CH 2 Drilling Fluids

SKPP 3413 - DRILLING ENGINEERING
Chapter 2 - Drilling Fluids

Mohd Fauzi Hamid
Petroleum Engineering Department
Faculty of Chemical & Energy Engineering
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
Assoc. Prof. Abdul Razak Ismail, UTM
Drilling Fluid
s
Contents
Functions
Classification of drilling fluids
Drilling fluid properties and testing procedures
Drilling fluid formulation, additives and
treatment
Drilling fluid calculations
Drilling fluid discharge
How drilling fluids look like?
Functions of drilling fluids

Cools & lubricates the bit & drill string
Suspends cuttings & weighting materials when
circulation is stopped
Supports part of the weight of the drill string
or casing
Controls subsurface formation pressures
Removes & transports cuttings from the
bottom of the hole to the surface
Functions of drilling fluids (ctd)

Walls the hole with an impermeable filter cake
Minimizes sloughing & caving of the
formation.
Helps to obtain good, downhole data for
formation analysis.
Transmits hydraulic horse power to the bit.
Prevent corrosion fatigue of drill pipe
See video clip:

Drilling Mud Function (3:10 min.)
Summary of mud functions
Maintain
borehole stability
Minimise
loss of fluid
to the formation
Suspend barite
under static and
dynamic conditions
Control
formation
pressure
Remove
drilling cuttings
from the hole
Provide hydraulic
horse power
to the bit
Lubricate
the drill string
To achieve these functions, the following side effects

must be minimized (mud should not):
Reduce the penetration rate

Loss of circulation
Erode of the borehole
Corrode the drill string
Wear on the pump parts
Swell the borehole creating tight spots
Damage the subsurface formation, especially the potential pay section
Stuck the drill pipe against the walls of the hole
Hamper evaluation of the productive zone
Require excessive pump pressure at the desired circulation rate
Allow suspension & continual circulation of undesirable solids and/or
abrasive solids such as cuttings, encountered clay & fine sand
10
Advantages of having a good mud

cake on permeable formation
Minimizes formation damage (affecting both
formation evaluation & production)
Improves hole stability (avoiding wall stuck
pipe, swabbing & pressure surges)
Reduces fluid loss
Reduced contamination of formation
Reduced sloughing & caving
11
Components of drilling fluid

Liquid phase
(eg. water, oil, emulsion)
Inert phase
(eg. barite, sand)
Drilling
Drilling
fluid
fluid
Colloidal phase
(eg. clay)
Chemical phase
12
Common mud
addtives
Viscosifiers
(Thickeners)
Weighting Materials
Barite
Hematite
Galena
Calcium carbonate
Emulsifiers
Dissolved salts
Oil in water
Water in oil
Viscosity-Reducing
Chemicals
Bentonite
Attapulgite
CMC
HEC
PAC
Synthetic polymers
Guar gums
Resin
Lost-Circulation
Materials
Silicates
Phosphates
Granular
Tannates
Fibrous
Lignites
Flaked
Lignosulfonate
Special
Additives
Slurries
Fluid-Loss
Sodium polyacrylate
Flocculants
Reducers
Corrosion control
Starches
Defoamer
CMC
pH control
Polyanionic cellulose Acrylates
Mud lubricant
Bentonite
Antidifferential
Dispersants
sticking material
Assoc. Prof. Abdul Razak
Ismail, UTM
12
13
Weighting material additives

Material
Principal
Component
Specific
Gravity
Hardness
(Mohs Scale)
% Acid
Soluble
PbS
7.4 7.7
2.5 2.7
Hematite
Fe2O3
4.9 5.3
5.5 6.5
50+
Magnetite
Fe3O4
5.0 5.2
5.5 6.5
Fe2O3
4.7
FeO.TiO2
4.5 5.1
5.0 6.0
20
Barite
BaSO4
4.2 4.5
2.5 3.5
Siderite
FeCO3
3.7 3.9
3.5 4.0
95+
Celesite
SrSO4
3.7 3.9
3.5 4.0
Dolomite
CaCO3.MgC
O3
CaCO3
2.8 2.9
3.0 3.5
99
2.6 2.8
3.0
99
Galena
Iron Oxide
(manufactured)
Illmenite
Calcite
14
Clay in water
15
Types of mud
Water Based Muds (WBM) or
Water Based Drilling Fluids (WBDF)
Mud
Mud
types
types
Gases Fluids
(air, gas, mist, foam,
aerated muds)
Oil Based Muds (OBM) or

