SLB - Drilling Fluid

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1. Abrasion A laboratory test to evaluate drilling-grade 15. Aerobic Referring to a condition or a situation or a
test weighting material for potential abrasiveness living creature, such as a bacteria, in which
oxygen is required to sustain life
2. Absolute The volume a solid occupies or displaces
volume when added to water divided by its weight, or 16. Agglomeration/ The formation of groups or clusters of
the volume per unit mass aggregation particles in a fluid
3. Accretion The mechanism by which partially hydrated 17. Aggregate Group or cluster of particles in a fluid
cuttings stick to parts of the bottomhole
18. Air cut mud A drilling fluid (or mud) that has gas (air or
assembly and accumulate as a compacted,
natural gas) bubbles in it, resulting in a
layered deposit
lower bulk, unpressurized density
4. Acetic acid An organic acid used in oil- and gas-well compared with a mud not cut by gas
stimulation treatments. Less corrosive than the
19. Alkaline Pertaining to an aqueous solution, such as
commonly used hydrochloric acid, it can be
a water-base drilling fluid, which has more
more easily inhibited or retarded for
hydroxyl ions (OH-) than hydrogen ions
treatments of long duration
(H+) and pH greater than 7
5. Acid A generic term used to describe a treatment
20. Alkalinity A chemical property of an aqueous system
fluid typically comprising hydrochloric acid
that implies that there are more hydroxyl
and a blend of acid additives
ions (OH-) in the system, or a potential to
6. Acid Pertaining to an aqueous solution, such as a produce more hydroxyl ions, than there are
water-base drilling fluid, which has more hydrogen ions (H+), or potential to
hydrogen ions (H+) than hydroxyl ions (OH-) produce hydrogen ions
and pH less than 7
21. Alkalinity Test A measure of the total amount of hydroxyl
7. Acidity A chemical property of an aqueous system ions in a solution as determined by
that implies that there are more hydrogen ions titration with standardized acid. This test is
(H+) in the system, or a potential to produce a well-known water-analysis procedure to
more hydrogen ions, than there are hydroxyl estimate hydroxyl, carbonate ion and
ions (OH-), or potential to produce hydroxyl bicarbonate ion concentrations
ions
22. Alum A series of double salts of aluminum
8. Acrylamide A linear copolymer of acrylate (anionic) and sulfate and potassium sulfate with the
acrylate acrylamide (nonionic) monomers, also called formula Al2(SO4)3·K2SO4·nH2O. It is used
polymer partially-hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (PHPA) as a colloidal flocculant in wastewater
cleanup
9. Acrylamide A linear, nonionic polymer made of
polymer acrylamide monomers, CH2=CHCONH2 23. Aluminium The salt of aluminum hydroxide and stearic
stearate acid (saturated C-18 fatty acid) with the
10. Acrylate Linear, anionic polymer made from the
formula Al(O2C18H35)3
polymer/ monomer acrylic acid
polyacrylate 24. Amides A group of organic chemicals with the
general formula RCO-NH2 formed from
11. Active A compound of sulfur that contains the S-2
reactions of ammonia (NH3) and a
sulfide ion. The term is used to denote compounds
carboxylic acid
that revert to the highly toxic H2S gas when
acidified with 2-molar citric acid solution, as 25. Amines A group of organic chemicals that are
opposed to inert sulfide, which is stable analogs of ammonia (NH3), in which either
one, two or three hydrogen atoms of
12. Activity of The escaping tendency, or vapor pressure, of
ammonia are replaced by organic radicals
aqueous water molecules in an aqueous solution
solutions compared with that of pure water, typically 26. AMPS A copolymer of 2-acrylamido-2methyl
abbreviated aw (acrylamido propane sulfonate and acrylamide
methyl propane
13. Acyclic One of a group of organic compounds of
sulfonate
compound/ carbon (C) and hydrogen (H) in which the
polymer)
aliphatic carbon atoms have linear, branched chain
compound (open), or both types of structures
14. Aerobic Referring to a condition or a situation in which
free oxygen exists in an environment
27. Anaerobic Pertaining to systems, reactions or life processes 42. API Specification The industry standard document that
of species, such as bacteria, in which 10A - specifies requirements for API well
atmospheric oxygen is not present or not Specification for cements and specification-testing
required for survival cements and methods
materials for well
28. Anaerobic The condition of an environment in which free
cementing
oxygen is lacking or absent
43. API Water The amount of mixing water specified in
29. Anaerobic A description of organisms that can survive in
API Specification 10A for specification
the absence of oxygen, particularly bacteria
testing of cement to meet API
30. Anhydrite The anhydrous mineral form of calcium sulfate, requirements
CaSO4
44. Apparent The viscosity of a fluid measured at a
31. Anhydrite A member of the evaporite group of minerals viscosity given shear rate at a fixed temperature
and the soft rock formed by precipitation of
45. Apparent The viscosity of a fluid measured at the
calcium sulfate from evaporation of seawater
viscosity shear rate specified by API. In the
32. Aniline A test to evaluate base oils that are used in oil Bingham plastic rheology model, it is
point test mud. The test indicates if an oil is likely to one-half of the dial reading at 600 rpm
damage elastomers (rubber compounds) that using a direct-indicating, rotational
come in contact with the oil viscometer
33. Anion A negatively charged ion 46. Aromatic One of two quantitative analysis
34. Anionic Related to negatively charged ions content test procedures for measuring aromatic
content of base oils for use in oil mud as
35. Anode The half of a battery that is positively charged
proscribed by the API
and to which anions migrate by electrostatic
attraction 47. Aromatic A type of compound containing
hydrocarbon hydrogen and carbon atoms arranged in
36. Anode A protective device to prevent electrolytic
a symmetrical 6-carbon ring structure
corrosion. Often made of Mg or Al metal, it is
with single (C-C) and double (C=C)
sacrificed intentionally to protect a steel system,
bonds alternating around the ring
such as a buried pipeline or offshore platform
48. Asphaltic mud A group of high-viscosity or solid
37. Antifoam A mud additive used to lower interfacial tension
additive hydrocarbons obtained from naturally
agent so that trapped gas will readily escape from
occurring deposits or from the residue of
mud
petroleum refining, commonly used as
38. Antifoam A chemical additive used to prevent the additives for oil-base and water-base
agent formation of foam during the preparation of a muds
treatment fluid or slurries at surface
49. ASTM (american The designation of a standard developed
39. API Abbreviation for American Petroleum Institute, a society for by ASTM International
trade association founded in 1919 with offices in testing and
Washington, DC, USA materials)
40. API One of several classes of cement manufactured 50. Attapulgite A needle-like clay mineral composed of
Cement to the specifications of the American Petroleum magnesium-aluminum silicate
Institute (API) Specification 10A
51. AV Abbreviation for apparent viscosity
41. API fluid A test to measure static filtration behavior of
52. Bactericide/ An additive that kills bacteria. It is
loss test water mud at ambient (room) temperature and
biocide commonly used in water muds
100-psi differential pressure, usually performed
containing natural starches and gums that
according to specifications set by API, using a
are especially vulnerable to bacterial
static filter press
attack
53. Balanced activity An oil-base mud in which the activity, or
oil mud vapor pressure, of the brine phase is
balanced with that of the formations
drilled
54. Barite A dense mineral comprising barium
sulfate [BaSO4]
55. Barite A dense sulfate mineral that can occur in a 69. Bioaccumulation/ The concentration of a particular
variety of rocks, including limestone and bioconcentration substance in a living organism, possibly
sandstone, with a range of accessory with harmful effects
minerals, such as quartz, chert, dolomite,
70. Bioassay A laboratory test or other assessment
calcite, siderite and metal sulfides
utilizing a living organism, such as mysid
56. Barrel A volume of 350 cm3 shrimp, to determine the effect of a
equivalent condition to which the organism is
exposed
57. Base The quantity of positively charged ions
exchange/ (cations) that a clay mineral or similar 71. Biodegradation The breakdown of medium-weight crude
CEC material can accommodate on its negatively oil by microbial organisms into heavy
charged surface, expressed as milli-ion and light components
equivalent per 100 g, or more commonly as
72. Biodegradation The process by which complex
milliequivalent (meq) per 100 g
molecules are broken down by micro-
58. Base oil Refers to the continuous phase in oil-base organisms to produce simpler
drilling fluids compounds
59. Base slurry A conventional cement slurry used as the 73. Biopolymer A polymer produced by a strain of
cementitious component of a foamed cement bacteria. The most common type, used in
slurry drilling and completion operations, is a
polysaccharide biopolymer known as XC
60. Bc (Bearden The pumpability or consistency of a slurry,
polymer
unit of measured in ..... ,a dimensionless quantity with
consistency) no direct conversion factor to more common 74. Black list List of products considered unsuitable by
units of viscosity the Oslo and Paris Commission (OSPAR)
for discharge, including mercury,
61. Beneficiate To improve a mineral or ore for its designed
cadmium and 'persistent oils and
use through chemical treatments or
hydrocarbons of a petroleum origin.'
mechanical processes
75. Blaine fineness The particle size or fineness of a cement
62. Beneficiation Chemical treatment or mechanical processes
in cm2/g or m2/kg, usually determined
that improve a mineral or ore for its designed
from air permeability tests using a device
use
known as a Blaine permeameter
63. Bentonite A material composed of clay minerals,
76. Bland coring A coring fluid formulated with
predominantly montmorillonite with minor
fluid components that are not likely to alter
amounts of other smectite group minerals,
the wettability in the pores of the rock
commonly used in drilling mud
sample and that has low dynamic
64. Bentonite A clay mineral that is composed principally filtration characteristics
of three-layer clays, such as montmorillonite,
77. BOD/ The amount of oxygen consumed by
and widely used as a mud additive for
Biochemical biodegradation processes during a
viscosity and filtration control
oxygen demand standardized test. The test usually
65. Bentonite A term used to express the results of the involves degradation of organic matter in
equivalent methylene blue test, which determines the a discarded waste or an effluent
amount of clay-like materials in a water-base
78. Bomb Slang term for a type of pressure vessel
drilling fluid based on the amount of
methylene blue dye absorbed by the sample 79. Bond log A log that uses the variations in
amplitude of an acoustic signal traveling
66. Bicarb/ A compound containing the bicarbonate ion
down the casing wall between a
bicarbonate [HCOO-].
transmitter and receiver to determine the
67. Bichromate A type of salt in which chromium atoms are in quality of cement bond on the exterior
salt/ the plus-7 valence state, such as potassium casing wall
dichromate dichromate
80. Bottom hole The temperature at the bottom of a well
salt
circulating while fluid is being circulated,
68. Bingham A two-parameter rheological model widely temperature abbreviated BHCT
plastic used in the drilling fluids industry to describe
model flow characteristics of many types of muds
81. Bottom hole The temperature of the circulating fluid (air, 96. Brookfield A cone-and-plate rheometer designed to
circulating mud, cement or water) at the bottom of the viscometer measure viscosity of non-Newtonian fluids at
temperature wellbore after several hours of circulation low shear rates and with more accuracy than is
attainable with a 6-speed, direct-indicating
82. Bottom hole The temperature of the undisturbed formation
viscometer
static at the final depth in a well
temperature 97. Buffer A chemical used to adjust and control the pH
of stimulation fluids
83. Bottom hole The undisturbed temperature at the bottom of
static a well, abbreviated as BHST 98. Buffer A chemical system that resists a change in pH.
