1-How do you mix spud mud?

A- Fill up the pits with the needed amount of water, if needed request fresh water.
B- Treat the Makeup water form hardness (high concentration of Ca++) by the needed
amount of Soda Ash.
C- Add the required amount of Biocide.
D- Add and Mix the needed amount of Bentonite around 25-30 ppb.
E- Leave the bentonite to hydrate in the mud pits for around 6-12 hours to gain the
required viscosity.
F- Adjust the PH to around 9, by adding the needed amount of caustic soda.

2- Why should you treat calcium before mixing spud mud?

The presence of the Ca++ ion will cause the bentonite to flocculate, making it difficult for the
bentonite to gain its viscosity property by dehydration.

3- What is the value of water loss in spud mud?

Uncontrolled.

4- What is the maximum salinity of water that using for mixing bentonite?

Salinity = 5000 mg/l

5- How do mix spud with sea water?

Prepare a high concentration dose of bentonite (double dose around 40 ppb) for the required
volume needed to prepare in fresh water, leave it to hydrate than distribute it around the
system and add the needed amount of seawater to make up the wanted volume needed.

6-What is the concentration of bentonite that you mixed before?

25-30 ppb

7- If you drill a section that has total loss circulation zone and shale formation, what the mud
type can you use?

WBM, such as: Inhibited polymer mud, Kcl Polymer mud.

8- Why do you use KCl polymer mud?

To drill surface sections that contain clay and reactive shale, Preferred in loss circulation zones,
Not costly as OBM.
9- Why KCl is shale inhibitor?

The small size of the potassium ion that fits between the clay sheets with its positive

Charge attracts the sheets closer together decreasing the interlayer spaces

(The envelope space) decreasing the tendency of shale swelling. Also, the Salinity of the

KCl which can permit the transfer of water to shale due to the osmosis

Pressure, salinity up to 133k mg/l.

10-What is the ionic diameter of K and Na?

K= 2.66 Angstrom.

Na= 1.9 Angstrom.

11-What are the types of Shale?

Based on their clay minerals:

A- Needle Shaped Non-swelling clays: Attapulgite/sepiolite.

B- Plate like, Non-swelling clays: illite, chlorite, kaolinite.

C- Plate like, Swelling: Montmorillonites/smectite.

12-Which types of shale that K is inhibitor?

Shale that contain Montmorillonite, Especially the swelling shale.

13-What are the shale types in KSA?

Based on Mineralogy:

 Swelled shale Montmorillonite.

 Non-swelled illite.

Based on geology ductile reactive shale and fragile hard shale.

14-Why do you add hydrogen peroxide 3% in MBT?

To remove effect of organic materials such as CMC, Polyacrylates, Lignosulfonates and lignite
that absorb the methylene blue.

15-What is the typical concentration of KCl & K+ in KCL polymer Mud?

Around 5-7%, around 17-24 ppb.

 1 % KCL = 3.5 ppb KCL

 1 % KCL = 5.25 ppm of K+

16-What is the test of KCl?

A- Put 7 ml of filtrate in centrifuge tube.

B- Add 3 ml of sodium per chloride solution.
C- Centrifuge at constant speed 1800 RPM for 1 minute.
D- Read the precipitate volume immediately.
E- Determine the Kcl Conc. By comparing the precipitated volume with standard curve.

18-Can you calculate K concentration from Cl?

No, best calculated by the Kcl test not salinity.

19-Is the value accurate? Why?

No, K+ is consumed while inhibiting clay and shale.

20-Why do you make Pf and Mf test?

To identify the alkane groups for the WBM, treat any contamination such as
carbonate/bicarbonate contamination caused by co2 gas, avoid foaming issues.

21-What should you do if you don’t have ph.ph indicator to make Pf and Mf test?

 1 ml filtrate, titrate w/ H2SO4 0.02N to PH = 8.3, End point of Pf, Value of Pf = ml of H2SO4 @ PH
8.3
 Continue test, titrate w/ H2SO4 0.02N to PH = 4.3, End point of Mf, Value of Mf = ml of H2SO4 of
Pf + ml of H2SO4 of Mf (total ml of H2SO4 in entire test) @ PH 4.3

22-What is the end point of Pf and Mf?

 Pf: colorless.
 Mf: pink to red color.
23-If you have CO3 contamination, what is the test can you do to know it? Not Pf and Mf
test?

Run The GGT.