Non-aqueous Drilling Fluids (NADF)
16
Typical composition of WBM & OBM (% wt)
Bentonite; 7%
Salt & others additives; 2%
Emulsifiers/Gellants; 2% Other additives; 1%
Brine; 18%
Barite; 15%
NADF; 46%
Seawater; 76%
Typical composition of WBM
Barite; 33%
Typical composition of NADF

17
Classification of drilling fluids

(after IMCO Petroleum Services)
Drilling
fluids
Oil base
True
Invert
Lightly
treated
Organic
Pneumatic
Water base
Noninhibitive
Native
Inorganic
Inhibitive
Minimum
solids
Ca++
Air
Ionic
inhibition
Na+
K+
Gas
Mist or
foam
Incapsulation
NH4+
18
Why use oil based muds

(OBM)?
Disadvantages:
Advantages:
Good rheological properties at
temperatures as high as 500 oF
(especially deeper well)
More inhibitive than inhibitive
WBMs
Effective against all types of
corrosion
Superior lubricating characteristics
Increase bit life & improve
penetration rate
Permits m as low as 7.5 ppg
Reduce formation damage
High initial cost

Requires more
stringent pollutioncontrol procedures
Reduced
effectiveness of
some logging tools
Remedial treatment
for lost circulation is
more difficult
Detection of gas
kicks is more difficult
because gas
solubility in diesel oil
19
Why use ester based mud (EBM)?

Advantages:
Environmental friendly
Biodegradable
Local product-derived from palm oil
Limitations:
Suitability/properties
High cost
20
Rheological models
21
Mud properties
Density (mud weight)
Viscosity
Gel strength
Filtration
Mud cake
Emulsion stability
Standard
drilling fluids testing:
Resistivity
- API RP 13B-1 (Recommended Practice for Field Testing Water-Based Drilling Fluids
- API
pHRP 13B-2 (Recommended Practice for Field Testing Oil-Based Drilling Fluids
Lubricity
22
Density or mud weight
m
(ppg, lb/cuft, S.G., ppb, psi/1000)
v
Mud balance calibrated at 8.33 ppg (water)
or
62.4 lb/cuft or 1.0 g/cc
Mud balance
23
Mud balance
24
Densities of various muds

1.2
1.0
10.8
0
75
Saturated
Salt Water
2.0
0.5
0.4
Weighted Mud
(Barite)
Stable Foam
Mist
Air
0.002
Types
of
Fluids
Relative
Densities
Types
of Drilling
Drilling
Fluids
and
Their
Relative
Densities
Types
of
drilling
fluidsand
and Their
their relative
densities
2.3
Viscosity
Define as a quantity measure of a fluids

resistance to flow or a property that represents
the internal resistance of a fluid to motion.
It determines the fluid strain rate that is
generated by a given applied shear stress.
Viscosity is due to the internal frictional force that
develops between different layers of fluids as
they are forced to move relative to each other.
25
26
Viscosity
F
l
=0
ML/T 2
2
shearing stress
F/A
M
L
L/T
rate of shearing strain
/l
LT
L
27
Water, oil, etc: Newtonian fluids (constant )

Drilling fluids: Plastic or non-Newtonian fluids
( is not constant)
certain value of stress
(true yield point) must be
exceeded in order to
initiate movement
28
Shearing stress or pressure
Flow behavior of plastic and Newtonian fluids
s
a
l
P
s
d
i
lu
f
ic
n
a
i
on
t
w
e
N
Yb, Bingham yield
s
d
i
flu
Transition from plug to laminar flow

