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1.0 ABSTRACT
This experiment conducted to study the effect of contamination of Gypsum (CaSO
4
2H
2
O) to
the density, Plastic Viscosity (
p
) and Yield Point (Y
p
) of water based mud. Gypsum is one of the
salts that commonly encountered during drilling, completion or work over operations. The
experiment started by preparing 200ml based mud in a Beaker A and Beaker B and the drilling
fluid initially tested for weight, PV and Yp by using viscometer. Drilling fluid initially tested for
weight, PV and Yp by using viscometer. After the values were recorded, about 5g of gypsum
were added in the beaker that contains water based mud. The mud containing gypsum is stirred
for 3 minutes. The values of viscosity, PV, Yp, density and pH value are recorded. The
experiment was repeated by adding 10, 15 and 20 grams of gypsum into the water based mud.
Basically, the viscosity, pH value, density, yield point and the mud weight is increasing as the
amount of gypsum is increase while for plastic viscosity; the value is decreasing as the gypsum
is increase.

2.0 INTRODUCTION
The drilling fluid system, commonly known as the mud system is the single component
of the well-construction process that remains in contact with the wellbore throughout the entire
drilling operation. Drilling fluid systems are designed and formulated to perform efficiently under
expected wellbore conditions. Advances in drilling fluid technology have made it possible to
implement a cost-effective, fit for purpose system for each interval in the well-construction
process.
Drilling fluid can be divided by three types which are freshwater systems, saltwater
systems, oil- or synthetic-based systems pneumatic (air, mist, foam, gas) fluid systems. The
functions of drilling fluid in drilling operation are to clean the hole by transporting drilled cuttings
to the surface, where they can be mechanically removed from the fluid before it is recirculated
down hole, to balance or overcome formation pressures in the wellbore to minimize the risk of
well-control issues and to support and stabilize the walls of the wellbore until casing can be set
and cemented or open hole-completion equipment can be installed. Besides, drilling fluid also
act to prevent or minimize damage to the producing formations, cool and lubricate the drill string
and bit, transmits hydraulic horsepower to the bit and allow information about the producing
formations to be retrieved through cuttings analysis, logging-while-drilling data, and wire line
logs.

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A mud is said to be contaminated when a foreign material enters the mud system and
causes undesirable changes in mud properties, such as density, viscosity, and filtration.
Generally, water-based mud systems are the most susceptible to contamination. Mud
contamination can result from overtreatment of the mud system with additives or from material
entering the mud during drilling.
The most common contaminants to water-based mud systems are solids which are
being added, drilled, active or inert, gypsum or anhydrite, cement or lime, makeup water,
soluble bicarbonates and carbonates, soluble sulfides and salt or salt water flow.
The calcium ion is a major contaminant to freshwater-based sodium-clay treated mud
systems. The calcium ion tends to replace the sodium ions on the clay surface through a base
exchange, thus causing undesirable changes in mud properties such as rheology and filtration.
It also causes added thinners to the mud system to become ineffective. The treatment depends
on the source of the calcium ion. For example, sodium carbonate (soda ash) is used if the
source is gypsum or anhydrite. Sodium bicarbonate is the preferred treatment if the calcium ion
is from lime or cement. If treatment becomes economically unacceptable, break over to a mud
system, such as gypsum mud or lime mud, that can tolerate the contaminant.
One of the sources of calcium is gypsum. In this experiment, gypsum is used as
contaminator that mixes with water based-mud. Gypsum is ground Calcium Sulfate Dihydrate. It
is typically act as an inexpensive source of calcium and alkalinity in gyp-based drilling muds. It
can raised the pH level. Its solubility will increased at higher chloride levels. In water-based
systems, it can treated trona water and CO
2
contamination. Gypsum is a very soft sulfate
mineral composed of calcium sulfate dihydrate, with the chemical formula CaSO
4
2H
2
O. It can
be used as afertilizer, is the main constituent in many forms of plaster and is widely mined. A
very fine-grained white or lightly tinted variety of gypsum, calledalabaster, has been used for
sculpture.

3.0 OBJECTIVES
This experiment is to study the effect of contamination of Gypsum (CaSO
4
- 2H
2
O) to to the
density, Plastic Viscosity (
p
) and Yield Point (Y
p
) of water based mud.
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4.0 THEORY
Gypsum occurs in nature as flattened and often twinned crystals, and transparent,
cleavable masses called selenite. Selenite contains no significant selenium. Gypsum is a
common mineral, with thick and extensive evaporite beds in association with sedimentary rocks.
Gypsum is used in gypsum or lignosulfonate or polymer muds as a source of calcium ions for
inhibition and to convert bentonite to the calcium ion form. This avoids problems that might
otherwise occurs when anhydrite ids drilled. It can also be used as an economical treatment for
carbonate contamination in high pH muds with reaction:

CaSO
4
+ CO
3
2-
CaCO
3
+ SO
4
2-

Gypsum is deposited from lake and sea water, as well as in hot springs,
from volcanic vapors, and sulfate solutions in veins. Hydrothermal anhydrite in veins is
commonly hydrated to gypsum by groundwater in near-surface exposures. It is often associated
with the minerals halite and sulfur. Pure gypsum is white, but other substances found as
impurities may give a wide range of colours to local deposits. Because gypsum dissolves over
time in water, gypsum is rarely found in the form of sand.

