DRILLING FLUID 09/12/2017 1

 The simplest drilling fluid is a mixture of

water and clays alaways referred to mud

 The drilling fluid in a drilling process can be

seen as the equivalent of the blood in the
body

 The Mud pump is the heart: pumping mud

 The drillied out cuttings represent the slag

products

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 At surface we found the mud cleaning system
wish correspond to the kidney and lungs

 In the mud cleaning system the cuttings are

remooved by shale shakers and mud cleaner
system

 Mud is basically a fluid wish is circulated to bring

out drilled cuttings

 Mud has two important qualities

◦ Viscosity: able to remoove cuttings and trasport this

latters

◦ Density: able to make pressure to well bore

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 Water based fluids are the most extensievely
used drilling fluids
 Generally easy to build
 Inexpensive to maintain
 Can be formulated to overcome most drilling
problems
 But has his limits
 Can be devided into 3 major subclassification

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 Non inhibitive fluids:

◦ It is the most easy mud, called gel mud or spud mud

◦ Used only to drill the first section 23’’

◦ Used generally to spud well where losses zones are

expected

◦ D’ont need diffuct maintanace

◦ Can be controlled by dilution

◦ Prepared with caustic soda and bentonite

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 Inhibitive fluids:

◦ Drilled clays are most causes problems of drilling a

well operation

◦ Wbm need to be inhibited and protected against

reactive clays

◦ Generally K+, ca2+ or combination of the two

provide the greatest inhibition to clay dispertion

◦ These system are used to drill hydrattable clays

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 Polymer fluids
◦ Polylmers are used to provide for drilling fluids some
properties such

 Viscosity: wish is very omportant to ensure good hole

cleaning

 Control water loss: water infiltration to well bore

 Build good cake

 Encapsulate solids

These systems are generally combined to inhibitive

mud systems

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 Like his name explain: these fluids are based to
Oil in steet of water

 The primary use of OBM is to drill the

troublesome shales and improove hole stability

 Used to drill high deviated well because of their

high degreee of lubricity and ability to prevent
hydration of clays

 Used to drill hight temperature and high pressure

wells

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 Used to minimize formation damage and reservoir
damage

 Very resistant to contamination such

◦ Anhydrite
◦ Salt
◦ Co2
◦ H2s gases

 OBM can be reconditionate and reused for other wells

 Save cost: use same mud for many wells

 Buy back policies is advantage

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 Disatvantages

◦ Envirement concerns: the use of OBM was

prohibited or restricted in many area
◦ Health consideration: toxicity
◦ Expensive cuttings treatment
◦ Need approved disposel site

Drilling fluid companies looks to replace Diesel with

Low toxic oil:synthetic oil with very low toxicity

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 A properly designed drilling fluid will enable
to an operator to reach the desired geologic
objective at the lowest cost, should enhance
penetration rate, reduce hole problems and
minimize formation damage

 Major function:
◦ Control Subsurface Pressure
◦ Transport cuttings
◦ Support and stabilize wellbore

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 Minor functions
functions::
◦ Support weight of tubulars
◦ Cool and lubricate bit and drill string
◦ transmit hydraulic horsepower to bit
◦ Provide Medium for wireline loggings
◦ Formation evaluation
◦ Minimize formation damage
◦ Reduce corrosion
◦ Minimize lost circulation
◦ Reduce stuck pipe
◦ Improve penetration rate (rop)
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 Control subsurface Pressure
◦ A drilling fluid controls the subsurface pressure by
its hydraustatic pressure
◦ Hydraustatic pressure is the force exerted by a fluid
column and depend on the mud density and TVD

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 Borehole insytability is normal and natural function of
the formation when exposed to drilling process.
process.

 Drilling fluid must overcome to the tendency of hole

to collapse due to mechanical failure and/or chemical
interaction of the formation

 Abnormal pressured formation are usaually

encountered in drillling deep wells
wells,, Higer density of
drilling fluid is required to control the formation
pressure

 Any failure of controlling down hole pressure will

result to severe problems
◦ Kick or blow out
◦ Stuck pipe
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 Transport cuttings:

◦ This function is related directly to the viscosity of drilling

fluid (Rheologie)

◦ The fluid flowing from bit nozzles exets a jetting action

with his hight flow to clear cutting from the bottom and
the bit

◦ The drilled cuttings are carried out to the surface

◦ Drilling fluids must have the capacity to suspend weight

materials and drilled solids during connection, tripping
operation, loggings runs

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 Transport cuttings:

 Failure to adequately clean the hole or

suspend drilled solids contribute to
many problems such as

o fill on botoom after trip,

o lost return,
o stuck pipe,
o inability to reach the bottom with
logging tools.

