BAYERO UNIVERSITY, KANO

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL AND PETROLEUM

ENGINEERING

COURSE TITTLE:
LABORATORY PRACTICAL (PEE4311)
EXPERIMENT II:
PH DETERMINATION

BY
UMAR BALARABE UMAR
REG.NO: ENG/17/PET/00285
GROUP(E)
MARCH, 2020
ABSTRACT

The pH of water used when mixing bentonite has a significant effect on whether bentonite can be

fully hydrated. The pH of water, before adding bentonite should be in the range of 8.5-9.5, this is

slightly alkaline

Drilling fluid additives were developed to be mixed with water with a pH level from 8.5 to 10 in

order for the required chemical reaction to occur and to provide a proper yield. Most water

sources ranges from 5.5-7.5 which is very low.

Bentonite clay has a pH of 8.3-9.1 and it is best mixed with an acidic liquid like apple cider,

vineger or aloe vera juice

 CHAPTER 1

1.1 INTRODUCTION

PH is a measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions in an aqueous solution. PH is measured in

scale of 0 to 14. A PH of less than 7 indicates an acidic medium with an increasing in acidity

from 7 to 1, while solution with a pH of above 7 are considered to be alkaline, with an increase

in alkalinity from 7 to 14. A PH of 7 is neutral as in the case of pure water.

The concentration of OH- depends on the concentration of H+. If for instance the concentration of

H+ is high (1 *10−1 ) then the concentration if hydroxyl (OH-) is low ( 1 * 10−13 ) and vice versa. If

the concentration of hydroxyl (OH-) is high, the fluid is strongly alkaline and if the concentration

of H+ is high, the solution is strongly acidic.

The pH of a solution is the logarithm of the reciprocal of the concentration of H+ in grams per

liter expressed as;

PH = log [ 1/H+ ] = -log H+

For example;

If a solution is neutral then the concentration of H+ and OH- are equal to 1 * 10-7

pH = Log (1 / 1*10-7) = - Log [ 1*10-7] = -(-7) = 7.00

PH analysis is fundamental to drilling fluids control. The pH of the fluids affects clay dispersion

and the solubility and effectiveness of chemical additives. A change in the pH while drilling

indicates contamination by substance such as cement, gypsum or carbon dioxide. Effectiveness

corrosion control and treatment depends upon the proper pH adjustment.

1.2 PROCEDURE

After the mud have been prepared, the next step is the measurement of the pH. Basically they are

2 methods for measuring the pH of a drilling mud in the laboratory which are;

a) The pH paper

b) The pH meter

 The pH paper:- this method is the most popular because it is quick, easy and inexpensive in

fresh water mud. A strip of paper is placed in the fluid soaking up the liquid. An indicator

dye in the paper changes color based on the pH of the solution, the color dye is compared

with color chart. The color that appears to be similar to the color chart indicates the pH of the

mud. The main disadvantage is that high concentration of salts (10,000 ppm chloride) will

alter the color change and cause inaccuracy

 The pH meter:- The meter is an electric device utilizing glass electrodes to measure a

potential difference and indicate directly by dial reading the pH of the sample. The pH meter

is the most accurate method of measuring pH

1.3 HOW TO USE A PH METER.

1) Calibrate the pH meter using the meter’s calibration function (follow the directions that come

with the meter) using three pH standards. Record the electrode potential of each pH standard for

subsequent analysis. Record the electrode slope and intercept calculated by the meter after

calibration.

2) Measure the pH of 5 samples from different depths in the lake. Record both pH as displayed

on the meter and electrode potential. Record the depth and temperature of each sample. Why is
it important to know the temperature of the sample? How do temperature effects influence your

results? How will you solve the temperature problem?

3) Use a least squares analysis procedure to calculate the pH of samples in step two using the

electrode potential of three standards measured in step one. Calculate the uncertainty of each

pH measurement.

4) Compare your pH results to values collected using the YSI Sonde (we will collect this data as

a group) using an appropriate statistical test.

5) Report the results from tasks 1-4 using the Analytical Chemistry guide to authors. Every

student should have his or her own write up.

