Equivalent Circulating Density (ECD)

• How dose ECD work against the

Driller?
Two bad effect of high ECD are:
• Lost circulation.
• Differential sticking.
This particularly true in 8.5” or smaller hole sizes
when working with heavy muds.
 • HYDRAULICS & RHEOLOGY

E C D (cont.)
• How can ECD be controlled below
formation breakdown density?

The ECD can be lowered by:

• Lowering solids and yield point.
• Reducing annular velocity.
• Lowering the mud weight.
• A combination of the above.
 • HYDRAULICS & RHEOLOGY

E C D (cont.)
• What are the operational steps to utilise the
ECD effect?
• Calc. the ECD at normal circulating rate.
• Run a bit that will stay on bottom 80 hours or
more.
• Reduce MWT on first attempt by the amount of
the ECD. This will also reduce yield because of
dilution
• When picking up to make a conn.leave pump
running so that the ECD offset the negative
surge.
 • HYDRAULICS & RHEOLOGY

E C D (cont.)
• Before pulling out, weight mud up to required
weight with trip margin.
• Watch and monitor closely.
 • HYDRAULICS & RHEOLOGY

E C D (cont.)
• How is the ECD calculated?
1) For high weight and high vis.
muds(MWT over 13ppg and YP higher
than 10).
ECD = MW+0.1/D(YP+PV x V)
300 x D
2) For moderate weight muds.
ECD = MW+0.1 x YP
D
Where: Mwppg Vft/min Dhd-dpd
 • HYDRAULICS & RHEOLOGY

Surge and Swab Pressures

• Surge and Swab pressures are
directly proportional to the pipe
velocity, MW and Vis. and revesely
proportional with the hole diameter.
• Surge and Swab are calculated with
reference to two points of interest :
Casing Shoe
Bottom of the hole
 • HYDRAULICS & RHEOLOGY

Surge and Swab

Pressures(cont.)
• Effect of trip speed on SWAB pressure
Avg speed MW Eq.MW@Bottom
per stand ppg Due to
swabbing
100 sec’s 14.0 13.6
80 sec’s 13.5
60 sec’s 13.4
40 sec’s 13.0
8 ½”Hole, 5”dpx9250’, 6 ½”dcx750’, PV/YP 25/15
 • HYDRAULICS & RHEOLOGY
Surge and Swab Pressures(cont.)
• Surge and swab pressure are produced by the piston-like movement of drill pipe in and
out of the hole. Surges and swabs are the result of tripping,reaming,connections and
breaking circulation.

• These movements effect a viscous drag and produce a fluid velocity similar to annular
velocity. Consequently, a velocity and annular pressure loss can be calculated for each
annular section. These are then totaled slow to equal the surge or swab pressure.

• Since surges may cause formation fracture(and lost circulation) and swabs may initiate
a kick, control of these pressures increases and decreases is important. Control is
achieved by unning drill pipe at relatively slow rates and / or altering the mud
properties

• .
75% or higher of all blowouts are trip related, Swab is one of the guilts