Ratan Singh Vikram Chief Chemist Institute Of Drilling Technology

Functions of drilling fluid:

Pickup and Transport drilled cuttings and caving to the surface. Suspend drilled cuttings and caving when circulation is stopped. Balance and Control subsurface pressure.

Cool and lubricate bit and drill string. Prevent the hole from collapsing. Help suspend the weight of the drill string and casing by buoyancy.

Deliver hydraulic energy upon the formation beneath bit . Provide suitable medium for wire line logs.

Composition of drilling fluid:

Water base drilling fluid systems. Oil base drilling fluids. Aerated-dry gas, mist, foam , stable foam .

Drilling Mud Classification

Drilling Fluid

Oil Base Mud (Diesel, Mineral Oil ,Synthetic)

Water Based

All Oil Mud

Invert Emulsion

Polymer Mud

Gel Clay drilling Fluid

Inhibitive

Non Damaging

Dispersed

Non Dispersed

Criteria of drilling fluid designing

(1):Application Based: Surface Intervals Intermediate Section Production Section Completion Method Production Type

Drilling fluid designing continued

(2): Geology Based Formation Type: 1. -Clay type 2. -shale type 3. Sand/sandstone 4. Permeability 5. Other formation types

(A)

Water Phase:

SALT CONCENTRATION IN WATER MUD CLASSIFICATION

(1)10,000 ppm or less Fresh water system (2)10,000 ppm to 20,000-ppmbrackish water mud (3)20,000 ppm to 40,000-ppmSeawater mud

4) 40,000 ppm to near saturated salt brine mud (5) Max. Salt content 315,000 ppm Saturated Salt mud

(B)

Reactive solid phase:

Compound of commercial clays and incorporated swelling clays and shale from drilled formations are held in suspension in the fluid phase. These solids are subject to chemical treatment to control the properties of the drilling fluids.

(C)
Refers

Inert solids

to those solids in suspension, which are chemically inactive. These may be inert drilled solids such as limestone, dolomite sands, salts or loading materials such as Barite .

Solid particle: viscosity ,filtration properties

1. COLLOIDS 0.005 1 Micron 2. SILT (INERT) 1 - 50 Micron 3. SAND (ABRASIVE)50 - 420 Micron

Ionic inhibition by

Ca++, Na+, K+ and NH4+ into the drilling fluid system, eg, Lime muds, Gypsum muds, Salt-water muds , Potassium muds and amine salt muds.

Encapsulation

which may be provided by addition of different polymers into the system such as Partially Hydrolysed Polyacrylaimide (PHPA), XC- Polymer, Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC) Lignosulphonates, etc. e.g. : Non-dispersed low solids Polymer muds such as KCL-XC-P Polymer muds, KCL-PHPA polymer muds.

Inhibitive system
LIME base Muds

(a) Low lime mud (80 to 100 ppm Ca2+) (b) Intermediate lime(100 to180 ppm Ca2+) (c) High lime mud (180 to 200 ppm Ca2+)

(ii) Gypsum Muds - Ca2+ > 200 ppm (iii) Salt water muds (iv) Potassium muds: containing 3% to 15% KCl concentration.

(v) CL-CLS MUDS (chrome lignite Chrome lignosulphonate muds). (vi) Non- Dispersed low solids Polymer muds.

Properties of drilling fluids:

DENSITY (SPECIFIC GRAVITY): Density is defined as weight per unit volume. It is expressed either in ppg (lbs/ gallons) or pound per cubic feet (lb/ft3) or kg/m3 or gm/cm3 or compared to the weight of an equal volume of water as specific gravity. Density is measured with a mud balance

Mud weight selection. Pore pressure . Fracture gradient. In order to prevent the inflow of formation fluids and to lay down a thin, low permeable filter cake on the walls of the hole, the pressure of mud column must exceed the pore pressure by at least 200 psi (14 kg/cm2).

Weighing materials.

Barite, Galena, Hematite, Limestone.

Dissolved salts: NaCl, KCl, CaCl2 Viscosity & gel strength :Viscosity is defined as the resistance to flow while the Gel strength is the thixotropic property of mud i.e. mud tends to thicken up if left unagitated for some time.

Viscosity is usually measured by Marsh funnel. It is the timed rate of flow and measured in seconds per quart or in metric units, seconds per 1000 ml . Gel strength is a measure of gelling or thixotropic property of the mud under static conditions and is generally reported in pounds per hundred square feet (lb/100 sq feet).

MEASUREMENT OF VISCOSITY. 1. Marsh Funnel 2. Direct indicating Viscometer

Marsh Funnel / mug

24

Fann Viscometer
25

Filtration Loss
The filtration or wall building property, of a mud is indicative of the ability of the solid components of the mud to form a filter cake and the magnitude of cake permeability. The mud cake protects the formation from further invasion, and supports the borehole wall from collapse.

The filtration or wall building property, of a mud is determined by means of a filter press.

The filtration or wall building property, of a mud is determined by means of a filter press.

Other properties
pH Lubricity Sand content Liquids And Solids Filtrate Analysis Alkalinity Determinations