temperature It comprises three components: water, weak
acid (or weak base) and salt of the weak acid
84. Bottoms up A sample of mud from the deepest or current
(or salt of weak base)
mud sample drilling depth of a well. The term refers
particularly to a mud sample that has 99. Buffered A type of mud that contains the three
experienced stagnant conditions at the bottom mud components that form a chemical buffer,
of the hole, including the temperature, whether by design or by coincidence
pressure and other conditions at that depth
100. Buffered A solution of constant pH used in calibration of
85. Breaker A chemical that reduces the viscosity of a solution pH meters
fluid by breaking long-chain molecules into
101. Buffered A solution used in analyses to hold pH at or
shorter segments
solution above or below a certain value, as in the
86. Breaker A chemical used to reduce the viscosity of titration for magnesium versus calcium ions
specialized treatment fluids such as gels and
102. Buffer Any aqueous solution that contains a buffer
foams
solution mixture (weak acid or weak base and salt of the
87. Bridging Material of a coarse, fibrous or flaky weak acid or base) to maintain constant or
agent/ composition used to form an impermeable almost constant pH of the system
bridging barrier across a formation interface or
103. Bulk The volume per unit mass of a dry material
material perforation
volume plus the volume of the air between its particles
88. Bridging Solids added to a drilling fluid to bridge
104. BWOB (by Describing the amount (in percent) of a
agent/ across the pore throat or fractures of an
weight of material added to cement when the material is
bridging exposed rock thereby building a filter cake to
blend) added based on the total amount of a specific
material prevent loss of whole mud or excessive
blend
filtrate
105. BWOW Describing the amount (in percent) of a
89. Brine Saline liquid usually used in completion
material added to a cement slurry based on
operations and, increasingly, when penetrating
the weight of water used to mix the slurry
a pay zone
106. Bypass The act of passing the mud around a piece of
90. Brine Water containing salts in solution, such as
equipment, such as passing mud returns around
sodium, calcium or bromides
the shale shaker screens or going around a
91. Brine Water containing more dissolved inorganic hydrocyclone device
salt than typical seawater
107. Bypassed Mud that is left somewhere in the wellbore
92. Brine A water-based solution of inorganic salts used mud when some other fluid is pumped into the well
as a well-control fluid during the completion
108. By weight Describing the amount (in percent) of a
and workover phases of well operations
of cement material added to cement, and is often
93. Brine A general term that refers to various salts and abbreviated as BWOC
salt mixtures dissolved in an aqueous solution
109. Cake The residue deposited on a permeable medium
94. Bromide An aqueous solution of sodium, calcium or when a slurry, such as a drilling fluid, is forced
brine zinc bromide salt or mixtures of these salts against the medium under a pressure
95. Bromocresol An indicator used in place of methyl orange in 110. Cake A measurement of the thickness of the filter
green alkalinity tests. It is green at pH values over thickness cake, usually recorded in 32nds-inch
4.3, but yellow when pH is less than 4.3
111. Calcium A compound with formula CaCO3 that occurs
carbonate naturally as limestone
112. Calcium A highly soluble calcium salt of formula 125. Carrying The ability of a circulating drilling fluid to
chloride CaCl2 used to make drilling and workover capacity/ transport rock fragments out of a wellbore
fluids or brines with a density range from cuttings
8.33 to 11.6 lbm/gal [1.39 g/cm3] at lifting/ hole
saturation cleaning
113. Calcium A contamination problem caused by Ca+2 126. Cathode The negative terminal of an electrolytic cell or
contamination ions, usually occurring in fresh water, battery
seawater and other low-salinity and low-
127. Cation A positively charged ion
hardness mud systems
128. Cationic Related to positively charged ions
114. Calcium A chemical with formula Ca(OH)2,
hydroxide commonly called slaked lime 129. Caustic A test used to determine if a barite sample
extraction contains caustic-soluble sulfide or carbonate
115. Calcium mud A class of water-base drilling fluid that
test minerals
utilize dissolved Ca+2 as a component
130. Caustic The common name for potassium hydroxide
116. Calcium oxide A chemical with formula CaO, commonly
potash [KOH]
called quick lime or hot lime
131. Caustic The common name for sodium hydroxide
117. Calcium sulfate The chemical CaSO4, which occurs
soda [NaOH]. It is used in most water-base muds to
naturally as the mineral anhydrite
increase and maintain pH and alkalinity
118. Calcium test A quantitative analytical procedure for
132. Cavings Pieces of rock that came from the wellbore but
water-mud filtrate and for calcium in an oil
that were not removed directly by the action
mud
of the drill bit
119. Capillary A type of static filtration test for water-
133. Cellulosic A drilling-fluid additive used primarily for
suction time base drilling fluid that measures the
polymer/ fluid-loss control, manufactured by reacting
test filtration rate (time for free water to pass
CMC natural cellulose with monochloroacetic acid
between two electrodes) using filter paper
and sodium hydroxide [NaOH] to form CMC
as the medium
sodium salt
120. Capillary tube An instrument for measuring the viscosity
134. Centipoise A unit of measurement for viscosity equivalent
viscometer of a fluid by passing the fluid at a known
to one-hundredth of a poise and symbolized
pressure gradient or velocity through a
by cP
length of tubing of known diameter
135. Centrifuge An item of solids-removal equipment that
121. Carbonate ion An anion with formula CO3-2
removes fine and ultrafine solids
122. Carbonate test An analytical procedure to determine the
136. Centrifuge A rapidly rotating flywheel on a vertical axle
concentration of carbonate species using
to whose rim is attached a series of tubes at
the Garrett Gas Train (GGT) when
one end, the other end being free to tilt
performed to API specifications
upwards and outwards
123. Carbon dioxide The compound with the formula CO2. An
137. Cesium A salt of cesium hydroxide and acetic acid,
odorless gas, it is widely distributed in
acetate with formula CH3COO-Cs+, used to make
nature and is a minor component of air. It
high-density completion fluids
is highly soluble in water and oil,
especially under pressure. In water, it 138. Cesium A neutral to slightly alkaline salt of cesium
occurs as carbonic acid, a weak acid that formate hydroxide and formic acid having the formula
can donate one or two hydrogen ions in HCOO-Cs+
neutralization reactions that produce 139. Chelating A chemical used to bind metal ions to form a
bicarbonate [HCO3-] and carbonate agent ring structure
[CO3-2] salts or ions.
140. Chelating A chemical added to an acid to stabilize iron
124. Carboxymethyl A natural starch derivative. It is used agent
starch primarily for fluid-loss control in drilling
141. Chemical A 20- to 50-gallon [3.2- to 7.9 m3] container
muds, drill-in, completion and workover
barrel for liquid mud additives, usually located
fluids.
above the suction pit on a drilling rig
142. Chemical The amount of oxygen needed to oxidize
oxygen reactive chemicals in a water system, typically
demand determined by a standardized test procedure
143. Chenevert The name given by API to the 158. Clay extender A class of polymers added to a
method electrohygrometer method for testing oil drilling-grade clay mineral during
mud and cuttings samples for water-phase grinding, or added directly into a
activity, aw. clay-based mud system, to
enhance the clay's rheological
144. Chloride test A titration procedure standardized by the
performance
API to quantitatively determine Cl- (chloride
ion) concentration by using silver nitrate as 159. Clay water interaction An all-inclusive term to describe
titrant with potassium chromate as the various progressive interactions
endpoint indicator between clay minerals and water
145. Chromate salt A type of salt in which chromium atoms are 160. Clear water drilling Drilling operations using a water-
in the plus-6 valence state, such as base drilling fluid that contains
potassium chromate, K2CrO4 few solids
146. Chrome free Pertaining to a mud additive (usually 161. Closed mud system A mud and solids-control system
lignosulfonate or lignite) that does not in which the only discarded waste
contain any chromium compounds is moist, drilled-up rock materials
147. Chrome A lignite that has been treated (admixed or 162. Cloud point The temperature at which a
lignite reacted with) chromic or chromate salt, solution of a surfactant or glycol
such as potassium or sodium chromate or starts to form micelles (molecular
dichromate or chromic chloride agglomerates), thus becoming
cloudy
148. Chrome A lignosulfonate that has been treated by
lignosulfonate mixing or reacting into the molecular 163. Cloud point The temperature at which wax
structure some form of chromium (either crystals first start to form in a
chromate or chromic salt) crude oil
149. Chromic salt A salt of chromium in which chromium 164. Cloud point glycol A glycol that is soluble at low
atoms are in the plus-3 valence state, such temperatures but starts to form
as chromic chloride, CrCl3 micelles (molecular
agglomerates), thus becoming
150. Circulation The elapsed time for mud to circulate from
cloudy, as the temperature is
time/ cycle the suction pit, down the wellbore and back
raised
time to surface
165. CMC Hi Vis/ CMC-HVT A high viscosity grade of drilling-
151. Citric acid An organic acid, properly called 2-
fluid additive used primarily for
Hydroxy-1,2,3-propanetricarboxylic acid,
fluid-loss control, manufactured
with formula C6H8O7
by reacting natural cellulose with
152. Clathrate An unusual occurrence of hydrocarbon in monochloroacetic acid and
which molecules of natural gas, typically sodium hydroxide [NaOH]
methane, are trapped in ice molecules
166. CMC-Lo Vis/ CMC-LVT A low viscosity grade of drilling-
153. Clathrate Compounds or complex ions that are fluid additive used primarily for
formed by the union of water with other fluid-loss control, manufactured
substances by reacting natural cellulose with
154. Clathrate A crystalline solid consisting of water with monochloroacetic acid and
gas molecules in an ice-like cage structure sodium hydroxide [NaOH]

155. Clay A group of rock-forming, hydrous aluminum 167. CMHEC A cellulose polymer that contains
silicate minerals that are platy in structure (Carboxymethyl anionic carboxymethyl and
and can form by the alteration of silicate Hydroxyethylcellulose) nonionic hydroxyethyl groups
minerals like feldspar and amphibole added by ether linkages to the
OHs on the cellulose backbone
156. Clay Fine-grained sediments less than 0.0039
mm in size 168. Coalesce To grow, as in the process of
droplet growth, through small
157. Clay A large family of complex minerals
drops merging when they come in
containing the elements magnesium,
contact
aluminum, silicon and oxygen (magnesium,
aluminum silicates) combined in a sheet-like
structure
169. Coalescence The process of droplet growth as small 181. Copper A compound, CuCO3, that was used as a
drops merge together when they come in carbonate sulfide scavenger for water-base muds.
contact However, it was found to be corrosive due to
spontaneous plating of metallic copper onto
170. Coarse Referring in the strict sense (API Bulletin
metal surfaces, causing pitting corrosion; it has
13C) to any particle larger than 2000
largely been replaced by zinc compounds
microns
182. Coring A specially designed fluid that is used for
171. Colloid A finely divided, solid material, which
fluid cutting cores with a core barrel and core bit
when dispersed in a liquid medium,
scatters a light beam and does not settle 183. Corrosion A specimen of test material to be used in a
by gravity; such particles are usually less coupon corrosion test, usually a metal strip or ring
than 2 microns in diameter shaped to fit into a testing cell or between joints
of drillpipe
172. Colloidal Referring to a finely divided, solid
material, which when dispersed in a liquid 184. Coupon An abbreviation for electrical coupon, an
medium scatters a light beam and does instrument used in a corrosion test to determine
not settle by gravity; such particles are metal loss
usually less than 2 microns in diameter
185. Coupon An abbreviation for corrosion coupon, a
173. Colloidal solids Solid particles of size less than 2 microns specimen of test material to be used in a
equivalent spherical diameter, also corrosion test, usually a metal strip or ring
identified as clay by definitions in shaped to fit into a testing cell or between joints
International Standards Organization of drillpipe
174. Colloidal A finely divided, solid material dispersed 186. Creaming The separation of phases of an emulsion with
suspension in a liquid medium. The solid particles the lighter phase on top and denser phase on
