•

MUD PROPERTIES
AND
MEASUREMENTS
 MUD PROPERTIES AND MEASUREMENTS

Basic Properties and Measurements

The main properties of a drilling fluid are:

• Density

• Rheology

• Fluid loss

• Inhibition

• Solids Content

• These must be achieved in an environmentally friendly,

safe and cost effective way.
 MUD PROPERTIES AND MEASUREMENTS

Density

CALIBRATE
KEEP HOLE
• By convention the density is FREE TO EXPEL
BY ADDING/
REMOVING
called the mud weight MUD
LEAD SHOT
– The units are ppg or g/cc SIGHT GLASS
– Occasionally lbs/ft3 or psi/ft are
used
SCALE BAR
• Correct and frequent
measurement is essential
– Keep balance clean
– Check calibration daily
SLIDING WEIGHT
• There are two types of balance
– Pressurized
– Non Pressurized

• Derrickman will record density

every half hour
 MUD PROPERTIES AND MEASUREMENTS

Mud Balance
 MUD PROPERTIES AND MEASUREMENTS

Mud weight – bore hole pressure support

Bore hole pressure support

 When we drill the wellbore we

replace a cylinder of rock with a
cylinder of mud.

 The first critical step towards

designing a drilling fluid is to
establish the mud weight
required to provide the correct
level of bore hole pressure
support.

Pm > Pf

Pm - mud pressure
Pf - formation pressure
 MUD PROPERTIES AND MEASUREMENTS

Mud weight – bore hole pressure support

 Pore pressure prediction involves the full cooperation of

several different engineering disciplines, ie Petrophysical,
Geology, Reservoir & Geomechanics.

 It is crucial that rigorous seismic and / or geolog well data

interpretation is done to determine the anticipated pore
pressure regimes in order to identify any pressure reversals
and therefore facilitate appropriate casing design.

 Mud weight planning is based on the predicted pore

pressure gradient plus 300 to 500 psi

One of the key elements to successfully drilling a stable, close to

gauge well bore depends upon planning the correct mud weight
overbalance.
 MUD PROPERTIES AND MEASUREMENTS

Density - Balancing Formation Pressures

• Zones of differing pressures will be

drilled between casing points
• The ECD must be taken into account to
avoid fracturing the formation
– Should have at least 0.5 ppg EMW between
ECD and Fracture Pressure (kick tolerance)

depth
• The differential pressure should be kept
low to improve ROP’s
– A differential pressure equivalent to 0.2-0.5 Safe drilling

ppg should be kept as a safety margin Unsafe drilling

– A negative differential (mud, air or foam) is (Mud weight
will fracture
sometimes used to drill : formation)
• Hard formations
• Lost circulation zones EQUIVALENT MUD WEIGHT
 MUD PROPERTIES AND MEASUREMENTS

Signs of Excessive Density

 Lost Circulation

 Differential Sticking

 Slow ROP’s

 Ballooning

PUMPS OFF PUMPS ON

Ballooning
 MUD PROPERTIES AND MEASUREMENTS

Signs of Insufficient Mud Weight

Background gas

• Hole not filling correctly on trips

– Formation fluid being swabbed into
Trip gas seen
the hole on bottoms
up after a trip
• Increased drag experienced on Connection gas

Time
connections and trips
– Salt or plastic formations squeezing Connection gas
into the well bore
• Gain in fluid Increase in background gas,
could be due to increased pore

– Formation fluid entering the well bore. space in cuttings or increased

formation pressure.
Circulate bottoms up to tell the
(Well flowing or kicking) difference

• Unexplained increase in gas Gas level % or units

recording
– Some gas may be released from
ground cuttings
 MUD PROPERTIES AND MEASUREMENTS

Viscosity - Hole Cleaning

• Viscosity is the resistance of the fluid to flow

• Viscosity is required in addition to flow rate to clean the hole
• Several models have been developed to help understand the
behaviour of different fluids in laminar flow
– Newtonian model - e.g. Water, glycerine, oil
– Bingham Plastic Model - Cement, Flocculated fluids : high solids muds
– Power Law Model - Low solids polymer muds, Oil based muds

shear stress (flow pressure)

• Viscosity = shear rate (flow rate)

