HO CHI MINH UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

FACULTY OF GEOLOGY AND PETROLEUM ENGINEERING



DRILLING ENGINEERING

PROJECT:
DRILLING FLUID EXPERIMENTS
L01 - Semester 231

Lecturer: Ph.D Tran Trung Dung

Sinh viên thực hiện: Huỳnh Mai Trà - 2014808

Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh – 2023

 CONTENTS
CONTENTS................................................................................................................................................1
LIST OF FIGURES.....................................................................................................................................2
LIST OF TABLES.......................................................................................................................................3
1. INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................................................4
2. EXPERIMENT..................................................................................................................................5
2.1 Experiment 1: MUD BALANCE.............................................................................................5
2.1.1 Aim..................................................................................................................................5
2.1.2 Theory..............................................................................................................................5
2.1.3 Apparatus.........................................................................................................................5
2.1.4 Procedure.........................................................................................................................6
2.2 Experiment 2: MARSH FUNNEL........................................................................................7
2.2.1 Aim..................................................................................................................................7
2.2.2 Theory..............................................................................................................................7
2.2.3 Apparatus.........................................................................................................................7
2.2.4 Procedure.........................................................................................................................8
2.3 MUD RHEOLOGY TEST.....................................................................................................8
2.3.1 Aim..................................................................................................................................8
2.3.2 Theory..............................................................................................................................8
2.3.3 Apparatus.........................................................................................................................9
2.3.4 Procedure.......................................................................................................................10
3. CALCULATION..........................................................................................................................10
3.1 MUD BALANCE.................................................................................................................10
3.2 MARSH FUNNEL...............................................................................................................10
3.3 MUD RHEOLOGY TEST...................................................................................................11
4. EXPLAIN.....................................................................................................................................11
5. CONCLUSION............................................................................................................................12
 LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1. Bentonite........................................................................................................................................6
Figure 2. Weight balance...............................................................................................................................6
Figure 3. Steel vessel....................................................................................................................................6
Figure 4. Mud mixture..................................................................................................................................6
Figure 5. Mud balance..................................................................................................................................6
Figure 6. Bentonite........................................................................................................................................7
Figure 7. Marsh Funnel.................................................................................................................................7
Figure 8. Weight balance...............................................................................................................................7
Figure 9. Mud mixture..................................................................................................................................8
Figure 10. Steel vessel..................................................................................................................................8
Figure 11. Bentonite......................................................................................................................................9
Figure 12. Rotational Viscometer.................................................................................................................9
Figure 13. Weight balance.............................................................................................................................9
Figure 14. Mud mixture..............................................................................................................................10
Figure 15. Steel vessel................................................................................................................................10
 LIST OF TABLES
Table 1. Mud density (ppg and g/cc) using mud balance...........................................................................11
Table 2. Marsh Funnel viscosity..................................................................................................................11
Table 3. Mud apparent viscosity, plastic viscosity, and yield point.............................................................11
1. INTRODUCTION
Can be defined as a suspension of solids in a liquid phase. Any of a number of liquid and gaseous
fluids and mixtures of fluids and solids (as solid suspensions, mixtures, and emulsions of liquids,
gases, and solids) used in operations to drill boreholes into the earth. Drilling fluid (mud) is a
vital element of the drilling process.
The success or failure of the mud program will largely determine whether a well can ultimately
be drilled to the operator's specifications in a safe and economical manner. The drilling fluid
engineer's task in designing a drilling fluid program is to derive from the variety of available
mud-making materials the precise combination of physical and chemical properties needed to
meet the demands of the well.
Functions of Drilling Fluids
Drilling fluid was introduced simply as a way to circulate rock cuttings out of the wellbore. But
today. as deeper and more hazardous wells are being attempted to meet the demand of oil, drilling
fluid is an increasingly important and complex part of the rotary drilling process. The basic
functions of drilling nuid are the following:
(1) Cool and Lubricate the Drill Bit and the Drill String
The drilling action requires a considerable amount of mechanical energy in the form of weight-
on-bit, rotation and hydraulic energy. a large proportion of this energy is dissipated as heat, which
must be removed to allow the drill bit to Tunction properly. Also, the drilling fluid helps in
cooling and lubricating the drill string.
(2) Remove Drilled Cuttings
As the bit penetrates the formation, the rock cuttings must be removed, otherwise the drilling
efficiency will decrease. In removing the cuttings there are two separate operations:
-Lifting and dropping on surface the cuttings while circulating.
- Suspension of cuttings while not circulating.
(3) Control Formation Pressure
For safe drilling, high formation pressures must be contained within the well to prevent blow-
outs, The drilling fluid achieves this by providing a hydrostatic pressure just greater than the
formation pressure. In practice, an overbalance of 100-200 psiis normallyused to provide
adequate safeguard against blow-out(well-kick)
Drilling fluid density is the controlling factor in this function:
P=0.052 x ρM x TVD
(4) Maintain Borehole Stability
The drilling fluid should deposit a mud cake on the wall of the borehole to consolidate the
formation and to prevent formation damage. A good mud cake must be thin, hard and
impermeable to provide enough stability and less formation damage
(5) Transmit Hydraulic Horsepower to the Bit
Drilling fluid is the medium for transmitting available hydraulic power from the pumps on
surface to the bit at the bottom of the well. Optimum hydraulic power enables the hole to be
cleaned.
(6) Aiding Formation Evaluation
Drilling fluid properties such as resistivity and conductivity are crucial in evaluation formations.
The drilling fluid must be formulated to aid in the production of good logs
2. EXPERIMENT
2.1 Experiment 1: MUD BALANCE
2.1.1 Aim
To determine the Density of a mud sample using a mud balance
 2.1.2 Theory
Density is ratio of mass by volume. With simple water-based muds, density is a
reliable measure of the amount of suspended solids. Density must be measured by
weighing a known volume. Density can be stated in any convenient units, such as
(g/cm3, lb./gal, lb./ft3). Density also measures hydrostatic pressure in the borehole and
solids content of the unweighted muds. Loss of circulation may result from excessive
pressure due to mud that is too dense or heavy.
Mud Balance is one of the most sensitive and accurate field instruments available for
determining the density or weight-per-unit-volume(specific gravity) of drilling fluids.
2.1.3 Apparatus

