Drilling Fluids Functions

and Mud Test Review

 Drilling Fluid Functions Essential
Control Subsurface Pressures
Seal permeable formations
Clean the Hole
Transport and remove drilled cuttings
Release cuttings at the surface
Suspend cuttings and weight material
 Drilling Fluid Functions - Additional
Support weight of casing and drill string
Insure Maximum Hole Information
Clean, Cool, and Lubricate bit and drill string
Transmit hydraulic horsepower to the bit
Limit corrosion of tubular goods
 Drilling Fluids Must
Be Non-Damaging to:
Producing Formations
Environment
 Drilling Fluid Components

B a s ic C o m p o n e n ts

S o lid s L iq u id s C h e m ic a ls
 Drilling Fluid Components

In e rt
S o lid s

W e ig h t O ld e r S and S ilt A d d it iv e s
M a t e r ia l S h a le s
 Drilling Fluid Components

W e ig h t
M a te r ia l

B a r ite H e m a tite C a lc iu m
C a rb o n a te
 Drilling Fluid Components

R e a c tiv e
S o lid s

C la y s S h a le s A d d itiv e s
 Types of Drilling Fluids
Water Base Mud
Spud Mud use for start drilling and Top Holes
Low Solids polymer (LSP Mud) use at normal Formations
Polymer Mud at adding Polymer for Viscosity and Fluid loss control
Potassium Polymer Mud ( KCL Mud) use for drilling Shale sections for shale
inhibition
Salt Saturated Mud ( Nacl Mud ) used for drilling long Salt Formations Salt
Domes
Lignosulphonate Mud using for drill shale sections and High temp holes
Free solids polymer mud
Non Damaged Caco3 Polymer Mud use for reservoir Drilling (Non Damage
Fluids)
PHPA Polymer Mud using for drilling Shale sections
 Types of Drilling Fluids
Oil Base Mud using diesel as a Continues Phase

Water , Emulsified , oil related Viscossofire and polymer, CaCl2

Salinity source , Weighting Materials Baso4 or CaCa3 Oil / Water

ratio (95 / 5 up to 75 / 35 %)

Very stable , and Unfriendly Environment Mud

Emulsion Mud

Oil Water mixture mud up to ( 50 / 50) %

Syntactic Mud Designed for Less Environmental Harm using low

damage fluid aster and paraffin.

Air Drilling using Mud with Air at very low pressure Formations.
 Drilling Fluid Components
Speciality Additives
Deflocculants
Filtration Control
Alkalis
Corrosion Control
Shale Control
Spotting Fluids
Lubricants
Detergents
Defoamers
Lost Circulation Materials
Preservatives
Oil Mud Additives
 Water Base Mud (WBM)
Main Common Materials
Water . The continues Phase
Bentonite . The Main Viscosity additives
CMC HV , Bio Polymer .. etc . Viscosofire Polymer
CMC LV , Starch , Permalose . Fluid loss control
Caustic Soda ( NaOH) . For PH Control
Sodium Carbonate (NaCo3) .. Calcium Removal
and Sodium Bicarbonate ( NaHCo3) . Calcium Removal
Barite,BaSo4 and Calcium Carbonate CaCo3 ......Weight
Materials.
Spersene , Lignite , Lignochrome . Viscosity Reducer
 Properties
Density
Rheological
Filtration Control or Fluid Loss
Solids Content
Chemistry
Mud Properties

MUD Weight
 Hydrostatic Pressure HP
Mud weight ppg
HP is a pressure to keep hole stable

HP = 0.052 X Mwt ppg X TV depth ft

Mwt should be designed to keep HP

Depth Ft
grater than Formation Pressure with
Frac. pressure
Save margin 100 - 200 Psi

HP should not accede Frac. Pressure

Form Pressure

HP
 Density
Mud Scales units
pounds per gallon, (PPG)
specific gravity, (SPG Unit less)
Gram per Centimeter Cub. ( gr/cm3)
kilograms per cubic meter. ( Kg/ft3)
Unit scale /1000 ft

