sample of drilling mud.

In geotechnical

ABSTRACT
In this experiment, we want to determine
the density and specific gravity of the mud.
The equipment used in these experiments
are hydrometer and mud balance which to
determine the density of drilling fluid. The
Mud Balance provides a simple, practical
method for the accurate determination of
fluid density. To get the accurate reading
of the balance, the weight balance should
be adjusted and ensure the water level to
be at the middle when getting the reading
of the mud balance and a hydrometer is
used to measure the specific gravity (SG)
of liquids; that is, the ratio of the density

engineering, drilling fluid is used to aid the

drilling of boreholes into the earth. Often
used while drilling oil and natural gas
wells and on exploration drilling rigs,
drilling fluids are also used for much
simpler boreholes, such as water wells
(Braja,2009). Liquid drilling fluid is often
called drilling mud. The three main
categories of drilling fluids are waterbased muds (which can be dispersed and
non-dispersed),

non-aqueous

muds,

usually called oil-based mud, and gaseous

drilling fluid, in which a wide range of
gases can be used.

of the liquid to the density of water. There

In this experiment however, we used oil-

are two types of mud that used in this

based mud and water-based mud only.

experiment; water-based mud (WBM) and

They are already made in the laboratory.

oil-based mud (OBM). Water-based mud

There are many uses of drilling mud. The

is the mud composed that have major

main function is to provide hydrostatic

weight of water compared than the other

pressure to prevent formation fluids from

composition. Oil-based mud is mud which

entering into the wellbore and also to

had major weight of oil. For the first test,

ensure the drill bit is cool and clean during

one of the mudsare used to fill-in the mud

drilling. Densities of specific mud is

balance to calculate the density and follow

measured to know which mud is best used

by hydrometer to measure the specific

for specific well bore (Newton,1994).

gravity. The test is repeated by using the

other type of mud.

THEORY
The definition of density is a measurement

INTRODUCTION
The

determination

of fluid weight per unit of volume. For

of

drilling

mud

drilling fluid (drilling mud) it is often

denstities is simply an experiment on

referred to as mud weight. For your

determination the densities of different

information,

In

the oil

industry, mud

weight is

the

density

of

the drilling

to 1400 psi and temperatures up to 400 F

fluid and is normally measured in pounds

were used to develop and test the model.

per gallon (lbm/gal) or (ppg). In the field it

With the knowledge of the drilling mud

is measured using a mud balance.It is

type (water-base. Such information can

usually reported to the nearest 0.1 lbs/gal

accurately be obtained only through actual

or ppg. To avoiding excessive lost

measurements of the drilling fluid density

returns to the formation, the mud density is

at desired pressures and temperatures. The

monitored closely. It is also to fullfill the

oil-base drilling fluids become denser than

dual role of opposing formation pressures.

water-base

It must optimizing fluid design for drilling

temperatures

through highly fractured formations from

presented experimental measurements of

an operational perspective (Santarelli, et

densities in the temperature range of 70 F

al, 1992). The most important equipment

to 400 F and pressure range of 0. As the

that we going to use to determine the

drilling

densities of drilling mud are hydrometer

correlations. pressure and temperature. a

and mud balance. A hydrometer is created

root mean squared error of 0. The drilling

to measure the specific gravity (SG) of

fluid will be subjected to increasing

liquids which is, the ratio of the density of

pressure and temperature. The higher

the liquid to the density. For your extra

pressure will increases the drilling fluid

knowledge, the result of determination of

density.

drilling mud density might be more

accurate by using a hydrometer compared

drilling
and

operation

fluids

at

pressures.

progresses.

high
They

These

RESULT

to mud balance. Directly measurement of

This experiment has been conducted.

the mud density is provided by using mud

There are some step to be followed to

balance. The common units for the mud

conduct this experiment. Firstly, Drilling

densities given by the mud balance are

fluid is prepared by lab assistant which is

lbs/ft3, psi/1000ft and Specific Gravity

water-based mud (WBM) and oil-based

(SG). From my research, the prediction of

mud (OBM). Then, the mud is poured into

the drilling mud density at various

the mud shaker (mixer) until maximum

pressures and temperatures is 0.0056 and a

level and the mud is blend (Figure 1) for

correlation coefficient of 0. Particularly for

two minutes. After two minutes, the lid of

HPHT

experimental

the cup of mud balance (Figure 2) is

measurements of water-base and oil-base

removed and the mud filled completely.

drilling fluids at pressures ranging from 0

The cup is vibrated lightly to bring

wells.

