EXPERIMENT The Laboratory

Test: 1.
Take 2 samples of mud from each of the mud tanks.
2. Stir the samples for 2 minutes and determine:
(a) The Mud Weight
(b) Marsh Funnel Viscosity in seconds
(c) pH value using - pH meter
- Hydrion papers
RESULTS OF MUD PROPERTIES TEST WATER BASED MUD
(Density, Viscosity, pH) Room Temp. o F/ o C

Sampl Mud Weight Marsh Funnel pH (Hydrogen Ion

e No. Viscosity Conc.)
Ppg Psi/1000 Pp ft3 Sec. Phydrion PH Meter
1
2

QUESTIONS ON EXPERIMENT NO. 1

Answer the following:
1. List any five (5) very important functions of the drilling fluid?
Cooling and lubrication: Drilling generate heat, and the drilling fluid helps cool the drill bit and prevent it
from overheating. The fluid also acts as a lubricant, reducing friction and wear on the bit and other
drilling components.
Cutting’s removal: The drilling fluid carries cuttings to the surface, preventing them from clogging the
wellbore or interfering with the drilling process.
Formation pressure control: The drilling fluid exerts hydrostatic pressure on the formation, which helps to
prevent formation fluids from flowing into the wellbore and causing a blowout.
Wellbore stabilization: The drilling fluid can help stabilize the walls of the wellbore, preventing them
from collapsing or sloughing in.
Formation evaluation: The drilling fluid can bring formation samples to the surface for analysis, helping
to determine the properties of the rock and fluids encountered during drilling.
2. What requirements should a drilling fluid meet?
Compatibility with the formation: The fluid should not damage the formation or impair production.
Stability: The fluid should maintain its properties and perform its functions under the conditions
encountered during drilling.
Low toxicity: The fluid should not pose a health hazard to workers or the environment.
Corrosion inhibition: The fluid should protect the drilling equipment from corrosion.
Contamination control: The fluid should be able to control and remove contaminants, such as solids,
gases, and fluids, that may interfere with drilling.
Economic feasibility: The fluid should be cost-effective and fit within the project budget.
3. Using the mud weights (ppg) obtained for Samples #1 and 2 of your experiment, calculate, how
much hydrostatic pressure that each sample will exert on a formation at a depth of 10,000 ft.
4. What is the difference between Over-balance and Under-balance?
Over-balance and under-balance refer to the relative pressure of the drilling fluid compared to the
pressure of the formation being drilled.
Over-balance means that the pressure of the drilling fluid is higher than the pressure of the formation
being drilled. This can be achieved by using a heavier fluid or by increasing the hydrostatic pressure of
the fluid column. Over-balance is often used to prevent formation fluids from flowing into the wellbore,
which can cause a blowout.
Under-balance means that the pressure of the drilling fluid is lower than the pressure of the formation
being drilled. This can be achieved by using a lighter fluid or by decreasing the hydrostatic pressure of
the fluid column. Under-balance is often used in specialized drilling operations to increase the rate of
penetration and reduce formation damage. Under-balance drilling can also help to prevent lost circulation,
where drilling fluid flows into the formation and cannot be recovered.
In summary, over-balance drilling is used to prevent formation fluids from flowing into the wellbore,
while under-balance drilling is used to increase the rate of penetration and reduce formation damage.
5. Estimate the mud weight needed to balance a formation pressure equivalent to 10,000 ft. depth
with 0.561 psi/ft. pressure gradient.
To estimate the mud weight needed to balance a formation pressure at a certain depth, we can use the
following formula:
Mud weight (ppg) = (Formation pressure gradient (psi/ft) x Depth (ft)) / 0.052
Where 0.052 is a conversion factor to convert the mud weight from pounds per cubic foot (pcf) to pounds
per gallon (ppg).
Using the given information, we can plug in the values and calculate the mud weight needed:
Mud weight (ppg) = (0.561 psi/ft x 10,000 ft) / 0.052
Mud weight (ppg) = 11.622 ppg (rounded to three decimal places)
Therefore, a mud weight of approximately 11.622 ppg would be needed to balance the formation pressure
at 10,000 ft depth with a pressure gradient of 0.561 psi/ft. It's important to note that this is just an
estimate, and other factors such as wellbore geometry and formation properties may also need to be
considered when determining the appropriate mud weight for a given drilling operation.
Experimental Procedure
1. Obtain a recently agitated mud sample from each of mud tanks (1) and (2).
2. Using the Baroid Rheometer, obtain dial readings at 3, 300 and 600 RPM. 13
3. By means of the rheological calculation’s procedure, determine the Apparent and Plastic Viscosities,
Yield Point and initial 10 sec. and final 10-minute Gel Strength parameters.
4. Tabulate your results as in the given table below:
MUD RHEOLOGY TEST WATER BASE MUD

Sample VISCOSITY CP Gel strength lb/100 ft2

No. Φ600 Φ300 µp µa Yp lb/100 Initial 10 sec. Final 10 min.
ft2 Gel Gel
1
2

QUESTIONS ON EXPERIMENT NO. 2

1. (a) What is Plastic Viscosity?

Plastic viscosity is a measure of a fluid's resistance to flow or deformation under shear stress, after it has
undergone some initial deformation.

(b) What does it characterize?

It characterizes the internal friction of the fluid and its ability to resist flow.
(c) What is the difference between the Plastic Viscosity and Apparent Viscosity of a drilling fluid?
The plastic viscosity of a drilling fluid is the actual resistance to flow, while the apparent viscosity takes
into account the effect of shear rate on the fluid's viscosity.
2. Which role does Gel Strength play in the drilling process?
Gel strength is a measure of a drilling fluid's ability to maintain its structure when subjected to shear
stress. It plays an important role in preventing the collapse of the borehole walls during drilling by
supporting the weight of the drilling mud and preventing it from seeping into the surrounding formations.
3. What type of fluids does drill fluid belong to?
Drilling fluid belongs to the class of fluids known as viscoelastic fluids, which exhibit both viscous and
elastic behavior. These fluids have complex rheological properties and are capable of adjusting their
viscosity and other flow properties in response to changes in flow conditions.
4. (a) What is the Yield Point?
The yield point is the minimum shear stress required to initiate flow in a viscoelastic fluid.
(b) What does it characterize?
It characterizes the fluid's ability to withstand stress without flowing, and is a measure of its structural
stability.
(c) What is the difference between Gel Strength and Yield Point of a drilling mud?
Gel strength refers to the ability of a fluid to maintain its structure when subjected to shear stress, while
yield point refers to the minimum stress required to initiate flow in the fluid.
5. Explain what you know about one point and two points curve fluids? Give one example of each
type of fluid.
One point and two-point curve fluids are types of viscoelastic fluids. One point curve fluids have a
constant ratio of shear stress to shear rate, while two-point curve fluids have a changing ratio of shear
stress to shear rate. An example of a one-point curve fluid is water, while an example of a two-point curve
fluid is drilling mud.