Drilling Fluid Functions

 Hole Cleaning

• Transport and remove drilled cuttings

• Release cuttings at the surface
• Suspend cuttings and weight material

 Pressure balance ( P = 0.052 * TVD * MW )

 Wellbore Stability

 Seal permeable formations

 Prevent damage to producing zones

 Provide hydraulic horsepower to bit and motors

 Provides a communication medium for MWD tools

 Clean, Cool, and Lubricate bit and drill string

 Reduce Corrosion

 Must be environmentally safe

 Functions of Drilling Fluids

Poor cuttings removal

Hole Sloughing
 Prevent Stuck Pipe Lost Circulation
Differential pressure Sticking
 Improve Penetration Rates Key seating
 Prevent bit balling
 Provide filtration control
 Drilling Fluids Selection Criteria

• Lithology Concerns
• Performance
• Production Concerns
• Cost
• Logistics
• Safety
• Environmental Impact
 Planning A Well

• Geological prospect
– Exploration
– Development

• Offset data
– Geological
– Engineering

• Design criteria
– Objectives of well (production, information, costs)
– Surface & bottom hole locations
– Well control
– Bit selection
– Drilling fluid selection
– Casing design
Well Mechanical Design
Drilling Fluids Program

Problems to
Required Information be encountered

Wellbore Instability
Lost Circulation
Low ROP in the shale
Troublesome
sections
Zones
Time exposure
Hole Cleaning

GPM, HSI and TFA

Hydraulics Decreased ROP

BUR and BHA

Mechanical Well Design
Designs
Reactive Clays
Litholgy (Red Beds)