Figure 1. Bentonite Figure 2. Weight balance Figure 3. Steel vessel

Figure 4. Mud mixture Figure 5. Mud balance

2.1.4 Procedure
 Remove the lid from the cup and completely fill the cup with the mud to be tested
  Replace the lid and rotate until firmly seated, making sure some mud is expelled through
the hole in the cup
 Wash or wipe the mud from outside of the cup
 Place the balance arm on the base, with the knife edge resting on the fulcrum
 Move the rider until the graduated arm is level, indicated by the Level bubble vial on the
beam. (Bubble should be in center of the markings and steady)
 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.
 Note down mud temperature corresponding to density.
2.2 Experiment 2: MARSH FUNNEL
2.2.1 Aim
To determine the Marsh Funnel Viscosity of given mud sample
2.2.2 Theory
The Marsh Funnel was invented by Hallan N.Marsh in 1931. It is used to measure the
time in seconds required to fill a set volume of fluid. The flow through the small tip
at the end of the funnel is related to the rheological properties of the fluid being
measured. The Marsh Funnel “viscosity” is reported as seconds and used as an
indicator of the relative consistency of fluids. The more viscous the fluid the longer
the time to fill one quart.
2.2.3 Apparatus

Figure 6. Bentonite Figure 7. Marsh Funnel Figure 8. Weight balance

 Figure 9. Mud mixture Figure 10. Steel vessel

2.2.4 Procedure
 Hold the clean, dry funnel in an upright position with the index finger over the outlet
 Pour a freshly obtained sample of fluid to be tested through the screen until the fluid level reaches
the bottom of the screen.
 Remove the finger from the outlet and start the stopwatch. Using the measuring cup, measure the
time it takes the fluid to fill to the one-quart(946mL) mark of the cup
 Measure the temperature of the fluid in oF or 0C
 Report the time to the nearest second as Marsh Funnel viscosity and record the temperature of the
fluid
2.3 MUD RHEOLOGY TEST
2.3.1 Aim
To determine the Apparent Viscosity, Plastic Viscosity, Yield Point of given mud
sample
2.3.2 Theory
Rheology is a more complex study of the flow of matter; mainly liquids, but also soft
solids, gels, pastes and even sold materials that exhibit some level of flow (i.e do not
just deform clastically). Rheology applies to substances that have a complex
structure, including: muds, sludge's, suspensions, polymers, petrochemicals and
biological materials. The flow of these complex materials cannot be characterized by
a single value of viscosity, instead viscosity changes with changing conditions.
 Viscosity is defined as the resistance of a fluid to flow and is measured as the ratio of
the shearing stress to the rate of shearing strain. Two types of fluid characterizations
are:
1. Newtonian (true fluids) where the ratio of shear stress to shear rate or viscosity is
constant, e.g. water. light oils, etc. and
2. Non-Newtonian (plastic fluids) wherethe viscosityis not constant, e.g. drilling
muds, colloids, etc.

