Drilling fluid specialization 1

Drilling fluid specialization (by P. Skalle)

Introduction
The course is composed of three exercises. The students are exposed to practical and theoretical
problems which should be solved stepwise;
1. Find background literature (at least one SPE paper)
2. Plan and design the problem
3. Carry out by;
a. Set up equipment (most of it is already arranged)
b. Calibrate with calibrating fluids (e.g. water)
c. Run your planned test matrix
4. Report according to “Structure of thesis / project” under Diploma thesis on Skalle`s home
page.

The three exercises are:

Exercise 1. Mud chemistry

Determine a) pH, b) MBT, c) Water activity in a clay. Choose 2 out of 3.

Exercise 2. Mud rheology

Determine mud rheology as a function of temperature and pressure

Exercise 3. Pressure loss

Record and calculate pressure loss in a small flow loop.

Altogether there are 5 different fluids to be used or to choose from;

Water: Tap water
OBM: A base oil consisting of Exxol 60
WBM 1: Thin mud viscosified with Bentonite
WBM 2: Thick mud viscosified with Bentonite
WBM 3: Thick mud viscosified with the polymere HEC

The samples are stored in suitable containers in the mud lab, IPT, 4th floor.

On the next pages find details on the three exercises and som instructions on the HTHP rheometer
MC1.
Drilling fluid specialization 2

Exercise 1. Mud chemistry

a) Determination of pH.
Determination of pH is described in ADE, chapter 2. Find out theoretically and practically (through experiment)
how much caustic soda is necessary to increase pH by one unit (i.e. from 8 to 9) per litre of tap water.

b) MBT: Use WBM 1 and WBM 2. Read the info sheet in the lab manual. Here is the short version:

1. Mix 10 ml of tap water and exactly 2 ml of mud

2. Mix 14 ml of tap water
3 vol % (= 0.42 ml) of hydrogen peroxide
0.47 ml (= 0.5 ml in 15 ml of tap water) of sulfuric acid
Add these 15 ml to fluid in step 1.
3. Boil mixture gently for 10 min
4. Dilute with tap water to totally 50 ml
5. Add 0.5 ml MB
etc, etc
Roger will put put out on the tabel the following items:
1. 50 ml beaker
for boiling
for adding fluids into
2. Graded glass cylinder (50 ml or less)
3. Pipette for drawing
2 ml of mud
0.5 ml of MB
4. Filter paper

c) Water activity in a clay.

Find literature on this topic and explain theoretically how (and why) this is done.

Exercise 2. Mud rheology

The rheology of OBM and WBM 1 must be determined in two different rheometers; the Fann VG meter and the MC1.
Calibrate with water at ambient conditions
Vary p from atmospheric to 100 bars
Vary T form ambient to 60 °C
Compare all ambient-condition result with Fann VG-results
Clean up

The Fann VG rheometer is known from previous mud lab. The Rheolab MC1 is a high precision rheometer in which the
sample can be pressurized and heated. The Rheolab MC1 procedure (the manual part, not the automatic procedure) is
shown at the end of this note. Five copies of Rheometer manual are available in the lab. Data are recorded automatically
and can be retrieved manually or by transferring them to your PC through the following procedure;
Drilling fluid specialization 3
• Start PC
• Enter Win 98
• Open program US200
• Follow procedure specification
• Take out data on disc or send to iptibm3 with FTP

Exercise 3. Pressure loss (∆ p)

Through a small flow loop we will find ∆ p as a function of flow rate q and compare with theoretical pressure drop.
Calibrate first with water by means of procedure stated further down. The main parameters involved in pressure losses are
indicated in the schetch below:

∆p
∆h q=∆ V/∆ t

∆V
∆l

Procedure Use only water, first for calibration (3 repetitions), then for 4 different flow rates
Find ∆ p for 3 different flow rates. Use average ∆ h during ∆ t
Determine flow rate from ∆ V/∆ t.
Flush with water at the end of test.
Rheolab MC1 – short version user manual

Panel = move back to menu or increment value number

Operations = select menu points or digit position
OK = Enter / Confirm
ST = Start / Stop

The set-up has no PC/printer (today), only memory/display. T-bath can be varied from 0oC (ice in water) to 90oC.

Program From here you can recall/select a stored program stored in:
and start it/run it. Select progr. 04 (for instance). Sample ‘001’ (your run no. 001)
Program input

2501 (password)
PROGR.4 (selected by you (11 choices)
Select data points to be stored
• SINGLE
• MEMORY ON
• FLOWCURVE (= every 5 s a new data point (ramped up in speed)
• DISPLAYED VARIABLES
1 t (s)
2 τ (Pa) OK through thru the list, then to next menu
3 D (s )-1
Select τ (as your set value)
4 T (oC) Select program (013 DIN) = standard
LINK = 00 → no next program this time
now finally the flow curve data (e.g.):
time: 5s
No. of points: 40
Start: 1.00 Pa
Main menu
End: 40000.00 Pa
Program Manual
Remote Program input
From PC
Setting Down load
Drilling fluid specialization 4
Zero adjust etc From / to a PC

Manual Manual operating mode is the safest and first choice before you start running programs. When you
press OK a new Manual menu appear as shown below:

INPUT:
START: Run through the following variables:
PR(int) τ = shear stress (Pa)
SA(ve) select ON/OFF D = shear rate (s-1)
PT(T-measure- M = relative torque (%)
ment) n = speed (rpm)
ST
= start and answer to the dialogue box:
ST = stop (user break) MS: Measur.system 1-99. Choose no.1 (ZI DIN)
Time: 5 (no. of s pr. measurement)
Stress
Rate Select one of these
   Torque successively (speed f.inst)

Speed

LAY MEMORY.
PRINT

DISPLAY: MEMORY:
DISPLAY – you can run through your recorded
Select up to 4 parameters by OK through the
data set
list
CLEAR - delete whole memory
leave menu by
ST ON/OFF - memory on/off
delete selection by