7&8 - Drilling Fluid (Introduction and Rheology) - 2017

Drilling Fluid (Introduction and Rheology)
Dr Masood Mostofi
Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of Technology

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Copyright Regulation 1969
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Do not remove this notice
Introduction to Drilling Fluid

2
Lecture Note

3
Role of Drilling Fluid
Injecting the
Role of Drilling Fluid: fluid inside
the drill
• Carrying the cuttings to the surface string
(fluid velocity and viscosity).
• Primary well control condition (mud
weight).
W
Drilling fluid
coming out of
nozzles

4
Role of Drilling Fluid:
• Wellbore stability:
• Chemical Stability
• Shale formation
• Salt formations https://agushoe.wordpress.com
• Breakout or wellbore
collapse
• Fluid loss and
hydraulic fractures

5
Filtration vs A bentonite mud cake
Role of Drilling Fluid: fluid loss
• Fluid loss and filtration control by
forming a mud cake around the wellbore
(thin with low permeability leading to a
minimum fluid loss). Water,

polymer and
• Lubricating drill bit and drill string lubricants
• Solid control capability – for SRU (Solid
removal unit) to separate the cuttings
from the drilling fluid (solid content test)

6
• Supporting part of the weight of the drill 1

65.5
string by the buoyancy force
• Providing the hydraulic horse power to
bit eroding soft and loose formations
http://www.drillingcontractor.org/

7
• Providing hydraulic horse
power for downhole motors to

http://www.upsideenergy.com/
rotate the drill string
• Transmitting downhole
measurement data to the
surface using pulsing system

http://www.bakerhughes.com/

8
Overbalance Drilling
Connectivity resistance
(permeability, mud cake,
cement,…)
pore fluid drilling fluid

pressure, P1 pressure, P2
?
Valve: impermeable, permeable, mud cake
Mud
Link to filter press experiment for drilling fluid cake
Hydrostatic pressure of drilling fluid (psi) Total vertical depth (ft)
0.052
Pore and Fracture Pressure
Mud density (ppg) 9
Overbalance Drilling: Density of Drilling Fluid
Assuming permeable rock:
 Kick and under balanced drilling
 Overbalanced drilling
Mud
50 to 300 psi cake
Differential pressure =
0.052
Pore and Fracture Pressure
10
Different types of drilling fluids
Water Based
Drilling Fluid
Drilling Fluid Oil in water
Oil Based emulsion
Drilling Fluid Water in oil
Synthetic emulsion
Drilling Fluid
Gas
Aerated Drilling
Mist
Fluid
Foam

11
Water Based Mud
Weighting agents, e.g. barite
Inert
solids
Bentonite
and Reactive
attapulgite solids
clay Chemical
additives
Soda Ash,
Caustic
Soda,
thinners,
thickeners

12
Oil Based Mud Oil in water
emulsion
Water in oil
emulsion
• Crude or diesel oil exists in the

drilling fluid
• Depending on the concentration of
the oil phase it can be oil in water or
water in oil (invert) emulsions.
• Application for:
http://nsb.wikidot.com/
• Formations sensitive to
formation damage.
• High drag condition, e.g.
directional drilling.
• Troublesome formations: salt
formations and shales. http://www.fws.gov/

13
Synthetic Mud
• Has become more popular than oil
based muds.
• Less environmental impact.
• More stable rheology with respect to
temperature.
• They are the products of processing of
the crude oil.