The units can be dynes/cm2, Pascal S, Centipoise or lbs/100ft2

 MUD PROPERTIES AND MEASUREMENTS

Instruments Used to Measure Viscosity

Fill mud to mark

• Marsh Funnel
– Results are very temperature
dependent Measure time required
to fill one quart in
– Used to give trends
second
– Derrick man records results
every 1/2 hour Torsion Spring

• Fann Viscometer
– Can measure different shear
stresses for different shear rates Bob
– Should be used with a heated Variable speed
cup to give readings at a set rotation sleeve
temperature
– Also used to measure gel
strengths
 MUD PROPERTIES AND MEASUREMENTS

Marsh Funnel
 MUD PROPERTIES AND MEASUREMENTS

Viscometer

Thermocup
6-speed FANN viscometer
 MUD PROPERTIES AND MEASUREMENTS

Bingham Plastic Model

• PV = 600 Q - 300 Q (cps)

– The plastic viscosity is due to the physical size
and presence of any solids or emulsified
droplets in the fluid.
– The PV should be as low as possible t = ty + gPV
– To reduce the PV reduce the solids

Shear stress (t)

• Yield Point = 300 Q - PV (lbs/100ft2) Q600
– The yield point is the viscosity due to the
chemical attraction between the particles. Q100 PV
– To increase the YP add products with attractive
forces. ty
– To reduce add products which reduce
attractive forces
Shear rate (g)
 MUD PROPERTIES AND MEASUREMENTS

Power Law Model

• n = 3.32 log 600 Q (no dimensions)

300 Q

Shear stress (t)

– n is the power law index and indicates the
degree of non Newtonian behaviour
– n should be as low as possible, the effective t = kg n
viscosity decreases with shear rate
– low n values give flat flow profiles
Shear rate (g)
– Additives with attractive forces reduce n

• K = 300 Q (lbs/100ft2)

Shear stress (t)

511n
– k is the consistency index and indicates n
K
the viscosity of the liquid phase and solids
content
Log Shear rate (g)
– anything which increases the low shear
viscosity will increase k.
 MUD PROPERTIES AND MEASUREMENTS

“n” power law exponent definition

“n” power law exponent = 3.32 log/ 600 ÷ 300 viscometer reading

High shear Describes the shear thinning properties of a fluid, i.e.

environment degree of non-newtonian behavior.

“A shear thinning fluid is one that thins in a high shear

environment, i.e. in the drill pipe & at the bit, and thickens in
a low shear environment, i.e. in the annulus”.

Low shear The “n” value defines the velocity profile in the annulus.
environment
Note: PV:YP ratio also defines the velocity profile in the
annulus, i.e. PV equal to or < YP results in a flat velocity profile
– PV > YP will sharpen the velocity profile incrementally.

Annulus
 MUD PROPERTIES AND MEASUREMENTS

“n” power law exponent definition

Velocity Profile in the annulus

Fluid velocity diminishes to almost
drill pipe borehole wall zero at the face of the borehole and
the drill pipe due to frictional drag .
n = 0.7

n = 0.5 Vertical well bore

n = 0.3

Horizontal well bore

Maximum velocity
 MUD PROPERTIES AND MEASUREMENTS
Shear Rates in the Circulating System

Shear rate (sec-1) 120V

Dh - Dp

D is in mm, and V = velocity in cm/sec.

SHEAR
• Monitor the shear stress of the fluid at SECTION RATE (S-1)
EQUIVALENT
FANN RPM
the shear rates in the annulus
Drill String 170-10k
100+
10k-100k
• Pump Hi Vis pills regularly, if hole is not Bit None
being cleaned increase shear stress for Annulus 5-17-=0
3-100
corresponding shear rate
Pits 0-3
0-3
170-1000
• Many operators request 3 and 6 RPM SCE* 100-600
readings * Solids Control Equipment
 MUD PROPERTIES AND MEASUREMENTS

Gel Strengths

The Gel strengths refers to the increase in viscosity at

zero shear rate

It is the measure of the attractive forces under static

conditions

Maximum shear stress at 3 RPM

Initial and then subsequent
3 rpm viscometer dial readings,
i.e. 10sec, 10min, 30min
= gel strengths
Time at zero shear rate
 MUD PROPERTIES AND MEASUREMENTS