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 Stabilize wellbore
 Fluid hydrostaic pressure act a confining force on the wellbore,
this confining force acting across a filter cake will assist in
physiqually stabilizing formation

 Borehole stability is also maintained or enhanced by controlling

the loss of filtrate to permeable formation and by careful
control of the chemical composition of the drilling fluid

 Most permeable formation have pore space openings too small

to allow the passage of mud into formation, however, filtrate
from drilling fluid can enter the pore spaces. The rate at which
the filtrate enters foramtion is depending on the pressure
differential between formation and column of fluid, quality of
the filter cake deposited on the formation face

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 Stabilize wellbore
 Large volume of drilling fluid filtrate , and
filtrate that are incompatible with the
formation can destabilize the formation
by through hydration of shale

 Drilling fluid which produce low quality or

thick cakes may also cause tight hole
condition including stuck pipe, diffuclty in
running casing and poor cement job

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Minor function
function::
 Support weight of tubulars
 Drilling fluid Buoyancy support part of the
weight of drill string or casing

 The buoyancy factor is used to relate the

density of the mud displaced to density of
material in the tubular.

 Therefore any increase in the mud weight

result in an increase in buoyancy

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 The equation below gives the buoyancy
factor for steel.

 Multiply the buoyancy factor by the air

weight of tubular to get the buoyed weight
(hook load)

 Example 1: a Drill string with an air weight

250.000 lb will show a hook load of 218.000
lb in an 8.33lb/gal fluid
 And 192.700 lb in fluid 15 lb/gal

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 Cool and lubricate the bit and drill string
 Considerable heat and friction is generated at
the bit and between the drill string and well
bore during drilling operation

 Contact between drill string and wellbore can

also create considerable torque during
rotation and drugs during tripping

 Circulating drilling fluid transport heat away

from this frictional sites reducing the chance
of premature bit failure and pipe damage.

 The drilling fluid lubricate also the bit tooth

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 Transmit hydraulic horse power to Bit

 Hydraulic horse power generated at the bit is

the result of flow volume and pressure drop
through the bit nozzles.

 This energy is converted into mechanical

energy wish remooves cuttings from the
bottom of the hole and improove the rate of
penetration

 More the flow is higher, better the cuttings

are remmoved, best cleaning hole, best ROP
(rate of penetration)

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 Provide Medium for wireline logging
 Muds ( WBM, OBM) have differents physiqual
caracteristics wich influence log

 Electric log is used to determine the commercial

value of penetrated zones and target (expected
reservoir)

 Invasion of theses zones by fluid or its filtrate (oil

or water) can mask or interfere with interpretation
of data retrieved or prevent full commercial
recovery of hydrocarbon

 Good selection of fluid and good maintenance is

required

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 Minimize Formation Damage

 A producing formation can be damaged by a

poor drilling fluid. Damage mechanisms include
formation fines migration, solids invasion, and
wettability alterations.

 Identification of potential damage

mechanisms and careful selection of a drilling
fluid can minimize damage.

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 Reduce Corrosion

 Corrosion control can reduce drill string

failure through removal or neutralization of
contaminating substances.

 Specific corrosion control products may be

added to a drilling fluid; or the drilling fluid
itself may be selected on the basis of its
inherent corrosion protection (see Figure).

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Minimize Lost Circulation

Extensive loss of whole mud to a cavernous,

fissured, or coarsely permeable formation is
expensive and may lead to a blowout, stuck
pipe, or formation damage.

Selection of a low density drilling fluid and/or

addition of sized bridging agents can reduce
lost circulation (see Figure).

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Reduce Stuck Pipe

Pipe sticking can be caused by several factors:

• Poor Cuttings Removal

• Hole Sloughing

• Lost Circulation

• Differential Pressure Sticking

• Keyseating

Two common types of pipe sticking are illustrated

in following Figures
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Engineering
Specific Gravity

The density of any material is derived by multiplying the specific

gravity of that material by the density of pure water.

For example, the specific gravity of barite is 4.2 and its density is
equal to (4.2) (8.33 lb/gal) = 35 lb/gal.

Conversely, to convert from density to specific gravity, divide the

density of a material or mud by the density of pure water.

