Behaviour of Suspensions and

Emulsion in Drilling Fluids

NordicRheologySociety
1415June2007

Overview
Introductiontodrillingfluids
Roleoffluidrheologyinthedrillingoperation
Drillingfluidrheology;measurement&control
Effectofrheologyonholecleaning
Effectofrheologyonbaritesag
Concludingremarks

Drilling Operation & Drilling Fluid

Adrillingfluid(mud)isafluidcontainingoneormoreofthefollowing,
suchthattheobjectivesofthewellorsectiontobedrilledareachieved:
Mud
Aqueousphase(water,brine)
Nonaqueousphase(mineraloil,synthetic,diesel)
Solids(barite,clay,carbonate)
Gas(air,nitrogen)
Drillstring
Mud +
Cuttings

Mudcake
Shale
Oil
Sandstone

Cuttings

Loss

Drill
Bit
Shale

Functions of Drilling Fluids

DrillingfluidsMUSTbeabletoprovidethefollowingfunctions:

Cooling&lubrication
Cuttingssuspension&removal(holecleaning)
Weightmaterial(barite)suspension
Balanceformationpressure
Typical OBM Formulation
Product
Kg/m3
Maintainwellborestability
Baseoil
478
Minimisedamagetoformation
13
Transmithydraulicenergytotools&bit Invertemulsifier
Wettingagent
13
Controlcorrosion
Lime
22
Allowformationevaluation
Rheologyadditive
10 40
Facilitatecementing&completion
Fluidlosscontroladditive
8.5
Brine
190
Minimiseimpactonenvironment
Barite

870

Drilling Mud Classification

Drilling fluids

Oil-based fluids
(mineral, synthetic, diesel)

All-oil fluids

Invert emulsions

Water-based fluids

Polymer Fluids

Clay (gel) fluids

Dispersed
Inhibitive

Non-dispersed

Non-damaging

Some Measured Mud Properties

Drillingfluidsarecomplexmultiphase,multicomponentsystems
whosepropertiesundergocontinuouschangeduringthedrilling
operation
Changeiscausedbyliquidlosttoformation,additionofdrillcuttings,
chemicalreactions,andtemperatureandpressurevariations
Tomaintaintheirabilitytoperform,theirpropertiesmustbe
monitoredthroughoutthedrillingoperationsothatcorrectiveactions
canbetaken.
Thepropertiesroutinelymeasuredare:
Rheology
Fluidloss
Oil/waterratioandemulsionstabilityforOBM
pH(WBM)
Density lb/gal(ppg)ors.g.
Highgravity&lowgravitysolidscontents(HGS/LGS)
Saltcontent usuallyaschlorides(WBM&OBM)
Inhibitorconcentrations K+,PHPA,glycoletc(WBM)

Rheology & Its Impact on Drilling Operation

Pressuredrop
Holecleaning(duringflow)
Cuttingssuspension(duringtrips)
Weightmaterialsuspension(baritesag)
Holestability
Stuckpipe
Swab&surgepressures
Signaltransmission(logging&measurementwhile
drilling,welltesting)
Wastemanagement

Rheology Additives for Drilling Fluids

ClaybasedWBM
Bentonite(platey)
MMO/MMH
Occasionallysepioliteorattapulgite(fibres)
PolymerbasedWBM
Xanthangum
Celluloses
Occasionallyguargum,welangumorpolyacrylamide
Invertemulsionfluids
Organophilicclay
Syntheticpolymers
Aqueousemulsion

Clay-Viscosified Water-Based Fluids

Bentoniteclay:negativesurfacechargeandpositiveedge
chargeofplateletsproduceshighlyshearthinninghouse
ofcardsstructure.

Mixedmetaloxide(MMO)hasanelectrondeficientlattice
and,whenaddedtowater,theparticlesbondtothecation
exchangesitesonbentonite,formingastrongcomplex,
whichinturnstructuresthefluidandprovidesgelsand
shearthinningbehaviour.

Polymer-Viscosified Water-Based Muds

Inconventionalpolymer
muds,highMWpolymers
inaqueoussolution
generaterheologycapable
ofsuspendingdispersed
solids.

Inanovelhightemperature
polymermud,mediumMW
polymersadsorbon
dispersedsolidsand
interactwithdissolved
polymerstoproducehighly
shearthinningrheology.

