University of zakho

College of engineering
Petroleum department

Experiment about:

Name: Nihad Abdulkarim Ahmad

Lecture: fundamental of Drilling

Tutor’s : mr.sarkar

Report about: mud wieght

Contend :
o 1.Introduction

o 2.Aim of experiment

o 3.Important

o 4.Equipment

o 5.Discussion

o 6.Conclusion
Introduction

The density of the drilling fluid must be controlled to provide

adequate hydrostatic head to prevent influx of formation fluids, but
not so high as to cause loss of circulation or adversely affect the
drilling rate and damaging the formation.

One of this drilling fluid is a mud, mud is really important to many

thing in drilling operation so it,s necessary to balance the weight of
mud because have effect on formation.

So we need to done this experiment to know how we control the mud

weight .

Aim of experiment

We use this method to determine the density of our drilling fluid,

And our knowledge of the density of mud which is one of the most
important properties of our mud help us to prepare it for the
circulation.

Important
The density of mud determining is really important because mud
weight controls hydrostatic pressure in a wellbore and prevents
unwanted flow into the well. The weight of the mud also prevents
collapse of casing and the open hole. Excessive mud weight can
cause lost circulation by propagating, and then filling, fractures in
the rock.

Equipment

The Baroid Mud Balance as shown below is used to determine density

of the drilling fluid. The instrument consists of a constant volume cup
with a lever arm and rider calibrated to read directly the density of
the fluid in ppg (water 8.33), pcf (water 62.4), specific gravity (water
= 1.0) and pressure gradient in psi/1000 ft. (water 433 psi/1000 ft.).

Procedure
1. Remove the lid from the cup, and completely fill the cup with the mud to be
tested.

2. Replace the lid and rotate until firmly seated, making sure some mud is
expelled through the hole in the cup.

3. Wash or wipe the mud from the outside of the cup.

4. Place the balance arm on the base, with the knife-edge resting on the
fulcrum.

5. Move the rider until the graduated arm is level, as indicated by the level vial
on the beam.

6. At the left-hand edge of the rider, read the density on either side of the
lever in all desired units without disturbing the rider.

7. Note down mud temperature corresponding to density.

Discussion

Mud weight forms an integral and vital component part in controlling

the drilling operating window and wellbore pressure management
requirements. It contributes to both direct and indirect indicators
and is a key metric of the magnitude and extent of pressure and
operating conditions that exist.

Mud primarily provides the hydrostatic density and pressure as a

function of vertical depth to support the range of wellbore formation
pressures that exist in each section to be drilled. It serves to assure
that no kicks, lost circulation, or wellbore instability events result in
both static and dynamic operating conditions during all drilling
operating activities conducted.

If mud weight objectives and rheology properties are not met in full,
notably in porous and high permeability formation intervals that
commonly exist in deepwater, the resultant changes can cause and
effect pressure management issues to arise, resulting in lost time
events as fluids and pressures are either gained or lost to/from the
wellbore. Lost time events then must be dealt with through suitable
well control assurance, equipment, and best practices applied.
Another probable scenario in deepwater is a low permeability
formation interval.

Example: shales where drilling “underbalanced” can perpetually

result. This is because despite people best efforts and endeavors,
operating conditions shall exist where mud weight and operating
pressures exerted are less than the formation pressure (particularly
when a connection is made, or circulation is stopped). In this case, low
permeability prevents detectable measurable warning signs or
indicators to result, e.g., fluid gains detected by the drillers, mud
loggers.
Problems often result once the first permeable formation is drilled
and encountered. In such cases, higher kick level alertness practices
shall be utilized.

A “Higher alertness” mud weight strategy will vary considerably in

response to pressures that exist even in similar stratigraphy, where
wellbore, drilling conditions, and operating environments can rapidly
change. In these instances, safe assurance, the drilling operating
window, and mud weight pressures must be continually monitored and
controlled. Example: In critical pressure regimes, deepwater wells can
require a separate mud weight for drilling and tripping a particular
wellbore sections.

Mud weights and pressure management in complex wells, as illustrated

in Fig.2 , also command a greater understanding of the finer pressure
measurement margins issues that exist in low and high mud weight
limits where lost time events can result if mud weight pressure
aspects are not safely monitored and controlled.

Fig.2
Conclusion

We will done calibration

Remove the lid from the cup, and completely fill the cup with water.
Replace the lid and wipe dry.
Replace the balance arm on the base with knife-edge resting on the
fulcrum.
The level vial should be centered when the rider is set on 8.33. If
not, add to or remove shot from the well in the end of the bream.
After that we will go by procedure to take correctly balance.