Available

entrapped air to the surface for high

viscosity of mud. Then, the lid is replaced
and seated firmly to allow excessed
drilling fluid to be expelled from the lid.
The excessed mud is cleaned from the cup

CALCULATION

and let to be dry. Next, balance arm is

placed on the base with the knife-edge
resting on the fulcrum. The rider is
adjusted until the bubble oscillates equally

to the left and right of the centering mark.

Then, the reading of mud balance is

Since the density of distilled water

recorded in unit lbf/ft3 for the density,

is 8.33 lb/gal or 62.4 lb/ft3

psi/1000ft for hydrostatic pressure and the

specific gravity. For measurement in

True mud density =

hydrometer (Figure 3) , the mud is poured

62.4

into one litre measuring cylinder. Then,

each different type of hydrometer is tested
until the most ideal and the reading is
recorded. Next, the experiment is repeated

Water-based mud:

by using the other mud than the first mud

True mud density = 62.4 (69/61.0)

= 70.58 lb/ft3

either oil based mud or water based mud.

Oil-based mud:
All the result has been recorded into the

True mud density = 62.4

experimental data sheet as below :

(69.5/61.0)
= 71.10 lb/ft3

Mud balance:
MUD
SAMPE

WATER-

WEIGT

SG

ppg

Psi/1000

Lb/ft3

hydrometer

9.15

475

69

1.136 Hg

1.10

9.25

480

69.5

1.7 Hg

1.12

BASED
MUD

OILBASED
MUD

DISCUSSION
As

we

know,

this

experiment

is

determining the densities of different

sample of drilling mud. The drilling mud
is prepared by lab assistant called waterbased mud and oil-based mud. The most
basic water-based mud systems begin with
water, clays and other chemicals are
incorporated into the water to make a
Figure 1: mixer

homogeneous blend resembling something

between chocolate milk and a malt.
Besides, oil-based mud is a mud where the
base fluid is a petroleum product such as
diesel fuel. This optional type of mud is
used to increase the lubricity, enhanced
shale inhibition, and greater cleaning
abilities with less viscosity. Oil-based

Figure 2: mud balance

muds also withstand greater heat without

breaking down (Monicard, 1982).
The data taken in this experiment is
measured by mud balance. The Mud
Balance provides a simple, practical
method for the accurate determination of
fluid density. To get the accurate reading
of the balance, the weight balance should
be adjusted and ensure the water level to
be at the middle when getting the reading

Figure 3: hydrometer

of the mud balance.

Density or weight of a given volume of
liquid is determined by a mud balance. The
accurate measurements to within + - 0.1
pounds per gallon or + - 0.01 specicfic

gravity. The mud balance is constructed so

be setting to manufacturer specifications to

that the fixed volume cup at one end is

optmize

balanced by a fixed counterweight at the

manufacturer

opposite end with a sliding weight that free

realistically handle all field conditions.

to move through the beam indicates when

Mild increases of the gel strength with the

the system in balance. When you press

time confirm the thixotropic property of all

mud sample in the cup, any gas in fluid

the drilling fluid system (Brown et al.,

phase is compressed to very small volume.

1991).

So that the mud weight measurement is

more accurate.

performance.

However

specification

do

often
not

If there is insufficient drilling fluid

density, it will cause the well will be in an

Mud weight is normally measured by a

unbalance condition so any formation

conventional mud balance but however

fluids such as gas,oil and water will the

there have some air inside a fluid phase,

formation is broken, the drilling fluids will

reading

mud

lose into the induced formation fractures

balance will give you an inaccurate

(Jamal, 2007). Besides, it also make the

reading. Therefore the most accurate

wellbore will possibly become unstable, if

method to measure the mud weight is with

the hydrostatic pressure provided by a mud

a pressurized mud balance.

column is below formation presure.

Mud weight or mud density is one of the

If the mud weight is too high, it will cause

important drilling fluid properties because

formation to break. Once will cause

it balances and controls the formation

decrease in rate of penetration. The more

pressure. Other than that, it also helps

density you have while drilling, the less

wellbore stability (Saxena, 1986). Mud

rate

weight is measured and reported in pounds

Practically, while drilling, the low mud

per gallon (PPG), pound per cubic feet

weight is used at the beginning and weight

(lb/ft3).

will be increased as the well is drilled

from

the

conventional

The density mud of a particular drilling

mud can be an important factor. Mud
density can affect many things such as the
rate of penetration, borehole stability,
transport, and setting rate of the sample
cuttings (Henry, 2011) . Mud density must

of

penetration

(ROP)

will

be.

deeper in order to optimize ROP (Elsevier,

2011). Other than that, since there are
differences between the formation pressure
and hydrostatic pressure, probably there
will cause the drill string will get
differentially

stuck

across

permeable

rocks. The higher the mud weight is in the

well, the more mud filtration invades into

the ability of drilling fluid in hole cleaning

porous formations. Then it will cause

and hole erosion, suspension of drill

damage to formation rocks.

cuttings,

The strength of the formed mud cake not

only helps to prevent water from going

hydraulic

calculations

and

requirement of drilling fluid treatment

(Chilingarian et al., 1983).

into the wellbore but also the drilling fluid

circulating in the wellbore from leaking
out into a fractures (Francis, 2002).