.
 CHAPTER 2

2.1 APPARATUS

 Ph meter

 Ph paper

 Drilling fluid (bentonite)

 Litmus paper

 beaker
 CHAPTER 3

3.1 CALCULATIONS AND RESULTS

Using the mud weight (ppg) obtained for sample 1 and 2 of your experiment, calculate, how

much hydrostatic pressure that each sample will exert on a formation at a depth of 10,000ft.

Solution:

Using low Viscous mud weight=8.62ppg, TVD=10,000ft

Therefore, HP=0.052×mud weight×TVD = Pressure gradient×TVD

HP=0.052×8.62ppg×10,000ft

Hp= 4342ppg-ft

Using medium Viscous mud weight=8.6ppg

Therefore, HP= 0.052×8.6ppg×10,000ft

HP= 4472ppg-ft

3.2. What is the different between over balance and under balance

Over balance drilling is a type of drilling method where the pressure of the well is smaller than

the pressure of formation. It is a good procedure for drilling formations having lost circulation

problems. There are many

problem associated we overbalance drilling. The most critical problem is that well can blow out

if the well's pressure highly falls below the formation pore pressure. However, overbalance

drilling is advantageous in cleaning the cutting from the well.

Underbalanced drilling is a procedure used to drill oil and gas wells where the pressure in the

wellbore is kept lower than the static pressure then the formation being drilled. As the well is

being drilled, formation fluid flows into the wellbore and up to the surface. This is the opposite

of the usual situation, where the wellbore is kept at a pressure above the formation to prevent

formation fluid entering the well.

3.3. Estimate the mud weight needed to balance a formation pressure equivalent to

10,000ft.depth with 0.561psi/ft. pressure gradient.

Solution

Data Given: True Vertical Depth (TVD) =10,000ft, Pressure Gradient= 0.561psi/ft.

Formula: HP=0.052×mud weight×TVD = Pressure gradient×TVD

By dividing both side with coefficients of mud weight

pressure gradient ×TVD

Mud weight=
0.052× TVD

0.561 psi/ ft × 10,000 ft

Mud weight= 0.052 ×10,000 ft ¿
¿

5610
Mud weight=. =8.62 psi
520
 CHAPTER 4

4.1 ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION

After the experiment taken place the pH found in the bentonite used was which shows that it

was a base (but slightly alkaline).

Drilling fluid density/type is an important factor in drilling and production operations. Most of

encountered problems during rotary drilling are related to drilling mud types and weights. This

paper aims to investigate the effect of mud weight on filter cake properties and formation

damage through two experimental approaches. In the first approach, seven water-based drilling

fluid samples with same composition are prepared with different densities (9.0e12.0 lb/gal) and

examined to select the optimum mud weight that has less damage. The second approach deals

with investigating the possible effect of the different weighting materials (BaSO 4 and CaCO

filter cake properties. High pressure/high temperature loss tests and Scanning Electron

Microscopy (SEM) analyses were carried out on the filter cake (two selected samples).
 CHAPTER 5

5.1 CONCLUSION

To conclude, the experiment was carried out at the predicted conditions. It is important to refer

some of the most important aspects such as: The parameters of the mud altered due to a

weighting agent. These weighting agents are high specific gravity materials or substances that

are used to change the parameters and or rheology of drilling muds for example density.

5.2 RECOMMENDATION

whenever using the instrument to measure the density of a drilling fluid it is recommended to

calibrate it and wash per each time, it is used because these will influence the results.
REFERENCES

1) HTTP://WWW.MID- CONTINENTS.COM/CATEGORY/EQUIPMENT-

SPARES/FANN-INSTRUMENTS [accessed on 06.12.12]

2) HTTP://WWW.SERENEENERGY.ORG/DRILLING-FLUID- PROPERTIES.PHP

[accessed on 09.12.12]

3)DRILLING ENGINEERING LABORATORY MANUAL ;OIL AND GAS

LABORATORY 2 (CGE 557)

4) HTTP://WWW.DRILLING –MUD.ORG/MUD-WEIGHT-OR-MUD-DENSITY