Using Mud Balance

Regular Mud Balance
Pressurized Mud Balance
 Density - Procedure
Put the cap on the filled mud cup...
 Density - Procedure
Rotate the cap until firmly seated. Ensure
some mud is expelled through the hole in the cap.
 Density - Procedure
Hold cap firmly on cup and wash or wipe clean
and dry.
 Density - Equipment

Mud cup

Balanced by moving a
fixed counterweight
 Density - Procedure
Place the beam on the base support.
 Density - Procedure
Read the mud weight at the edge of the rider
toward the mud cup. (To the left of the pointer)

Mud weight=
12.3 lb/gal or
1.47 sp gr
 Density - Procedure
Balance is achieved when the bubble is under
the center line.
 Density - Equipment

A level bubble is mounted to allow

for accurate balancing.
 Density - Units

Pounds per gallon lb/gal @ 70F ( 21C)

Kilograms per cubic meter kg/m3 @ 70F ( 21C)

Density - Equipment
Pressurized Balance
 Increasing Mud weight
Hydrostatic pressure HP

(Ib/gal ) (Spgr) ( Kg/m3) Gradient (Psi/Ft )

Hp = 0.052 X Mwt ppg X Depth ft

Using Barite Baso4 to increase Mwt

X= 1490 ( W2-W1) / ( 35.5 W2)

Using Calcium Carbonate Caco3 for Increasing Mwt at
Reservoir
X= 945 ( W2-W1) / ( 22 W2)
X = No of 100 Ibs Sack Required for each 100 bbls of Mud
W1 = Initial Mud weight ppg
W2 = Desired Mud weight ppg
Mud Rheology Test Analysis
 VISCOSITY - Simple Definition

Its internal resistance of fluids to flow

A fluids internal resistance to flow due to its physical,
chemical, and electrical properties and their
interactions.

The Ratio of:

(Shear Stress / Shear Rate)

 SHEAR STRESS

The Force That Exists In A Fluid That Opposes

(Resist) The Flow of That Fluid.

Frictional Force Caused By One Layer Of A Fluid

Sliding By Another Layer.

The Layer of Fluid Next To The Drill Pipe, And The

Layer Next To The Wall of The Hole Do Not Move.

05/28/17 Dr. Ben Younes 33

VISCOSITY - Technical Definition

SHEAR STRESS

SHEAR RATE
SHEAR STRESS - DEFINITION
Shear Stress is the force required to move a given area of fluid at a
constant shear rate.
Shear Stress is reported in pounds/100 ft or dynes/cm.

SHEAR RATE - DEFINITION

The velocity at which two fluid layers are traveling with respect
to each other, divided by the distance between the layers of fluid.

Shear Stress/Shear Rate Illustration

Moving Plate, velocity = 1.0 cm/sec
Force

Fluid
Velocity 1 cm
Profile

Fixed Plate, velocity = 0 cm/sec

 Newtonian Fluids

For some fluids shear stress is directly proportional to

shear rate, a fluid of this
type is called Newtonian.

Viscosity
m
Shear stress
m

Shear rate Shear rate

 Non-newtonian Fluids

Shear
Stress

Viscosity
Funnel
Viscosity
Fann (VG) Meter
A. Marsh Funnel

D. Indicator Dial C. Thermometer E. Speed

Thermometer. 6
8
0
0
12
0
Control
on

off

B. Measuring D.
B. Hand Wheel Cup Stopwatch

A. Test Cup
50 10

C. Rotor 40

30
20

Sleeve
 Rheological Models (Pv and Yp)
Bingham Plastic Model

0 p
Where:

=Shear stress.

0 =Yield point or shear stress at zero shear rate (Y-intercept).

p =Plastic viscosity or rate of increase of shear stress with increasing shear

rate (slope of the line).

= Shear rate.

Pv
YP
Where: 300
= Fann dial reading at rotary speed,( lb/100Ft 2).