CONCLUSION
As the conclusion, overall reading of the

Drilling mud is very crucial in petroleum

indsutry. This is because oil bearing
formation consits of oil with few amount
of pressure that depends on the depth and
other properties (Joan, 2006).

mud balance of oil based mud is higher

than water based mud. The readings on the
mud balance for water based mud are 9.15
ppg, 475

, and 69

. For

oil based mud, the readings are 9.25 ppg,

When drill in process, the drilling fluid is

480

circulated continuously so that it can give

reading of hydrometer for water based

hydrostatic pressure in the drilling hole to

mud and oil based mud are 1.136 Hg and

control the pressure exerted by the oil

1.7 Hg respectively. Finally, the specific

bearing formations. This can prevent form

gravity for water based mud is 1.1 and

blow up for cases of high pressure

1.12 for oil based mud.Since the density of

reservoirs. The hydrostatic pressure must

distilled water is 8.33 lb/gal or 62.4 lb/

kept sufficiently high than the oil bearing

the true water-based mud is 70.58 lb/

formation

and the true oil based mud is 71.10 lb/

pressure

to

prevent

from

fracture (Frank, 2001).

dependent on the density of the drilling

mud. Thus, we can see that process of
determining mud density is very important
efficiency

. The

However the data that we get from this

However the hydrostatic pressure all is

(Elton, 2001). The

, and 69.5

of

the

drilling fluid to perform such functions is

based on the flow behaviour or rheological
properties of the fluid system. The
rheological behaviour is the indication of

experiment and after we calculate the data

we did not get an accurate result. This is
due to some error while conducting this
experiment. While taking the reading
from the mud balance, eyes does not so
perpendicular to the scale of the reading so
this can affect in our calculation. So make
sure that when taking the reading, eyes
must be perpendicular to the scale of the

reading to get an accurate result. When

1. Francis,

M.

taking the test by using hydrometer to

Pressure

determine the density of the mud, each

characteristic

different type of hydrometer is tested until

stimulation fluid.

(2002).

Loss

and
of

Frictional
Rheological

drilling

and

get the most ideal hydrometer. To get the

2. Joan, K. (2006). Impact of frictional

true mud density, this formula had been

pressure losses along the completion

used:

on well performance.
3. Elton,

H.

(2001).

Hydraulic

optimization of foam drilling for

maximum drilling rate in vertical

wells.
4. Gordon Clifford Andrews, Cengage

In the industrial sector, the section mud

Learning , Dec 11, 2008 Canadian

density must be considered based on the

Professional

soil

Geoscience,

condition;

composition

of

soil,

formation pressure and etc (Morales,

1991). The selection of correct density for

Engineering

and

5. Drilling Mud and Cement Slurry

Rheology Manual, Jan 1, 1982

mud is very important. One of the role of

6. Hazard Assessment of Chemicals,

mud density is maintaining the pressure

Jitendra Saxena, CRC Press, Oct 1,

difference between pressure of formation

1986

and pressure of drill pipe. If there is low

7. Drilling Fluids Processing Handbook,

density of mud, the pressure inside the

Shale

drillpipe will be low. And this can caused

American

kick due to the pressure of formation

Engineers, Elsevier, Mar 15, 2011

Shaker

Committee

Society

of

of

the

Mechanical

higher than pressure inside the drillpipe

8. Ryen Caenn, Henry C. H. Darley,

(Garca,1998). Even though they may be

George Robert Gray, 2011, Gulf

two to three times more expensive than

Professional Publishing, Composition

water based drilling fluids, their use is

and

justified by better performances and

Completion Fluids.

savings on mud maintenance (Degouy et.

Properties

of

Drilling

and

9. Nagaratnam Sivakugann, Braja M.

al, 1993). This will impact economy of

Das,2009, J. Ross Publishing,

drilling (Fraser et al., 2001).

Geotechnical Engineering: A Practical

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