In order to conducted the experiment, the properties that be measured surely known
in term of theory which means, what the relation between the properties and the mud. Yield
Point (yp) is one of parameters that be measured. Basically, it is resistance of initial flow of fluid
or the stress required in order to move the fluid. The parameter usually referred to the ability of
drilling mud where act as to carry cuttings to surface. Plastic Viscosity (PV) is referred to the
resistance of fluid to flow. It can be measured by using viscometer. The unit of PV is Centi-
Poise (CP) while for Yp is lb/100 ft
2
.

Plastic Viscosity (PV) = viscosity at 600 rpm viscosity at 300 rpm
Yield Point (Yp) = viscosity at 300 rpm PV
Apparent Viscosity = Viscosity at 600 rpm /2
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5.0 APPARATUS
To test for density
1) Lid and Cup 4) Rider
2) Level bubble 5) Counterweight
3) Graduated arm





Figure 5.1 Mud Balance

To test for pH value






Figure 5.2 pH meter


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To test for viscosity
1) Motor 5) Propeller
2) Gearhead 6) Transformer
3) Shaft coupling 7) Power supply
4) Extension rod







Figure 5.3 Viscometer

Material
1) Water Based Mud
2) Gypsum





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6.0 PROCEDURE
For viscometer
1. The power supply is first switched on then the mud sample is filled into the mud cup.
2. The thermocouple is plugged in.
3. The bob is screwed into the bob shaft until it is tight.
4. The sleeve is tightening onto the rotor shaft.
5. The mud sample is placed on the stage by positioning the alignment stem over the
corresponding hole on the stage.
For unit measurement
i. Go button- After enter the test step, Press 1.
ii. Set up button- Press 2 will display the test set up screen, enter the parameter for
the temperature and rotational speed for the first step of the test. Enter twice to
return to main screen.
iii. Review button- After running the test, press 3 to allow to allow review the test
result.
6. The speed of the viscometer is set to 300 rpm and the data is recorded. Step 1-6 is
repeated using 600 rpm.
Experimental procedure
1. A 400 ml water based mud is measured in a beaker.
2. The mud is test for weight, plastic viscosity and yield point using viscometer. The
data is recorded in the table.
3. The water based mud is then divided separately into two different beakers with 200
ml in each beaker.
4. Then, the beaker is labeled as Beaker A and Beaker B.
5. Five grams of gypsum is added for Beaker A and 15 grams for Beaker B.
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6. The sample is stirred for three minutes using mixer.
7. The sample is being rest for 15 minutes.
8. Step 2 is repeated for both Beaker A and Beaker B.
9. Another five grams of gypsum is added in both Beaker A and Beaker B.
10. Step 6-8 is repeated and the data is recorded.

7.0 RESULT
INITIAL
WATER
BESED MUD
WATER BASED MUD + GYPSUM
5g 10g 15g 20g
MUD
WEIGHT
(ppg)

10.6

8.5

8.7

9.1

9.0
PLASTIC
VISCOSITY
(
p
)

8.33

23

18

18

18
YIELD POINT
(Y
P
)

21. 835

18.5

27

28

29
DENSITY
(sp.gr)

1.28

1.02

1.05

1.07

1.08
pH 7.23 7.17 7.51 7.60 7.63
APPARENT
VISCOSITY
(
a
)

17.17

26.50

27.00

27.50

28.00
300 26.00 30.00 36.00 37.00 38.00
600 34.33 53.00 54.00 55.00 56.00



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Graph 7.1 shows a graph of density against the amount of gypsum.


Graph 7.2 shows a graph of plastic viscosity against the amount of gypsum.
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
1.4
0 5 10 15 20
density (sp gravity)
The amount of gypsum (g)
The graph of density versus amount of gypsum
0
5
10
15
20
25
0 5 10 15 20
plastic viscosity (
p
)
The amount of gypsum (g)
The graph of plastic viscosity versus amount of
gypsum
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Graph 7.3 shows a graph of yield point against the amount of gypsum.