scatter a light beam and do not settle by bottom
gravity; they are usually less than 2
187. Critical The minimum rate required to achieve turbulent
microns in diameter
rate flow
175. Comprehensive What does CERCLA stand for?
188. Curing The aging of cement under specific temperature
Environmental
and pressure conditions
Response,
Compensation 189. Cut point The particle size that has a specified chance of
and Liability being removed by an item of solids control
Act equipment

176. Consistency A rheological property of matter related 190. Cuttings Small pieces of rock that break away due to the
to the cohesion of the individual particles action of the bit teeth
of a given material, its ability to deform 191. Cuttings Rock pieces dislodged by the drill bit as it cuts
and its resistance to flow rock in the hole
177. Contact time The elapsed time required for a specific 192. Cuttings Transport of rock fragments out of a wellbore by
fluid to pass a designated depth or point lifting/ a circulating drilling fluid
in the annulus during pumping operations carrying
178. Continuous The continuous phase of an emulsion capacity/
phase/ external hole
phase cleaning

179. Conventional A term that, in the past, referred to a mud 193. Cutt point The spherical diameter corresponding to the
mud containing bentonite clay, water, caustic ellipsoidal volume distribution of the screen
soda and perhaps barite (as needed for opening sizes as measured by image analysis
density) usually with lignite or techniques
lignosulfonate present 194. CWA/ A law passed by the US Congress to control the
180. Copolymer A polymer that is formed from two or Clean discharge of contaminants, particularly oil, into
more different structural units water act the waters of the US
195. DD/ An individual trained in the science and art 210. Differential A condition whereby the drillstring cannot
Directional of intentionally drilling a well along a pressure be moved (rotated or reciprocated) along
driller predetermined path in three-dimensional sticking the axis of the wellbore
space, usually involving deviating the well
211. Differential A situation in which the drilling assembly
from vertical and directing it in a specific
pressure (pipe, drill collars and bottomhole
compass direction or heading
sticking/ assembly) is stuck in filter cake that was
196. DD/ Drilling A surfactant-type mud additive intended to differential previously deposited on a permeable zone
detergent prevent formation shales and clays from sticking
sticking to the drilling assembly and also
212. Difficult to Pertaining to a cement that is not easily
to prevent gumbo shale from
disperse dispersed by a material known as a
agglomerating and plugging the annulus
(DTD) dispersant
and flowlines
213. Difficult to Pertaining to cement that is not easily
197. Deflocculant A thinning agent used to reduce viscosity
disperse in dispersed by a material known as a
or prevent flocculation; incorrectly called a
salt (DTDS) dispersant when the slurry is mixed with
"dispersant."
water containing a high concentration of salt
198. Deflocculate To reduce the viscosity of a suspension by
214. Dilution The process of adding fresh mud (or liquid
adding a thinning agent, also known as a
phase) in order to reduce the solids content
deflocculant
and maintain the properties of the drilling
199. Deflocculated A clay-based, water mud that has had its fluid in the active system
mud viscosity reduced with a chemical
215. Dilution Also called make-up water, which is water
treatment; incorrectly, called a "dispersed"
water added to maintain or dilute a water-mud
mud
system
200. Deflocculation The act of reducing the viscosity of a
216. Direct A chemical used in preparation and
suspension by adding a thinning agent
emulsifier maintenance of an emulsion mud, which is a
201. Defoamer/ A mud additive used to lower interfacial water mud containing dispersed oil (or a
antifoam tension so that trapped gas will readily synthetic hydrocarbon)
agent/ foam escape from mud
217. Direct The instrument used to measure viscosity
breaker
indicating and gel strength of drilling mud. It is a
202. Defoamer/ A chemical additive used to prevent the viscometer rotational cylinder and bob instrument, also
antifoam formation of foam during the preparation known as a V-G meter.
agent/ foam of a treatment fluid or slurries at surface
218. Direct- The instrument used to measure viscosity
breaker
indicating and gel strength of drilling mud
203. Dehydration The loss of water from cement slurry or viscometer
drilling fluid by the process of filtration
219. Dispersant/ A chemical that aids in breaking up solids or
204. Demulsifier A chemical used to break emulsions (that emulsifier liquids as fine particles or droplets into
is, to separate the two phases) another medium
205. Derrickman The member of the drilling crew in charge 220. Dispersion A colloidal system, such as a drilling fluid,
of the mud-processing area during periods that has been dispersed
of circulation
221. Dispersion The act of breaking up large particles into
206. Derrickman One of the rig crew members who gets his smaller ones and distributing them
name from the fact that he works on a throughout a liquid or gaseous medium
platform attached to the derrick or mast,
222. Dispersion The phenomenon of a wave separating into
typically 85 ft [26 m] above the rig floor,
its frequency constituents as it passes
during trips
through a medium
207. Dewatering The process of removing water from water-
223. Dispersion A type of distortion of a wave train in which
base drilling mud
the velocity of the wave varies with
208. Diesel-oil mud An oil-base mud with diesel oil as its frequency
external phase
224. Dispersion Spatial separation of components within a
209. Diesel-oil Another term for gunk plug, a slurry that fluid. This separation is often driven by
plug/ gunk consists of bentonite, cement or polymers diffusion, mixing or differential flow.
plug mixed into an oil
225. Dissolved In water analysis, the soluble components in a 237. EDTA the reagent used to titrate for calcium
solids sample or the residue left after evaporation of a and magnesium ions (hardness ions)
sample in water samples. It is also known as
versenate or titraver
226. Draeger A type of gas detector tube that quantitatively
tube measures a gas that is passed through the tube 238. Effective laminar A technique for displacing drilling
by the length of the stain it generates chemically flow mud from the annulus using a
in the tube laminar-flow regime
227. Drilled Formation solids contained in a mud system, 239. Electric stability A test for oil-base and synthetic-base
solids generally considered to be detrimental to the (ES) test muds that indicates the emulsion and
drilling operation because they produce high oil-wetting qualities of the sample
plastic viscosity, yield point and gel strengths
240. Electrohygrometer/ A device for measuring the moisture
and build poor-quality filter cakes
hygrometer in a gaseous atmosphere, such as the
228. Drill-in A special fluid designed exclusively for drilling air, usually as percent relative
fluid through the reservoir section of a wellbore humidity
229. Drilling Any of a number of liquid and gaseous fluids 241. Emulsifier A chemical additive that creates an
fluid/ and mixtures of fluids and solids (as solid emulsion, a dispersion of one
drilling suspensions, mixtures and emulsions of liquids, immiscible liquid into another, by
mud gases and solids) used in operations to drill reducing the interfacial tension
boreholes into the earth between the two liquids to achieve
stability
230. Drilling A person responsible for testing the mud at a rig
fluid and for prescribing mud treatments to maintain 242. Emulsion A type of damage in which there is a
engineer mud weight, properties and chemistry within combination of two or more
recommended limits immiscible fluids, including gas, that
will not separate into individual
231. Drill Formation solids contained in a mud system,
components
solids generally considered to be detrimental to the
drilling operation because they produce high 243. Emulsion A dispersion of droplets of one liquid
plastic viscosity, yield point and gel strengths in another liquid with which it is
and build poor-quality filter cakes incompletely miscible
232. Dynamic A mud test in which the mud sample is mildly 244. Emulsion A dispersion of one immiscible liquid
aging agitated by rolling (or tumbling) for the duration into another through the use of a
test/ of the test, usually performed at a selected high chemical that reduces the interfacial
rolling temperature tension between the two liquids to
aging achieve stability
test
245. Emulsion mud/ oil A water-base drilling fluid that
233. Dynamic Equipment used to measure filtration under emulsion mud contains dispersed oil or synthetic
filter dynamic conditions hydrocarbon as an internal phase
press/
246. Encapsulation In drilling fluid parlance, the
filtration
absorption of a polymer film onto
tester
cuttings and wellbore walls to form a
234. Dynamic A filtration process in which the slurry being coat or barrier
filtration filtered is being circulated over the filter cake,
247. End point During a titration procedure in
so that the cake is simultaneously eroded and
analytical chemistry, the point at
deposited
which reagent addition should be
235. Easy to Pertaining to cement that is highly sensitive to immediately stopped and the volume
disperse the concentration of dispersant, often leading to of reagent recorded
(ETD) slurry-stability problems
248. EPA/ a branch of the US government that
236. Easy to Pertaining to cement that is highly sensitive to environmental administers laws passed by the US
disperse the concentration of dispersant when the slurry protection agency Congress on environmental matters
in salt is mixed with water containing a high
249. EPM Abbreviation for equivalents-per-
(ETDS) concentration of salt
million
250. Equivalent The effective density exerted by a 266. Filter loss/ The volume of mud filtrate measured after 30
circulating circulating fluid against the formation that filtrate minutes in API static filtration tests
density takes into account the pressure drop in the volume
annulus above the point being considered
267. Filter A permeable material used in a filtration
251. Equivalent The weight of any cementitious material or medium/ device through which filtrate passes and on
sack blend based on the absolute volume of the filter media which the filter cake is deposited, commonly
cement a specifically designed filter paper or
permeable disk used in a static filter press
252. Equivalent The molecular weight of an element,
that meets API standards
weight molecule or ion divided by its valence (or
valence change for a redox reaction) 268. Filtrate A chemical or isotopic marker that is
tracer uniformly distributed in the continuous phase
253. Expanding A cement system exhibiting a bulk
of a drilling, coring, drill-in or completion
cement volumetric increase after setting. It is
fluid and used to later identify the filtrate in
commonly used to eliminate or minimize
cores or in fluids sampled from permeable
the effects of microannuli
strata
254. External The continuous phase of an emulsion
269. Filtration The process of separating components of a
phase
slurry by leaving the suspended solids as
255. Fann Also known as direct-indicating viscometer filter cake on a filter medium while the liquid
viscometer or V-G meter, an instrument used to passes through
measure viscosity and gel strength of
270. Fine A particle size term referring in the strict
drilling mud
sense (API Bulletin 13C) to any particle in the
256. Fatty acid A type of organic acid derived from animal size range 44 to 74 microns
and vegetable fats and oils
271. Fines In a broad sense, very small particles, either
257. Fatty acid A salt formed when a fatty acid reacts with in a mud or a mud additive sample
soap a metal oxide or hydroxide
272. Fish eye A slang term for a globule of partly hydrated
258. Ferro-chrome A popular type of deflocculant that polymer caused by poor dispersion during
lignosulfonate contains iron and chromium salts the mixing process (commonly a result of