2.3.3 Apparatus

Figure 11. Bentonite Figure 12. Rotational Figure 13. Weight balance
Viscometer

Figure 14. Mud mixture Figure 15. Steel vessel

2.3.4 Procedure
  A drilling mud should be prepared and for being sure its fully mixed, should bring it to mud
mixer, if it was about to stuck; add some water to the mud for lowering density.
 After mud was good mixed, clean and dry all viscometer parts such as rotor, bop, and cop
 Now fill the mud into the cup until the marked line on the cup
 Tight rotor and inner cylinder shaft
 Then put the cup on the stand and be sure all pines have fixed to the holes
 Now raise the cup using a stand base until the mud covers the line mentioned on the rotor
 Turn on gear switch and give 600-300 RPM on rotary speed setting
 Now using the motor speed switch make it on STIR and wait 10 seconds, then switch the speed to
600RPM
 Read the number on Deflection Dial and record it
 Now switch the speed to 300 RPM
 Read the Deflection Dial and record it
 Using the equation to find the rheological properties value.

3. CALCULATION
3.1 MUD BALANCE
Table 1. Mud density (ppg and g/cc) using mud balance

Sample Mud weight Mud weight Mud weight Mud weight Mud weight Mud weight
(ppg) (sp.gr) Psi Psi lb kg
in ( ) in ( ) in ( 3 ) in ( 3)
ft ft ft m
from (sp.gr)
Mud 1 8,4 1,01 0,436 0,437 62,784 1010
(2g/100ml)
Mud 2 8,5 1,02 0,442 0,441 63,648 1020
(3g/100ml)
Mud 3 8,5 1,02 0,442 0,441 63,648 1020
(4g/100ml)

3.2 MARSH FUNNEL

Table 2. Marsh Funnel viscosity
Sample st
1 time (sec) nd
2 time (sec) Average time t Density ρ Viscosity μ
(sec) (g/cm3) (cP)
Mud 1 (2g) 33,44 34,28 33,86 1,01 8,9486
Mud 2 (3g) 38,06 38,69 38,375 1,02 13,6425
Mud 3 (3g) 48,22 49,12 48,67 1,02 24,1434

3.3 MUD RHEOLOGY TEST

Table 3. Mud apparent viscosity, plastic viscosity, and yield point
 Sample μp μa Yp
Mud 1 2 3,5 3
Mud 2 4 7,5 7
Mud 3 7 1,4 14

4. EXPLAIN
Answer the following:
- How accurate can you read the R300 & R600 dial reading?
Wait until the clockwise stabilizes and read from top to bottom. The accuracy of the ruler in the
viscometer depends on the smallest division of the ruler. The error of the ruler is calculated as
half the value of the smallest division. In this experiment, the smallest division of the ruler is 1cp
so we can get the viscosity of the drilling fluid with an accuracy of ± 0.5 cp

- How different is your R300 and Marsh Funnel viscosity? List 2 reasons that may lead to errors in
each measurement?

R300 viscosity (cp) Marsh Funnel viscosity(cp)

Mud 1 3.5 8,9486
Mud 2 7.5 13,6425
Mud 3 14 24,1434

Reasons for Errors in R300 Measurement:

Calibration: If the rheometer is not properly calibrated, it can lead to inaccuracies in the R300
reading.
Sample Preparation:
During the experiment, cleaning the equipment between measurements times may still contain
water, leading to errors in the solution concentration of the sample.
Inhomogeneous or improperly prepared samples may result in inaccurate visibility readings.
Reasons for Errors in Marsh Funnel Viscosity:
Flow Variability: Variations in flow behavior due to temperature fluctuations or other factors can
affect the Marsh Funnel viscosity reading.
Human Error: The timing of the flow through the Marsh Funnel may not always be precise,
leading to small errors in viscosity measurement.
- What is the error for mud density using mud balance?
 If you don’t use pure water content a many impurity that effected on density
 Quality of Bentonite
 Accuracy of the mud balance and weighting balance
- What is the error for time measurement with Marsh Funnel?
The error for time measurement with a Marsh Funnel can occur due to human reaction time and
variability in starting and stopping the timer. With careful operation and the use of precise timing
equipment, errors can be kept within a few seconds
- Which filter cake (labeled “1” or “2”) is pressed from a heavier mud
The heavier mud will produce a thicker filter cake. To determine which filter cake is from the heavier
mud, compare their thickness measurements. The one with the greater thickness is pressed from the
heavier mud. Report the label of the corresponding filter cake.
5. CONCLUSION
When increasing bentonite concentration, viscosity also increases for each method. Different
bentonite volumes lead to different filter cake thicknesses. The solution with the higher bentonite
volume will have a darker and thicker filter cake.
Along with conduct the experiment with 3 methods, we can see completely different results obtained
for the same parameter (viscosity), so we need to pay attention to factors affecting errors during the
process experiment