Source : http://www.egyptoil-gas.com/
The new SBM has a
temperature flat rheology;
yield point does not change
with temperature
14
Synthetic or Oil Based Mud?
Base Oil Process Europe (2000) Canada (2002) US (2001) Australia (1999) OGP (2003)
Refinery extractio
Diesel Oil Based Oil Based Oil Based Oil Based Oil Based
n
Mineral oils/ Refinery extractio
Oil Based Oil Based Oil Based Oil Based Oil Based
paraffins n
Refinery extractio
Mineral oils/ Enhanced Minera Enhanced Minera Enhanced Minera
n and severe hyd Synthetic Based NA
paraffins l Oil Base l Oil Base l Oil Base
rotreatment
Fischer - Tropsch
Synthesised
or LAO hydroform Synthetic Based Synthetic Based Synthetic Based NA Synthetic Based
paraffins
ylation
Linear alpha Ethylene oligome

Synthetic Based Synthetic Based Synthetic Based Synthetic Based Synthetic Based
olefins risation
LAO isomerisatio
Internal olefins Synthetic Based Synthetic Based Synthetic Based Synthetic Based Synthetic Based
n
Condensation of f
Esters atty acids and alc Synthetic Based Synthetic Based Synthetic Based Synthetic Based Synthetic Based
ohol
Comparing the density of oil base, water base and

Source: http://www.shell.com/
SBM muds.
15
Water Based Mud Tests
• Density measurement
• Rheology measurement:
• Rotary vgmeter
• Marsh funnel
• Fluid loss
• Solid Content
• Sand Content
• Chemical Analysis of drilling fluid

16
Water Based Mud Tests: Density
Measurement
• Density is measured using a mud
balance.
• Perhaps the most critical property of the
drilling fluid.
• Fluid will be placed in the cup and
adjust the rider until mud balance is
level.
http://petroleumsupport.com/
• The lid should be clean and dry.

17
Water Based Mud Tests: Marsh Funnel
Viscosity
• Measuring rheology using flow through
a constriction.
• Fill the funnel with the drilling fluid until it
reaches the screen at the top.
• Measure the time until the cup is filled
until the line in the cup.
• The line is 946 cc and 1 lit for US

system.

18
Calibration
• Marsh funnel viscosity for water is 26
seconds for mark line of 946 cc and 28
seconds for mark line of 1 lit.
• Density of water is 1 g/cc.
• Vgmeters are tested based on the
rheology of known Newtonian polymer
fluids. (temperature is important)


19
Personal on Rig: Mud Engineer
https://youtu.be/ZnWmj_qILek

20
Personal on Rig: Mud Engineer
https://www.youtube.com/w
atch?v=2BBMP6n3-BQ
21
Socrative In-class Quiz
Drilling Eng – Drilling Fluid (Intro and Rheology)-P1

22
Rheology: Background
• Definition of fluid:
Fluid is a substance that can deform continuously when is

exposed to a shear rate of any given value.
F
v
No slip condition:
Velocity at the boundary of
plat/liquid is equal to plat velocity
https://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=cUTkqZei
Mow

23
F
v
y The relationship between the
force and velocity is controlled
by the fluid.
Newtonian law of viscosity

24
F
v
y
Newtonian Fluid:
A fluid following Newtonian fluid

law and also has a constant
viscosity.

25
Rheology: Newtonian Fluids
F
v
y
Shear Stress (
Shear rate ( )

26
Rheology: Non-Newtonian Fluids
F
v
y
Shear thinning fluid
Shear Stress (
Shear
thickening fluid
Newtonian Fluid
Shear rate ( )
Variation of apparent viscosity with shear rate?
Why drilling fluid should have viscosity?

What viscosity is good?

27
Rheology: Non-Newtonian Fluids
F
v
y
Shear thinning fluid
Shear Stress (
Shear
thickening fluid
Newtonian Fluid
Shear rate ( )
Shear thinning or pseudo-plastic behaviour:
Apparent Viscosity decreases with shear rate.
Shear thickening or Dilatant behaviour:
Apparent Viscosity increases with shear rate.

