Basic Material

Schlumberger

Estimation of Rmf and Rmc

Direct measurements of filtrate and mudcake samples are preferred. When not available, filtrate resistivity, R mf , and mudcake
resistivity, R mc , may be estimated from one of the following
methods.
Method 1
Lowe and Dunlap (Reference 36)
For freshwater muds with mud resistivity, R m , in the range from
0.1 to 2.0 ohm-m at 75F [24C], and measured values of R m
and mud density, m , in pounds per gallon:

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Example: R m = 3.5 ohm-m at 75F [24C]

Mud weight = 12 lbm/gal [1440 kg/m3]
Therefore, K m = 0.584
R mf = (0.584)(3.5)1.07 = 2.23 ohm-m at 75F
R mc = 0.69(2.23)(3.5/2.23)2.65 = 5.07 ohm-m at 75F
The calculated value of R mf is more reliable than that of R mc.
Mud Weight

R
log mf = 0.396 0.0475 m
Rm
Method 2
Overton and Lipson (Reference 1)
For drilling muds with mud resistivity, R m , in the range from 0.1
to 10.0 ohm-m at 75F [24C], where K m is given as a function
of mud weight in the table below:

lbm/gal

kg/m3

Km

10
11
12
13
14
16
18

1200
1320
1440
1560
1680
1920
2160

0.847
0.708
0.584
0.488
0.412
0.380
0.350

Method 3
R mf = K m ( R m )1.07
R
R mc = 0.69 ( R mf ) m
R mf

2.65

A statistical approximation, for predominantly NaCl muds, is

R mc = 1.5 R m , and R mf = 0.75 R m .

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