Primary factors that impact gel strength values

 The electro-chemical attractive

forces between solids under  Gels can be:
static conditions. Fragile: A 10 min gel strength
that increases but breaks back
 Closely related to yield point, rapidly after initiating viscometer
i.e. electro-chemical interactions shear.
and the measure of Flat: An initial gel strength that
aggregation, flocculation or only increases marginally over
dispersion of the in situ solids. 10 mins.
 Initial gel strengths are a good Progressive: An initial gel
indicator of low shear rheology strength that increases
(i.e. 3 rpm viscometer dial significantly over 10 mins and
reading). beyond.
 MUD PROPERTIES AND MEASUREMENTS

Effects of Excessive Viscosity

• Increased pump pressure

• Increased risk of swabbing / surging the hole

• Loss of mud at the shakers

• Poor efficiency of the solids control equipment

• Increased risk of fracturing the formation, especially with high gel

strengths

• Poor mud removal for cementing operations

 MUD PROPERTIES AND MEASUREMENTS

Effects of Insufficient Viscosities

• Poor hole cleaning
– Cuttings bed
– Hole fill
– Stuck pipe
– Cuttings degradation

• Overloading of the annulus increasing the hydrostatic

• Increased erosion if the fluid is in turbulent flow

• Barite sag or settlement

 MUD PROPERTIES AND MEASUREMENTS

Filtration

• The passage of filtrate into the formation due to the differential

pressure

• If the solids cannot block the pores and/or fractures then mud will flow
into the formation (lost circulation)

• The solids in the mud usually forms as a filter cake which prevents
excessive fluid loss, the filter cake should :

– Be thin
– Have a low permeability - correct solids distribution
– Have a low friction coefficient
 MUD PROPERTIES AND MEASUREMENTS

Filtration

• Dynamic Filtration
– cake builds until rate of erosion equals rate of
deposition
– when filter cake reaches equilibrium thickness
fluid loss is constant

• Static Filtration
– cake growth with time
– rate of filtration continues to decrease
– static cake is thicker than dynamic cake
– static rate of filtration is less
 MUD PROPERTIES AND MEASUREMENTS

Dynamic Filtration

• Occurs while circulating

– The rate of erosion = rate of build up of the cake
– The cake stays the same thickness

• Darcy’s equation governs the filtration rate

dq K x ²P x A
=
dt txµ

q = volume of filtrate (c.c.)

k = permeability of cake (darcies)
A = area (cm2)
µ = liquid phase viscosity (cps)
t = thickness of cake (cm)
DP = differential pressure (atm)
 MUD PROPERTIES AND MEASUREMENTS

Static Filtration

• Occurs during no flow situations

– The cake thickness increases with time
– The rate of filtration decreases with time

• A simplified equation is:

q = k (t) + e

Fluid loss (cc)

q = volume of filtrate (c.c.)
k = constant
t = time (sec) } spurt loss
e = spurt loss t (mins)
• The spurt loss is the volume of fluid that gets through the filter
paper before the filter cake forms
 MUD PROPERTIES AND MEASUREMENTS

Temperature and Pressure Effects

• For static filtration

q = volume of filtrate (c.c.)

q = k DP
DP = differential pressure

This approximation assumes DP has no effect on the permeability

or filtrate viscosity, usually increasing DP will decrease the
permeability.
• Increasing the temperature will increase the filtration rate
– It reduces the viscosity of the filtrate
– It changes the flocculation and aggregation equilibria
– Polymeric fluid loss additives may degrade
– Lignite/Gilsonite type derivatives will become more malleable
 MUD PROPERTIES AND MEASUREMENTS

API Filter Press

 MUD PROPERTIES AND MEASUREMENTS

HPHT
 MUD PROPERTIES AND MEASUREMENTS

PPA
 MUD PROPERTIES AND MEASUREMENTS

Incorrect Filter Rates

WHAT
HAPPENS IF I
• Rate too low will result in : GET THE
– Excessive cost FLUID LOSS
WRONG ?
– Slight reduction in ROP
• Rate too high will result in :
– Formation damage, clays and
reservoir
– Thick filter cakes which cause :
• Differential sticking
• Excess drag

• The filtration rate must be adjusted to

deal with all the formations
encountered in the interval
 MUD PROPERTIES AND MEASUREMENTS