Organoclay in Oil-Based Muds

Organoclaysarehydrophobicallymodifiedclayssuchas
bentonite,hectorite,etc.
R

H
O

Na+

R ClN+

O H

H O

Na+
Na+
Na+
O

N
N

O
H

Courtesy Elementis Specialties

Inaninvertemulsionfluid,hydrogenbondingbetween
watermoleculesandOH groupsoforganoclayproducesa
weaknetworktoenhancerheologyinOBM.
H
O

O
H

N
N

O
O
H

N
O

O
H

O
H

Courtesy Elementis Specialties

Rheology Models Used for Drilling Fluids

Bingham

YP

&
Power Law

(& )

= k & n

= K& n
&

Yield-Power Law

(& )
Y
Y

= YP + PV &

= YP + PV &

= y + k & n
1/ 2 = k0 + k1 &1/ 2

(HerschelBulkley)
(Casson)

&

12

Rheology Measurement in Drilling Fluids

Rigsitemeasurements
MarshFunnel
Funnelviscosity(seconds/quart)

Fanntypeviscometer
Fixedrotationalspeeds
Shearraterange5.11 1022s1
UsedtoderiveBinghammodelparameters

Marsh Funnel

YieldPoint(YP)
Highshearrate(HSR)viscosity,PlasticViscosity(PV)

Somemeasureofthixotropy(10sec&10mingelstrength)

Lowshearviscometer
Laboratorymeasurements
Controlledrateand/orstressrheometersforindepthstudy
andcharacterisationoffluids
13

Rheology Measurement in Drilling Fluids: Fann-35

Viscometer
Concentriccylinder(Couette)
Outercylinderrotates(rotororsleeve)
Innercylindermeasurestorque(bob)

R1

Torsion spring or wire

(shear stress )

B1

Dial reading
Bob
Rotor (shear rate

& )
R1 = 1.8415 cm
B1 = 1.7245 cm
L = 3.800 cm

Measurement of Rheology: Fann 35

Foracurvilinearshearfield,theshearrateatinnercylinderis
givenby:

& =

2 R1
2
2
R1 B1
2

& = 1.703 N

R1

B1

Shearstressisgivenbythedeflection() ofthetorsion
springwhichmeasurestorque:
= 5.11 dyne/cm2 = 0.511 Pa
= lb f / 100 ft 2

Oilfield Definitions for Rheology: Fann 35

ForaBinghamfluid
PV = 600 300

( = YP + PV .& )

PV

YP

cP

YP = 2 300 600 = 300 PV lb f / 100 ft 2 y

0

100

200

300

600

rpm

LSRrheologyisanimportantpropertyof
drillingfluids itaffectsthesolidsbearing
capacityofthefluids
TheBinghammodeloverestimatesLSR
rheology(inFann35terms 10s1)
AmorerealisticYPcanbedefinedby
usingthe6&3rpmreadings(theLSYP):

YP

LSYP
0

100

200

300

600

rpm

LSYP = 2 3 6

Comparison of Rheology Models

5.5
Bingham

4.5

Casson
Herschel-Bulkley

Deviation (Pa)

3.5

2.5

1.5

0.5

-0.5

-1.5

-2.5
0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

Shear rate (s-1)

Deviation=Model Measurement

Normalized Yield Points (y / YP )

(M. Zamora, et al., AADE-03-NTCE-35)
1.0
Synthetic-Based Muds

0.8

Based on > 11,000 oilfield

mud samples

Oil-Based Muds

Ty / YP

Water-Based Muds

0.6

0.4

0.2

0.0
8

10

12
14
Mud Weight (lb/gal)

16

18

Fann-35 Measurements Error Analysis

Errorsgenerallyattributedtomeasurementsofshear
stress
1/ 2

1
5
= 1.9 10 +
Relativeerrorofmeasurements:

4 2

Areadingof2maybeinerror
by 25%

Minimumerroris 0.5%

120
Relative Error (%)

AFannreadingof5maybe
inerrorby 10%

100
80
60
40
20
0
0

10

20

30

40

Dial Reading

Lowreadingsandwallsliparemajorsourcesoferrorin
Fannmeasurements

Wall Slip
100

But,avelocitydifferencecanoccurthrough
wallslip,causedby:
Depletionofsolidparticlesinthelayernear
thewall(oil,waterfilm),etc

Alignmentofpolymermoleculesnearthe
wall

Shear Stress / Pa

Fluidadjacenttoasolidsurfacenormally
moveswithvelocityofthatsurface

10

Slipgiveserratictorquereadingsthrough
stickslip,andlowstress
Somedrillingfluidsarepronetowallslip
duringrheologicalmeasurements e.g.
bentonitemuds,highviscositypills,etc