259. Fiber LCM A type of lost circulation material (LCM) adding the product too fast).
that is long, slender and flexible and 273. Flake LCM A type of lost-circulation material (LCM) that
occurs in various sizes and lengths of fiber is thin and flat in shape, with a large surface
260. Fill cement A cement system used to provide zonal area
isolation across generally nonproductive 274. Flash point The lowest temperature at which application
zones located above the zones of interest. of a flame to the test chamber of a tester
261. Film forming Also known as quaternary amine, a cationic causes vapors of the sample in the chamber
amine amine salt in which the nitrogen atom has to ignite
four groups bonded to it and carries a 275. Flat gels The situation in which 10-second and 10-
positive charge minute gel strengths for a drilling mud have
262. Filtercake The residue deposited on a permeable similar values
medium when a slurry, such as a drilling 276. Floc A coagulated mass of particles in a liquid
fluid, is forced against the medium under a
277. Flocculant A chemical that causes a dispersed colloidal
pressure
system (such as clay) to coagulate and form
263. Filtercake A subjective description of a filtercake, flocs
quality especially its toughness, slickness and
278. Flocculate The term used to describe what small
hardness
particles do when they aggregate into larger
264. Filtercake A measurement of the thickness of the particles
thickness filtercake, usually recorded in 32nds-inch
279. Flocculate The term used to describe what clays,
265. Filter cell/ A pressurized cell, fitted with a filter polymers or other small charged particles do
filtration test medium, used for evaluating filtration when they become attached and form a
cell/ filter characteristics of a drilling fluid while it is fragile structure, a floc
press either static or stirred (to simulate
280. Flocculation The aggregation of small particles into larger
circulation) in the test cell
particles
281. Flocculation A condition in which clays, polymers or 297. Funnel Time, in seconds for one quart of mud to flow
other small charged particles become viscosity/ through a Marsh funnel
attached and form a fragile structure, a marsh
floc funnel
viscosity
282. Flowline mud A mud sample that exits directly out of the
sample/ well from the annulus and is caught before 298. Galena The mineral form of lead sulfide, PbS, and the
flowline it passes through the shale-shaker screens most common ore for lead smelting
sample
299. Garrett gas An instrument used for quantitative analyses
283. Fluid loss The leakage of the liquid phase of drilling train/ GGT of sulfides and carbonates
fluid, slurry or treatment fluid containing
300. Gas An unusual occurrence of hydrocarbon in
solid particles into the formation matrix
hydrate which molecules of natural gas, typically
284. Fluid loss A chemical additive used to control the methane, are trapped in ice molecules
additive loss of fluid to the formation through
301. Gas A crystalline solid consisting of water with
filtration
hydrate gas molecules in an ice-like cage structure
285. Fluid loss The act or means of controlling (usually
302. Gas A generic term referring to all possible routes
control lowering) the volume of filtrate that passes
migration for annular gas entry and propagation through
through a filter medium
and around the cement sheath. It is also
286. Fluid loss A group of mud additives specifically known as annular gas flow
control designed to lower the volume of filtrate
303. Gel A name used to refer to one of the gel-
material/ fluid that passes through a filter medium
strength numbers
loss additive
304. Gel A colloidal form of solids suspended in a
287. Fly ash The noncombustible residue from the
liquid medium
burning of pulverized coal
305. Gel The term used by drilling rig personnel to
288. Foamed A homogeneous, ultralightweight cement
refer to bentonite clay
cement system consisting of base cement slurry,
gas (usually nitrogen) and surfactants 306. Gelation The process of a mud becoming "gelled-up"
or developing high gel strength
289. Foaming agent An additive used in preparation of foam
used as a drilling fluid 307. Gelled A mud that is excessively viscous, having high
mud/ gel strengths and high yield point
290. Formaldehyde The simplest aldehyde, having the formula
gelled up
HCHO
mud
291. Formate A class of salts made from neutralization
308. Gels Jargon referring to the two gel-strength values
of formic acid with a metal hydroxide or
for a mud
oxide
309. Gel The shear stress measured at low shear rate
292. Formation A reduction in the natural capability of a
strength after a mud has set quiescently for a period of
damage reservoir to produce its fluids, such as a
time (10 seconds and 10 minutes in the
decrease in porosity or permeability, or
standard API procedure, although
both
measurements after 30 minutes or 16 hours
293. Formation A general term to describe the reduction in may also be made)
damage permeability to the near-wellbore area of a
310. Geothermal The rate of increase in temperature per unit
reservoir formation
gradient depth in the Earth (30 oC/ km)
294. Formation Alteration of the far-field or virgin
311. Gilsonite A generic name widely used for a black,
damage characteristics of a producing formation,
lustrous, carbonaceous resin classified as an
usually by exposure to drilling fluids
asphaltite
295. Free fluid The volume of fluid (expressed in percent)
312. Glass jar A qualitative pilot test used to determine
that separates from a cement slurry when
test/ jar whether water-wet solids (for example, barite)
the slurry is left static
test exist in an oil-base mud
296. Free fluid Fluid in the pore space that can flow under
313. Glycol A series of alcohols with general formula
normal reservoir conditions
C2nH4n+2On+1.
314. Granular A type of lost-circulation material (LCM) that is 331. Herschel A fluid described by a three-parameter
LCM chunky in shape and prepared in a range of Bulkley rheological model. It is preferred to power law
particle sizes fluid or Bingham relationships because it results in
more accurate models of rheological behavior
315. Gray list Products 'requiring strong regulatory control,' as
when adequate experimental data are available
determined by the Oslo and Paris Commission
(OSPAR) 332. HE starch A nonionic starch derivative, analogous to
hydroxyethylcellulose in its method of
316. Greasing The action in which mud particles (barite)
manufacture and most applications for drilling,
out become coated with an oily substance that
workover and completion fluids
causes the particles to agglomerate
333. HGS/ high Dense solids, such as barite or hematite, which
317. Green list Products posing relatively little harm to the
gravity are added to a mud to increase its density, also
environment (specifically the marine
solid/ high known as weighting material
environment), as determined by the Oslo and
spesific
Paris Commission (OSPAR)
gravity
318. Grind The fineness to which cement is ground. It also solid
may refer to a specific production of cement,
334. Hole The ability of a circulating drilling fluid to
such as the lot number
cleaning/ transport rock fragments out of a wellbore
319. Gumbo A generic term for soft, sticky, swelling clay carrying
formations that are frequently encountered in capacity/
surface holes offshore or in sedimentary basins cuttings
onshore near seas lifting
320. Gumbo A nonspecific type of shale that becomes sticky 335. Hot lime A chemical with formula CaO, commonly
when wet and adheres aggressively to surfaces called quick lime
321. Gunk plug A slurry that consists of bentonite, cement or 336. HPHT A test to measure static filtration behavior of
polymers mixed into an oil filtration water mud or oil mud at elevated temperature,
322. Gunk The operation of squeezing a gunk plug into a test up to about 380°F [193°C] maximum (450°F
squeeze zone of lost circulation [227°C] maximum if a special cell is used),
usually according to the specifications of API
323. Gun the To strongly agitate the mud pits, particularly on
pits bottom and in corners, with the mud guns 337. HPHT A type of viscometer generally used in
viscometer laboratories to test drilling fluids at simulated
324. Gyp mud A calcium-based water mud system containing
downhole conditions
gypsum
338. HSE Abbreviation for health, safety and
325. Haematite The mineral form of ferric oxide [Fe2O3]. They
environmental
are used as a weighting material in drilling
muds has a mica-like crystal structure that 339. Humic acid Organic carboxylic acids of complex
grinds to particle size suitable for use in drilling molecular structure (aromatic and phenolic)
fluids that comprise 10 to 90% of lignite

326. Hard Water that contains hardness ions 340. Humidity Moisture (water vapor) in a gaseous
water atmosphere, such as in air

327. Header A small box mounted on a shaker screen that 341. Humidity A device to measure humidity
box takes drilling fluid from the return flow line and meter
distributes it across the surface of the screens 342. Hydrate For a hygroscopic material such as a clay or
via adjustable weirs polymer to absorb water
328. Heavy A term used by US Environmental Protection 343. Hydrate A chemical combination of water and another
metal Agency (EPA) to specify the elements cadmium substance
(Cd) and mercury (Hg).
344. Hydrate To cause the incorporation of water into the
329. Heavy In general chemistry, the term refers to metals atomic structure of a mineral
metal that are more dense than iron, although some
345. Hydrate Compounds or complex ions that are formed
texts and chemical dictionaries do not
by the union of water with other substances
recognize this as a chemical term
330. Hectorite A clay mineral similar in structure to bentonite
but with more negative charges on its surface
346. Hydration Incorporation of water into the atomic 359. Hydroxyethylcellulose A nonionic cellulose derivative
structure of a mineral, i.e., the chemical (HEC) with hydroxyethyl groups attached
combination of water and another to the polymer structure
substance
360. Hydroxypropyl starch It is a derivative of natural starch,
347. Hydration Absorption of water by a hygroscopic (HP starch) used primarily for fluid-loss
material such as a clay or polymer control in drilling muds, drill-in,
completion and workover fluids
348. Hydraulic Substance which, when mixed with water,
cement hardens like stone because of a chemical 361. Hygroscopic Pertaining to a property of a
reaction with the water substance that allows the
substance to take up water from
349. Hydrocyclone An item of solids-control equipment
the surrounding atmosphere
consisting of an inverted cone, the mud
being fed tangentially into the upper 362. IEOM (Invert-emulsion An outdated distinction between
(larger diameter) part oil mud) two types of oil muds
350. Hydrocycloning Using a hydrocyclone, an item of solids- 363. Ilmenite A dense mineral whose specific
control equipment consisting of an gravity is 4.67 g/cm3, composed
inverted cone, the mud being fed of FeO·TiO2
tangentially into the upper (larger
364. Indicator A visible sign of a chemical
diameter) part
reaction. Examples include a color
351. Hydrolysis Any chemical reaction with water (H2O), change, a voltage or pH reading
such as degradation of lignite by or an inflection point on a
decarboxylation of humic acid (a major graphical plot of the data
component of lignite)
365. Induced polarization An electromagnetic method that
352. Hydrometer A weighted, hollow glass bulb with a uses electrodes with time-varying
long, graduated tube attached for currents and voltages to map the
measuring the density of a liquid variation of electrical permittivity
(dielectric constant) in the Earth at
353. Hydrophile- A number on the scale of one to 40
low frequencies
lipophile according to the HLB system, introduced
balance by Griffin (1949 and 1954) 366. Inert sulfide A stable compound of sulfur that
number/ hlb contains the S-2 ion
number
367. Inhibit To prevent, arrest or slow down
354. Hydrophilic Pertaining to an attraction for water by any action
the surface of a material or a molecule
368. Inhibition Prevention, arrest or slowing down
355. Hydrophobic Pertaining to a repulsion of water by the of any action
surface of a material or a molecule
369. Inhibitive mud A mud that slows or stops
356. Hydrostatic The normal, predicted pressure for a hydration, swelling and
pressure given depth, or the pressure exerted per disintegration of shales
unit area by a column of freshwater from
370. Institute of petroleum Abbreviation for the Institute of
sea level to a given depth
Petroleum, a standardization body
357. Hydrostatic The pressure at any point in a column of for the petroleum industry in
pressure fluid caused by the weight of fluid above Europe
that point
371. Interfacial tension A property of the interface
358. Hydrostatic The force per unit area caused by a between two immiscible phases
pressure column of fluid
372. Intermediate Referring to any particle in the size
range 250 to 2000 microns
373. Internal phase The discontinuous phase of an
emulsion, the dispersed droplets
of emulsified fluid
374. Invert emulsion An emulsion in which oil is the
continuous or external phase and
water is the internal phase
375. Invert An outdated distinction between two types 389. LAO (linear A synthetic hydrocarbon liquid made by
emulsion oil of oil muds. In the past, they were those with alphaolefin) the polymerization of ethylene. It can be
mud more than 5 vol.% emulsified water, and oil- catalytically reacted to move the double
base muds were those with less than 5 vol.% bond toward the center of the chain length
water to convert them to isomerized olefins
376. IO/ A synthetic hydrocarbon liquid made by the 390. Latex A colloidal suspension or emulsion of
Isomerized polymerization of ethylene. They are made specific organic materials
olefin by isomerization of linear alphaolefins
391. lb/bbl A commonly used (but strictly speaking,
(LAO), which have their double bond at the
incorrect) version of lbm/bbl
end of the chain
392. lbm/bbl The abbreviation for concentration in US
377. Iron oxide A group of minerals and inorganic
oilfield units, pounds per barrel
compounds made up of iron that is in +2
(ferrous) and +3 (ferric) valence states and 393. LC50 The lethal concentration of a substance,
oxygen in the -2 valence state, such as reported in ppm, that kills 50% of a
ferrous oxide, FeO, and ferric oxide, Fe2O3 population of test organisms, such as
mysid shrimp, in a standard, controlled
378. Iron sulfide A group of compounds containing iron in +2
laboratory bioassay test