= Fann rotary speed, (rpm).

Yp = yield point (Y intercept).

Pv = plastic viscosity (slope of the line).

 Bingham Plastic Model
 Bingham Plastic Model
Plastic Viscosity
Plastic viscosity usually is described as that part of
resistance to flow caused by mechanical friction.
Primarily , it is affected by:
1. Solids concentration.
2. Size and shape of solids.
3. Viscosity of the fluid phase.
Yield point

Yield point is that part of the resistance to flow caused by

the attractive forces between, particles or
: The magnitude of this force is function of

1.The type of solids and surface charges associated with them.

2. The amount of solids.
3. The ion concentration of salts in the fluid phase of the mud.
Gel Strengths
 Power Law Model
n
k
Where:

Shear stress.

K Consistency index.

Shear rate.

n Power Law index.

 Power Law Model
Depending on the value of "n" three different types of flow
profiles and
fluid behavior exist:

1. n < 1: The fluid is shear-thinning, non-Newtonian.

2. n = 1: The fluid is Newtonian.
3. n > 1: The fluid is dilatant, shear-thickening
(drilling fluids are not in this category).
 n & k Calculations
n=3.32 log (600/ 300)
n is Flow Behavior Index
n value measures of how shear thinning is fluids are.
n = 1 Fluids is Water
n < 1 mud is more shear thinning
n > 1 viscosity of fluids increases with increases of
share rate

K is a Consistency Factor describes the type of

viscosity as solids content increases in the mud k
increases
K = 600/(1022)n
 Modified Power Law

n
0 k
Some Factors Affecting Rheology

Temperature
Pressure
Time
Rheologic Properties
Funnel Viscosity
Bingham Plastic model
Plastic Viscosity
Yield Strength
Gel Strengths
 DRILLING FLUID TESTS
PLASTIC VISCOSITY
Measure of the internal resistance to fluid flow
600 rpm reading - 300 rpm reading

PV INDICATORS
Amount, Type and Size of Solids
 DRILLING FLUID TESTS
YIELD POINT
Resistance to initial flow or the stress required to
start the fluid moving.
300 rpm reading - PV

YP INDICATORS
Electrically active solids
Improper chemical additions
 DRILLING FLUID TESTS
GEL STRENGTHS
Resistance to initial flow under static conditions.
10 Seconds - deflection after 10 seconds
10 Minute - deflection after 10 minutes

GEL STRENGTH INDICATORS

Electrically active solids
Improper chemical additions
 RHEOLOGICAL
FLOW REGIMES

05/28/17 Dr. Ben Younes 51

 Stage 1: No Flow

Drill String Annulus

Formation

05/28/17 Dr. Ben Younes 52

 Stage 2: Plug Flow

Drill String Annulus

Formation

05/28/17 Dr. Ben Younes 53

 Stage 3: Transition (Plug to
Laminar)

Drill String Annulus

Formation

05/28/17 Dr. Ben Younes 54

 Stage 4: Laminar (Streamline) Flow

Annulus
Drill String

Formation

05/28/17 Dr. Ben Younes 55

 Stage 5: Transition (Laminar to
Turbulent)

Drill String Annulus

Formation

05/28/17 Dr. Ben Younes 56

 Stage 6: Turbulent Flow

Fully developed eddy currents

Drill String Annulus

Formation

05/28/17 Dr. Ben Younes 57

 Type of Flow

Dye Laminar Flow

Water
Color

Dye Turbulent Flow

Water

05/28/17 Dr. Ben Younes 58

 Filtration Control Importance
Formation Evaluation
Filtrate Invasion
Thick Cakes
Stuck Tools
Formation Damage
Filtrate Invasion
Particle Plugging
Formation Stability
Sloughing
Collapse of Unconsolidated Formations
 API vs HT-HP
No Direct Correlation
Only +/- Trends
API filtrate used for Chemical Analysis
HT-HP Closer to downhole conditions
Filtration Theory
 Filtration Control
The thin film of mud solids deposited on the walls
of the hole are called filter cake.