Smooth C&B
Rough C&B
Vane
1
0.001

0.01

0.1

10

100

1000

Shear Rate 1/s

Whereslipispresent,measurementswith
differentgeometrieswillproducedifferent
flowcurves
Torectify:
Useroughened,groovedorcrosshatched
metalsurfaces

Alternatively,usethevanerheometer

10

Shear Rate
Drillingfluidsexperienceawide
rangeofshearrates:
1. O 103 s1 indrillpipe

2. O 105 s1 throughbitnozzles

WherelowHSRviscosityisneeded
Drillstring
toreducefrictionalpressure
Wherehighshearthinningis
neededtogivehighimpact
velocity

Mud

HighLSRviscosityandgood
shearthinningneededforhole
cleaningandsolidssupport

Mudcake

Shale

3. O 102 s1 inannulus

Mud Pit

3
Oil
Sandstone
Drill Bit

4. Lowinmudtank
5. ~0inholewhenflow
interrupted

Shale

Rheology Control in Drilling Fluids

Allpropertiesinfluencedbymudtypeandcondition
Plasticviscosityinfluencedbysolidscontent
Yieldpointinfluencedbychemicalenvironment

InOBM,therearecontributionstorheologyfrom:
Rheologyadditives(organoclays,polymericviscosifiers)affectPV
andYP

Dispersedsolids(weightmaterial,drillcuttings)affectPV
EmulsifiedbrinephaseaffectsPV

Inaddition
TreatmentofbrinephaseinOBMcanincreasedropletrigidityand
modifyitssurfacechemistry,leadingtoenhancementofLSR
rheology
Useofsurfacetreated,microfineweightmaterialcanimpartsteric
stabilisationtosuspension,thusreducingdependenceonLSR
rheologyforsolidssuspensionandsagmitigation.

11

Brine Phase Treatment in OBM

Brineviscosifierscanimprove
LSRrheology
Theycanshowsynergistic
effectwithsomeoilphase
viscosifiers

ImprovedLSRrheology
reducessettlingofweight
material

Treated Micro-Fine Barite vs. API Barite

Comparisonofparticle
sizedistributions
Treatedmicrofinebarite
createslowerrheology
thanconventionalOBM
ofsamemudweight
Stericstabilisation
improvesresistanceto
settling

TMF

Comparison of rheology profiles at 82C

and 5000 psi for 1.32-SG fluids

12

Effect of Temperature on Rheology

Drillingfluidsareexposedtoawiderangeof
temperatures

Comparison of YP of conventional
and flat-rheology SBM as measured
during field application.

Indeepwaterdrillingtemperaturescanrange
from~4Catseabedtowellabove100C
downhole.

16

Thisplacesmajordemandsonfluidrheology:

MaintainlowHSRviscosityatlow
temperaturesinordertoreducepumping
pressures

14
Yield Point (Pa)

ProvideadequateLSRrheologyathigh

12

Conventional
SBM
Flat-Rheology
SBM

10

temperaturestosuspendsolidsandreduce
baritesagdownhole.

6
10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Temperature (C)

Atoughchallengetomeetforconventionalfluids
Onesolutionisasyntheticbasedinvertemulsionfluid,which

useshighperformancepolymericadditives,asmallamountoforganoclays,and
emulsifiers

generatesatemperaturestablerheologyovertherangefrequentlyencounteredin
deepwaterdrilling(4120C).

HTHP Rheology
Temp
C
49
77
93
116
135
149
177
191

TheHTHPrheologyof
drillingfluidsisimportant
fortheirperformance
downhole
Hightemperaturegelling
canoccurasaresultof
breakdownofadditives
interactionofproducts
HTHPrheologyis
characterisedinFann70
or75viscometerswhich
allowmeasurementsatup
to250Cand1360bar.