28
Non-Newtonian Fluids: Time dependency
F
v • Thixotropic fluid exhibit a higher rheology
y
than stabilised one when the shear rate is
decreased.
• Rheopectic fluid is opposite to thixotropic
fluids.
Thixotropic behaviour Rheopectic behaviour

29
10.0
Shear Stress (lb/100ft2) 9.0
8.0
7.0
6.0
5.0
4.0
3.0
2.0
Workshop Question
1.0
0.0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
Shear Rate (1/s)
Loop Experiment on 2ppb XCD polymer solution – Measured by Haake

30
• Drilling fluids are
thixotropic fluids.
• Thixotropic behaviour
helps in keeping the
cuttings suspended during

W
making connection.
• Too much thixotropic behaviour should be avoided as would
cause formation fracturing.

31
Non-Newtonian Fluids:
F
v
y
70
60
Shear Stress (lb/100ft2)

50
Non-Newtonian Fluid 40
30
20
10
0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
Shear rate (1/s)

32
Non-Newtonian Fluids: Bingham Model
F
v
y Yield point Plastic viscosity
70
Bingham model:
60

50
40 Apparent
viscosity ( or )
30
20
10
0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
Shear rate (1/s)

33
Non-Newtonian Fluids: Power Law Model
F
v
y Consistency index
Power index
70
Power Law model:
60

50
40
30
20
10
0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
Shear rate (1/s)

34
Non-Newtonian Fluids: Herschel Bulkley (HB)
model F
v Consistency
Yield point index
y
Power index
70
HB model:
60

50
40
30
20
10
0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
Shear rate (1/s)

35
Rheology Measurement: Rotary Vgmeter
• Fluid is poured in the cup
placed under the vgmeter
• It is raised so that fluid is
properly placed between
bob and rotor.
• The other sleeve (rotor)
rotates while the
deflection on bob is
measured precisely. http://www.knowenergysolutions.com/
Vgmeter: viscosity and gel strength meter!

36
Bingham fluids:
needs two measurements
for N1=300rpm and N2=600rpm …

37
Bingham fluids:
needs two measurements
for N1=300rpm and N2=600rpm …

38
Gel Strength: Gel strength
• Gel strength is to characterise the thixotropic
behaviour of the drilling fluid.
• Gel is usually time dependent.
• Rheometer at very low speed (3rpm) can
measure the gel strength (lbf/100ft2).
• API standardize measurements at 10 seconds
(initial gel) and 10 minutes (final gel).

39
Rheology Measurement: Bob Dimensions
• Different dimensions of
Bob for different range and
resolution of rheology.
Rotor
Bob
Drilling
fluid in the
gap

40
• Different dimensions of
Bob for different range and
resolution of rheology.
Rotor
Bob
Drilling
F
fluid in the v
gap y

41
Rotor
Bob
Drilling
F
fluid in the v
gap y

42
Rheology Measurement: Units
Rotor
Bob Dial Reading Shear Stress
Drilling
F
fluid in the v
gap y

43
Rheology Measurement: Units
Rotor
Bob
Drilling
fluid in the
gap
Viscosity function of time and shear rate

44
Lab Activity: Rheology Models
• Conducting the experiment.
rpm dial reading

Rotor 600 106.6
300 90.4
200 71.7
Bob
100 55.4
60 46.3
30 37.1
20 33.3
10 27.8
6 24.6
3 21.5
2 19.9
1 17.1

45
• Obtaining the rheology
1.065
Shear rate Shear Stress
rpm dial reading
(1/s) (lb/100ft2)
Rotor 600 106.6 1020 112.996
300 90.4 510 95.824
200 71.7 340 76.002
Bob
100 55.4 170 58.724
60 46.3 102 49.078
30 37.1 51 39.326
20 33.3 34 35.298
10 27.8 17 29.468
6 24.6 10.2 26.076
3 21.5 5.1 22.79
2 19.9 3.4 21.094
1 17.1 1.7 18.126

1.7023
46
• Plotting the response
120
Rotor
100

Bob 80
60
40
20
0
0 200 400 600 800 1,000 1,200
Shear Rate (1/s)

47
• Characterising the rheology using models
120
Rotor
100

Bob 80
60
Power Law model:
Bingham model:
40
20
0
0 200 400 600 800 1,000 1,200
Shear Rate (1/s)