As an example, a 17.5 lb/gal mud has a specific gravity of 2.1.

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To determine the weight of 1 bbl of barite,
determine the density of 1 bbl of pure water and
multiply the result by the specific gravity of barite.

(8.33 lb/gal water) (42 gal/bbl) = 349.86 lb/bbl

(weight of 1 bbl of pure water)

(349.86 lb/bbl) (4.2 SG Barite) = 1469.41 lb/bbl

(weight of 1 bbl of 4.2 SG Barite)

Note that 1 bbl = 42 gal

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Mud Circulation Time

Various circulating times are used to calculate treatment schedules,

well control operations, drill cuttings lag, etc.

The following equations give the more common circulating times.

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TESTING: WBM
 Mud density

 Mud density is used to to control subsurface

pressure and stabilize well bore

 Mud density is commonly measured with a

mud balance capable of ±0.1 lb/gal accuracy.

 A mud balance calibrated with fresh water at

70° ±5° should give a reading of 8.3 lb/gal.

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1- Measure and record the temperature of the sample of mud to be
tested.

2- Place the mud balance base on a flat, level surface.

3- Fill the clean, dry, mud balance cup with the sample of mud to be
tested. Rotate cap until it is firmly seated. Ensure that some mud is
expelled through the hole in the cap to remove any trapped air or
gas.

4- Place thumb over hole in cap and hold the cap firmly on the cup.
Wash or wipe the outside of the cup, and dry.

5- Place balance arm on the support base and balance it by moving

the rider along the graduated scale until the level bubble is centered
under the center line.

6- Read the density (weight) of the mud shown at the left-hand edge
of the rider and report to nearest 0.1 lb/gal. Enter result on API
Drilling Mud Report as Weight (lb/gal, lb/ft3) or Specific Gravity).

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Marsh Funnel viscosity

Marsh Funnel viscosity is used to indicate relative

mud consistency or thickness.

Marsh Funnel viscosity is the time required

(seconds) for a quart of mud to flow through a 2-
in. long, 3/16-in. diameter tube at the bottom of
the Marsh Funnel.

This viscosity measurement is used to

periodically
report mud consistency. One quart of water should
flow through a Marsh Funnel in 26± 0.5 seconds.

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Step
1. Hold one finger over the orifice at the tip of the funnel.
Pour the mud sample through the funnel screen until
mud reaches the bottom of the screen (1500 cm3). Place
viscosity cup beneath funnel tip. Remove finger and start
stop watch.

2. Stop the watch when the mud level reaches the 1-qt
mark on the viscosity cup.

3. Record the number of seconds required to outflow 1-

qt of mud. Enter on Drilling Mud Report as
Funnel Viscosity (sec/qt) API.

4. Measure and record temperature of mud sample to

±1°F.

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Rheologie

Rheological properties measured with a rotational viscometer

are commonly used to indicate

- solids buildups flocculation or deflocculation of solids,

- lifting and suspension capabilities,
- and to calculate hydraulics of a drilling fluid.
A rotational viscometer is used to measure shear rate/shear
stress of a drilling fluid - from which the PV and YP, are
calculated directly.

The instrument is also used to measure gel strengths.

The following procedure applies to a Fann Model 35, 6-speed

VG Meter.

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Model 35 Viscometer_ Running a Drilling Fluid Test.mp4

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Static Filtration Tests

Control of filtration properties of a drilling fluid can be useful in

reducing tight hole conditions and fluid loss to formations.

Static filtration tests are used to indicate filter cake quality and
filtrate volume loss for a drilling mud under specific testing
conditions.

Filtration characteristics are affected by the types and quantities

of solids and their physical and chemical interactions.
Temperature and pressure further affect these solids and their
interactions.

The following are general instructions for a possible configuration

of Low-Pressure/Low-Temperature Filtration and
High-Pressure/High-Temperature Filtration equipment.