Press
bar
0
483
552
690
828
1034
1103
1172

YP
10
1
1
7
18
15
25
26

Gel
10 min
4
3
3
4
9
7
20
24

30

25

YP, Gel (lb/100 ft2)

20
YP

15

10-min Gel

10

0
0

50

100

150

200

250

Temperature (C)

13

Thixotropy in Drilling Fluids

Insomedrillingfluidsystems,clayparticleswithsurface
charge,orcrosslinkablepolymericmaterials,formagel
thathelpssupporttheweightmaterialanddrillcuttings.
Athighershearratesthenetworkbreaksdownandthe
fluidflowswithlowviscosity.
Thisthixotropiccharacteristicisanoptimaltypeof
rheologyforconventionaldrillingfluids
Providedthatthetimescalesforbuildupandbreakdownof
structurearesmall

Thixotropy in Drilling Fluids

Shearratestep
changetestsand
hysteresisloopsfor
abentoniteWBM

d (t )
= a[1 (t )] b (t ) &
1424
3 123
dt
build -up
breakdown

(t ) = (t ) y + [ + c (t )]& m

14

Hole Cleaning
Removingcuttingsfromthewellboreduringdrillingisan
essentialfunctionofthedrillingfluid
Holecleaningisdifficultin
long,inclined,tangent
sectionsduepossible
accumulationofcuttings
bedsonthelowsideofthe
hole
Possibleconsequencesofpoorholecleaning
reducedrateofpenetration
hightorque
stuckpipe
lostcirculation
difficultiesrunningandcementingcasing

Factors Affecting Hole Cleaning

Mud: flow rate

rheology
density

Cuttings: size
density
shape
stickiness

Hole: ROP
size
quality

Drillpipe: diameter
eccentricity

15

Role of Rheology in Hole Cleaning

Totransporttheparticle
outoftheinclinedsection
beforeitsettlesoutwe
musthave:

TS >> TT ,

Ts; time to settle out

TT; time to transport

D
L
>>
Vs
VT

or

Vs canbeestimatedfrom
Stokes settlingvelocity:

g d
V =
18

VT

L
2

For:

VT =1m/s
D=20cm
=1200kg/m3

Giving:

>>

VS

L d g
D V 18

L= 1000m
d=1mm
g=10m/s2

>> 3.3 Pa s (3300 cP)

What Shear Rate?

FornonNewtonianfluids,viscosityisafunctionofshear
rate
Effectiveshearexperiencedbytheparticleisnetofthose
duetotranslationalandgravitationalflows,but,the
dominantcomponentisduetoflow

4V
& = T
w

VT
Vs

(w iswidthofannulus)

ForVT = 1m/s&w =5cm,shearrateis; & = 80 s

Fluidwith3.3Pasviscosityat80s1

300

hasashearstressof264Pa,
equivalenttoaFannvalueof550
lb/100ft2
Anunrealisticallyhighvaluefor

250

Shear stress (Pa)

-1

(47rpmonFann35)

Rheology required to
prevent settling

200

150

100

Typical drilling fluid rheology

drillingfluids
50

Thus,rheologyalonecannotbe
utilisedtopreventparticlesettling
duringflow

0
0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

Shear rate (s-1)

16

Can Rheology Prevent Settling in Stationary Fluid?

Topreventsettlingwhenflowisinterrupted,the
gravitationalforcemustbebalancedbyviscousforces:
2

d
4 d
y 4 = g
2

3 2

Forthe1mmparticlewith =1200kg/m3:
y = 2

Pa

Thisistrue yieldstress.
BasedonZamora,etal.sanalysis,therequiredYPwouldbe
4 10Pa.Thisgivesarealisticrangeof8 20lb/100ft2 forYP.

Mud Flow Regime Options

Turbulent

Mostefficientforholecleaning

Preventsformationofcuttingsbedsanddisturbs/resuspendsanycuttingsbeds
whichdoform

Canerodeweakformations

Pumpcapacitymaybelimitingfactor

Giveslargepressuredrops(canusedragreducers)

Laminar
Carriescuttingseffectivelybutdoesnoteasilyresuspendcuttingsbeds
Cuttingsbedstransportedbyslidingandsaltation
Holecleaningcanbeaugmentedbylowviscositypillsanddrillpiperotation
Plug

Fluidsinplugflowgivegoodholecleaningin
largeholesatlowpumprates

ExamplesareMMO/MMHandpolymermuds
withhigh(>2ppb)concentrationsofXanthan
gum

Laminar flow

Plug flow

FluidshavelowPV,highYPandhigh,flatgels

17

Barite Sag
Sagisthesettlingofweightmaterialundergravitational
forces,leadingtodensitysegregationofthedrillingmud
Sagcanoccur
withanysolidweightmaterial;Barite,haematite,calcium
carbonate,saltcrystals
inbothOBMandWBM,butisseenmoreofteninOBM
overawidedensityrange(1.4 2.4s.g.)
throughDynamic and/orStatic settling