48
• Evaluating the model prediction with actual

measurement
120
Rotor
100

Bob 80
60
Power Law model:
Bingham model:
Why drilling fluid 40
should have
viscosity? 20
What viscosity is
0
good? 0 200 400 600 800 1,000 1,200
Shear Rate (1/s)

49
Fluid Loss
• Filter press setup to measure the fluid loss of
drilling fluid
• Drilling fluid is placed inside the cell.
• 100 psi pressure is applied at the top of the cell.
• The amount of fluid loss at 7.5 min and 30
min is measured and reported.
• After 30 min, inspecting the mud cake thickness.

50
Fluid Loss: Components
Where mud
cake is
formed
2 to 5
micron API
filter paper

51
Fluid Loss
Fluid Loss
• Spurt loss volume of fluid loss obtained right after

opening the pressure valve.
• Spurt loss due to the time it takes for drilling fluid
to establish a mud cake
52
Fluid Loss
Fluid Loss
No spurt loss
Volume of
fluid loss .
Refer to Applied Drilling
Engineering Page 46
.
53
Filtration Result
Time Filteration
(min) (cc)
0.5 4
1 5
2 7
3 9
4 10.5
5 12
6 12.5
7 13.2
7.5 13.5
8 14
10 15.8
12 17
14 18.5
16 19.6
18 21
20 22
22 23
24 24
26 25
28 26
30 26.8 54
Filtration Result
30
Time (min) Filteration (cc) 25
0.5 4 20
Volume (cc)
1 5
2 7 15
3 9
4 10.5 10
5 12
5
6 12.5
7 13.2 0
7.5 13.5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
8 14 Time (min)
10 15.8 30
12 17
25
y = 4.7903x + 0.5839
14 18.5
16 19.6
20
18 21 Volume (cc)
20 22 15
22 23
24 24 10
26 25
28 26 5
30 26.8
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
SQRT(Time) (min^0.5)

55
Density Calculations
Density of different additives added to the drilling fluid:

56
Density Calculations
Ideal Solution Assumption:
Not applicable for highly soluble material such as salt.

57
Example: Density Calculations
Calculate the density of the bentonite solution with 12 and 15 lb per 1
bbl of water.

58
1 bbl
12 lb of Bentonite
42 12
0. 55
21.7
42 8.341 12
Σ 42.55 362.3
8.51 ppg
42.55
Σ 362.3 lb

59
Example: Density Calculations Journey from g/cc to lb/bbl
g/350 cc density
g/350 cc density 12 8.42
15 8.51 12 8.47
15 8.51 12 8.47
15 8.51 12 8.42
1 bbl 15 8.51 12 8.51
15 8.51 12 8.47
15 8.51 12 8.47
15 8.51 12 8.42
15 8.42 12 8.47
15 lb of Bentonite
Density= 1.015 g/cc!
42 15
0. 69 Resolution is 0.01 g/cc
21.7
Resolution is 0.1 ppg
42 8.341 15
Σ 42.69 365.3
8.55 ppg
42.69
Σ 365.3 lb

60
Calculate the density of a drilling fluid system with 18 lb per bbl of
bentonite, and 25 lb per bbl of barite.
1 bbl
18 lb of Bentonite 25 lb of Barite

61
1 bbl
18 lb of Bentonite 25 lb of Barite
42 18 25
0.83 0.83
21.7 35
42 8.341 18 25
Σ 43.54 393.3
9.03 ppg
43.54
Σ 393.3 lb

62
Density Treatment
• The density adjustment by adding Barium
Sulphate (BaSo4) or Barite (Baryte!).
• Specific gravity of barite is 4.2 and has a density
of 35 ppg (sand and metal specific gravities are
2.5 and 7.8).
• Suspending Barite by adding bentonite with a
minimum gel strength of 3 (Thixotropic
https://en.wikipedia.org
behaviour).

