl2 to 3 bbl of water.
(Assume CaCl2 has a specific gravity of 1.85)

10 The density of 10.5 lb/gal mud must be increased to 13.5 lb/gal using barite. The total
mud volume is limited to 650 bbl. Comupte both the volume of old mud that should be used
and the weight of required barite. (Barite density is 35 ppg)

11 Explain the function of the following mud additives:

Bentonite

Brine

Hematite

Caustic Soda

12 List the 4 main components of the mud treatment system.