(ferrous) and +3 (ferric) valence states and
sulfur in -2 (sulfide) valence states 394. LCM Solid material intentionally introduced into
a mud system to reduce and eventually
379. ISO Abbreviation for the International
prevent the flow of drilling fluid into a
Organization for Standardization, a
weak, fractured or vugular formation
developer and publisher of international
standards 395. LCM The collective term for substances added
to drilling fluids when drilling fluids are
380. Isopropanol/ A simple alcohol (C3H7OH) used as a
being lost to the formations downhole
IPA/ solvent in some mud analyses
isopropyl 396. Lead cement/ A cement system used to provide zonal
alcohol fill cement isolation across generally nonproductive
zones located above the zones of interest
381. Jar test A qualitative pilot test used to determine
whether water-wet solids (for example, 397. Leonardite A mineral component of lignite, which is
barite) exist in an oil-base mud similar to brown coal

382. Jet hopper A mud-flow device, also called a mud 398. Lignin The component of a tree that is extracted in
hopper, through which materials are put into the paper-manufacturing process and used
the circulating mud system as an additive in drilling fluids

383. Kaolinite A common two-layer clay that does not 399. Lignite A type of coal. It is found in surface
swell when exposed to water deposits worldwide. It is mined and put
into piles where it can oxidize in the air
384. Kaolinite A type of clay mineral from the kaolin group
before it is dried, ground and bagged for
that forms through the weathering of
use in drilling fluids
feldspar and mica group minerals
400. Lignosulfonate A highly anionic polymer used to
385. Kill-weight A mud with density high enough to produce
deflocculate clay-based muds. It is a
fluid/ kill a hydrostatic pressure at the point of influx in
byproduct of the sulfite method for
weight mud a wellbore that is sufficient to shut off flow
manufacturing paper from wood pulp
into the well
401. Lime mud A type of water-base mud that is saturated
386. kilogram per The SI unit of measurement for density
with lime, Ca(OH)2, and has excess,
cubic meter
undissolved lime solids maintained in
387. Kilopascal A unit of measurement for pressure in the reserve
International System of Units (SI), symbolized
402. Lipophilic Pertaining to an attraction for oil by a
by kPa
surface of a material or a molecule
388. Lag time The time taken for cuttings to reach the
403. Liquid additive A material used in a liquid form to modify
surface. The term is also used in place of
the properties of cement for use in oil- or
cycle time
gas-well cementing
404. Lost A lack of mud returning to the surface after 418. Magnesium A procedure for determining magnesium ion
circulation/ being pumped down a well test (Mg+2) concentration in a water-base drilling
lost fluid based upon analyses for both calcium
returns and total hardness
405. Lost The reduced or total absence of fluid flow up 419. Makeup Water added to maintain or dilute a water-mud
circulation/ the annulus when fluid is pumped through the water/ system
lost drillstring dilution
returns water
406. Low An oil mud designed and maintained with a 420. Marsh A conical-shaped funnel, fitted with a small-
colloid oil minimum of colloid-sized solids, typically by funnel bore tube on the bottom end through which
mud omitting fatty-acid soap and lime, and mud flows under a gravity head
minimizing organophilic clays and fluid-loss
421. Marsh Time, in seconds for one quart of mud to flow
additives
funnel through a Marsh funnel
407. Low solids A mud that has fewer solids than conventional viscosity/
mud clay-based muds of the same density and funnel
similar use viscosity
408. Low-solids, A low-solids mud in which there is no clay 422. Mass Equality between the mass (density ×
non deflocculant chemical balance volume) of a mixture or blend such as a
dispersed drilling mud or completion fluid and the sum
mud of the masses (density × corresponding
volume) of its components
409. Low A type of drilling-fluid solid having a lower
specific density than the barite or hematite that is used 423. material Mathematical relationship between the
gravity to weight up a drilling fluid, including drill balance densities and the corresponding volumes of
solids/ low solids plus the added bentonite clay equation mixtures of liquid-solid slurries and clear fluid
gravity blends, such as drilling muds and completion
solids fluids
410. Low-yield Native clays that are generally unsuitable for 424. Material A specific document that shows important
clay use in a clay-based drilling mud safety physical and chemical characteristics of a
data sheet chemical or product to alert a user, transporter
411. LPLT A test to measure static filtration behavior of
or other interested party to potential safety
filtration water mud at ambient (room) temperature and
hazards that may be associated with the
test 100-psi differential pressure, usually performed
material
according to specifications set by API, using a
static filter press 425. Medium Referring to any particle in the size range 74 to
250 microns
412. Lubricant A mud additive for lowering torque (rotary
friction) and drag (axial friction) in the 426. Meniscus The curved interface between two immiscible
wellbore and to lubricate bit bearings if not phases in a tube, such as in a pipette or
sealed graduated cylinder
413. Lubricity A measure of the degree of lubrication 427. Methane A crystalline solid consisting of water with
hydrate methane molecules in an ice-like cage
414. Lyophilic A descriptive term for the strong affinity that a
structure
solid material (usually a colloid) has for the
liquid in which the solid is dispersed 428. Methane An unusual occurrence of hydrocarbon in
hydrate which molecules of methane are trapped in ice
415. Lyophilic A colloid with a strong affinity for the liquid in
molecules
colloid which it is dispersed
429. Methane A compound or complex ion that is formed by
416. Lyophobic A descriptive term for the lack of affinity (or
hydrate the union of water with methane
repulsion) that a solid material has for the
liquid in which the solid is dispersed 430. Methylene A blue dye with a cationic charge on the
blue dye molecule used as the reagent for the
417. Lyophobic A colloid that repels or lacks affinity for the
methylene blue test used to estimate cation-
colloid liquid in which it is dispersed
exchange capacity (CEC) of solids in a water-
base drilling mud
431. Methylene blue A test to determine the amount of clay- 446. Mud A device to measure density (weight) of mud,
test like materials in a water-base drilling balance/ cement or other liquid or slurry
fluid based on the amount of methylene mud scale
blue dye absorbed by the sample
447. Mudcake/ The residue deposited on a permeable medium
432. Methylglucoside A water-base drilling fluid containing a filtercake when a slurry, such as a drilling fluid, is forced
drilling fluid high concentration of methylglucoside against the medium under a pressure
433. Methyl orange A pH indicator used in alkalinity titration 448. Mud cell Another term for mud-aging cell, a cylindrical
of mud filtrate and water samples vessel in which a mud sample can be heated
under pressure
434. Methyl orange A measure of the total amount of
alkalinity/ Mf hydroxyl ions in a solution as determined 449. Mud A desilter unit in which the underflow is further
by titration with standardized acid and clenaer processed by a fine vibrating screen, mounted
methyl orange indicator directly under the cones
435. mg/kg On the basis of weight, the equivalent of 450. Mud cup A graduated cup used to take samples and to
parts per million, usually applied to crudely measure volumes of mud for testing at
small amounts of one solid admixed with the rig
another solid
451. mud The mass per unit volume of a drilling fluid,
436. Microgel A small fish eye, typically invisible, but density synonymous with mud weight
which can nevertheless cause formation
452. Mudding The action of coating rock grains and plugging
damage by polymer plugging of pore
off off the permeability of a productive reservoir
throats
during drilling
437. Milk emulsion A term used to describe an emulsion in a
453. mud A person responsible for testing the mud at a
mud water-base mud in which the oil phase is
engineer/ rig and for prescribing mud treatments to
internal (as in milk), and water is external
drilling maintain mud weight, properties and chemistry
438. milligrams per On a weight per volume basis, the SI unit fluid within recommended limits
liter of concentration, usually applied to engineer
dissolved material in a solution
454. Mud The liquid that passes through a filter cake from
439. Minerals A branch of the US Lands and Mineral filtrate a slurry held against the filter medium, driven
management Management Department formerly by differential pressure
system charged with supervising national
455. Mud A mud-flow device, also called a jet hopper, in
resources
hopper which materials are put into the circulating mud
440. mixed metal A compound containing hydroxide anions system
hydroxide in association with two or more metal
456. Mud The place where mud additives are kept at the
cations
house rig, also known as the sack room
441. Mixed metal A product similar to mixed-metal
457. Mud in The mud flowing into the well
silicate hydroxide, but based on silicate
chemistry 458. Mud in A mud sample taken from the suction pit (the
sample last pit in the flow series) just before the mud
442. Monomer The chemical unit from which a polymer
goes into the pump and down the wellbore
is made
459. Mud out The mud returning through the flowline
443. Mud A term that is generally synonymous with
drilling fluid and that encompasses most 460. Mud out A mud sample taken after it has passed from
fluids used in hydrocarbon drilling sample the flowline and through the shale shaker
operations, especially fluids that contain screens to remove large cuttings
significant amounts of suspended solids, 461. Mud oven An oven into which mud-testing cells are
emulsified water or oil placed
444. Mud additive A material added to a drilling fluid to 462. Mud pit A large tank that holds drilling fluid on the rig
perform one or more specific functions, or at a mud-mixing plant
such as a weighting agent, viscosifier or
463. Mud A formal plan developed for a specific well
lubricant
program with predictions and requirements at various
445. Mud aging cell A cylindrical vessel in which a mud intervals of the wellbore depth
sample can be heated under pressure
464. Mud report The report sheets filled out by the mud 479. Occupational OSHA laws protect safety and health of
engineer at the wellsite on a daily basis safety and workers and give workers the right to know
health act what materials they are handling. What does
465. Mud retort/ A mud distillation unit used to measure the
OSHA stand for
mud still water, oil and solids content of a mud
480. Octahedral One of the layers that constitute the atomic
466. mud tracer A type of nonreactive, easily differentiated
layer structure of the clay group of layered silicate
material placed in a small portion of a
minerals
circulating mud system at a certain time to
be identified when it later returns to the 481. Octanol An eight-carbon alcohol. Iso-... is used as a
surface from downhole defoamer for water muds
467. Mud up/ To add commercial materials to convert 482. Octyl Also known as octanol, an eight-carbon
mudding up water or a water-clay slurry into a mud alcohol alcohol
468. Mud weight The mass per unit volume of a drilling 483. Oil base mud An invert-emulsion mud, or an emulsion
fluid, synonymous with mud density whose continuous phase is oil
469. Mysid shrimp The common name for the small shrimp 484. Oil/brine Ratio of the volume percent oil to the
species Mysidopsis bahia, which is used as ratio volume percent brine in an oil mud, in which
the test organism in a US EPA bioassay test each is expressed as a percent of the total
protocol liquid in the mud
470. Naphthenic A type of organic compound of carbon 485. Oil company an organization that for years set standards
hydrocarbon and hydrogen that contains one or more materials based primarily on what oil companies
saturated cyclic (ring) structures, or association operating in the Middle East wanted in mud
contains such structures as a major portion (OCMA) materials
of the molecule
486. Oil content The volume percent of oil in a mud. The term
471. National NPDES stand for should not be used to refer to the amount of
pollutant synthetic fluid
discharge
487. Oil emulsion A water-base drilling fluid that contains
elimination
mud/ dispersed oil or synthetic hydrocarbon as an
system
emulsion internal phase
472. Native clay Clays incorporated into a so-called mud
native-solids mud when drilling shallow
488. Oil in water A dispersion of oil droplets into an aqueous
formations
emulsion medium
473. Native solids A mud in which the suspended solids are
489. Oil mud More generally, a mud system that has any
mud dispersed clays, sand, chert and other
type of nonaqueous fluid as the external
rock that originated from formations being
phase
drilled
490. Oil mud A mud in which the external phase is a
474. Neutralization A chemical reaction between an acid and
product obtained from an oil, such as diesel
a base to form a salt and water
oil or mineral oil
475. Neutralize To form a salt and water by chemical
491. Oil mud A chemical used in preparation and
reaction between an acid and a base
emulsifier maintenance of an oil- or synthetic-base
476. Newtonian A fluid that has a constant viscosity at all drilling fluid that forms a water-in-oil
fluid shear rates at a constant temperature and emulsion (invert emulsion)
pressure, and can be described by a one-
492. Oil on The oil content of cuttings, normally
parameter rheological model
cuttings expressed as grams of oil adsorbed per
477. Nonconductive A mud that does not conduct electricity kilogram of dry cuttings
drilling fluid sufficiently well to allow spontaneous
493. Oil water The surface of contact between a water
potential (SP) logging or resistivity logging
interface layer and an oil layer
478. Non- A fluid whose viscosity is not constant at
494. Oil water Ratio of the volume percent oil to the
newtonian all shear rates and does not behave like a
ratio volume percent water in an oil mud, where
fluid Newtonian fluid
each is a percent of the total liquid in the
mud
495. Olefinic The group of hydrocarbon compounds that 509. PAO One of the synthetic hydrocarbon
hydrocarbon has one or more double or triple bonds (Polyalphaolefin) liquids manufactured from the