63
Density Treatment Methods
Volume Water
limit? hydration?
Total mixture is constant Water hydration not required.
Total mixture can increase Water hydration added to

sustain rheology

64
Total volume can

increase, no hydration
Total volume is
constant, no hydration
Total volume can

increase, including
hydration
Total volume is
constant, including
hydration

65
Drilling Fluid with New Drilling Fluid

Initial MW with the right MW
Water
Disregarding fluid
Volume balance and mass balance

66
Total volume can increase, no hydration

67
Total volume is constant, no hydration

68
Total volume can increase, including hydration
1 1

69
Total volume is constant, including hydration
1 1
1

70
Example: Density Treatment Methods
There is a 500 bbl of drilling fluid with density of 12 ppg. Due to having a high
pressure zone, it is required to increase the density of the drilling fluid to 14
ppg. Assuming that the Barite requires 3 gal/100 lb of hydration water,
determine the amount of water, barite, disregards volume of drilling fluid and
total volume of 14 ppg drilling fluid.

Total volume can
Methods
Total volume is
Density of Barite: 35 ppg constant, no hydration
Total volume can

Density of water: 8.43 increase, including
hydration
Total volume is
constant, including
hydration

71
Total volume can
Methods
Total volume is
Total volume can

increase, including
hydration
Total volume is
constant, including
hydration
14 12
500 47.62
35 14
42
35 47.62 70,000
1
500 47.62 547.62

72
Total volume can
Methods
Total volume is
Total volume can

increase, including
hydration
Total volume is
constant, including
hydration
14 12
500 43.48
35 12
42
35 43.48 63916
1
500

73
Total volume can
Methods
Total volume is
Total volume can

increase, including
hydration
Total volume is
constant, including
hydration
1 1
14 12
500 66.4
1 8.341 3 35 1 35 3 14
100 100
42
35 66.4 97,608
1
1
3 97,608 69.73bbl
100 42
500 69.7 66.4 636.1
74
Total volume can
Methods
Total volume is
Total volume can

increase, including
hydration
Total volume is
constant, including
hydration
1 1
14 12
500 52.20
1 8.341 3 35 1 35 3 12
100 100
1 1 35 3 52.2 107
100
42
35 52.2 76,730 500
1
1
3
97,608 69.73bbl
100 42 75
70,000
Total volume can 547.62
0
63,916
Total volume is
500
0
Total volume can 97,608

increase, including 636.1
hydration 69.73bbl
Total volume is 76,730

constant, including 69.73bbl
hydration 500

76
Viscosity Treatment and Bentonite
• Bentonite a common additive to provide
viscosity.
• Bentonite is mainly composed of a clay mineral,
sodium montmorillonite.
• Major clay minerals: Kaolinite, Illite, Chlorite and
Montmorillonite.
• Clay minerals are widely spread.
• Shale formations are made of clay minerals.
• Definition of clay based on size (1-4 ).

77
Viscosity Treatment and Bentonite
• Bentonite has a colloid size of
about 2 .
• Bentonite is mainly composed of
sodium montmorillonite.
• Commercial bentonites and
added polymer,
Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC)
or starch.
• Quality of Bentonite

78
Yield of Bentonite
Yield of Bentonite or Clay:

Amount of 15 cp drilling fluid (bbl) that can be made using one
tonne of Bentonite. Viscosity is the apparent viscosity at the rpm of
600.
Plastic viscosity
Apparent viscosity

79
Yield of Bentonite
Mitchel and Miska (2011)

80
Yield of Bentonite
Lab experiment:
12 gr per 350 cc
3.3 % by weight
Mitchel and Miska (2011)
40
35
30
25 .
0.0328 16.4
20
15
10
5
0
CRICOS Provider Code 00301J 0 200 400 600 800 1,000 1,200
Shear rate (1/s) 81
Yield of Bentonite

CRICOS Provider Code 00301J Bourgoyne et al. (1986)
82
Example:
It is required to produce 350 bbl of a water–base drilling fluid with 15 cP and 9.4
ppg using premium clay and barite. Specify the amount of material needed.
Assume a hydration water of 2.4 gal per 100 lb of Barite.

