INTRODUCTION TO LAG TIME

Lag Time
Lag Time

• Time required for the material (cuttings, gas or mud) to travel from
bottom of the hole to the surface.
• Knowledge of this travel time is necessary to tie lithology,
gas, or fluorescence to exact depth.
• Lag time can be theorotically calculated knowing hole geometry,
pipe dimentions and flow rate.
• Lag Time verification is necessary and can be done at the rig-
site.
Lag Time

Lag time
Lag time is increased:
1. Stroke per minute (SPM) and Flow Rate is decreased.
2. Hole size is increased.
3. Depth increased.

Lag time is decreased:

1. SPM, flow rate is increased.
Lag Time

Incorrect Lag time

1. Enlarged hole due to caving
2. Reduced hole cleaning efficiency due to mud, flow rate.
3. Wrong pump efficiency
4. Shape and size of cuttings.
5. Incorrect bottom hole assembly (BHA)
Lag Time
Mud in pipes

Mud in Annulus

• Time required to travel from

bottom to surface
• Annular volume / flow rate.
Lag Time

Pump Output

Pump output is given in gal/stroke or litres/stroke

Usually pump output is corrected for efficiency
Efficiency is given in percentage

Thus efficiency of 95% will be corrected as:

Given output = 20 litres/stroke
Corrected output (20x0.95) = 19 litres/stroke
Two Methods in Calculating Lag Time
Lag Time

Strokes give accurate value, time is approximation.

The SPM of pump may vary during the period

Circulation may be stopped for connection etc.

Pump stroke counter can be set to zero for count

Example 1.
Calculate the ff. using Velocity Method
a. Down Time b. Lag Time
c. Total Cycle d. No. of Strokes

Pump output= 425gal/min

(10.11 bbl/min)

Spm= 100
Exercise

Calculate the ff. using Volume Method

a. Down Time
b. Lag Time
c. Total Cycle

Pump Output:

0.3 bbl/stroke
100 stroke/mins
85% efficiency
Thank You!!!! ☺