Sag in Drilling Muds

SAG
Variation in mud density
while circulating bottoms up after
a trip or logging/casing run
Trip Report
Water-Base Mud
M
u
dW
ei
ght
O u
t
(l
b/g
al)
19
Mud
W ei
ght
In=
17
l
b/g
al
1
8
.5 S am
pl
esfr
om S
h
ak
e
rUnder
f
lo
w

1
8
P
r
es
su
r
i
zed
Ba
l
anc
e
1
7
.5

1
7
B
a
se
l
i
neW
e
i
ght
1
6
.5

1
6

1
5
.5
0 2
5 5
0 7
510
012
515
017
5
C
i
rcu
l
ati
ngT
i
me(
mi
n)
M-I/Mobil Study (1990)
Barite Sag

 Primarily a dynamic settling problem

 Minimized by elevating LSRV and gels

 Affected by annular velocity and pipe

movement
 Requires proper mud treatment and
operational procedures
M-I/Mobil Study (1990)
Barite Sag

 Can lead to common drilling, cementing,

logging problems

 Can occur in directional wells in all types

of weighted muds

 Must be systematically checked on trip

reports
Boycott Settling

C
l
ar
i
fi
edF
l
ui
d
S
u
s
pe
n
s
i
onZ
o
n
e

S
a
g
(S
e
d
im
en
t
)
Bed

S
l
ump
Two Mechanisms
Sag

 Dynamic settling

 Static settlling
Sag Chronology

 Mud sags under dynamic conditions

 Sag slumps under any flow conditions
 Mud sags and slumps faster at
intermediate angles
 Sag slumps faster while pumping
slowly or tripping
 Circulate low MW, then high MW, then
regular MW
Sag Register

Sr = e (10 • Wd / Wc)

Wd = Wmax - Wmin
Wc = Circulating Mud Weight
Sag Register

No Sag: Sr = 1.0

Minimal Sag: 1 < Sr < 2.5

Moderate Sag: 2.5 < Sr < 5.0

Severe Sag: Sr > 5.0

Sag Study
14.7 ppg NOVADRIL
Field Mud (Diluted)

Mud Weight, ppg 14.7

PV @ 120°F, cp 38
YP, lb/100 ft² -1
10s/10m Gels, lb/100 ft² 3/14
% PAO 60
% Water 10
% Solids 10
% Drill Solids 3
PAO / Water 86/14
Sag Study
M-I Sag Flow Loop

20
Base Mud R6 = 10 18.9

18
16.3
Mud Wt (ppg)

16
14.6 Base
14 MW
12.7

12

10
Seg 1 2 3 4
Sag Study
M-I Sag Flow Loop

16
Base Mud + 2.25-ppb NOVAMOD R6 = 10
15
13.9 14 13.9 13.9 Base
Mud Wt (ppg)

14
MW
13

12

11

10
Seg 1 2 3 4
Sag Study
M-I Sag Flow Loop
M
u
dW
t(
pp
g)
7
1
4
.
7-
pp
gN
O
VA
D
RI
L
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
0 0
.
75 1
.
5 2
.
25
(
Ba
se
) N
O
V
AM
OD
A
dd
i
t
ion
(
pp
b)
Bottoms-Up Trip Report
for a Gulf Coast Well
M
u
dWe
i
ghtOu
t(
lb/
gal
)
1
8
S
am
pl
esf
rom
sh
ak
er
und
er
fl
ow

1
7
S
t
age
di
n h
ol
e

1
6

1
5
N
os
t
agi
ngi
n h
ol
e

1
4
0 2
0 4
0 60 8
0
Ci
rcu
l
ati
ngT
i
m e(
m i
n)
Minimizing Sag
Mud Properties

 Elevate low-shear-rate viscosity

 Improve suspension
 Minimize mud thinning
 Avoid flocculation
 Ensure proper barite wetting in non-
aqueous muds
 Add premix carefully
Minimizing Sag
Operational Parameters

 Anticipate sag in well planning

 Use high annular velocity
 Avoid circulating at low flow rates for
extended periods
 Rotate drill string
 Stage to bottom after trips