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1. Open main air valve by turning handle (located on lab bench) counter
clockwise. Adjust regulator to read 100 psi.
2. Be sure cell components, especially the screen, are clean and dry.
Check gaskets and discard any that are worn or distorted.
3. Assemble filtration cell (as illustrated in Figure 3). Lock cell bottom
into position by turning cell body until peg locks into J slot.
4. Pour mud sample to within 1/2 in. of top of cell. Place cell onto filter
press rack.
5. Position cell lid onto top of cell body. To seal, turn filter press handle
clockwise until hand-tight.
6. Place a clean, dry graduated cylinder under the drain tube of the
filtration cell assembly.
7. Close bleeder valve. Maintain in the closed position while test is
running
8. Set interval timer for 30 minutes. Open valve located on filter press
manifold by turning black knob
counterclockwise. Pull timer arm down and begin timing immediately.
9. At the end of 30 minutes, remove graduated cylinder. Measure and
record filtrate volume collected.
Volume is measured in cm3 per 30 minutes. Close valve by turning black
knob clockwise.
Open bleeder valve and release trapped line pressure.
DRILLING FLUID 09/12/2017 62
10. Turn filter press handle counterclockwise to remove filtration cell
assembly from frame. Pour mud back into viscosity cup, then carefully
disassemble mud chamber.

11. Remove filter paper from screen, being careful not to disturb mud
cake. Gently wash excess mud from cake with a stream of water.

12. Measure and report thickness of filter cake to nearest 1/32 of an

inch. Describe cake; i.e., soft, tough, rubbery, firm, etc.

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High-
High -Temperature
Temperature/High
/High--Pressure Filtration
(HTHP)

To operate this or any other unit, manufacturer’s instructions should

be carefully read before attempting to perform testing.
Extreme caution should be used in running this test. Equipment should
be cleaned and maintained in good working condition

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1. Plug heating jacket cord into correct voltage for the unit.

2. Place metal thermometer in hole on outside from of heating

jacket. Adjust thermostat and preheat jacket to 10°
10°F above desired
test temperature.

3. While jacket is heating, check o-

o-rings (3) on the following
components and replace if worn or distorted:
• High-
High-Pressure Regulator
• Lid
Lid/Valve
/Valve
• Cell Body

4. Stir mud sample 10 minutes with a high-

high-speed mixer.

5. Close valve A by turning black knob clockwise.

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6. Turn handle counterclockwise on high
pressure regulator, then load CO2 cartridge into
chamber

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7. Close valve B and pour stirred mud sample into cell,
leaving 1/2 in. from the top lip to allow for
expansion. Position o-
o-ring in groove inside cell body. Place
filter paper on top of o-
o-ring

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8. Open valve C and seat lid/valve assembly. Lubricate
threads of allen screws with silicone grease
and tighten (Figure 8).

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9. Close low-
low-pressure shut
shut-
-off valve.
10. Invert cell. (The lid/valve assembly is now at the bottom.)
Carefully, install cell assembly into heating jacket.
Caution: The Heating Jacket is hot!
Transfer thermometer from the jacket to the thermometer well
located on top of HTHP cell body (Figure 9).
11. Slip high-
high-pressure regulator (0 (0-
-1500 psi) onto top of
valve B and lock into place with steel ring.
12. Slip low-
low-pressure regulator (0 (0-
-200 psi) on bottom of valve
C. Lock into place with steel ring. Be sure bleeder valve on
low-
low -pressure regulator is in the horizontal (closed) position.
13. With valves B and C closed, apply 100 psi to both the
high-
high -pressure regulator and the lowlow--pressure regulator by
turning regulator handles clockwise.
14. Open valve B. This is done to maintain 100 psi back
pressure in the cell body while heating to the desired
temperature. Heating time should not exceed 1 hour (Figure
10).

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15. When desired temperature is reached, increase pressure on
high-
high -pressure regulator to 600 psi by turning regulator handle
clockwise..
clockwise
Note: If pressure on low-
low-pressure regulator rises above 100 psi
during the test, cautiously reduce pressure by drawing off a portion
of filtrate using valve D located on bottom of filtrate collection
chamber..
chamber

16. Open valve C. Start timer immediately at this point! Collect

filtrate for 30 minutes, maintaining test temperature within ±5°F
(Figure 11).
17. At the end of 30 minutes close valve. Carefully open valve D and
collect filtrate. Leave valve open until low-
low-pressure gauge reads 0
psi.
18. Note the total volume of filtrate, test temperature and pressure,
and cell heat-
heat-up time. Because most HTHP filter presses have a filter
area of 3.5 in.2, the filtrate volume collected must be doubled to
correct to API standard 7.1 in.2
Calculate and record the API HTHP filtrate as follows:
API HTHP Filtrate = 2 X (cm3 filtrate collected
collected))

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 19. Unplug unit and allow cell and contents to cool to room
temperature before proceeding to disassembly procedure.

