COVENANT UNIVERSITY

CANAANLAND, OTA

PETROLEUM ENGINEERING LABORATORY

RHEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF DRILLING FLIUDS

BY

WILLIAMS OGOOLUWA J.
MATRIC NO. (19CN026192)

Date performed 22/04/2022

Date submitted 26/04/2022
 ABSTRACT

The experiment was carried out to measure the viscosity of three different (A,
B and c) mud samples. The viscosity of the drilling mud must be known throughout most of
the drilling operations.
Rheology is the definition of the observant study of matter flow, majorly in a liquid state,
but also as soft solids or solids under conditions in which they respond with the plastic flow
rather than deforming elastically in response to an applied force. It applies to substances
that have glass and other polymers, suspensions, sludges, complex microstructures e.g.
(bodily fluids silicates).
In this practical, a rheometer is used to measure the viscosity of drilling fluids. Basic
viscometers only give 600, 300, and 3 rpm readings. Most drilling fluid viscometers give
(600, 300,200,100,6, and 3 rpm) readings, while some also give 60 and 30 rpm readings. The
apparent viscosity, plastic viscosity, and yield point can all be calculated from the 600 and
300 rpm readings, while the gel strength is given by the 3rpm reading. Gel strengths are
usually recorded after 10 seconds, 10 minutes, and occasionally 30 minutes.
The important rheological characteristics required of drilling fluid for good operational
performance are that it should be capable of sustaining sufficiently large stress to maintain
cuttings in suspension, particularly when fluid circulation is stopped while having a low
enough viscosity for efficient pumping. The undoings or improper way to this can cause the
drilling process a lot in terms of loss circulation etc.
 I
TABLE OF CONTENT
PAGE
ABSTRACT
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
……. I

CHAPTERS
CHAPTER 1- INTRODUCTION
……………………………………………………………………… 1
CHAPTER 2- THEORY
…………………………………………………………………………………. 2
CHAPTER 3- APPARATUS AND MATERIALS
……………………………………………… 3-5
CHAPTER 4- EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES
………………………………………..…….6-7
CHAPTER 5- RESULTS
………………………………………………………………………………… 8
CHAPTER 6- DISCUSSION AND PRECAUTIONS……………..
…………………………….. 9
CHAPTER 7- CONCLUSION
………………………………………………………………………… 10

REFERENCES
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…. 11
 CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
Rheological properties refers to parameters such as the yield point, plastic viscosity. ). It is
one of the several flow characteristics of drilling fluid, workover fluid or completion fluid or
cement. At least two shear rates are used to make measurement of shear stress to define
drilling fluid properties.
Viscosity on its own is the resistance of a fluid to a change in shape or movement of
surrounding portions relative to one another.Viscosity is a measure of internal resistance of a
fluid to flow, the greater the resistance the higher the viscosity .
Therefore , drilling fluid functions are greatly affected by its rheological properties

AIM OF THE EXPERIMENT

To get the rheological properties by using rotary viscosity

OBJECTIVES 
1. To measure the viscosity of the mud
2. To measure the gel strength of the drilling mud
 CHAPTER 2
THEORY
RHEOLOGY IN DRILLING MUD?

Mud rheology refers to the mud of deformation and flow behavior of all forms of matter. Certain
rheologic measurements made on fluids, such as viscosity, gel strength, etc. help determine how this
fluid will flow under a variety of different conditions.

Drilling fluids consist of many additives like bentonite, barite and hematite that are mixed in the
mud to enhance rheological properties such as density, yield point, plastic viscosity and gel
strength.

YIELD POINT: Yield point gives an indication of the ability of the drilling mud to lift or
remove the cuttings out of the annulus. A drilling fluid with higher yield point will carry
cuttings better than that with lower yield point.
GEL STRENGTH: The time-dependent forces in the drilling mud cause an increase in
viscosity as the fluid remains quiescent for a certain period of time. The gel strength is
a measurement of the electrochemical forces within the fluid under static conditions. Its field
unit is the same as that of the yield strength.
PLASTIC VISCOSITY (PV): this can be defined as the resistance offered by a fluid to flow
freely. This resistance is a result of friction between the liquid undergoing deformation
under shear stress and the solids and liquids present in the drilling mud. PV is a parameter
of the Bingham plastic model and is the slope of the shear stress/ shear rate line above the
yield point.
NB;
There are other types of methods in which we can measure viscosity ,they are;
1. Rotational Viscometer
2. Zahn Cup Viscometer
3. Vibrational Viscometer and so on.
 CHAPTER 3
APPARATUS AND MATERIALS
The apparatus and materials used includes;
1. Rotary viscometer