83
Example: From Graph: 8.94 ppg
Initial Bentonite
Water solution
Clay (Bentonite)
Water
Initial Bentonite 9.4 ppg and 15 cp
solution drilling fluid
350

Barite
84
Example:
9.4 ppg and 15 cp drilling fluid
Hydration
Equivalent to water
9.4 ppg and 15 cp
drilling fluid Bentonite
Initial
water Barite
350
Volume balance 350
Mass balance 8.341 21.7 8.341 35 350 9.4
Barite Hydration 35 2.4

100
Chart for Clay yield 8.341 21.7 lb
8.95
gal
85
Example:
Hydration
323.2 water
15.2 Bentonite
5.29 Initial
Barite
6.3 water
350
Total water = 323.2 5.29 328.5
Mass of Bentonite = 15.2 21.7 42 13,851
Mass of Barite = 6.3 35 42 9,261

86
End of Presentations related to
Chapters 7 and 8.

87
References
Bourgoyne, A. T., Millheim, K. K., Chenevert, M. E., & Young, F. (1986). Applied
drilling engineering.
JONASSON, K., & MACK, C. (2009). Web page. Petroleum exploration, production
and development activity in Western Australia in, 12.
Mitchell, R. F., & Miska, S. Z. (2011). Fundamentals of drilling engineering.
Mostofi, M. (2015). Quality Control of Bentonite Samples of Australian Mud

Company. External report submitted to AMC.
Pusch, R., & Ramqvist, G. (2008). Borehole project-Final report of phase 3: Posiva
Oy, Helsinki (Finland).
Rehm, B., & McClendon, R. (1971, January 1). Measurement of Formation Pressure
from Drilling Data. Society of Petroleum Engineers. doi:10.2118/3601-MS


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Drilling Fluid (Introduction and Rheology)

Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of Technology

Copyright Regulation 1969

The material in this communication may be subject to copyright under

Do not remove this notice

Introduction to Drilling Fluid

Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of Technology

(fluid velocity and viscosity).

• Primary well control condition (mud

Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of Technology

• Salt formations https://agushoe.wordpress.com

• Fluid loss and

Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of Technology

• Fluid loss and filtration control by

forming a mud cake around the wellbore

(thin with low permeability leading to a

minimum fluid loss). Water,

• Solid control capability – for SRU (Solid

removal unit) to separate the cuttings

from the drilling fluid (solid content test)

Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of Technology

• Supporting part of the weight of the drill 1

• Providing the hydraulic horse power to

bit eroding soft and loose formations

Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of Technology

• Providing hydraulic horse

power for downhole motors to

rotate the drill string

measurement data to the

surface using pulsing system

Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of Technology

pore fluid drilling fluid

Hydrostatic pressure of drilling fluid (psi) Total vertical depth (ft)

Assuming permeable rock:

 Kick and under balanced drilling

Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of Technology

Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of Technology

• Crude or diesel oil exists in the

Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of Technology

• Has become more popular than oil

• Less environmental impact.

• More stable rheology with respect to

• They are the products of processing of

the crude oil.

Linear alpha Ethylene oligome

Comparing the density of oil base, water base and

• Chemical Analysis of drilling fluid

Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of Technology

• Perhaps the most critical property of the

• Fluid will be placed in the cup and

adjust the rider until mud balance is

• The lid should be clean and dry.

Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of Technology

• Fill the funnel with the drilling fluid until it

reaches the screen at the top.

• Measure the time until the cup is filled

until the line in the cup.

• The line is 946 cc and 1 lit for US

Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of Technology

• Marsh funnel viscosity for water is 26

seconds for mark line of 946 cc and 28

seconds for mark line of 1 lit.

• Density of water is 1 g/cc.