between carbon atoms in the linear chain monomer ethylene, H2C=CH2. They
have a complex branched structure with
496. Oligomer A low-molecular-weight polymer typically
an olefin bond in the alpha position of
with two to five monomer units
one of the branches
497. Organophilic Pertaining to a material that associates with
510. Paraffinic The group of hydrocarbons consisting
organic and oily surfaces and liquids and
hydrocarbon of linear molecules with the formula
rejects aqueous systems
CnH2n+2
498. Organophilic Clay minerals whose surfaces have been
511. Paraformaldehyde A commonly used preservative for
clay coated with a chemical to make them oil-
starch, xanthan gum, guar gum and
dispersible
other natural polymers that are prone
499. Organophilic A lignite that has been coated with a to attack by bacteria
lignite chemical that renders it dispersible in oil
512. PARCOM The Oslo and Paris Commission,
500. Osmosis The movement of water from one aqueous formerly known as ...
system to another through a semipermeable
513. Particle plugging A specialized apparatus used in the
membrane
apparatus particle-plugging test. It is used to
501. Osmotic The pressure that must be applied to the determine the ability of particles in the
pressure low-salinity side of an osmotic system to drilling fluid to effectively bridge the
prevent water movement into the high- pores in the filter medium and,
salinity side by osmosis therefore, the ability of the mud to
502. OSPAR The Oslo and Paris Commission, formerly reduce formation damage in the
known as PARCOM reservoir

503. Oxygen A chemical that reacts with dissolved 514. Particle plugging A test performed in a specialized
scavanger oxygen (O2) to reduce corrosion, such as test filtration-type apparatus to determine
sulfite (SO3-2) and bisulfite (HSO3-) ions the effectiveness of additives to prevent
that combine with oxygen to form sulfate fluid loss into a permeable medium
(SO4-2) 515. Particle size The weight, or net volume, of solid
504. Oxygen A chemical agent used in some brines and distribution particles that fall into each of the
scavanger completion fluids to reduce corrosion various size ranges, given as a
resulting from, or exacerbated by, dissolved percentage of the total solids of all
oxygen sizes in the sample of interest

505. Packer fluid A fluid that is left in the annular region of a 516. Parts per billion A unit of concentration
well between tubing and outer casing above 517. Parts per million A unit of concentration, frequently
a packer abbreviated to ppm
506. Packer fluid The fluid that remains in the tubing-casing 518. Pascal A unit of measurement for pressure in
annulus above the packer after the the International System of Units (SI),
completion has been run and all circulation symbolized by Pa
devices have been isolated
519. Peptization Dispersal of a substance into a
507. Paddle A type of fluid-mixing tank used in the colloidal form or dispersal of a clay in
blender/ preparation of treatment fluids or slurries water to form a colloidal suspension
paddle mixer that provides the agitation to achieve a well-
520. Peptize To disperse a substance into a colloidal
dispersed mixture
form or to disperse a clay in water to
508. PAG A polymer or copolymer of an alkalene form a colloidal suspension
(Polyalkalene oxide, such as polyethylene glycol (PEG), a
521. Peptized clay A clay that has been treated during
glycol) polymer of ethylene oxide with general
manufacturing to enhance its dispersion
formula HO(CH2CH2O)nH, or
polypropylene glycol (PPG), which is a 522. Peptizing agent A product that enhances dispersion of a
polymer of propylene oxide substance (such as clay) into colloidal
form
523. Permafrost The permanently frozen subsoil that lies 536. PNP A solvent used with water to break the
below the upper layer (the upper several (Propylene emulsion of an oil-base or synthetic-base
inches to feet) of soil in arctic regions glycol normal drilling fluid to prepare the sample for
propyl ether) chemical titrations to determine lime,
524. Pf/ alkalinity/ A chemical property of an aqueous
calcium or chloride content according to
Pm system that implies that there are more
API testing procedures
hydroxyl ions (OH-) in the system, or a
potential to produce more hydroxyl ions, 537. POD (point of A term used to describe the beginning of
than there are hydrogen ions (H+), or departure) thickening of a cement slurry during the
potential to produce hydrogen ions thickening-time test
525. pH Hydrogen ion potential, which is the log10 538. Poise A unit of measurement for viscosity,
of the reciprocal of hydrogen ion, H+, symbolized by P
concentration
539. Polar In chemistry, referring to a compound in
526. Phenolphthalein A pH indicator that is clear below pH 8.3 which electrons are not shared equally in
and red above 8.3. It is the indicator used the chemical bond, resulting in partial
in various alkalinity titrations electrical charges
527. Phosphate salt A group of salts formed by neutralization 540. Polar A compound whose electrons are not
of phosphorous or phosphoric acid with compound shared equally in chemical bonds
a base, such as NaOH or KOH
541. Polyacrylate Linear, anionic polymer made from the
528. PHPA (Partially A class of water muds that use partially- monomer acrylic acid, CH2=CHCOO- H+.
hydrolized hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (PHPA) as a
542. Polyalphaolefin One of the synthetic hydrocarbon liquids
polyacrylamide) functional additive, either to control
(PAO) manufactured from the monomer
mud/ PHPA wellbore shales or to extend bentonite
ethylene, H2C=CH2
clay in a low-solids mud
543. Polyanionic A cellulose derivative similar in structure,
529. pH test A drilling-fluid test to measure pH of
cellulose (PAC) properties and usage in drilling fluids to
muds and mud filtrates, usually
carboxymethylcellulose. It is considered
performed according to API
to be a premium product because it
specifications
typically has a higher degree of
530. Pill A small volume of mud used for a carboxymethyl substitution and contains
specific purpose in a drilling operation less residual NaCl than technical grade
carboxymethylcellulose
531. Pill Any relatively small quantity (less than
200 bbl) of a special blend of drilling 544. Polyanionic A fluid-loss control additive used in high-
fluid to accomplish a specific task that lignin temperature, water-base muds. It shows
the regular drilling fluid cannot perform good salt tolerance and temperature
tolerance
532. Pilot test An experimental test, or series of tests,
used to predict mud behavior and guide 545. Polyelectrolyte A polymer that ionizes in solution.
future actions by the mud engineer Charged groups strongly affect behavior
and interactions with colloidal clays,
533. Plastic fluid A fluid in which the shear force is not
other polymers and solvents
proportional to the shear rate (non-
Newtonian) and that requires a finite shear 546. Polyglycerol A series of alcohols with glycerol,
stress to start and maintain flow C3H5(OH)3, (usually referred to as
glycerin in the USA) being the simplest
534. Plastic viscosity A parameter of the Bingham plastic
member
model. It is the slope of the shear
stress/shear rate line above the yield 547. Polymer A large molecule made up of repeating
point units
535. Plugging A solid or gel in a workover or drilling
material fluid that blocks off permeable zones to
prevent loss of fluid into those permeable
zones or to protect those zones from
damage
548. Polymer A large molecule made up of repeating 561. Pozzolan A siliceous or siliceous and aluminous
units. Some are naturally occurring, such material that possesses little or no
as xanthan gum, guar gum and starch. cementitious value
Others are modified natural polymers,
562. Pozzolanic Pertaining to material that possesses little
such as carboxymethylcellulose (CMC)
or no cementitious value, but that is
and hydropropyl starch and
capable of reacting chemically with
lignosulfonate. Some are synthetic such as
calcium hydroxide at ordinary temperatures
polyacrylates, polyacrylamides and
to form compounds with cementitious
polyalphaolefins
properties
549. Polyol A generic name for low molecular weight,
563. ppb Abbreviation for concentration, parts-per-
water-soluble polymers and oligomers
billion.
containing a large number of hydroxyl
groups 564. ppb Abbreviation for the US oilfield unit of
concentration, pounds per barrel, more
550. Polyolefin Also known as isomerized olefin or IO, a
correctly written as lbm/bbl
synthetic hydrocarbon liquid made by the
polymerization of ethylene 565. ppg Abbreviation for density, pounds-per-
gallon, more correctly written lbm/gal
551. Polyphosphates Also known as pyrophosphates, polymers
made from various orthophosphates by 566. ppm Abbreviation for the expression of
dehydration with heat concentration, parts-per-million

552. Pore-pressure A laboratory test used to determine if a 567. Precipitate A reaction by-product. In sandstone
transmission drilling fluid blocks movement of filtrate acidizing, the reaction between hydrofluoric
through pore spaces of a shale sample acids [HF] or spent HF acids with formation
minerals can ... nondamaging products,
553. Portland The product obtained by pulverizing
such as silica, borosilicates or fluoborates
cement clinker consisting essentially of hydraulic
calcium silicates. It is the most common 568. Precipitate To form an insoluble material in a fluid. It
type of cement used for oil- and gas-well can occur by a chemical reaction of two or
cementing more ions in solution or by changing the
temperature of a saturated solution
554. Portland Hard granular nodules composed
cement clinker essentially of hydraulic calcium silicates, 569. Precipitation The formation of an insoluble material in a
with smaller quantities of calcium fluid
aluminates and ferrites. It is produced by 570. Pregelatinized A water-soluble starch that has undergone
the heat treatment of cement raw starch irreversible changes by heating in water or
materials in a kiln steam
555. Potassium ion The ion of potassium, K+. 571. Prehydrate To mix with water and allow to react or
556. Potassium mud A class of muds that contain potassium yield in the water before use
ion (K+) dissolved in the water phase. 572. Prehydrated A concentrated slurry of bentonite clay
They are the most widely accepted water bentonite mixed in fresh water
mud system for drilling water-sensitive
573. Prehydration The addition of a mud product to fresh
shales, especially hard, brittle shales
water prior to adding it into the mud
557. Pounds per US oilfield unit of concentration, usually system
barrel abbreviated to lbm/bbl
574. Preservative Another term for bactericide, an additive
558. Pour point The lowest temperature (in °F or °C) at that kills bacteria
which a liquid remains pourable (meaning
575. Pressurized A device to measure density (weight) of a
it still behaves as a fluid).
mud balance mud, cement or other liquid or slurry under
559. Pour point The temperature at which a fluid ceases to sufficient pressure that the effect of gas
pour bubbles in the liquid is eliminated
560. Power law fluid A fluid described by the two-parameter 576. Primary The process of placing a cement sheath
rheological model of a pseudoplastic cementing around a casing or liner string
fluid, or a fluid whose viscosity decreases
577. Primary The first cementing operation performed to
as shear rate increases
cementing place a cement sheath around a casing or
liner
578. Progressive The situation in which 10-second and 10- 593. Red mud/ A clay-based water mud that used tannates
gels minute gel strengths for a drilling mud quebracho (from tannic acid) as clay deflocculant and
have dissimilar values, with the 10-minute mined lignite for fluid-loss control, usually
number being much higher than the 10- with lime
second number
594. Redox A contraction of reduction-oxidation, a type of
579. Pseudoplastic A descriptive term for a fluid with shear- chemical reaction in which one reactant is
thinning characteristics that does not reduced (gains electrons) while the other is
exhibit thixotropy oxidized (loses electrons).