Plug flow
Yt, True yield
Rate of shear or velocity

29
(a) Marsh funnel

The funnel is filled to the upper mark (1500
cc) with freshly collected, well agitated mud
Measures the time for 1 quart (946 cc)
comparative
Calibration: 26 0.5 sec. (water)
Marsh funnel
30
(b) Rheometer
Determine: a , p , Yb , gel or shear strength
p = 600 - 300
cp
a = 600
cp
Yb = 300 - p
lb/100 ft2
From these relationships:
Yb = a - p)
or
a = p + Yb
31
True yield point (from previous graph) is normally

defined by the following equation:
Yt = Yb
Dial deflection, F
600
Slope proportional to p
300
Yb
Slope proportional to a
Plug flow
Yt, True yield
300
Setting, rpm
600
32
Gel strength
A measure of the shearing stress necessary
to initiate a finite rate of shear
Measured at 3 rpm using rheometer
Reported as initial gel strength (10 sec.) &
final gel strength (10 min.)
Unit: lb/100 ft2
33
Filtration properties
Filter press: measure the filtration, water
loss & mud cake thickness
Using 100 psig, filter paper
Filtrate volume: cc/30 min.
Mud cake thickness: /32 in.
In field testing, it is common practice to
double the 7 min. filtration loss & report
this as the 30 min. figure
34
LPLT Filter Press

(CO2 Pressurized)
LPLT Filter Press

(Nitrogen Pressurized)
HPHT Filter Press
35
This procedure is based on the observation that:

V2 V1 t 2 / t1
where: V2 = filter loss at t2 , cc

V1 = filter loss at t1 , cc
t1 , t2 = filtration time, min.
This procedure does not account for the initial
spurt (high filter loss) period which occurs
before the mud solid bridge on the filter paper
36
For some muds the spurt loss may be considerable

volume and should be corrected as follows:
Filtrate volume, cc
Apparent water loss

Corrected water loss
en
m
i
er
p
x
E
lo
r
e
t
t fli
te
c
e
r
Cor
ta
a
d
ss
lo
r
e
filt
r
u
c
ss
ve
16
Time
Time, min.
30
25 30
36
37
Filtration loss may be corrected for T changes by:
V2 V1 1 / 2
where: V2 = corrected water loss at T2
V1 = measured water loss at T1
1 = viscosity of liquid phase at T1
2 = viscosity of liquid phase at T2
T1, T2 = temperatures in question
38
Other mud tests

TEST
APPARATUS
PURPOSE
pH
pH paper or pH meter
Guide to chemical treatment (to measure pH of

whole mud, filtrate, and filter cake)
Filtrate
analysis
Standard chemicals
such as acid,
indicators, etc.
Determination of contaminant to select

chemical treatment
Sand content
Screens, measuring
tube, centrifuge
Determination of sand content in the mud to

prevent abrasion of pump & drill pipe
Oil, water,
solids content
Distillation kit
Guide to control the desired properties (to

determine oil, water & solid content)
Clay content
Methylene blue test
To determine the amount of clay materials in

WBM
Emulsion
stability
Electrical stability
tester
To indicate the relative strength of emulsions

having a continuous oil phase
Lubricity
Lubricity tester
To measure the lubricity of the muds
Resistivity
Resistivity meter
To measure resistivity of muds, filtrates, filter

cakes, and slurries
39
The pH of Common Mud Treating Agents

Chemical Name
pH
Barium carbonate, BaCO3
10.0
Sodium bicarbonate, NaHCO3, baking soda
8.3
Calcium sulfate, CaSO4.1/2H2O, gypsum-plaster
6.0
Chrome lignosulfonates
3.4 4.0
Sodium carbonate, Na2CO3, soda ash
11.0
Calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH)2, slaked lime
12.0
Sodium hydroxide, NaOH, caustic soda
13.0
Calcium lignosulfonate
7.0
Lignite
5.0
Quebracho
3.8
Sodium acid pyrophosphate, Na2H2P2O7
4.8
Sodium hexametaphosphate, (NaPO3)6
6.0
Sodium tetraphosphate, Na6P4O13
7.5
Tetrasodium pyrophosphate, Na4P2O7
9.9
40
Sand Content Kit
Chloride, Alkalinity & Water