24-What are fluid loss reducer chemicals and what is the maximum temperature of each one?

Natural Starch:

 Dextrid, Polysal, Haystar-P, Emfloc, Potato starch (250 F)

Modified Starch:

 Pac-L, Pac-R, Mil Pac, PolyPac Ul, CMC (300 F)

 Biopaq, Flotrol, Haystar-HT (280 F)

Synthetic:

 PolyTemp, Hostadril, Thermacheck, Dristemp, Driscal (400 F)

25- Which fluid loss reducer chemicals can you use in the reservoir?

 Flotrol,
 Biopaq.

Hydroxypropyl Starch is Non-Ionic, water soluble modified starch, makes an easy acid soluble
filter cake with calcium carbonate, They are used in brines and high calcium mud, thermal
stability to 280 F.

26-How do you mix OBM?

A- Base fluid (Diesel, Safra oil)

B- Primary Emulsifier

C- Lime

D- Brine

E- Organophilic clay

F- Secondary emulsifier
 G- Filtration control additive

H- Weighting agent

27-What is the important factor in OBM?

E.S. (ARAMCO prefer this answer).

28-Why do you use emulsifier?

To strengthen the bond between the oil and water and to emulsifier the water (inner phase)
into the oil (outer phase) not to cause chemical separation on the shakers such as weighting
agent, asphaltic material, avoid downhole problems as hole stability like swelling shale, to avoid
the breakup of the two phases which would ruin the OBM it would be very costly in time and
money.

29-What is the ES?

Is a measurement to how strong is the emulsion strength between the oil and water which was
formed by long chained fatty acids with the head being the hydrophilic bonded in the water
droplet and the tail being lipophilic bonded in the oil medium, its unit is Millivolts and its
preferable E.S > 600 Millivolt.

30- What is the mechanism of ES meter?

An electric current in millivolts is passed through the electrode into the mud sample.

The electric current breaks the emulsion between the water and oil.

31-How can you check any drop in ES without using ES meter?

By running the HTHP test and the presence of free water in the filtrate.

The witness of water droplets on the surface of the mud sample.

32-Why do use CaCl2 not NaCl with OBM?

Water activity of Cacl2 = 0.4, Nacl = 0.75

Salinity of Cacl2 = 355k mg/l, Nacl= 188k mg/l

Ca++ helps to form the calcium soap.

33-What is the maximum salinity of CaCl2 and NaCl?

CaCl2 = 355k mg/l, NaCl = 188k mg/l

34-What is the osmosis pressure?

A solvent (water) diffuses through a semi-permeable membrane from a low concentration

solute or salt to a high concentration solute or salt to equalize the concentrations.

35-What are the OBM tests?

E.S., Excess Lime, Salinity, Retort, HTHP, PPT.

36-What is the equation of CaCl2 in OBM?

CaCl2 ppb = (ml of silver nitrate / ml of mud) * 5.48

37-What is the effect on the hole if you have emulsion breaking?

A- Poor quality to the filter cake.

B- Increase in the downhole pressures and pressure loss, high ECD may induce Loss
circulation.
C- Cause hole instability from swelling shale.

38-What is the contamination of in OBM?

A- Water Contamination.
B- Solid (high % drilled solids).
C- H2S and acidic gasses.

39-How do you displace the hole from WBM to OBM?

Hi-vis WBM -> Hi-vis OBM -> OBM.

Dump contaminated phase.

40-What is the wetting agent?

It’s the secondary emulsifier it’s a surfactant liquid additive main function used to wet the

solid and coat it with the oil and improves thermal stability and HTHP filtration control,

reduces

effects of water contamination.

41-What are the types of stuck?

Mechanically stuck pipe

A- Hole Pack off and bridges, caused by: Settled cuttings, shale instability, unconsolidated
formations, cement or junk in the hole.
B- Well bore geometry interferences, caused by: Key seats, under gauge hole, stiff drilling
assembly, mobile formations, ledges and doglegs, casing failures.

Differentially stuck pipe

Caused by: high overbalance pressure, thick filter cake, high solid mud’s, high density
mud’s.

42- What is the indicator of each type?

Mechanically stuck pipe

C- Hole Pack off and bridges, indications: Movement restricted up and down, No
circulation, No Rotation.
D- Well bore geometry interferences, indications: Movement restricted up and down,
presence of circulation and rotation.

Differentially stuck pipe

Indications: Movement restricted up and down, presence of circulation, No Rotation.