High Pressure Examples

35 Cake Thickness
Fluid Loss (30 min)
30 Cake Thickess
Fluid Loss (30 min)
25

20

15

10

0
500 1500 3000
 MUD PROPERTIES AND MEASUREMENTS

Solids

•Almost all muds contain solids

•Weighting agents
•Bridging agents
•Clays
•Polymers

•Drilled cuttings create drilled solids in the mud – these have a

NEGATIVE effect on the mud system

•Oil Base Muds (NAF) contain Oil and Brine and Solids

•Important to be able to measure and quantify solids, water/brine

and oil in all fluids
 MUD PROPERTIES AND MEASUREMENTS

Effects of Drilled Solids

• Rheological Changes to the Fluid

• Fluid Filtration Problems
• Wall Sticking
• Increased ECDs resulting in Pressure Changes on the Formation
• Reduced Solids Control Efficiency
• Pollution Problems
• Increased Mud Costs
• Increased Rig Costs
• Reduced Rates of Penetration
• Logistical Supply Problems
• Bit Balling
• Bit, Tubular & Pump Wear
• Hole Problems
 MUD PROPERTIES AND MEASUREMENTS

Solids Measurement

• Use a retort
• High Temperature used to boil off water / oil and
leave solids in the retort – fluids collected in cylinder
and recorded.
• This information used with mud density and salt
concentration to calculate type of solids in the mud –
i.e. drilled solids or added solids
 MUD PROPERTIES AND MEASUREMENTS

Retort
 MUD PROPERTIES AND MEASUREMENTS

Sand Content
 MUD PROPERTIES AND MEASUREMENTS

Chemical Properties

• Alkalinity – pH (pH strip or pH meter)

• Alkalinity - Pm, Pf, Mf (titration)
• Total Hardness (titration)
• Hardness as Calcium (titration)
• Chloride Level (titration)
• Cation Exchange Capacity (Methylene Blue Test)
 MUD PROPERTIES AND MEASUREMENTS

Alkalinity Tests

• Pf
– cc's of 0.02N H2SO4 required to reduce the pH of 1 cc of filtrate
to 8.3 .
– Phenolphthalein endpoint.

• Mf
– cc's of 0.02N H2SO4 required to reduce the pH of 1 cc of filtrate
to 4.3. It is the sum of the Pf and the second titration where the
pH is reduced from 8.3 to 4.3.
– Methyl orange endpoint.
 MUD PROPERTIES AND MEASUREMENTS

Chloride Test

• Add 10 drops of standard potassium chromate solution to a 1 ml

sample of filtrate. A yellow colour develops.
• Stir continuously while adding 0.0282 N or 0.282 N silver nitrate
(depending on expected range – below 5000 mg/l use 0.0282 N
and above use 0.282 N) on a drop by drop basis,
• The end point is reached when a reddish tinge appears and
persists for 30 seconds. Do not titrate to “brick red” as this is too
far past the end point.
• Note the amount of silver nitrate required to reach the end point
• Calculations
• Total Chlorides in mg/l = m/l of 0.0282N x 1000
• Total Chlorides in mg/l = m/l of 0.282N x 10000
 MUD PROPERTIES AND MEASUREMENTS

Importance of chemical tests

• The presence of ions will affect mud properties such as:

– Viscosity
– Yield point
– Gel strength
– Fluid loss (and filter cake)
 MUD PROPERTIES AND MEASUREMENTS

Mud Property Guidelines

Property Top Hole* 17 1/2” - 16” 12 1/4” 8 1/2” 6”

Flow rate (gpm) A.F.A.P. 900+ 500-700 300-400 200-300
YP (lbs/100 ft2) 30+ 25+ 15-20 12-15 12-15
3 RPM Fann 25 15 10 5 5
Fluid Loss (c.c.)** n/c 15-20 10-15 5-10 3-5
10 min gels 35 max 35 max 35 max 35 max 35 max

• Mud Weight : as required

• LGS : Preferably below 6% for a water based mud
• PV : as low as possible
• Mf : below 1 c.c. Pf/Mf ratio : below 2 unless Pf is below 1 c.c.
• Pf > 0 for water based muds
• Potassium / Chloride ratio : above 0.6 for KCl muds
• AV : should be above 80 ft/min

* 36” or 26” hole

** Fluid loss for water based muds