Hardness Test Kit
Filtrate Analysis Kit
Oil, Water & Solid Retort Kit

41
Resistivity meter
pH paper/pH meter
Lubricity tester
Electrical stability tester

could be poor hole

cleaning
hole erosion
formation damage
sensitive formations
pressure control
problems
To identify potential
hole problems
To identify their
causes
42
Why monitor drilling fluids ?
43
Mud Properties
Properties
The Importance
Pressure control p = 200 psi (overbalance)
Density
pm
Mud Filtrate
Gel Strength
Yield Point
Gel strength
+ Yield Point
Thinner
Weighting Materials
m
X 0.433 D 0.052 m D
8.33
Mud ability to form a thinner mud cake with low permeability on the
wall of porous medium.
Thicker mud cake means more solid materials settled at formation wall
and more filtration lost to the formation.
Thicker mud cake easier to collapse and cause other problem during
drilling activity such as the hole becomes smaller.
The ability of mud to suspend solids (especially weighting materials,
drilled cuttings).
Very important in suspended drilling operation.
The amount of pressure (shearing stress) needed to be applied to flow
the mud.
Very important in determining pump capacity and the amount of
pressure needed to be applied to flow the mud from static positions.
Carrying capacity of the mud.
The reduce mud viscosity (Yb, a, gel strength) without reducing the
mud density.
The increase mud density without causing any reaction in the mud (inert
materials).
43
44
Mud Selection Criteria

Criteria
Well type
Comments
Wildcat
Geological information is primary consideration.
Development
Generally allow full use of optimized techniques.
Sloughing shale
Formation
Anhydrite
If minor, treat out calcium; massive anhydrite requires specialized mud
Salt
If salt contamination exceeds 10,000 ppm, a salt-based mud is required
High temperatures
Lost circulation
Makeup water
Formulate fluid to control sloughing.
Composition
Availability
Rig selection
Nature of producing formations
Static BHT above 225F reduces effectiveness of additive, problem

magnified by high clay-solids content
Batch treatment successful for minor or intermediate losses; special
technique required for major losses
Test and treat makeup water to remove calcium and magnesium; use
flocculants to remove clay solids
Quantity and type are important in fluid selection
Rigs should have proper solids-removal equipment and adequate
circulating horsepower.
Type of fluid selected is dependent on rock characteristic of reservoir.
Casing program
Drilling fluid(s) used may be determined by casing string depths.
Availability of products
In remote, international areas, drilling fluid type may depend on

product availability.
44
45
Drilling Fluids Mistakes
Not testing the quality of the make-up water & treating it properly
Mixing the additives too rapidly or in an incorrect order
Not matching the correct drilling fluid with soil type
Mixing too low of a concentration of additives to allow them to
perform properly
Failure to maintain slurry flow throughout the bore
Failure to calculate the volumes of water & additives that are required
Failure to calculate the drilling/reaming speeds so as not to outrun
fluid flow
Poor bore planning
Not calculating pullback rates vs. pump volume output
Thinking that loss of fluid returns will not lead to problems
Ignoring the importance of mud reclaiming systems and maintenance
46
Converting field unit to laboratory unit

(ppb to g/cc)
g
454
lb
lb
g
lb
1
1
bbl
bbl 42 gal 3785 cc
350 cc
bbl
gal
lb
g
bbl 350 cc
e.g. 12 ppb 12 g / 350 cc
Mud Calculations
Writing expressions for these assumptions:
Vs Vi V f
Volume basis:
............... (1)
sVs iVi f V f
............... (2)
Weight basis:
where:
Vs =
Vi =
Vf =
s =
i =
f =
Solving for Vs:
volume of solid
volume of initial mud (or any liquid)
final volume of mixture
density of solid
density of initial mud
density of final mud
Vs
V f ( f i )
s i
............... (3)
The units have to be in consistent set.

