Drilling Engineering-I

Pet-E-211L
Lab Instructor :
Engr. Muhammad Awais Qureshi

Department of Petroleum &

Gas Engineering 06/22/2021
 Experiment # 02:
• Objective:
• Preparation of drilling mud of desired density.

• Given Statement:
• Prepare a drilling mud of density 11 ppg , using barite and fresh
water. What amount of barite should be added in 200 mL of
water to have the required density mud?
• Density of Water = Do = 8.33 ppg
• Density of Barite = Da = 35 ppg
• Required Density = Df= 11 ppg

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 Apparatus
• Mud Mixer
• Barite
• Salt
• Water
• Measuring cylinder
• Graduated Beaker
• Mud Balance
• Weighing Balance

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 Related Theory
• Mud Balance:
• It consists of a graduated beam with a bubble level and a weight slider
along its length and a cup with a lid on one end.
• The cup is used to hold a fixed amount of liquid so it can be weighed.
• A slider-weight can be moved along the beam, and a bubble indicates
when the beam is leveled.
• Density is read at the point where the slider-weight sits on the beam at
level.
• Calibration is done using a liquid of known density (often water) by
adjusting the counter weight.
• Typical mud balances are not pressurized, but a pressurized mud
balance operates in the same manner.

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Mud Balance

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• Bentonoite:
• The mineral bentonite can be found all over the world. It is formed
from weathering volcanic ash. It has some exceptional properties:
• when stirred into water, it demonstrates a so-called thixotropic
reaction. It reacts as a fluid when mechanically stressed, for example
shaken or stirred. However, it hardens in quiescent condition because
its viscosity increases.
• The most common use of bentonite is in drilling fluids.
• The bentonite in the flush fluid lubricates and cools the cutting tools
while protecting against corrosion.
• As the drilling fluid generates hydrostatic pressure in the borehole, it
hinders fluid and gas penetration. The drilling liquid conveys the
drill cuttings to the surface. When the purge pumps have idle
periods, the thixotrophy of the bentonite hinders the stone material
from dropping back into the drilled shaft.

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Barite:
• Barite is the primary, naturally occurring, barium-based mineral. 
• The chemical formula for barite is BaSO4.  It has a high specific
gravity of 4.50 g/cm3.
• The overwhelming majority of the barite that is mined is used by
the petroleum industry as a weighting material in the formulation
of drilling mud.  
• Barite increases the hydrostatic pressure of the drilling mud
allowing it to compensate for high-pressure zones experienced
during drilling.  
• The softness of the mineral also prevents it from damaging drilling
tools during drilling and enables it to serve as a lubricant.  
• The American Petroleum Institute (API) has established
specifications for the use of barite in drilling mud.

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 Density and Specific
Gravity
Material Specific Gravity Density
Water 1 8.33
Bentonite 2.5 20.3
Barite 4.5 35

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 Procedure
•1)   First of fall calculate the weight of barite for mixing in 200
mL of water to prepare 11 ppg mud by using Equation 2.1
W (2.1)
Where ,
W= Required weight of additive material, lb/bbl
Da = Density of Additive, ppg
Df= Desired density of new mud, ppg
Do= Density of original liquid used to prepare mud (water or
anyother), ppg

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2) Exact weight of barite is measured using digital weighting balance.
3) Selected volume of Water is measured using graduated beaker.
4) Measured quantities of barite and water are taken and mixed for 3-5
min in electric mixer.
5) Now measure the density of the mud by using mud balance. So firstly,
calibrate Mud balance by using water as reference.
6) After calibration, completely fill the cup with completely agitated mud
sample to be tested
7) Put the lid and rotate until firmly seated, making sure some mud must
expel through the lid hole.
8) Wipe away the mud from the outside of the cup and lid.
9) Place the mud balance in its position.
10) Move the rider until the graduated arm is level indicated by the
bubble.
11) Note down the density reading, adjust the error if present and then
convert it into Specific Gravity (SG).

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 Observation and
Calculations
•Using
  Equation W , lb/bbl
Where ,
W= Required weight of additive material, lb/bbl
Da = Density of Additive= 35 ppg
Df= Desired density of new mud= 11 ppg
Do= Density of original liquid used to prepare mud= 8.33 ppg
1lb/bbl = 2.85 x 10^-3 grams/ml
• W = ? grams/mL
• W = ? Grams/200 mL

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 Precautions
• It is essential that all parts of mud balance should be kept
clean if accurate results are to be obtained.
• Calibration is necessary for mud balance.
• All air bubbles which may trap in the cup must be eliminated.
• Wear relevant Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

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 Viva Voce
1)Using the mud weights (ppg) obtained from your sample in
experiment # 01,calculate how much hydrostatic pressure that
each sample will exert on a formation at a depth of 10,000 ft ?
2) What is the difference between Over-balance and Under-
balance?

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