Fluid invading the formation is called filtrate.

Filtration, or fluid loss, is the loss of fluid from

the drilling mud to the formation.

The objective of correct fluid loss control is to form

a thin, tough filter cake on the walls of the hole in
permeable formations and prevent excessive loss
of filtrate or mud.
 Filtration Control
For a filter cake to form, the mud must contain
particles of a critical size that stick at
bottlenecks in the flow channel bridging
particles.

Bridging effectively reduces the pore opening

size, allowing progressively finer particles to be
deposited in the filter cake.

The Spurt Loss is the initial fluid lost to the

formation while the filter cake is being formed.
 Filtration Control
Filtration is both a dynamic and a static process.

When the mud is static, the filtrate volume and

filter cake thickness increase in proportion to the
square root of time i.e. the rate of filtration slows
with time.

When the mud is in motion, erosion of the filter

cake from the wellbore occurs at a constant rate.
When the rate of filter cake deposition equals the
rate of erosion, the cake thickness and filtration
rate become constant.
 Filtration Control
Field measurement of filtration properties is
limited to static conditions.

There are 2 filtration tests:

A low pressure, low temperature test

A high temperature, high pressure test
 Filtration Control
Why do we need to control filtration rates?

Stable, impermeable formations such as chalk or

salt can be drilled without any filtration control.

Permeable formations such as sandstones require

filtration control to:

- Prevent mud solids and filtrate from entering the

formation (reservoir damage)
- Prevent the formation of excessively thick filter cake
tight hole, differential sticking
 Filtration control
Shales and claystones are water-sensitive. Ingress of filtrate can cause

- Swelling
- Dispersion
- Pressure transmission
- Wellbore instability

Thin, flexible filter cake can prevent downhole mud losses to fractured
formations.
 Filtration Control
Filtration control products
can be solid or dispersible in
the liquid phase of the mud:

- Calcium Carbonate
- Bentonite
- Barite
- Starch
- CMC (carboxymethylcellulose)
- PAC (Polyanionic cellulose)
- Asphalt
 Filtration
Filtration and filter cake deposition in the wellbore
can be:
A static process no circulation of fluid
A dynamic process fluid being circulated

Dynamic filtration rates are higher than static rates.

Field measurements of filtration rates are based on

static filtration tests:
Low temperature
100 psi & ambient temperature
HTHP
500 psi pressure differential & match temperature to BHT
 Filtration
Darcys Law states that the rate of filtration is related to permeability,
pressure, viscosity and filtercake thickness:
Where K = Permeability (Darcies)
P = Differential pressure (atm)
dq
= kP = Filtrate viscosity (cP)
dt h
h = Thickness (cm)
q = filtrate volume (ml)
t = Time (s)

If Qw is the volume of filtrate, Qc the volume of filtercake & A is the area

of the cake, then Darcys law can be re-written as:
A22kP Qw t
Qw =
2
Qc
 Filtration
Plotting a graph of filtrate volume with time, shows
that there is an initial mud spurt after which the rate
of filtration is constant.

15
Filtrate Volume (ml)

10

Mud Spurt
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Time (min)
 Filtration
For a constant pressure, where q0 is the mud
spurt, Darcys law can be re-written as:
2kP Qw
Qw q0 = A (Ct) Where C = Qc

Therefore, for a standard area of filtercake, the

filtrate volume can be predicted, given the filtrate
volume at a known time:
t2 Where Qw1 = Filtrate at time t1
Qw2 q0 = (Qw1 q0)
t1 Qw2 = Filtrate at time t2

Thus if t1 =7.5 mins & t2 = 30 mins, the volume of

filtrate at 30 mins is double that at 7.5 mins.
 Filtration - Pressure Effects
According to Darcys law, the volume of filtrate
should be proportional to the square root of
pressure ie. Qw P

This is not generally the case as mud filtercakes

are compressible - Qw P0 0.2 ie. pressure
does not have much effect on filtrate.