580. Pumpability The ability of the slurry to be pumped. It 595. Reduced A cement slurry made with less mix water
is usually measured by the API water than is customarily used without modifying
thickening-time test slurry additives
581. Pumping time The total time required for pumping the 596. Relative Quantity that is double the filtrate volume
cement slurry into the well, plus a safety filtrate collected from a filtration test between 7.5 to
factor volume 30 minutes
582. PVT An abbreviation for pressure, volume, 597. Relative The water content of air compared to the
temperature. The term is used in fluid humidity water content that the air could hold if it were
properties evaluations saturated, expressed as a percentage
583. PVT A shorthand term for pressure, volume, 598. Relaxed An oil mud designed and maintained with a
temperature dependencies for fluid filtrate oil minimum of colloid-sized solids, typically by
properties mud/ low omitting fatty-acid soap and lime, and
colloid oil minimizing organophilic clays and fluid-loss
584. Pyrophosphates Also known as polyphosphate, a polymer
mud additives
made from an orthophosphate by
dehydration with heat 599. Reserve Any pit not part of the active (circulatory)
mud pit system
585. Pyrrhotite A mineral containing ferrous sulfide, FeS,
that typically contains inclusions of free 600. Resin One of the four main components of
sulfur and other minerals petroleum, along with asphaltenes, aromatics
and saturates (which include waxes)
586. Quality Planned and systematic monitoring,
assurance testing and documenting of practices to 601. Resin Organic material having low solubility. They
show that a product or procedure meets are usually large and complex polymeric
established standards molecules with noncrystalline structure and
no distinct melting point or other definitive
587. Quartenary A cationic amine salt in which the nitrogen
properties
amine atom has four groups bonded to it and
carries a positive charge 602. Retort The volume percent (or fraction) of a mud that
solids/ is not captured in the receiver when
588. Quat Slang term for quaternary amine
total solids performing the water, oil and solids test as
589. Quebracho A powdered form of tannic acid extract prescribed by API
from the bark of the quebracho tree, used
603. Returns Mud that comes back to the surface and exits
as a high-pH and lime mud deflocculant
through the flowline after being pumped
590. Quick lime A chemical with formula CaO, commonly down the drillpipe
called hot lime
604. Rheological Pertaining to rheology, generally, the study of
591. Rate of shear/ The velocity gradient measured across the how matter deforms and flows, including its
shear rate diameter of a fluid-flow channel, be it a elasticity, plasticity and viscosity
pipe, annulus or other shape
605. Rheological Pertaining to rheology, the science and study
592. RCRA Abbreviation for ...passed by the US of the deformation and flow of matter
(Resources Congress in 1976 and expanded in 1980 as
606. Rheological One of several flow characteristics of a
conservation CERCLA. Both acts are related to the
property material, such as a drilling fluid, completion
and recovery transportation, storage, treatment or
fluid, workover fluid or cement
act ) disposal of hazardous substances
607. Rheology The science and study of the deformation and
flow of matter. The term is also used to
indicate the properties of a given fluid
608. Rheology Generally, the study of how matter deforms and 625. Scale A mineral deposit that can occur in the
flows, including its elasticity, plasticity and tubing, the gravel pack, the perforations or
viscosity the formation
609. Rheology An additive for oil- and synthetic-base muds that 626. Scale A mineral salt deposit that may occur on
modifier provides high viscosity at low shear rates, which wellbore tubulars and components as the
is useful when drilling high-angle and horizontal saturation of produced water is affected by
wells and can be critical for cuttings carrying changing temperature and pressure
and to prevent sag and settling of weighting conditions in the production conduit
material
627. Scale A deposit or coating formed on the surface
610. Right The characteristic of a cement slurry whose of metal, rock or other material
angle set consistency changes from the point of departure
628. Scavanger A treating chemical that is added to a
or 30 Bc to 100 Bc in a short time
drilling mud or other fluid to react with a
611. Rolling A mud test in which the mud sample is mildly contaminant to change the contaminant to
aging agitated by rolling (or tumbling) for the duration a less harmful compound
test/ of the test, usually performed at a selected high
629. Seawater mud A water-base mud designed for offshore
dynamic temperature
drilling whose make-up water is taken from
aging
the ocean
test
630. Sedimentation The process of creation, transportation and
612. RP Abbreviation for Recommended Practice
deposition of sediments
613. Sack A unit of measure for portland cement. In the
631. Sedimentation The process of separation of the
United States, it refers the amount of cement that
components of a cement slurry during
occupies a bulk volume of 1.0 ft3
which the solids settle
614. Sacrificial A protective device to prevent electrolytic
632. Sepiolite A clay mineral with long, slender, needle-
anode corrosion
like structure, similar to attapulgite
615. Sag Settling of particles in the annulus of a well,
633. Sequestering Another term for chelating agent, a
which can occur when the mud is static or being
agent chemical added to an acid to stabilize iron
circulated
634. Sequestering Another term for chelating agent, a
616. Salt The product formed by neutralization of an acid
agent chemical used to bind metal ions to form a
and a base
ring structure
617. Salt A soft, soluble evaporite mineral also known as
635. Sequestering A chemical whose molecular structure can
halite or rock salt
agent envelop and hold a certain type of ion in a
618. Saltwater An influx of formation water, usually salty and stable and soluble complex
flow sometimes hard, into the mud in the wellbore
636. Shale A fine-grained, fissile, detrital sedimentary
619. Saltwater A water mud containing varying amounts of rock formed by consolidation of clay- and
mud dissolved sodium chloride, NaCl, as a major silt-sized particles into thin, relatively
component impermeable layers
620. Sand A generic term used to describe small formation 637. Shale A fine-grained, impermeable, sedimentary
particles known as fines that may be produced rock composed of clays and other
with the reservoir fluid minerals, usually with a high percentage of
quartz
621. Sand A category of size used to describe particles in
a mud that will not pass through a 200-mesh 638. Shaly Containing shale, a fine-grained,
screen (74 micrometers and larger) impermeable, sedimentary rock composed
of clays and other minerals, usually with a
622. Sand A detrital grain between 0.0625 mm and 2 mm
high percentage of quartz
in diameter
639. Shaly Containing shale, a fine-grained, fissile,
623. Sand test A test to determine the volume percent of solids
detrital sedimentary rock formed by
in a mud that are retained on 200-mesh screen
consolidation of clay- and silt-sized
624. Saturated A solution that contains as much dissolved particles into thin, relatively impermeable
solution materials as it can hold at a given temperature layers
640. Shearometer An instrument used together with a set of 654. Silver A chemical used as a titrant with potassium
weights to conduct a shear-strength nitrate chromate as the endpoint indicator, for a
measurement test chloride test, a titration procedure standardized
by the API to quantitatively determine Cl-
641. Shear Another term for gel strength in a fluid
(chloride ion) concentration
strength
655. Sintered Pertaining to a type of filter medium in which
642. Shear A test procedure published by the API that
the particles are fused together to give a
strength specifies the use of a shearometer tube and
designed permeability
measurement a set of weights to measure the shear
test strength of a mud (lbf/100 ft2 or kPa) 656. Sized Calcium carbonate, such as limestone, marble
calcium or oyster shells, that has a specified minimum
643. Shear A test procedure published by the API that
carbonate and maximum range of particle sizes and may
strength specifies the use of a shearometer tube and
also have a specified distribution of sizes
measurement a set of weights to measure the shear
test strength of a mud 657. Sized salt NaCl solid particles that have a specified
minimum and maximum range of particle sizes
644. Shear stress The force per unit area required to sustain a
and may also have a specified distribution of
constant rate of fluid movement
sizes
645. Sheen A luster, brightness or radiance. It appears
658. Slaked Common term for calcium hydroxide, a
as a spectrum of colors and is commonly
lime chemical with formula Ca(OH)2
caused by a thin film on a surface that
diffracts light. A film of diesel oil on water 659. Sloughing A fine-grained, impermeable, sedimentary rock
has a multicolored luster and is an indicator shale composed of clays and other minerals, usually
of an oil spill or oil slick with a high percentage of quartz
646. Sheen test A test intended to indicate the presence of 660. Slug A volume of mud that is more dense than the
free oil when drilling fluid, drilled cuttings, mud in the drillpipe and wellbore annulus
deck drainage, well treatment fluids,
661. Slug A small volume of fluid, often of a higher
completion and workover fluids, produced
density than the main body of fluid, within the
water or sand or excess cement slurry are
circulating or production-fluid system that
discharged into offshore waters
influences the flow or production characteristics
647. Shrimp test/ A laboratory test or other assessment of the well
bioassay utilizing a living organism, such as mysid
662. Slurry A mixture of suspended solids and liquids
shrimp, to determine the effect of a
condition to which the organism is exposed 663. Slurry The weight per unit volume of a cement slurry,
density usually given in units of kg/m3 or lbm/gal
648. Siderite A mineral composed of ferrous carbonate,
FeCO3, and having 3.8 g/cm3 specific 664. Slurry The ability of a cement slurry to maintain
gravity. It is found as an accessory mineral stability homogeneity
in some shales and carbonate rocks and 665. Slurry The volume of slurry obtained when one sack
also in some barite and hematite ores yield of cement is mixed with the desired amount of
649. Silica layer One of the layers that constitute the atomic water and other additives, usually given in units
structure of the clay group of layered of m3/kg or ft3/sk (sack)
silicate minerals 666. Smectite A category of clay minerals that have a three-
650. Silicate A type of salt derived from silicic acid clay layer crystalline structure (one alumina and two
silica layers) and that exhibit a common
651. Silicate anion The anion, SiO4-4, found in solutions of
characteristic of hydrational swelling when
sodium and potassium silicate, formed by
exposed to with water
dissolving silica or silicate minerals in
NaOH or KOH solutions 667. Soap A collective term for organic salts made by
reacting an aliphatic carboxylic acid with a
652. Silicate mud A type of shale-inhibitive water base drilling
base
fluid that contains sodium silicate or
potassium silicate polymeric ions 668. Soda ash Another term for sodium carbonate, a chemical
with the formula Na2CO3
653. Silicic acid A group of seven hydrated forms of SiO2
669. Sodium acid A sequestering agent used to treat cement 683. Spot To accurately place a fluid, or fluid interface,
pyrophosphate contamination and a deflocculant for low- at a given position within the wellbore
temperature water muds. The term is
684. Spotting Accurately placing a fluid, or fluid interface,
sometimes abbreviated to SAPP
at a given position within the wellbore
670. Sodium acid SAPP is a sequestering agent used to treat
685. Spotting Placing a small volume or pill of fluid in a
pyrophosphate cement contamination and a deflocculant
wellbore annulus to free differentially stuck
(SAPP) for low-temperature water muds, SAPP
pipe
stand for
686. Spotting A small volume or pill of fluid placed in a
671. Sodium A chemical with the formula NaHCO3. It is
fluid wellbore annulus to free differentially stuck
bicarbonate called bicarb at the drilling rig and is used
pipe
to treat cement contamination in water
mud 687. Spud mud Mud used to drill a well from surface to a
shallow depth
672. Sodium A chemical with the formula Na2CO3. It is
carbonate called soda ash at the drilling rig and is 688. Spurt loss The instantaneous volume (spurt) of liquid
used to treat most types of calcium ion that passes through a filter medium prior to
contamination in freshwater and seawater deposition of a competent and controlling
muds filter cake

673. Sodium A sodium salt, Na2CrO4, in which 689. Squeeze The forcing, by pressure, of cement slurry
chromate chromium atoms are in the plus-6 valence cementing into a specified location in a well, such as
state channels or perforations, for the purpose of
achieving zonal isolation
674. Sodium A sodium salt, Na2Cr2O7, in which
dichromate chromium atoms are in the plus-7 valence 690. Squeeze The process of forcing a cement slurry
state cementing through holes or splits in the casing or liner

675. Sodium A compound with the chemical formula 691. Stability A piece of equipment required to conduct