Canresultinvariationsupto0.5s.g.
Isobservedincirculatingfluidafterastaticperiod

Barite Sag
Sagismoreproblematicindeviated
wellboreswhere:
gravityinducedsettlingformsdensity

Depleted
fluid

Suspension
Zone

gradientorbaritebedonlowsideofhole

baritebedscanslidedownthelowsideof
thehole(dependsonholeangleand
strengthofbed),furtherincreasingthe
densitycontrastinthehole,aprocess
knownastheBoycottEffect

Barite bed
Slump

Problemscausedbysag
Poorcontrolofbottomhole
pressure

inhomogeneousmudweight
fluctuationsintheequivalent
circulatingdensity
inducedfractures(lost
circulationproblems)
possibleinfluxofformation
fluids(wellcontrolproblems)

wellboreinstability

Problemswhiletripping&
runningcasing

Stuckpipe&loggingtools
Poorcementplacement

18

Techniques to Study and Measure Sag

Jefferson(1991),Zamora&
Jefferson(1994)
methodbasedonFann
3.5

viscometer(VST)

static/dynamic&upto85C
Saasenetal(1995)
variableinclinationcoaxialcell

2.35

innerreciprocator
static&dynamicsag

Zamora&Bell(2004) modified
VSTwithsagshoe
Measuresdynamicsag

Effect of Rheology Additives on OBM Viscosity Tehrani,

et al. (2004)
100000
10000

Viscosity (Pa.s)

1000
100
10
1
0.1
0.01
0.00001

0.0001

0.001

0.01

0.1

10

100

1000

Shear rate (s-1)

Measurementsat50C
SolidlinesrepresentpolymericOBMviscosifiers
Markersrepresentorganoclayviscosifiers

19

Effect of Rheology Additives on OBM Rheology

Measurementsat50C

Shear stress (Pa)

1E+2

1E+1

OB2

OB2:hydrophobicallymodified
bentonite

OA2
P5/2
1E+0

1E-1
1E-5

1E-4

1E-3

1E-2

1E-1

1E+0

1E+1

1E+2

OA2:hydrophobicallymodified
attapulgite
P5/2:diblockstyrene
ethylene/propylenecopolymer

1E+3

Shear rate (s-1)

1.0E+03

Measurementsat50C
G', G'' (Pa)

1.0E+02

OB14:hydrophobicallymodified
bentonite

G' (OB14)
G'' (OB14)

1.0E+01

G' (P5/1)
G'' (P5/1)

1.0E+00

P5/1:linearstyrene
ethylene/propylenecopolymer

1.0E-01
1.0E-02

1.0E-01

1.0E+00

1.0E+01

Frequency (Hz)

Effect of LSR Viscosity on Dynamic Sag

Densiy change VST1 (lb/gal)

DynamicsagmeasuredbyVST+
sagshoe methodat50C
2

Viscosityat102 s1 and50C
Clayandpolymericadditives

0
0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Viscosity (mPa.s)

G measuredat1Hzand 20C

Density change (lb/gal)

7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
0

20

40

60

80

100

120

G' (pa)

20

Effect of tan on Dynamic Sag

Density change (lb/gal)

12tan =G/G

tan =G/G

10

tan at1Hz(0.1strain)and
8
20C

tan at1Hzand20C

6
4
2
0

tan (-)

(G2 + G2 )1/ 2
V =
2 f
Complexviscosityat5Hzand
20C

Density change (lb/gal)

14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
0

V* (pa)

Conclusions
Drillingfluidsarecomplex,multicomponentsuspensionsand
emulsionsdesignedtoperformavarietyoffunctionsduringthe
drillingoperation.
Thecontinuouslychangingenvironmenttowhichthefluidsare
exposedmeansthattheirpropertiesmustbemonitoredandcontrolled
throughoutthedrillingoperation.
Rheologyisakeyparameterthataffectsmanyfunctionsofdrilling
fluids,e.g. frictionpressure,holecleaning,baritesag,etc
LowHSRviscosityfavoursthehydraulicsofthedrillingoperation,
whilesagpreventionandholecleaningbenefitfromhighLSR
rheology.
Thus,theoptimumconventional fluidisonewhichhasthixotropic
characteristicswithshortstructurebreakdown/builduptimescales.
Novel fluidsarenowavailablewhichusestericstabilisationtoreduce
dependenceonLSRrheologyforsagpreventionandholecleaning.

21