WATER BASE MUD

Presented By

Mortaza Muhalhal Ehmood

Ameer Basheer
Hussain Sahib Abed
Sura Ghazi Naji

Ameer Hassan Jawad

 INTRODUCTION

Water-based drilling mud (WBM), otherwise known as

water-based drilling fluid, has freshwater or saltwater as its
major mixing medium, unlike oil-based drilling fluid in
which oil is the major mixing medium .The most basic
water-based mud systems begin with water, then clays and
other chemicals are incorporated into the water to create a
homogeneous blend resembling something between
chocolate milk and a malt (depending on viscosity).
The fluid is the mud in which water is the continuous
phase. This is the most common drilling mud used in oil
drilling.
 Composition of water-based drilling mud
WBMs are made up of minerals, salts, and organic compounds. The base fluid is
water.The additives in water-based muds include
alkalis, salts, surfactants, organic polymers, barite, and clay. In addition, water-based
drilling muds
are also made of several metals. The toxic metals found in water-based muds include
arsenic, nickel,
chromium, barite, cadmium, copper, iron, lead, mercury and zinc (Neff et al., 1987).
They also contain a substantial quantity of organic matter such as biopolymers,
which are highly degradable
and less toxic (Schaaning et al.,2008). The composition of water-based muds is as
shown in Figure
2.1) (Neff, 2005). The mud additives are selected based on the type of formation to
be drilled, formation lithologies, and cost
 THE ADVANTAGE OF (WBM)

The major advantages of WBMs are as follows

(Apaleke, 2012):
• It is easy to handle, inexpensive, and cost effective.
• Low toxicity on the environment.
• It is readily available.
• High rate of penetration
Disadvantages of Water- based mud

According to Mellot, the major disadvantages of WBMs

are as follows (Mellot, 2008):
Unwanted increase in density from salt in a formation
Causes formation damage.
Causes clay disintegration and dispersion
Not effective in sensitive shale formation
Causes corrosion
 Types of water-based muds

Water-based muds are categorised into dispersed and non-dispersed muds. The
main difference between dispersed and non-dispersed muds is the lack of a
dispersant. In the dispersed muds, chemical dispersant is used to disperse mud
solids. Dispersants such as lignite and lignosulfonate are in use. Since the
dispersants are acidic, they required an alkaline environment to function
properly. The dispersants make it possible for clay to defloculate to control
fluid losses. In non-dispersed mud, dispersants are not added. One of the
viscosifiers and fluid loss agents used in water-based muds is bentonite. The
pH of water-based mud is controlled with caustic soda (NaOH) while the
density is controlled with weighting agents. There are two categories of
dispersed muds: calcium-based and seawater muds. Since the non-dispersed
drilling muds do not need high pH, a dispersant is not needed, but they are not
as tolerant of solids and contamination as the dispersed muds. Polymers are
usually used for fluid loss control and for viscosity. The polymers and other
mud additives are very susceptible to contaminations from produced gases and
fluids (Young, 1993). Water-based fluids are classified as follows (Mitcheland
Miska, 2011):
• Inhibitive
• Non-inhibitive
• Polymer
 NON-INHIBITIVE

Non-inhibitive fluids are simple and

inexpensive. Their composition will
vary depending on the requirements
of the local lithology, type of makeup
water, hole size, and anticipated
contaminants. These muds have
definite limitations which become
evident when drilling dispersive
formations, encountering
contaminants and high temperatures,
or increasing fluid density.
 INHIBITIVE
Inhibitive fluids are fluids which do not
cause appreciable formation alteration.
These fluids are primarily used for drilling
shale and clay formations; however, they
are also used in areas where
contamination is a problem. Even in large
quantities salt, anhydrite, and cement can
be handled successfully with the proper
inhibitive fluid. Inhibitive salt-based muds
use sodium chloride (NaCl) to achieve
inhibition. Calcium-based muds use lime
(Ca(OH)2) or gyp (CaSO4^2H2O), and
potassium-based muds use caustic potash
(KOH), potassium chloride (KCl), potassium
carbonate (K2CO3), and other 
potassium-based additives to achieve
inhibition
 POLYMER

Those which rely on macromolecules,

either with or without clay interactions
to provide mud properties, and are very
diversified in their application. These
fluids can be inhibitive or non-inhibitive
depending upon whether an inhibitive
cation is used. Polymers can be used to
viscosity fluids, control filtration
properties, deflocculate solids, or
encapsulate solids. The thermal
stability of polymer systems can range
upwards to 400°F. In spite of their
diversity, polymer fluids have
limitations. Solids are a major threat to
successfully running a cost-effective 
polymer mud system.
 T Y P E S O F P R O B L E M S W I T H M U D A N D H O W T O T R E AT T H E M

HIGH VISCOSITY
Disadvantages-
• : A - Increasing the pump pressure to move the mud.
• B – Probabilities of losing mud.
• C – Increasing erosion of the pipes.
• D – low penetration rate .
Reasons for increased viscosity:
• A - An increase cutting in the mud.
• B - contamination of mud with salt
• C - Clay contamination with (Ca++) or (MG++) ions.
• D – Existence of layers containing (MARLE)
• E-Use a lot of bentonite
• F- added oil
Treatment
If it is the result of an increase in rock pieces, then the use of two devices to isolate the sand and rock pieces
(DESANDER & DESILTER) is the best solution or the use of water so that it does not affect the amount of
infiltration and if the cause is contamination, then use chemical additives.
 T Y P E S O F P R O B L E M S W I T H M U D A N D H O W T O T R E AT T H E M

HIGH WEIGHT
Disadvantages
• 1- Causes mud loss if there are weak layers.
• 2- Increase the pump pressure.
• 3-Causes stuck pipe in porous layers.
• 4- Slow penetration rate .
Why!!
• 1- Increasing Penetration rate and increasing the rock cuttings.
• 2- Lack of efficient devices to dispose of solid materials.
• 3- Using more quantities of barite than necessary.
Treatment
• 1- Using the disposal devices for solid materials, sand separator (DESANDER),
• (SHALE SHAKER) and silt isolator (DESILTER).
• 2- Using water or oil when necessary.
• 3- Use of POLYMERS
 T Y P ES O F P RO B LE M S W I T H M U D A N D H O W TO TR EAT
TH EM
High filtration
Disadvantages
• 1-Causes stuck pipe
• 2- Increased viscosity.
• 3- Demolition of shale and sand cavitation.
• 4- Swelling of the clay in the production formation of the well and the cement that binds its particles and closed of its
pores.
• 5- Clogged pores with water (WATER BLOCKING).
Why-:
• 1- Because there is not enough amount of bentonite.
• 2- The presence of a large amount of solid materials (CUTTING).
• 3- Mud contamination with various pollutants.
• 4- Heavily water using.
Treatment-:
• 1- Getting rid of pollutants.
• 2- Not to use water frequently unless necessary.
• 3- Dispose of solid materials.
• 4- Add a sufficient amount of bentonite.
• 5- Use of chemicals.
• 6- Use of low water loss materials