If the in lb/gal, the V will be in gal, and so does gm/cc cc
Since the net volume of a powdered solid is not readily
measurable (usually measured by weight), by multiplying the
s to Equation (3), the Vs can be calculated.
sV f ( f i )
sVs
s i
............... (4)
Example 1
A 9.5 lb/gal mud contains clay (SG = 2.5) and fresh
water. Compute (a) the volume % and (b) the weight %
clay in this mud.
Eq. 3: Vs
V f ( f i )
s i
sV f ( f i )
Eq. 4: sVs
s
i
Solution 1
(a) Altering Eq. (3):
Volume % solids
Vs
100%
Vf
(b) Divide Eq. (4) with fVf:

Weight % solids
f i
100%
s i
9.5 8.33
100%
(2.5)(8.33) 8.33
9.4%
sVs
100%
fVf
s ( f i )
100%
f ( s i )
20.8(9.5 8.33)
100%
9.5(20.8 8.33)
20.6 %
Example 2
For laboratory purposes, it is desired to mix one liter of
bentonite-fresh water mud having a viscosity of 30 cp:
Eq. 3: Vs
(a) What will be the resulting mud density?
(b) How much of each material should be used?
V f ( f i )
s i
Solution 2
(a) From Fig. 6.12 (assume Wyoming bentonite): (b) Vs 1,000(1.045 1.0)
2.5 1.0
Solid content = 3.0 % by volume.
Rearranging Eq. 3:
0.03
f i
s i
f 1.0
2.5 1.0
30 cc
2.5 30
75 g
Also:
Vi V f Vs
Therefore,
1,000 30
970 cc water
f 1.045 g/cc 8.7 lb/gal

For certain types of problems it is convenient to express Eq. (3)

in a different form.
Suppose that the quantity of solids (Vs) necessary to increase
(or decrease) the density of an initial mud is desired. Then:
Vs
where Vi Vs V f
(Vi Vs )( f i )
s i
............... (3a)
(From Eq. 1)
Solving for Vs gives

Vs
Vi ( f i )
s f
............... (5)
Example 3
a)
How much weighting material (BaSO4, barite, SG = 4.3) should be

added to the mud of Example 2 to increase its density to 10 ppg?
(b) What will the resulting volume be?
Eq. (5)
Solution 3
(a)
1,000 (10 8.7)

Vs
50.4 cc
35.8 10
or
(b)
4.3 50.4 217 g
V f 1,000 50.4 1,050 cc
Vs
Vi ( f i )
s f
Since barite is so universally used as a

weighting material, it is useful to express
Eq. (5) in field units.
Barite is sold in 100 lb bags or sacks:
100 lb
0.373 cuft
4.3 (62.4 lb / cuft )
0.373 cuft
0.0664 bbl of net barite

5.615 cuft / bbl
1 sack
1 bbl (net ) of barite
1
bbl
; 15 sacks
0.0664 bbl / sack
Note: Assuming SG of barite = 4.3

Let Sb = sacks of barite

necessary to increase the
density of Vi bbl of mud
from i to f
Substituting these special
conditions into Eq. (5):
Vi ( f i )
Sb
15 4.3(8.33) f
Sb
15 Vi ( f i )
35.8 f
............... (5a)
Similarly, if clay (SG = 2.5) is sold in 100 lb bags or sacks:
100 lb
0.641 cuft
Note: Assume SG of clay = 2.5
2.5 (62.4 lb / cuft )
0.641 cuft
0.1142 bbl of net clay

5.615 cuft / bbl
1
bbl
1 bbl ( net ) of clay
; 8 3 sacks
4
0.1142 bbl / sack
1 sack
Let Sc = sacks of clay necessary to increase the density of Vi bbl of mud

from i to f
Substituting these special conditions into Eq. (5):
Vi ( f i )
Sc
8.75 2.5(8.33) f
8.75 Vi ( f i )
Sc
20.8 f
............... (5b)
Example 4
(a) How many sacks of barite are necessary to increase the
density of 1000 bbl of mud from 10 to 14 lb/gal?
(b) What will be the final mud volume?
Eq. (5a)
Solution 4
(a) Using Eq. (5a):
Sb
(b)
15(1,000) (14 10)

2,752 sacks
35.8 14
2,752
V f 1,000
1,183 bbl
15
Sb
15 Vi ( f i )
35.8 f
To dilute or reduce mud density:
Vw Vi V f
...... volume basis
w Vw i Vi f V f
...... weight basis
w Vw i Vi f (Vw Vi )
w Vw f Vw f Vi i Vi
Vw
Vi ( f i )
w f
Vw
Vi ( i f )
f w
............... (6)
where,
Vw = bbls of water necessary to reduce the density of Vi bbls
initial mud from i to f
Example 5
(a) How much fresh water must be added to 1000 bbl of 12 lb/gal
mud to reduce its density to 10 lb/gal?
Vi ( i f )
(b) What will the resulting volume be?
Eq. (6) Vw
f
Solution 5
1, 000 (12 10)
1,197 bbls
(a) Vw
10 8.33
or:
wVw iVi f V f f (Vi Vw )
8.33(Vw )(42) (12 lb/gal)(1000 bbl)(42 gal/bbl) (10) (1000 Vw )(42)