Note: CAUTION - Throughout the disassembly procedure, always

assume there could be trapped high pressure in the HTHP unit.

20. After HTHP cell assembly and contents are cooled to room
temperature, proceed with disassembly
and cleaning procedure. Valves B and C should already be in the
closed positions (Figure 12).

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21. To bleed pressure from the high-
high-pressure (top)
regulator, be sure valve B is closed. Turn regulator handle
clockwise and carefully open valve A. Bleed pressure until
CO2 cartridge is expended and high-
high-pressure gauge reads 0
psi (Figure 13).
22. To bleed pressure from the low-
low-pressure (bottom)
regulator, be sure that valve C is closed. Turn regulator
handle clockwise and carefully open valve D. Bleed pressure
until CO2 cartridge is expended and low-
low-pressure gauge
reads 0 psi (Figure 14). The pressure on the high-
high-pressure
gauge and the low-
low-pressure gauge should now read 0 psi. If
not, carefully bleed pressure until both gauges read 0 psi,
then remove regulators.
23. Remove cell from heating jacket and place in sink.
Carefully open valve C and bleed pressure trapped in the
cell. Now, open valve B. All pressure should now be released
(Figure 14).

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24. Remove Allen screws, being careful to point the top assembly
away from your body in case any pressure may be trapped (Figure
15).

Note: If Allen Screws are tight, DO NOT attempt to remove them

because the cell may contain trapped pressure! This requires
special procedures to unplug valves C and B.

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25. Open cell and carefully remove filter paper and cake
from screen, being careful not to disturb the filter cake.
Wash excess mud from cake with a small, gentle stream
of water.

26. Measure and report thickness of filter cake to

nearest 1/32 of an inch. Describe condition of the cake.

27. Discard the mud. Clean the cell. Cleaning includes

removal of valves B and C to prevent mud from drying in
the cell assembly, which could cause valves to plug in
future tests.

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 Retort -Water, Oil and Solids
Accurate measurement of water, oil and solids content provides
fundamental information for control of mud properties and is
essential for evaluating solids control equipment.

The volume percent of liquid phase (water and oil) are measured
by heating a known volume of whole mud in a retort unit. The
liquid is evaporated from the mud, vapor is condensed and
measured as oil and fresh water in a graduated glass tube.
Suspended solids are calculated by difference of liquid collected
subtracted from whole mud volume (retort cup volume).

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Retort Test Procedure

1. Clean and dry the retort assembly and condenser. Condenser

passage should be cleaned using a pipe cleaner.
cleaner.

2. Mix the mud sample thoroughly to ensure homogeneity, being

careful not to entrain any air, and that no solids remain on the
bottom of container. Air or gas entrapment will cause erroneously
high retort solids due to reduced mud sample volume.

3. Use a clean syringe to obtain a sample of the mud to be tested.

4. Fill retort cup slowly to avoid air entrapment. Lightly tap side of
cup to expel air. Place lid on the cup. Rotate lid to obtain a proper
fit. Be sure a small excess of mud flows out of the hole in the lid.
Wipe off any excess mud without wicking any of the sample from
inside the cup.

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5. Pack retort body with steel wool.

6. Apply Never-Seez to threads of retort cup. With lid in place,

hand tighten retort cup onto retort body (Figure 16).

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7. Apply Never-Seez to threads on retort stem and attach the
condenser.

8. Place the retort assembly inside the heating jacket and close
the lid.

9. Place the clean, dry, liquid receiver below the condenser

discharge tube. The length of the receiver may require that it be
angled out from the retort and supported off the edge of the
work table.

10. Plug cord into 110-volt outlet. Allow the retort to run for a
minimum of 45 minutes.

Note: If mud boils over into the receiver, the test must be rerun.
Pack the retort with a larger amount of steel wool and repeat the
test.

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11. Allow the receiver to cool. Read and record: (1) total liquid
volume, (2) oil volume, and (3) water volume in the receiver.

12. Unplug retort and allow to cool. Disassemble and clean the
retort assembly and condenser.
13. Calculate volume percent water (VW), volume percent oil (VO),
and volume percent retort solids (VS), as follows:

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Sand Content
This simple test is used to determine the volume percent sand-
sized particles in a mud.

The information is used to make adjustments in solids control

equipment. Sand causes excessive wear on mixing equipment, drill
string, and on pump parts.

The sand content in a mud system is estimated by wet screen

analysis using a 200-mesh (74-micron) screen.