43-What is the mechanism of differential stuck?

Caused by the differential pressure forces from an over balanced mud column acting on the drill
string against a filter cake deposited on a permeable formation, can occur during pipe is
stationary during a connection or when taking a survey.

Two main conditions exist:

 Hydrostatic pressure of the mud must exceed the pressure of the adjacent formation.
 Porous, permeable formation must exist.

44-Is there partial circulation with mechanical stuck? Which type?

Yes, well bore geometry and some cases with pack off.
45-What is the mechanism of key seat stuck?

Occurs when drill string rubs against the formation on the inside of a dogleg, drill string held
against the well bore by tension as pipe rotation and movement wear a narrow groove in the
side of the hole, the pipe becomes wedged into the narrow slot of the key seat as it is pulled
up.

46-Why do make sand content test?

To keep the sand less than 1%, to limit the abrasive effects of the sand on surface equipment
such as hopper lines, pump lines and pump, downhole MWD and Direction tools to avoid it
becoming junk.

47- What is the important of centrifuge?

Removal of fine solid that contribute to undesirable mud density and rheology, reduce dilution
and cost of fresh mud to control the mud density and properties, to reduce viscosity (PV and
progressive gel strengths).

48-Can you use it with high MWT?

Yes, with high Mud weights the feed rate of the centrifuge will be less.

49-What is the mechanism of barite recovery?

Barite recovery: is to remove the colloidal fine solids while saving the Barite.

Dual Centrifuge system/Dual stage mode:

A- Barite recovery mode on first centrifuge (low speed), effluent sent to the send
centrifuge.
B- Stripping effluent stream of ultra-fines to discharge (high speed) and return of cleaned
fluid to the active system.

50-What is the minimum solid size that centrifuge can separate?

2 Micron.

51-What is the CaBr2?

Is a heavy brine used as a completion and a packer fluid.

Package: comes in 55-Gal Drum, liquid, 106 pcf.

52-What is the corrected solid?

= Total solid from retort – soluble solid (uncorrected solid)

53-What is the equation of solids?

Total Solids (retort solids) = Uncorrected Solids (Soluble) + corrected Solids (insoluble)

54-What is the maximum weight of CaBr2?

106 pcf

55- Why do you use it?

As a heavy brine to achieve a higher density brine than Nacl and Cacl2

Used as a completion fluid, packer fluid, kill fluid.

56- How do make hole clean in horizontal well?

Rotation of pipe to agitate the cuttings that are suspending on the low side.

Flow rate, a reasonable GPM is been used for a optimum Annular Velocity around 130-150

ft/min.Controlled ROP.Well geometry, reducing the Dogleg severity to avoid the forming of

a bridge of cuttings.Rheology: LSYP, 6 reading = 1.2-1.5 * hole size, hole size < 3 reading <

1.5 * hole size Lsyp >= hole size. Use of the Tandem pill (Low Vis + High Weight) will

indicate the quality of the hole cleaning.

57-What is the mechanism of tandem pill?

Low-vis to agitate and cause a turbulence to the cuttings around the string and the low side as
the turbulence flow.

Followed by the Hi-weight causing the drill string to a raise and centralize and move the cuttings
from beneath the string and the low side due to the buoyancy effect as the laminar flow.

58-Why do you use high weight not hi VIS?

To enhance the carrying effect of the cutting on the low side due to the density difference /
buoyancy effect.

59-Can you use high weigh –hi VIS?

It is not recommended not to cause changes to the rheology of the active mud.

60-If you have good rheology, good RPM and good flow rate but have bad hole cleaning,
why?

 Uncontrolled ROP
 Well geometry.

61-If you hear the well control alarm, what should you do?

Go towards and gather at the master point.

62-What is TCT?

The formation of the salt crystals generates a small amount of heat which causes a slight rise in
the solutions temperature, this higher temperature corresponds to the true crystallization
temperature.

63-What is the pilot test?

Is to know the right amount of dose to be used while at premix of the fluid or the dose of a

Product for treatment purpose to identify the products behavior and concentration on the

Fluid by further tests, also to reduce the cost of treatment to use the right doses and

Concentration.

1 bbl = 350 ml

1 pound = 1 gram.

1 gal = 8.33 ml.