2. Electric mixer:

3. Weighing balance:
4. Measuring cylinder:

5. Spatula:

6. Beaker:

7. Water:
8. Bentonite:

9. Barite:

10. . Sodium hydroxide

11. Stop watch

 CHAPTER 4
EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES
Sample 1: 25g of bentonite + 400ml of water
Sample 2: Sample 1 + 10g of barite
Sample 3: Sample 2 + 5g of salt

Procedures

1. Place the splash guard onto the bob shaft tube end up towards the bearings push up.
2. The appropriate bob was screwed on with the tapered end towards the splash
guard.
3. The sleeve was placed onto the rotor over the bob. The threads assure the rotor will
attach evenly and equally every time.
4. Connect the instruments to a power source.
5. The water-based mud sample was placed in a sample cup and the rotor sleeve was
immersed exactly to the fill line on the sleeve by raising the platform. The lock nut on
the platform was then tightened.
6. The power switch is located on the back panel. Turn the unit on.
7. Rotate the speed selector knob to the stir setting and mix the sample for a few
seconds. Rotate the knob to the 600 RPM settings, Wait for the dual to reach a
steady reading and record the 600 RPM reading .
8. The speed selector knob was rotated to the 300 RPM setting, then the 300 RPM
setting is recorded after waiting for the dial to reach a steady reading.
9. The speed selector was rotated to the 300, 200 and 60 RPM settings and the
readings were recorded for each RPM setting.
10. The speed selector knob was rotated back to the stir setting and the water-based
mud sample was re-stirred for a few seconds.
11. The speed selector knob was rotated to the gel setting and the power was
immediately shut off.
 12. As soon as the sleeve stops rotating, wait 10 seconds and turn the power on while
looking at the dial. Record the maximum dial reflection before the gel breaks at 10-
second gel strength.
13. For the 10-minute gel strength, re-stir the water-based mud and wait 10 minutes
before recording the maximum dial deflection.

CHAPTER 5
RESULT OF THE EXPERIMENT
The table below shows the viscosity obtained from each of the mud samples prepared:

rpm Sample A Sample B Sample C

600 6 5.5 65
300 4 3.5 58
200 3 2.5 34
100 2 1.5 48
60 2 1.5 41
30 1 1 35
6 1 1 20

Sample A Sample B Sample C

Gel strength (10 secs) -1 -3 -16
Gel strength (10 mins) 0 -1 -9

Calculation of Sample A

Plastic viscosity, PV =6-4 =2cp

Apparent viscosity, AV = 6/2 =3cp

Yield point, YP = 4-2 = 2cp

YP(Ib/100ft2) = 1.0678 * 2= 2.1356 Ib/100ft2

Calculation of Sample B

Plastic viscosity, PV = 5.5-3.5= 2cp

Apparent viscosity, AV = 5.5/2 = 2.75cp

Yield Point, YP = 3.5-2 = 1.5cp

YP(Ib/100ft2) = 1.0678 * 1.5= 1.6017 Ib/100ft 2

Calculation of Sample C

Plastic viscosity, PV=65-58=7cp

Apparent viscosity, AV =65/2=32.5cp

Yield point, YP = 58-7=51cp

YP(Ib/100ft2) = 1.0678 * 51 = 54.4578 Ib/100ft2

 CHAPTER 6
DISCUSSION AND PRECAUTIONS
DISCUSSION
After the experiment has been carried out, and the following results has been obtained for the
experiment to determine the viscosity we discovered that sample 1 (mixture of bentonite)
wasn’t as viscous as sample 2 which is a mixture of the mud and barite. This is because barite
is a weighing agent that is used to increase the weight of mud, therefore the sample 2 is to
have a higher viscosity as sample 1 because of the presence of barite. Lastly in sample 3,
sodium hydroxide was added to sample 2.

PRECAUTIONS
1. I avoided error due to parallax by taking my reading at the lower meniscus
2. I ensured that my measuring cup was calibrated before my measuring commenced
3. I ensured the mixer cup did not come in contact with the blade to avoid mud from
splashing
 CHAPTER 7
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the rheological properties test is a very important test that was used to study
the viscosity of mud including the gel strength with time, from this experiment we also
noticed that the rate of viscosity of sample B (barite plus bentonite and water) was more
viscous than sample A (bentonite and water) because of the use of barite which acts as a
weighing agent.
REFERENCES
Drilling fluid technology by Engr. Dr. E. E. Okoro
Drilling mud manual by Engr. Seteye. Obot. Ifeanyi
Azar, J., & Samuel, G. R. (2007). Drilling Engineering. PennWell Corporation