Vw
(b)
12,000 10,000
1,197 bbls
10 8.33
V f 1,000 1,197 2,197 bbls

Example 6
(a) How many sacks of barite are required to raise the mud weight of 755 bbl
from 77 pcf to 92 pcf? What is the resulting volume?
(b) Calculate the new mud weight when 126 bbl of oil (SG = 0.8) is added to
the new system. What is the resulting volume?
(c) Determine the quantity of barite required to maintain a mud weight of 92
pcf. What is the final volume?
Solution 6
(a) Eq. (5a):
Sb
Sb
15 Vi ( f i )
35.8 f
15 (755) (92 77)

965 sacks
4.3(62.4) 92
965 sacks
V f Vi Vb 755 bbl
819 bbls
15 sacks / bbl
(b) Vo Vi V f
...... volume basis
o Vo i Vi f V f
...... weight basis
o Vo i Vi o Vo i Vi
f
Vf
Vo Vi
0.8(62.4 pcf ) (126 bbl ) (92 pcf ) (819 bbl )
f
86.4 pcf
(126 819) bbl
V f Vi Vo 819 bbl 126 bbl 945 bbls
(c)
Eq. (5a):
Sb
15 Vi ( f i )
35.8 f
15 (945) (92 86.4)

Sb
450 sacks
4.3(62.4) 92
V f Vi Vb 945 bbl
450 sacks
975 bbls
15 sacks / bbl
In working with laboratory size samples, it is convenient to

measure quantities in grams (g) or cubic centimeters (cm3 or
cc or ml).
For field use, it is necessary to express these results in
pounds per barrel (lb/bbl or ppb).
It is then useful to realize:
454 g/lb
1 lb/bbl
g/cc
3,785 cc/gal 42 gal/bbl
or
g/350 cc lb/bbl
Laboratory: it is convenient to work with a 350 cc quantity

so that treating agent additions in g/per 350 cc of mud will
be equivalent to field additions in lb/bbl.
Example 7
A mud engineer finds from pilot tests that 2.0 g of CMC is required to
obtain the desired water loss reduction for a one liter mud sample. How
much CMC should be added to the actual 1000 barrel system?
Solution 7
CMC needed
350
2.0 1000 700 lb
1000
In making recommendations for mud treating, it is necessary to know the

time required for the entire mud system to make a complete cycle.
This is called the cycle time and is computed from a knowledge of
pumping rate and system volume.
Normally in field operation the types of pump used is a duplex mud pump.
The displacement of a duplex mud pump can be computed from:
q 0.00679 SN (2 D 2 d 2 ) e
............... (7)
where:
q
= pump discharge rate, gal/min
S
= stroke length, in.
N
= complete strokes per minute
D
= piston (liner) diameter, in.
d
= piston rod diameter, in.
e
= pump volumetric efficiency, commonly used as 90% for
power pumps and 85% for steam.
Cycle time is then expressed as:

6180 Vm
tc
SN (2 D 2 d 2 )e
where:
tc
Vm
= cycle time, min

= system volume, bbl
............... (8)
Example 8
What is the cycle time for the following conditions?
Vm = 1,000 bbl
Pump liners = 7.5 in. diameter
Stroke length = 16 in.
Eq. 8: tc
Piston rod diameter = 2 in.
N = 40 strokes per minute
Power pump is used
6180 Vm
SN (2 D 2 d 2 )e
Solution
tc
(6,180)(1,000)
100 min.
2
2
(16)(40) (2)(7.5) (2.25) (0.90)
Treating materials would then be added at a rate allowing their

uniform distribution in the system.
In Example (7), if 20 sacks of material were needed, they could
be added at the approximate rate of one sack per five minutes.
67
Drilling fluid discharge (drilling waste)