Viscosity of oil increases with pressure so, for

oil muds, increasing pressure reduces the
filtrate.
 Filtration - Temperature Effects
Viscosity of Water
Increasing temperature 2

can increase filtrate

volume by:
1.5

Viscosity (cP)
1
Reducing filtrate
viscosity 0.5

Degradation of mud
components 0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Changing filtercake Temperature (C)

permeability

Water in oil mud filtrate is an indication of emulsifier

degradation.
 Filtration - Filtercake
Filtercake thickness, generally measured in 1/32,
can contribute to wellbore problems:
Differential sticking
Tight hole
Torque & drag

Filtercake thickness is determined by:

Particle size & distribution

Electrochemical properties of the mud

Good quality filtercakes should be thin, tough and flexible.

 Filtration - Filtercake
The filtercake is built up as solids are deposited in the
pore spaces of the formation:
Internal filtercake
External filtercake

FRACTURE
HOLE

Schematic
of Formation

Filtrate invasion zone External filter cake

 Fluid Loss Control Additives
Water Based Muds

Cellulosic Polymers
Low viscosity Carboxy Methyl Cellulose
Polyanionic Cellulose
Hydroxy Ethyl Cellulose
Starch and its derivatives

Sodium Polyacrylates

High temperature copolymers and terpolymers

copolymers contain 2 monomers, terpolymers contain 3.
Many are AMPS based (2-Acrylamido-2-Methyl-Propane Sulphonic acid).

Pre cross-linked Methyl Styrene Acrylate copolymer.

 Carboxy Methyl Cellulose
CMC is an anionic polymer in varying forms of purity.
Formed form reacting cellulose hydroxyls (obtained from many sources
e.g. caustic soda on wood or cotton linters) with Sodium
monoChloroacetic acid.
Product is washed to get rid of reaction by products - salt and sodium
glycolate.
99% pure Sodium CMC can be produced.
Degree Of Substitution
Defined as the average number of the three hydroxyl groups in the anhydroglucose
unit which have been reacted
 Poly Anionic Cellulose
The structure below depicts Sodium CMC where the degree of substitution
is 1.
Most CMCs have a DS of 0.7 to 0.8. CMCs with at degree of substitution of
1 are called Poly Anionic Cellulose. [ ie:- PAC ] hence names such as MIL-
PAC .
 Applications & Limitations
Divalent ion tolerance. Recommended maximum concentration for
Calcium and Magnesium is circa 400 mg/L.

This highly anionic molecule is subject to electric double layer effects.

Pure grade PACs can produce viscosity to the same degree as Xanthan
Gums, but they do not exhibit the same particulate suspension
characteristics.

The ultra low viscosity PACs can act as thinners in certain mud systems.

Temperature stable to 125C, dependant on exposure time.

 Fluid Loss Control Additives
Oil Based Muds

Fluid loss control in OBMs is influenced by the quality and quantity of the
internal phase emulsion as well as by fluid loss control additives.
The presence / absence of water in the filtrate of the HT-HP filtration test is
used as a qualitative indicator of emulsion stability in an invert emulsion
Particulate additives which are softened when in contact with the oil
phase and by temperature can be used to further reduce the fluid loss
value to low values.
Examples of the above are:-
Gilsonite
Pliolite
Filtration Control
 Filtration Control Importance
Drilling/Rig Problems
Stuck Pipe
Swab/Surge Pressures
Poor Cement Jobs
Stuck Casing
 Filtration Control Types

STATIC

DYNAMIC
 Static Filtration Characteristics
Cake Builds With Time
Impacts Differential Sticking
Filtration Rate Continuously Decreases
 Dynamic Filtration Characteristics
Mud Flow Erodes Cake
Deposition and Erosion Rates Equalize
Filtration Rate Becomes Constant
Cake Thickness Becomes Constant
Influences Future Filtration Characteristics
Fluid Loss Measurement Static (API)
 Fluid Loss Measurement - Static
API
Reported in Milliliters
Conducted At:
100 psi Differential
30 Minutes
Ambient Temperature
Fluid Loss - Static (HTHP)
4140 kPa (600 psi)

