ENGINEERING

CALCULATIONS,

CONVERSIONS

and

CHARTS
16.0 ENGINEERING CALCULATIONS

16.1 U.S. OILFIELD & METRIC UNIT CONVERSION CHART:

Multiply This By To Obtain

Volume:
barrel (bbl) 5.615 cubic feet (ft3)
barrel (bbl) 0.159 cubic meter (m3)
barrel (bbl) 42 gallon, U.S. (gal)
gallon, U.S. (gal) 3.785 liter (l)
cubic meter (m3) 6.289 barrel (bbl)
cubic meter (m3) 1000 liter (l)

Mass or Weight
kilogram (kg) 2.204 pound (lb)
pound (lb) 0.454 kilogram (kg)
ton, U.S. (t) 2000 pound (lb)
metric ton (mt) 1000 kilogram (kg)
metric ton (mt) 2204 pound (lb)
metric ton (mt) 1.102 ton, U.S. (t)

Length
feet (ft) 0.3048 meter (m)
inch (in) 2.54 centimeter (cm)
inch (in) 25.4 millimeter (mm)
meter (m) 3.281 feet (ft)

Pressure
lb/in2 (psi) 6.895 kiloPascal (kPa)
lb/in2 (psi) 0.06895 bar (bar)
lb/in2 (psi) 0.0703 kg/cm2
kiloPascal (kPa) 0.145 lb/in2 (psi)
bar (bar) 100 kiloPascal (kPa)
atmosphere 14.7 lb/in2 (psi)
bar 14.5 lb/in2 (psi)

Density
pound/gallon (ppg) or (lb/gal) 119.83 kg/m3 and g/l
kilogram/cubic meter (kg/m3) 0.008345 ppg or lb/gal
pound/gallon (ppg) or (lb/gal) 0.11983 g/cm3, kg/l, or SG
pound/cubic feet (pcf) or 16.02 kg/m3 and g/l
(lb/ft3)
g/cm3, kg/l, or SG 8.345 ppg or lb/gal

Concentration
pound/gallon (ppb) or (lb/bbl) 2.853 kg/m3 and g/l
Kilogram/cubic meter (kg/m3) 0.3505 ppb or lb/bbl

Temperature
°Centigrade (°C x 1.8) + 32 °Fahrenheit
°Fahrenheit (°F - 32) /1.8 °Centigrade
16.2. SURFACE TANK / PIT CAPACITY

16.2a RECTANGULAR TANK:

Lenght ( ft ) × Width ( ft ) × Depth( ft ) × No. of Pits

Bbls =
5.6 cubic foot per bbl.

16.2b CYLINDRICAL TANK:

π × radius 2 ( ft ) × Height( ft )
Bbls = π = 3.14159
5.6 cubic foot per bbl .

16.2.c RECTANGULAR TANK WITH SLOPING SIDES:

Bbls. =
(W1 + W2 ) × d × L
(2) 5.6 cubic foot per bbl.

W1 = Longest Width
W2 = Shortest Width
d = Vertical Depth
L = Length

16.3 VOLUMES, CAPACITIES, AND DISPLACEMENTS

16.3a VOLUME - DRILL PIPE or DRILL COLLARS:

 Inside Diameter 2 (in) 

Bbls. =   × Length ( ft )
 1029 
 

16.3b ANNULAR VOLUME – DRILL PIPE / INSIDE CASING:

 Casing I . D.2 (in) − Pipe O. D.2 (in) 

Bbls. =   × Length ( ft )
 1029 
 

16.3c ANNULAR VOLUME – DRILL PIPE / OPEN HOLE:

 Hole Diameter 2 (in) − Drill Pipe O. D.2 (in) 

Bbls. =   × Length ( ft )
 1029 
 
16.3d ANNULAR VOLUME – DRILL COLLARS / OPEN HOLE

 Hole Diameter 2 (in) − Collars O. D.2 (in) 