8.0 SAMPLE CALCULATION

Apparent viscosity = 600 rpm reading 2
= 34.33 cp 2
= 17.165 cp
Plastic viscosity = 600 rpm reading 300 rpm reading
= 34.33 cp 26.00 cp
= 8.33 cp

Yield point = 300 rpm reading plastic viscosity
= 26 cp (8.33x0.5) cp
=21.835 lb/100 ft
2

0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
0 5 10 15 20
yield point (Y
p
)
The amount of gypsum (g)
The graph of yield point versus amount of
gypsum
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9.0 DISCUSSION
A mud is said to be contaminated when other materials enters the mud system and
causes undesirable changes in mud properties such as to the density, Plastic Viscosity (
p
) and
Yield Point (Y
p
) of water based mud. Comparing between water based mud and oil based mud,
water based mud systems are the most susceptible to contamination of various types. Mud
contamination can result from overtreatment of the mud system with additives or from material
entering the mud during drilling. Based on this experiment, it can be resolved that the objective
of this experiment which is to study the effect of contamination of Gypsum (CaSO
4
2H
2
O) to
density, Plastic Viscosity and Yield Point of water-based mud has been achieved. From the
experiment, it can be stated that density, Plastic Viscosity (
p
) and Yield Point (Y
p
) of the mud
can be influenced by the gypsum.
The experiment is run by using 5g, 10g, 15 g and 20 g of gypsum which are added as
contamination into the water based mud. The mud balance is used to measure the mud density.
Density of the mud is taken before added with gypsum. Gypsum is substances that have solid
properties. Some expectation has been made that the density of the drilling mud will increase
when the amount of gypsum was added to the drilling mud where the solid contents increased.
Based on the graph 7.1, density versus the number of gypsum, it showed that it is almost same
as theory which states that the density will increase as the amount of gypsum is higher. This is
because as the number of gypsum is increase 5g for each experiment, the weight must be
increase as well and same goes to the density which is the unit is in specific gravity. In
cementing, normally chemical additives are usually used to decrease the density when the
density is too high which then can cause the formation to break at lower pressure zones. The
results also proved the theory by which increased in solid contents will then increase the mud
properties.
The pH of the mud slightly increases as the amount of gypsum was added. As the
contamination in the mud is higher, the pH value must be more to be alkaline. In this
experiment, it has been proven that statement and it is also related to the theory. A 20g of
gypsum +water based mud has more alkalinity which is 7.63 compared to the others runs.
For apparent viscosity which is 300rpm and 600rpm, both readings show an increasing
when the amount of gypsum is increase too. Viscosity is a measure of a fluid resistance to flow.
It describes the internal friction of a moving fluid. A fluid with large viscosity resists motion
because its molecular makeup gives it a lot of internal friction and vice versa. In this experiment,
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both reading even in different rpm, shows that the mud is hard to move and have a lot of internal
friction when there is contamination in it. With that, the mud is more viscous as the gypsum is
added and it actually a treatment to the mud to make it more alkaline and make it more
effective.
For graph 7.2, which is the graph of plastic viscosity versus the amount of gypsum in the
mud, the value of the plastic viscosity itself can be determine by using a calculation in the theory
part. According to the theory, as the amount of gypsum is increase, plastic viscosity should be
decreasing. In this experiment, the value of plastic viscosity is decrease and keeps constant for
10g, 15g and 20g. This is probably due to the error during taking the viscosity of the mud using
a viscometer. The value doesnt keep constant yet the reading already been taken. With that,
there is an error in the result.
For graph 7.3, which is the graph of yield point versus the amount of gypsum, it tells that
after adding some amount of gypsum, the graph increasing. Before the gypsum was added, the
mud is higher point which is 21.84 lb./100ft
2
. Yield point is actually a resistance of initial flow of
fluid or the stress required in order to move the fluid. Theoretically, after adding a calcium ion,
the value of yield point should be increasing and it is proven in this experiment. The yield point
value can be calculated from the formula that is stated in the theory part.

10.0 CONCLUSION
The objective of this experiment was to study the effect of contamination of Gypsum
(CaSO
4
2H
2
O) to the density, Plastic Viscosity (
p
) and Yield Point (Y
p
) of water based mud.
From the result obtained, it can be shown that all the data were recorded in the table and the
necessary graph were plotted. In this experiment, there is some error and mistake that affect the
result and make the reading not totally accurate. However, as expected, the density of drilling
fluid increased as the amount of Gypsum added increase because the increased in solid
contents will then increase the mud properties. For PV, it is decreases and the constant when
the amount of Gypsum increased. For yield point, it is increasing when amount of gypsum
increases. Therefore, the objective is achieved.


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11.0 RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Wear a fully PPE when conducting the experiment as it can be harmful to the students.
2. The amount of gypsum must be weight accurately in order to prevent an error happen
during taking the data of the experiment.
3. The water based mud must be filter first before conducting the experiment as to filter the
impurities. This is to prevent the data for measuring the mud weight, the viscosity and
others.
4. The mud must only contain gypsum as if other contaminant is involved in this
experiment, the result will be not consistent.
5. During run the viscometer, make sure the time taken for each sample of mud is
consistent as the longer the viscometer rotate, the viscosity of the mud will be higher
thus, it will affect the reading.

12.0 REFERENCES
http://petrowiki.spe.org/Drilling_fluids
http://petrowiki.spe.org/Mud_contamination
http://www.drillingahead.com/profiles/blogs/yield-point-yp
http://www.slb.com/~/media/Files/miswaco/product_sheets/gypsum.ashx
http://www.princeton.edu/~gasdyn/Research/T-C_Research_Folder/Viscosity_def.html







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13.0 APPENDICES










Viscometer Mud balance










Mixer pH meter