150 C (300 F)
o o

Valve Stem

Valve Stem

690 kPa
(100 psi)
Dynamic HT-HP

Determines fluid
loss and filter
cake quality
under
temperature,
pressure and
dynamic
conditions
 Dynamic HT-HP
P
Inlet Pressure

HT-HP Cell Rotating Stem

VARIABLE SPEED

DC MOTOR

Filter Cake Filter Medium

Back-Up Plate RPM'S

4
3 5
2 6

Back Pressure P Receiver Cell 1 7

SCR CONTROLLER
Filtrate
 Darcy's Law

d Vf kA P
=
dt
h

Vf = Volume of filtrate
t = Filtration Time
k = Cake Permeability
A= Filtration Area
P = Filtration Pressure
h = Thickness of Cake
= Viscosity of Filtrate
Darcy's Law Time Factor

V2 T2
=

V1 T1

T2
V2 = V1 x

T1
 Darcy's Law Time Factor

Example Converting a 7.5 minute fluid loss to 30 minutes

Time 2 = 30 minutes
Time 1 = 7.5 minutes
Fluid loss at 7.5 minutes = 5 ccs

V2 = 5 30
x
7.5
 Filter Cake Quality
Particle Size Distribution
Compressibility of solids
Lubricity
State of Flocculation
Thickness
Filtration Rate
Solids Content
 Filter Cake Materials - Beneficial
Bentonite
Polymers
Temperature Stabilizers
Deflocculants
 DRILLING FLUID TESTS
FLUID LOSS
Measure of the relative amount of fluid lost through
permeable formations or membranes when subjected to
pressure.
API - 100 psi Differential
HTHP - 500 psi Differential at elevated temperature
Filter cake evaluation
FLUID LOSS INDICATORS
High Reactive Solids
Improper Chemical Additions
Formation Induced Chemical Imbalance
Sticking Potential with Excessive Wall Cake
Standard API Filter Press
High Temperature - High Pressure Device
Fluid Loss - Static (HTHP)
4140 kPa (600 psi)

150 C (300 F)
o o

Valve Stem

Valve Stem
690 kPa
(100 psi)
Solids Analysis
Solids Measurement
 DRILLING FLUID TESTS
SOLIDS CONTENT
Measure of the amount and type of solids present
in the fluid.
Retort of fluid to determine the amount of fluid
and solids present.

SOLIDS INDICATORS
High fluid loss
Excessive wall cake
Increase in flow properties (PV & GELS)
 DRILLING FLUID TESTS
Sand CONTENT
Measure of the amount of
solids greater than 74
microns in size.
Sand Content Tube is used.

SAND INDICATORS
High fluid loss
Excessive/poor quality wall
cake
Increase in flow properties
(PV & GELS)
Abrasion of tools occurring
 Drilling Fluid Tests

METHYLENE BLUE TEST

Determination of the
bentonite equivalent in a
drilling fluid.
Titration using Methylene
Blue Solution

MBT INDICATORS
Improper bentonite
additions
High concentration of
bentonite equivalent
shales
 Drilling Fluid Tests
pH
ALKALINITY
Determination of the maximum equivalent numbers of an
acid which can react with a base and form a salt.
Titration with acid to a certain end point.

ALKALINITY INDICATORS
Carbonates
Bicarbonates
Hydroxides
Occasionally Borates, Silicates and Phosphates
 Drilling Fluid Tests
Hardness
Calcium
Magnesium
Salt Content
Chlorides
Special Titrations
pH Paper
pH meter
 Chemical Testing Procedures
Note the units the pipette
measures!
Avoid using the same
pipette for different
chemicals.
Use a syringe for mud or
viscous additives
For caustic additions:
Use a syringe or
Dropper Bottle!