It should be recognized that it is a size-classification of particles

and other products, such as lost circulation materials (LCM),
lignite, coarsely-ground barite, etc. will also show up as sand-
sized particles.

The presence of these solids, especially LCM, should be noted and

quantified if sufficient volume is present (Figure 17).

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Step

1. Fill glass measure tube to “mud” line with mud. Add water to
next scribed mark. Place thumb over mouth of tube and shake
vigorously.
2. Pour mixture onto the clean screen. Add more water to tube and
shake. Pour onto screen. Discard liquid that passes through the
screen.
3. Repeat Step 2 until wash water is clean. Then wash sand
retained on screen in order to free any
adhering mud.
4. Place funnel on top of screen assembly. Slowly invert assembly
and insert tip of funnel into glass
tube. Wash sand back into tube with a fine spray of water or a wash
bottle.
5. Allow sand to settle. Read and record volume percent sand from
graduations on the glass measuring
tube.

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Methylene Blue Capacity

The methylene blue capacity test indicates the concentration of

reactive clays present in a drilling fluid. Reactive clays are
commercial bentonite and formation solids such as shales.

Methylene blue dye is added to a sample of whole mud until all

reactive sites have adsorbed the dye.
A faint blue/turquoise halo will form around the drop of solids when
there is an excess of dye.

Commercial clays such as bentonite and formation solids such as

shales adsorb methylene blue and contribute to the methylene blue
capacity of the mud.

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1. If the mud to be tested contains air, stir slowly for 2-3 minutes
to release entrapped air.

2. Use a 2.5 or 3.0-cm3 syringe to measure exactly 2.0 cm3 of

drilling fluid.
3. To the Erlenmeyer flask, add 10 cm3 water and 2 cm3 of mud.

4. Next, add 15 cm3 of 3% hydrogen peroxide to the flask. Then,

add 0.5 cm3 of 5N sulfuric acid.

5. Gently boil the suspension for 10 minutes on the hot plate.

6. After boiling, remove flask from hot plate and bring the total
suspension volume in the Erlenmeyer flask to 50 cm3 with distilled
water. Allow to cool before proceeding to the next step.

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7. With a 1-cm3 pipette, add methylene blue to the flask in
0.5-cm3 increments. If the approximate amount of
methylene blue is known from prior testing, larger increments
can be added at the beginning of this titration.)

After each addition of methylene blue solution, swirl the

contents of flask for 30 seconds. While the solids are still
suspended, remove a drop of liquid on the end of a glass rod.
Place the drop onto a Whatman #1 filter paper.

Observe the liquid that wicks out from around the solids on
the paper. The solids will be blue.

The liquid will become blue (and form a halo) when the initial
endpoint of the methylene blue titration is reached. (This
initial endpoint means that the active solids are almost
saturated with the blue dye, but perhaps not all.)

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8. To find the final endpoint, after detecting the initial endpoint,
swirl the flask for 2 minutes and place another drop on a clean area
of the filter paper. If the blue ring (or halo) is again evident, the
final endpoint has been reached.

If the blue ring is not evident, continue as before adding 0.5-cm3

increments of methylene blue solution - until the blue ring is
present after 2 minutes of swirling the flask.

9. The methylene blue test results are reported as methylene blue

capacity (MBC) or as lb/bbl bentonite
equivalent as in equations (a) and (b) below:
a. MBC = cm3 methylene blue solution/cm3 mud sample
b. lb/bbl bentonite equivalent = 5 (MBC)

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pH
Drilling fluid pH measurements and pH adjustments are fundamental to
drilling fluid control because clay interactions, solubility of additives,
and contaminant removal are all pH-dependent.

The recommended method for pH measurement is with a pH meter. A

portable pH meter (Figure 19) consists of a pH probe and an electronic
voltage meter. The probe contains:

• glass electrode
• standard reference electrode
• temperature sensor (optional)

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Step

1. Measurement consists of:

- calibration of meter,
- pH measurement of sample, and
- cleaning and storing the probe.
2. Remove end-cap and rinse probe with distilled water. Blot dry.

3. Allow sample to come to temperature of the buffers and the

probe, preferably 70-80°F (20-28°C).

4. Measure temperature of pH7 buffer solution. Place probe into pH7

buffer solution and turn on meter. Wait for reading to stabilize.