Why should properly discharge the mud?
To protect the human health
To minimize the risk of toxicity
To control the impact to an acceptance level
To overcome an environmental issue
To comply with the country rules and regulation
68
Parameter for Evaluating Disposal Option

ECONOMIC
Immediate costs
$/m3 for disposal
Operating cost
Energy
Maintenance
Labour
Disposal of end
products
Future cleanup
OPERATIONAL
Safety
Processing rate
Mechanical reliability
Size and portability of
unit(s)
Condition of end products
Number of additional
personnel required
Method of disposal after
processing
Weather conditions
Human health
issues/chemical exposure
ENVIRONMENT
Removal of HC , heavy
metals and salts from solids
and water
Reduction in volume of
waste
Compliance with
regulations
Marine species potentially
at risk
Potential environmental
stressors
69
Safety, Health and Environment
Human (exposure of the chemicals)

Toxicity to marine
Biodegradability of mud
Organic enrichment and sediment
anoxia of seabed sediments
Anoxia: An absence of oxygen. An absence or deficiency of oxygen reaching the

tissues; severe hypoxia.
70
Mud discharge to the ocean
71
NADF drilling waste disposal

Offshore discharge
NADF need to follow local regulatory requirement and guidelines
Discharged overboard from drilling vessel or platform after
undergoing treatment by solid equipment.
Cutting injections
Injection on the permeable subterranean formation after the
cuttings are ground to fine particle sizes and disposed along
with residual NADFs
Onshore disposal
Cuttings and associated NADF are collected and transported via
barge/drilling vessel to the onshore for re-treatment and
recycle.
72
Worldwide Application - Waste Discharge

Indonesia
crustaceae
96 hr LC50 Test: Testing animal that is used for this test is tiger prawn and
small crustaceae.
TCLP test (Toxicity characteristic leaching procedure): Determination of
heavy metal content on cutting on arsenic, barium, boron, cadmium,
chromium, copper, lead, mercury, selenium, silver, and zinc.
Water Analysis: pH (6-9), TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) ( 10,000 ppm),
TSS (Total suspended solids) ( 2,000 ppm), COD (chemical oxygen
demand) ( 400), oil content ( 50 mg/L)
United Kingdom
Prohibited any toxic chemicals, certain types of metals from discharge.
Where other metals are limited to concentrations of < 100 ppm
Products that were planned for discharges must be reported to the
government.
OBM testing were done using the brown shrimp using the 96 hr LC 50 test.
73
USA
Limitations or
Monitoring Required
Oil-Based Mud
Generic Muds
Alaska Region
Discharge prohibited
Authorized subject to
limitations on additives.
Combined generic formulas
into 6 rather than 8 mud
systems.
Additives
Approved additives list

provided. Minimum 96hrLC50
of 30,000 ppm based on
toxicity of Generic Mud #1.
Bioassays
Bioassay required prior to

drilling with unauthorized
additives. End of well
bioassay required.
California Region
Authorized based on
toxicity of generic muds.
Maximum toxicity of
30,000 ppm.
Gulf of Mexico
Region
Discharge
prohibited
Requirements
based on toxicity
of generic muds.
Maximum toxicity
of 30,000 ppm.
Federal Region
Requirements based on toxicity
of generic muds. Maximum
toxicity of 30,000 ppm.
Approved additives list

provided. Additives with
LC50 > 100,000
approved. LC50 between
30,000-100,000
conditionally approved if
when used with other
additives, the total does No approved
No approved additives list.
not exceeded 30,000
additives list.
ppm. Reference mud for
testing is Generic Mud #7.
Nonapproved additives
must not increase toxicity
of muds 2-8 by a factor of
7 based on a formukla
given in the permit.
Toxicity of mud
Bioassay requried for each
plus additives
mud system used plus
Toxicity of discharged mud and
required for a
end of well bioassay.
cuttings must not exceed
monthly and end of
Bioassay on Northern
30,000 ppm.
well. Toxicity limit
Anchovy also required.
is 30,000 ppm.
74
75
Standard regulations practiced in Malaysia
The principal legislation that is relevant to the offshore and onshore petroleum
developments in Malaysia: Environmental Quality Act, 1974 (EQA)
Exclusive Economic Zone Act, 1984 (EEZ)
Adopted regulations from China and Japan
Requires all aqueous effluent to be treated prior to discharge to marine (100
ppm oil limit)
Drill cuttings are discharge overboard while drill mud are recovered and recycle
76
PETRONAS E&P Minimum Environmental Specifications (MES) issued by

