Drilling Fluids Laboratory

Module Title Drilling Fluids Laboratory

Level 4
Reference No. EAX_4_276/PTRL01I05
(showing level)
Credit Value 10 credit points

Student Study Hours Contact hours: 4lectures + 24 Lab.

Student managed learning hours: 100
Pre-requisite learning -
Co-requisites -
Excluded combinations -
Module co-ordinator Dr. Taher Elfkharany
(Name + Email) Taher.Elfkharany@bue.edu.eg
Faculty/Department Engineering/PEGT
Short Description This module is concerned with drilling fluids, water-based mud,
oil-based mud, emulsions, fluid properties, fluid

Aims The aim of this module is to provide the student with the basic
knowledge and understanding of the various functions and compositions
of the drilling, completion, and work-over fluids and how to perform
laboratory work to measure and determine their rheological properties to
meet specific practical purposes within the environmental compliance
constraints.
Learning Outcomes Knowledge and Understanding:
On completion of this module students should be able to demonstrate
knowledge and understanding of:
1. The importance of drilling fluids in the drilling process;
2. The characteristic properties of various types of drilling
fluids based on their physical, chemical and rheological properties;
Intellectual Skills:
On completion of this module students should be able to/demonstrate
ability in:
3. Describe and differentiate between the various types of
drilling, completion and work over fluids;
4. Select suitable mud additives
Practical Skills:
On completion of this module students should be able to/demonstrate
ability in:
5. Analyze the impact of specific types of fluids on well
control, stability, productivity and environmental compliance;
6. Choose appropriate drilling fluids for individual situations
based on tests to evaluate fluid specifications;
Transferable Skills:
On completion of this module students should be able to/demonstrate
ability in:
7. Solve and report on practical problems.
8. understand calculations/applications of drilling muds
Employability To prepare student to get job and be professional graduate in future, the
development of one or more of top engineering skills, namely problem
solving, communication, management and environment and economics,
is addressed in this module. Personal development planning is also one

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 of our focuses in this module

Teaching and learning 1. 4, 1h lectures. This method informs learning outcomes 1, 2, 3

pattern 2. 12, 2h lab. This method informs learning outcomes 4, 5, 6, 7,
8.
Indicative content
Contents
 introductions to drilling fluids, function, general nature and
composition and circulating
system;
 different types of drilling;
 well completion, work-over fluids, and drilling mud additives;
 drilling hazards and their remedies;
 pneumatic (air drilling, natural gas, and aerated mud used as
drilling fluids;
 calculation of air and horsepower requirements;
 hole stability;
 the hydrostatic heads of liquids, the hydrostatic heads of mud
and cement slurries;
 total overburden pressure, formation pressures;
 hole problems related to drilling fluid Pressure relations in
bore holes;
 mud selection for well control, stability and environmental
compliance and mud impurities;
 measurement, analysis and data interpretation (qualitative and
quantitative) of physical, chemical rheological properties of
drilling fluids(e.g. density, viscosity, filtration, lubrication and
electrochemical properties);
 Experiments on the use of additives to increase and
decrease mud weight,
 Experiments on the use of chemicals to control mud filtrate
volume and mud cake thickness;
 mud calculations.

Assessment  Course Work: A portfolio of laboratory reports

Elements & weightings
assesses learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. 100%
 Each student must achieve at least 40% of the total
module mark to pass this module.

Indicative Sources  H. Rabia, "Oilwell Drilling Engineering: Principles and

(Reading lists) Practice", Graham and Trotman, ISBN: 978- 0860107149
(1985)
 Michael J. Economides, Larry T. Watters and Shari Dunn-
Norman , "Petroleum Well Construction", Wiley, ISBN:
978-0-471-96938-9 (1998)
 NL Baroid/NL Industries, Inc., "Manual of Drilling Fluids
Technology; Fundamental Characteristics of Drilling Fluids",
NL Baroid/NL Industries, Inc., (1979)
 API bulletin 13d, "Bulletin on the Rheology of Oil Well
Drilling Fluids", API production department, (1980)
 Carl Gatlin, "Petroleum Engineering: Drilling & Well
Completion", Prentice-Hall , ISBN: 0136621554 (1960)

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