hydroxide NaOH. It is commonly known as caustic meter the electrical stability (ES) test, a test for oil-
soda and used in most water-base muds to base and synthetic-base muds that indicates
increase and maintain pH and alkalinity the emulsion and oil-wetting qualities of the
sample
676. Sodium A group of salts formed by neutralization
phosphate of phosphorous or phosphoric acid with 692. Starch A drilling-mud additive used to control fluid
sodium hydroxide (NaOH). loss in water muds ranging from freshwater
to saturated-salt to high-pH lime muds
677. Sodium Made by neutralizing a linear, anionic
polyacrylate polymer made from the monomer acrylic 693. Static aging A mud test in which the mud sample is not
acid, CH2=CHCOO- H+, with sodium test agitated
hydroxide (NaOH) 694. Static filter A pressurized cell, fitted with a filter
678. Sodium silicate Formed by dissolving silica or silicate press medium, used for evaluating filtration
minerals in NaOH solutions characteristics of a drilling fluid while it is
static in the test cell
679. Soft water Water that does not contain divalent
cations, such as Ca+2, Mg+2 or Fe+2 and is 695. Static A filtration process in which the slurry being
therefore suitable for prehydrating filtration filtered remains static
bentonite or polymers 696. Stearate A salt made with stearic acid, which is a
680. Sour gas A general term for those gases that are fatty acid, a type of organic acid derived
acidic either alone or when associated from animal and vegetable fats and oils
with water 697. Strength A decline of cement strength at elevated
681. Sour gas A gas containing hydrogen sulfide, carbon retrogression temperatures
dioxide or mercaptans, all of which are 698. Stress A form of corrosion in which susceptible
extremely harmful corrosion types of metals will break by a combination
682. Spot To place a small volume or pill of fluid in cracking of stress within the metal and the specific
a wellbore annulus to free differentially type of corrosion
stuck pipe 699. Styrene The compound C6H5-HC=CH2, also known
as styrolene, cinnamene and phenethylene
700. Sulfate reducing A common anaerobic bacterium, 715. Synthetic base Nonaqueous, water-internal (invert)
bacteria commonly abbreviated SRB, that can mud emulsion muds in which the external phase
convert sulfate ions, SO4-2, into S-2 and is a synthetic fluid rather than an oil
HS-, with the concomitant oxidation of a
716. Synthetic Ratio of the volume percent synthetic fluid
carbon source
brine ratio/ to the volume percent brine in a synthetic
701. Sulfate The ability of set cement to resist SBR mud, where each is expressed as a percent
resistance deterioration in the presence of sulfate of the total liquid in the mud
ions
717. synthetic Ratio of the volume percent synthetic fluid
702. Sulfate resistant A cement in which the amount of water ratio/ to the volume percent water in a synthetic-
cement tricalcium aluminate is controlled as SWR base mud, where each is a percent of the
specified by API Specification 10A total liquid in the mud
703. Sulfide A compound of sulfur that contains the 718. Tail cement The last cement system pumped during
S-2 ion primary cementing
704. Sulfide scavanger A chemical that removes all three 719. Tannic acid The acids found in tannin
soluble sulfide species, H2S, S-2 and
720. Tannin Chemical extracted from the bark of trees
HS-, and forms a product that is
and used as clay deflocculant in water
nonhazardous and noncorrosive
muds
705. Sulfide stress A type of spontaneous brittle failure in
721. Temperature The characteristic of a drilling fluid or a
cracking steels and other high-strength alloys
stability mud product pertaining to its response to
when they are in contact with moist
prolonged heating, usually in a controlled
hydrogen sulfide and other sulfidic
mud composition in a rolling- or static-
environments
aging test
706. Sulfide test A quantitative analysis of sulfides in the
722. Ten minute gel The shear stress measured at low shear
drilling fluid
strength rate after a mud has set quiescently for 10
707. Sulfonated An asphaltic mud additive that has been minutes as per the standard API procedure
asphalt reacted with sulfite to add anionic
723. Ten second The shear stress measured at low shear
sulfonate groups to the complex
gel strength rate after a mud has set quiescently for 10
molecular structure
seconds as per the standard API
708. Sulfonated A copolymer of polystyrene (containing procedure
polystyrene- sulfonate groups on the ring) and
724. Tensile The force per unit cross-sectional area
maleic anhydride anhydrous maleic acid (a di-hydroxy
strength required to pull a substance apart
copolymer acid)
(SSMA 725. Tetrahedral One of the layers that constitute the
copolymer) layer atomic structure of the clay group of
layered silicate minerals
709. Surface tension Surface free energy that exists between
a liquid and air 726. Thermal Also known as geothermal gradient, the
gradient rate of increase in temperature per unit
710. Surfactant A chemical that preferentially adsorbs
depth in the Earth
at an interface, lowering the surface
tension or interfacial tension between 727. Thermally A term describing the application of a
fluids or between a fluid and a solid activated mud cloud point glycol or polyglycol as a
emulsion/ shale inhibitor
711. Suspended solids Dispersed particles in a slurry that can
TAME/ cloud
be separated by filtration and are not
point glycol
dissolved
728. Thickening A measurement of the time during which a
712. Syn The slang abbreviation for synthetic
time cement slurry remains in a fluid state and
713. Synthetic based Any of a number of fluids (liquids) is capable of being pumped
fluid manufactured from starting products of
729. Thickening The duration that a cement slurry remains
known composition and purity
time in a fluid state and is capable of being
714. Synthetic base Any of a number of fluids (liquids) pumped
fluid manufactured from starting products of
known composition and purity
730. Thinner Another term for deflocculant, a thinning agent 743. Ultrafine Referring to any particle in the size range
used to reduce viscosity or prevent 2 to 44 microns
flocculation; incorrectly called a "dispersant."
744. Undersaturated A solution that could contain more solute
731. Thixotropic Pertaining to the ability of a fluid, such as fluid than is presently dissolved in it
cement or drilling mud, to develop gel
745. Unweighted A mud that contains no commercial
strength over time when not subject to
mud weighting material
shearing, and then to liquefy when agitated
746. U-tube effect In a U-tube manometer, the height of one
732. Thixotropy The characteristic of a fluid, such as a drilling
leg of fluid changed by altering the
mud, to form a gelled structure over time when
density of some of the fluid in the other
not subject to shearing and then to liquefy
leg
when agitated
747. VAMA A copolymer of vinyl acetate (ethylenic
733. Titrate To perform a titration, a procedure to
polymer) and anhydrous maleic acid (a di-
determine the amount of a constituent in a
hydroxy acid)
sample by adding a measured volume of
reagent until the reaction between the 748. Vapor pressure The pressure exerted by a vapor escaping
constituent of interest and the reagent is from a liquid
completed, as shown by an appropriate 749. Versenate Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid, the
endpoint indicator reagent used to titrate for calcium and
734. Titration In chemical analysis, a procedure to determine magnesium ions (hardness ions) in water
the amount of a constituent in a sample by samples. It is also known as EDTA or
adding a measured volume of reagent until the titraver
reaction between the constituent of interest and 750. VG meter Viscosity-gel meter. This jargon is used to
the reagent is completed, as shown by an describe the direct-indicating viscometer,
appropriate endpoint indicator the instrument commonly used to test flow
735. Total A chemical analysis to measure the hardness properties of drilling muds
hardness ions in water-mud filtrates or in make-up water 751. Vinyl polymer A class of polymers constructed with the
test monomer ethylene, H2C=CH2, with
736. Total Also known as retort solids, the volume hydrogen replaced by various chemical
solids percent (or fraction) of a mud that is not groups
captured in the receiver when performing the 752. Vis Abbreviation for viscosity
water, oil and solids test as prescribed by API
753. Viscosity A property of fluids and slurries that
737. Tracer A chemical or other substance placed in or indicates their resistance to flow, defined
around the borehole to measure fluid as the ratio of shear stress to shear rate
movement in injection wells
754. Viscosity and Measurement of the viscosity and gel
738. Tracer A chemical or other material placed in the gel strength strength of a drilling fluid
borehole fluid and later detected to infer test
information about the borehole or the drilled
755. Wallcake The residue deposited on a permeable
formations
medium when a slurry, such as a drilling
739. Trip pill Also called a slug, a volume of mud that is fluid, is forced against the medium under a
more dense than the mud in the drillpipe and pressure
wellbore annulus
756. Wall sticking Also known as differential sticking, a
740. Turbulent A type of fluid flow characterized by swirling condition whereby the drillstring cannot
flow or chaotic motion as the fluid moves along the be moved (rotated or reciprocated) along
flow path the axis of the wellbore
741. Turbulent A type of flow for single-phase fluids in which 757. Wall sticking/ A situation in which the drilling assembly
flow the velocity at any point may vary in both differential (pipe, drill collars and bottomhole
direction and magnitude with time sticking assembly) is stuck in filter cake that was
742. Turbulent A fluid-flow regime characterized by swirling previously deposited on a permeable
flow or chaotic motion as the fluid moves along the zone
pipe or conduit
758. Wastewater A process in which dirty water is stripped of 774. Yield A term used to specify the quality of a clay
cleanup its solids and made suitable for recycling into according to the number of barrels of 30-cp
a mud system or disposal into sewer systems viscosity mud that one ton of the clay would
or other places produce
759. Water base A drilling fluid (mud) in which water or 775. Yield The specified minimum yield strength of steel
drilling saltwater is the major liquid phase as well as used in pipe
fluid the wetting (external) phase
776. Yield The volume occupied by one sack of dry
760. Water The process of removing colloidal materials cement after mixing with water and additives to
clarification from water form a slurry of a desired density
761. Water in oil A fluid with water or brine as droplets 777. Yield Parameter of the Bingham plastic model. It is
emulsion dispersed into an external phase of oil point the yield stress extrapolated to a shear rate of
zero
762. Water loss Referring to the volume of liquid measured in
the filtration tests performed according to API 778. Yield The elastic limit, or the point at which a material
specifications, in units of cm3/30 minutes point can no longer deform elastically
763. Water loss Jargon applied to a mud additive used to 779. Yield The stress that must be applied to a material to
control fluid loss stress make it begin to flow
764. Water mud A drilling fluid (mud) in which water or 780. Zero zero Gel strengths that are very low, with both values
saltwater is the major liquid phase as well as gels near zero, when measured at 10 seconds and 10
the wetting (external) phase minutes according to standardized test
procedures
765. Water mud A chemical used in preparation and
emulsifier maintenance of an emulsion mud, which is a 781. Zinc basic A neutral double salt of zinc carbonate and
water mud containing dispersed oil (or a carbonate zinc hydroxide in 2-to-3 stoichiometric
synthetic hydrocarbon) proportions, 2ZnCO3·3Zn(OH)2
766. Water oil A test for water mud or oil mud, generally 782. Zinc A acidic salt, which is used to prepare dense,
and solids known as the retort test bromide clear (solids-free) brine for well completion and
test workover operations
767. Water to In a cement slurry, the ratio of water to 783. Zinc A neutral zinc salt, which can be used as a
cement cement expressed as percent; the number of carbonate sulfide scavenger in water-base muds
ratio parts of water used to mix with 100 parts of
784. Zinc An acidic salt, used as one of the standard
cement
chloride saturated salt solutions for calibration of the
768. Weight Referring to mud weight, the mass per unit electrohygrometer
volume of a drilling fluid, synonymous with
785. Zinc A very weak base, which can be used as a
mud density
oxide sulfide scavenger in oil-base or synthetic-base
769. Weighted A mud that contains commercial weighting muds
mud material such as barite or hematite
770. Weight a high-specific gravity and finely divided solid
material/ material used to increase density of a drilling
weighting fluid
agent
771. Whole mud A dilution process which involves selective
dilution dumping of the active system (such as sand
traps and "bottoms up" mud) and replacement
of the lost volume with fresh mud
772. Xanthan A polysaccharide secreted by the bacteria
gum genus Xanthomonas campestris, also known
as XC polymer
773. Xylene An aromatic hydrocarbon molecule containing
a benzene ring with two methyl side chains,
formula C6H4(CH3)2