Petroleum Management, Petronas , April 2011
Effective April 2011, every Production Sharing (PS) Contractor of PETRONAS shall endeavour
to comply with the PETRONAS E&P MES in conducting its Petroleum Operations, onshore or
offshore Malaysia.
Clause 2.13 Drilling Mud/Fluids and Cuttings:
a. Only water-based-mud/fluids and low toxicity/synthetic oil based mud/fluids is
permitted for drilling use. Spent water based mud can be disposed into marine
environment.
b. Low Toxicity Oil Based Mud (LTOBM) or Synthetic Oil Based Mud (SOBM) shall be minimized
and used only when necessary (based on geological formation/drilling requirements).
Spent SOBM is prohibited to be disposed into marine environment.
c. Cuttings drilled with LTOBM or SOBM shall be washed and treated to oil content
of 6.9% wet basis or less before disposed into marine environment.
d. Drill cuttings and mud are prohibited to be discharge into environmentally sensitive areas.
e. Management and disposal of spent oil based mud and cuttings shall be as per
Environmental Quality (Scheduled Wastes) Regulation 2005.
f. PSCs shall identify opportunities to re-use, reduce and re-cycle mud as part of Drilling
Waste Minimization program.
g. Drilling rig shall be equipped with pollution control units such as centrifuge, cutting dryers,
shale shakers etc.

CH 2 Drilling Fluids

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

CH 2 Drilling Fluids

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

CH 2 Drilling Fluids

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

What are the main functions of drilling fluids?

What are the main functions of drilling fluids?

How are drilling fluids classified?

How are drilling fluids classified?

SKPP 3413 - DRILLING ENGINEERING

Chapter 2 - Drilling Fluids

Assoc. Prof. Abdul Razak Ismail, UTM

Assoc. Prof. Abdul Razak Ismail, UTM

How drilling fluids look like?

Assoc. Prof. Abdul Razak Ismail, UTM

Functions of drilling fluids

Assoc. Prof. Abdul Razak Ismail, UTM

Functions of drilling fluids (ctd)

Assoc. Prof. Abdul Razak Ismail, UTM

See video clip:

Assoc. Prof. Abdul Razak Ismail, UTM

Summary of mud functions

Assoc. Prof. Abdul Razak Ismail, UTM

To achieve these functions, the following side effects

Reduce the penetration rate

Advantages of having a good mud

Components of drilling fluid

Weighting material additives

Assoc. Prof. Abdul Razak Ismail, UTM

Assoc. Prof. Abdul Razak Ismail, UTM

Oil Based Muds (OBM) or

Assoc. Prof. Abdul Razak Ismail, UTM

Typical composition of WBM & OBM (% wt)

Salt & others additives; 2%

Emulsifiers/Gellants; 2% Other additives; 1%

Typical composition of WBM

Typical composition of NADF

Classification of drilling fluids

Assoc. Prof. Abdul Razak Ismail, UTM

Why use oil based muds

High initial cost

Assoc. Prof. Abdul Razak Ismail, UTM

Why use ester based mud (EBM)?

Assoc. Prof. Abdul Razak Ismail, UTM

Assoc. Prof. Abdul Razak Ismail, UTM

Density or mud weight

Densities of various muds

Define as a quantity measure of a fluids

Assoc. Prof. Abdul Razak Ismail, UTM

Water, oil, etc: Newtonian fluids (constant )

Shearing stress or pressure

Flow behavior of plastic and Newtonian fluids

Yb, Bingham yield

Transition from plug to laminar flow

Rate of shear or velocity

(a) Marsh funnel

From these relationships:

True yield point (from previous graph) is normally

Assoc. Prof. Abdul Razak Ismail, UTM

LPLT Filter Press

LPLT Filter Press

Assoc. Prof. Abdul Razak Ismail, UTM

HPHT Filter Press