Functions of Drilling Fluids

Course Name :- Drilling Fluids

Course Code :- DF-101
Department of Petroleum Engineering
Lecturer: - Dana M. Khidhir
Academic year 2021-2022
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 Learning outcome

By the end of this lesson you will be able to

• Understand the fundamentals of drilling fluids

• Get to know the functions of drilling fluids

• Apply and analyze different techniques used in drilling operations

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 Session Outline

• What is Drilling fluid ( Drilling Mud)

• What are the main Functions of Drilling Fluids
• Main Types of Drilling Fluids
• Classwork activity
• Student feedback
• References 3
 What is drilling Fluid
• fluids that are used during the drilling of subterranean wells.
• They provide primary well control of subsurface pressures

• They are most often circulated down the drill string, out the
bit and back up the annulus to the surface

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 Functions of Drilling fluids

1. Cool , lubricate bit and drill string

• Drilling action requires mechanical energy in form of weight on bit, rotation
and hydraulic energy
• Large part of energy dissipated as heat
• Heat must be removed to allow drilling
• Mud helps remove heat
• remove cutting between the teeth and prevent bit balling

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 2- Control formation pressure

• For safe drilling, high formation pressures must

be contained within the hole to prevent damage
and injury
• This achieved by hydrostatic pressure of mud
• Mud pressure should be higher than formation
pressure
• An overbalance of 100-200 psi is used
• HP (psi)  = 0.052 x MW (ppg) x TVD (ft)
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Petroleum Engineering Handbook,2007

 3-Stabilize the wellbore
• Good mud cake stabilize the hole

• Filter Cake - A layer of concentrated

solids from the drilling mud which
forms on the walls of the bore- hole
opposite permeable formations.

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Kate Van Dyke (1998)
 4:- Help in evaluation and interpretation of
well logs
• During logging mud fill the hole
Logs used to detect hydrocarbon,
measure porosity, formation
pressure
• Mud should posses properties that
help evaluate these properties
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 5:-Carry cuttings to surface

• Transport Cuttings
• Fluid flowing from the bit nozzles exerts a
jetting action to clear cuttings from the
bottom of the hole and the bit

• If the cuttings generated at the bit face are

not immediately removed and started toward
the surface, they will be grounded very fine, 9
 Classwork activity (Think - Pair - Share)

• What are the uses of Drilling fluids in drilling operations?

• 1- Think – individually ( Brainstorm)

• 2- Pair- with your group and discuss ( each group 5/6 members)
• 3- Share your answers as a group ( team leader can present)

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 Class feedback
• Edmodo class code (dwxh6m)
Homework for next class :- Go to the first post and click the
form link
• https://forms.gle/KYDoqArkokQBotSz5

•
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 References

• Al-Ansary, M. S., & Al-Tabbaa, A. (2004) ‘Stabilisation/solidification of

synthetic north sea drill cuttings containing oil and chloride, Barcelona,
Spain, 8 to 11 November 2004, pp. 833-842.
• Chilingarian, G. V. and Vorabutr, P. (1983) Drilling and drilling fluids.
Amsterdam: Elsevier Scientific
• Shah, S. N., Shanker, N. H. and Ogugbue, C. C. (2010) ‘Future challenges of
drilling fluids and their rheological measurements’ AADE fluids conference
and exhibition, Houston, Texas, 5-7 April 2010.
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