64-What is the maximum weight of

Barite 156 PCF
Hematite 194 PCF
Marble 110 PCF
NaCl 74.5 PCF
KCl 72 PCF
CaCl2 87 PCF
CaBr2 106 PCF
CaCl2/ CaBr2 113 PCF
Na Formate 83 PCF
K Formate 98 PCF
ZnBr2 143 PCF

65-What is the specific gravity of

Barite 4.2
Marble 2.75
Bentonite 2.4
Diesel 0.84
Safra oil 0.79
LGS 2.6

66-What are the types of LCM?

Conventional LCM (non-acid soluble, acid soluble)

Non-conventional LCM (soft and hard plugs)

67- What are the types of LOSSES?

 Seepage loss <10 BPH.

 Partial loss 10-100 BPG.
 Severe loss >100 BPH.
 Total loss No return.

68-What is the GGT?

Garrett Gas train test:

Analysis the dissolved carbonate and hydrogen sulfide in the mud sample, by passing the gas
through its chambers to the dragger tube and it responses with a color change, the length of
the stain represents the amount of gas present in the mud.
69-What is the H2S scavenger with WBM?

 Zinc oxide
 Sourscav
 SafeScav.

70 The chemical name of Sourscav is Iron Gluconate.

71-What is the bit balling and how do you prevent it?

Bit Balling: it’s the adhesion of clay due to the electro-chemical attraction of clay to clay and
clay to metal.

Preventing:

A- Minimize clay content of the mud.

B- Prevent water movement to shale by filtration control.
C- Use anti bit balling agents.
D- Use inhibitive Mud systems.
E- Optimize Bit design and bit hydraulics.
F- Good hole cleaning practices, such as: sweeps, wiper trips.

72-What is the ECD?

Total annular circulating pressure losses from point of interest to the bell nipple plus the
hydrostatic pressure of the mud exerted on the formation while circulating.

73-What is the source of pH in formate mud?

A PH buffer of Soda Ash and Sodium Bicarbonate

Soda Ash 2 : 1 Sodium Bicarbonate

74-why don’t you make a retort in formate mud?

The formate will expand by heating which could lead to exploding the retort.

75-What is the using of glycol?

As a stuck pipe pill causes dehydration of filter cake and lubricating the BHA.
Also used as a shale inhibition and forming the glycol cloud sealing the micro pores and
fractures in the shale formation to prevent the interaction between the water in the mud and
the shale.

76-What is the contamination of WBM?

Cement, Anhydrite and Gypsum, Salt, Carbonates, H2S, low gravity solids, bacterial
degradation, corrosion, foaming, oil influx, thermal instability, barite sag.

77-What is the equation of hydrostatic pressure?

 P HYD (psi) = 0.052 * MW (ppg) * TVD (ft)

 P HYD (psi) = 0.00695 * MW (pcf) * TVD (ft)

78-What is the equation of kill mud weight?

 Kill Mud weight (pcf) = ( SIDPP / TVD * 0.00695) + Old Mud weight
 SIDPP: Shut in drill pipe pressure.

79- Why do you double the result value from HPHT test?

The Cell size of the HTHP (175 ml) is half size of the API Cell, the standard size = 350 ml.

80-What is the chemicals name of max guard?

Liquid Polyamine.

81-For what is poly amine using?

As a shale inhibitor, prevents the shale and clay from hydrating.

82-What are shale inhibitor chemicals?

 Salts like: Nacl,Kcl.

 Soltex, liquid gilsonite, Clay seal, Clay sync.
 PHPA: New drill plus, Poly plus, Clay grabber.
 Polyamine: Maxguard, KLA stop, Barasure

83-What is the accepted concentration of CO3 in the mud?

 500-2000 mg/l

84-What is the treatment you should added with CO2 contamination?

 Treat with Lime.

  HCO3 mg/l * 0.00021 = Ca(OH)2 in ppb
 CO3 mg/l * 0.00043 = Ca(OH)2 in ppb

85-What is the mean of damage formation?

The usage of materials that will affect the porosity and permeability of the producing formation
(decrease the production index PI) such as barite, bentonite, asphaltic material, non-acid
soluble material.

86-What is the definition of glycol cloud point?

Due to the difference related between the ethylene oxide group on the head group and the
hydrocarbon chain length, Glycol can undergo reversible phase transformation at down hole
temp. to form liquid crystalline phase and micro emulsions which are effective at sealing shale
to filtrate migration.

87-What are the types of gel strength?

 Progressive, Fragile, Flat Gel.

88-What is the accepted concentration of Ca in the mud?

 300-400 mg/l