5. Set temperature knob to the temperature of the pH7 buffer

solution. Adjust meter calibration knob to display the temperature-
corrected pH. Buffer bottle will list the correct pH value for various
temperatures. Rinse electrode with distilled water and blot dry.

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6. Repeat Steps 4 and 5 using either pH4 or pH10 buffer. Choose
the buffer closest to sample pH (usually pH10 for muds). If meter
does not display correct buffer pH value, adjust calibration knob to
obtain correct pH reading. Rinse electrode with distilled water and
blot dry. Place probe back into pH7 buffer solution and recheck pH.
If displayed pH value is the same as previously read in Step 5, use
the slope adjustment screw located at rear of meter to set the
correct pH reading. Then, repeat Step 6 until meter reads correct
buffer values.

7. After meter is calibrated with the two buffers, rinse the probe and
blot dry. Place probe in sample and gently stir. Allow reading to
stabilize.
8. Record sample temperature in °F or °C. Record the sample’s pH to
nearest 0.1.
9. Unplug the meter. Clean probe with distilled water. Saturate the
cotton in end cap with pH4 buffer. Place cap on probe.

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Alkalinity and Lime Content
Alkalinity measurements are used to determine the buffering capacity
of a drilling fluid (capacity to neutralize acidic components or
contaminants).

From the alkalinity measurements (PM,PF,MF), concentration of

hydroxyl (OH-), carbonate (CO3=) and bicarbonate (HCO3-) ions can be
estimated.

Knowledge of mud and filtrate alkalinities is important to ensure proper

mud chemistry control of a drilling fluid. Hydroxyl alkalinity is
necessary for solubilizing some products.

On the other hand, carbonate and bicarbonate alkalinities adversely

affect performance of clay-based muds.

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Potassium
Potassium ions in drilling fluids are used to stabilize water sensitive
shales. Maintaining proper potassium concentration is the key to
successful use of potassium-based muds.

This test method is used to determine the concentration of

potassium ions in mud filtrates at levels above 3.5 lb/bbl
potassium chloride. K+ ion is precipitated as the perchlorate salt.
The potassium ion concentration is determined by measuring the
volume of precipitate in a graduated (Kolmer) tube and reading
the concentration of potassium ions from a previously prepared
standardization curve.

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Test Procedure - Potassium Ion

1. Measure 7.0 cm3 of filtrate into the centrifuge tube.

2. Add 3.0 cm3 of the sodium perchlorate solution. DO NOT AGITATE! If

potassium ions are present, precipitation occurs immediately.

3. Centrifuge at a constant speed of 1800 rpm for 1 minute. Immediately

read and note the precipitate volume.

4. Report the potassium concentration as lb/bbl of KCl. The potassium

ion concentration in mg/L can be approximated by multiplying the
lb/bbl value by 1500.

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Chloride
The chloride ion content is a useful indicator of drilling through salt
stringers, taking saltwater flows and for checking the quality of
make-up water.

Chloride ion (Cl-) analysis is a titration of the filtrate sample using

silver (Ag+) ion to reach an orange-red endpoint of silver chromate
from the potassium chromate indicator.
Being able to see this endpoint is critical. Therefore, technique will
depend on the color of the filtrate.

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 Total Hardness

The hardness of water or mud filtrate is due primarily to the presence

of calcium (Ca++) and magnesium (Mg++) ions.

The harder the water, the more difficult for many chemicals to function,
particularly bentonite clay.

Also, hardness decreases efficiency of most polymers.

Hardness analysis is a titration of divalent cations in a filtrate using

EDTA reagent with an indicator that changes from wine-red to blue at
the endpoint.

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Oil-Based Drilling Fluids Testing
Oil-
Procedures
Electrical Stability (ES)
The relative stability of a water-in-oil emulsion mud is indicated by the
breakdown voltage at which the emulsion becomes conductive.

The ES test utilizes a probe with a pair of electrodes which are placed in
the oil mud. A voltage is applied until the mud conducts a current. The ES
value is indicated by a light on the instrument.

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Whole Mud Salinities (ClOM, CaCl2OM)

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Aqueous Phase Salinity (Weight Percent)

Information needed:
Retort water %, VW
Weight percent, if salt is assumed to be CaCl2:

Brine density for CaCl2 brine only:

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Solids Content

Information needed:
Mud density, density of high and low gravity solids, water, oil and
brine phases.
Corrected Solids Content, VS, vol%:

Average Density Suspended Solids, rAVG, g/cm3

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Volume % and Concentration H-Gravity Solids:

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