Bbls. =   × Length ( ft )
 1029 
 

16.3e CAPACITY OF OPEN HOLE*

Hole Capacity Capacity Hole Capacity Capacity Ltrs

Diameter Bbls per Ft Ltrs per Diameter Bbls per per
Inches Mtr. Inches Ft Mtr.
41/2 0.0197 10.26 11 0.1175 61.31
55/8 0.0307 16.03 121/4 0.1458 76.04
61/8 0.0364 19.01 143/4 0.2113 110.24
61/4 0.0379 19.79 16 0.2487 129.7
61/2 0.0410 21.41 171/2 0.2975 155.18
73/8 0.0528 27.56 19 0.3507 182.92
75/8 0.0565 29.46 20 0.3886 202.68
77/8 0.0602 31.42 22 0.4702 245.25
81/2 0.0702 36.61 24 0.5595 291.86
83/4 0.0744 38.79 26 0.6567 342.53
101/4 0.1021 53.24 30 0.8743 456.04
105/8 0.1097 57.20 36 1.2590 656.69

16.3f CAPACITY & DISPLACEMENT OF CASING*

OD Weight ID Capacity Displacement

in. mm lb/ft kg/m in. mm bbl/ft l/m bbl/ft l/m
41/2 114 13.50 20.12 3.920 100 0.0142 7.79 0.0047 2.47
5 127 18.00 26.82 4.276 109 0.0178 9.26 0.0065 3.40
51/2 140 20.00 29.80 4.778 121 0.0222 11.57 0.0072 3.76
7 178 26.00 38.74 6.276 159 0.0383 19.96 0.0093 4.87
75/8 174 26.40 39.34 6.969 177 0.0472 24.61 0.0093 4.85
95/8 244 40.00 59.60 8.835 224 0.0758 39.55 0.0142 7.39
95/8 244 47.00 70.03 8.681 220 0.0732 38.19 0.0168 10.03
103/4 273 40.50 60.35 10.05 255 0.0981 51.18 0.0161 9.39
113/4 298 60.00 89.40 10.772 274 0.1127 58.80 0.0214 11.16
133/8 340 54.50 81.21 12.615 320 0.1546 80.64 0.0192 10.01
16 406 65.00 96.85 15.250 387 0.2259 117.84 0.0228 11.88
185/8 473 87.50 130.38 17.755 451 0.3062 159.73 0.0307 16.04
20 508 94.00 140.06 19.124 486 0.3553 185.32 0.0333 17.37
16.3g CAPACITY & DISPLACEMENT OF DRILL PIPE

OD Weight ID Capacity Displacement

in. mm lb/ft kg/m in. mm bbl/ft l/m bbl/ft l/m
31/2 89 13.30 19.82 2.764 70 0.00742 3.87 0.01190 2.764
31/2 89 15.50 23.10 2.602 66 0.00658 3.43 0.00532 2.602
41/2 114 16.60 24.73 3.826 97 0.01422 7.42 0.00545 2.84
41/2 114 20.00 29.80 3.640 92 0.01287 6.71 0.00680 3.55
5 127 19.50 29.06 4.276 109 0.01776 9.27 0.00652 3.40
5 127 20.50 30.55 4.214 107 0.01725 9.00 0.00704 3.67
51/2 140 21.90 32.63 4.778 121 0.02218 11.57 0.00721 3.76
51/2 140 24.70 36.75 4.670 118.6 0.02119 11.10 0.00819 4.274

16.3h CAPACITY & DISPLACEMENT OF HEAVY-WEIGHT DRILL PIPE:

OD Weight ID Capacity Displacement

in. mm lb/ft kg/m in. mm bbl/ft l/m bbl/ft l/m
31/2 89 23.20 34.57 2.250 57 0.0050 2.6 0.0092 4.4
31/2 89 25.30 37.70 2.063 52 0.0042 2.2 0.0084 4.8
4 102 27.20 40.53 2.563 65 0.0064 3.3 0.0108 5.6
41/2 114 41.00 61.09 2.750 70 0.0074 3.9 0.0149 7.8
5 127 49.30 73.46 3.000 76 0.0088 4.6 0.0180 9.4
51/2 140 57.00 84.93 3.375 86 0.0112 5.8 0.0210 11.0

16.3i CAPACITY & DISPLACEMENT OF DRILL COLLARS:

OD Weight ID Capacity Displacement

in. mm lb/ft kg/m in. mm bbl/ft l/m bbl/ft l/m
1
3 /2 89 26.64 39.69 1.500 38 0.00219 1.14 0.00971 5.07
41/8 105 34.68 51.67 2.000 51 0.00389 2.03 0.01264 6.60
43/4 121 46.70 69.58 2.250 57 0.00492 2.57 0.01700 8.87
6 152 82.50 122.93 2.250 57 0.00492 2.57 0.03005 15.68
1
6 /4 159 90.60 134.99 2.250 57 0.00492 2.57 0.03303 17.23
61/2 165 91.56 136.42 2.813 71 0.00768 4.01 0.03336 17.40
63/4 171 108.00 160.92 2.25 57 0.00492 2.57 0.03934 20.52
3
7 /4 197 138.48 206.34 2.813 71 0.00768 4.01 0.05066 26.43
8 208 150.48 224.22 2.813 71 0.00768 4.01 0.05449 28.42
1
9 /2 241 217.02 323.36 3.000 76 0.00874 4.560 0.07893 41.18
10 254 242.98 362.04 3.000 76 0.00874 4.560 0.07893 41.18
1
11 /4 286 314.20 468.16 3.000 76 0.00874 4.560 0.07893 41.18
16.3j RULES OF THUMB

[a] Capacity: (ID)2 = Bbls/1000 ft.

Displacement or Annular volume:

(OD)2 - (ID)2 = Bbls/1000 ft.

16.4 PUMP OUTPUT

16.4a TRIPLEX MUD PUMPS (Output)

ID 2 Liner (in) x LengthStroke (in) x Efficiency (decimal )

Bbl / Stk =
4,116

Bbl / Stk = .000243 x ID 2 Liner (in) x LengthStroke (in) x Efficiency (decimal )

16.4b TRIPLEX PUMP OUTPUT (100% Efficiency)

U.S. Units: bbl/stk [For Liters/Stroke = Bbl/Stk x 159 (ltr/bbl)]

Liner Stroke Length (in)
ID(in) 7 7.5 8 8.5 9 9.5 10 11 12 14
3.50 0.015 0.016 0.017 0.019 0.020 0.021 0.022 0.024 0.026
3.25 0.018 0.019 0.021 0.022 0.023 0.024 0.026 0.028 0.031
3.50 0.021 0.022 0.024 0.025 0.027 0.028 0.030 0.033 0.036
3.75 0.024 0.026 0.027 0.029 0.031 0.032 0.034 0.038 0.041
4.00 0.027 0.029 0.031 0.033 0.035 0.036 0.039 0.043 0.047
4.25 0.031 0.033 0.035 0.037 0.039 0.041 0.044 0.048 0.053
4.50 0.034 0.037 0.039 0.042 0.044 0.045 0.049 0.054 0.059
4.75 0.038 0.041 0.044 0.047 0.049 0.051 0.055 0.060 0.066
5.00 0.043 0.045 0.049 0.052 0.055 0.056 0.061 0.067 0.073 0.085
5.25 0.047 0.050 0.054 0.057 0.060 0.062 0.067 0.074 0.080 0.094
5.50 0.051 0.055 0.059 0.062 0.066 0.068 0.073 0.081 0.088 0.103
5.75 0.056 0.060 0.064 0.068 0.072 0.074 0.080 0.088 0.096 0.112
6.00 0.061 0.065 0.070 0.074 0.079 0.081 0.087 0.096 0.105 0.122
6.25 0.066 0.071 0.076 0.081 0.085 0.088 0.095 0.104 0.114 0.133
6.50 0.072 0.077 0.082 0.087 0.092 0.095 0.103 0.113 0.123 0.144
6.75 0.077 0.083 0.088 0.094 0.100 0.102 0.111 0.122 0.133 0.155
7.00 0.083 0.089 0.095 0.101 0.107 0.110 0.119 0.131 0.143 0.167
7.5 0.137 0.150 0.164 0.191
8.00 0.155 0.171 0.187 0.218
16.4c DUPLEX MUD PUMPS (Output)

 2 x ID 2 Liner (in) − OD 2 Rod (in) 

Bbl / Stk =   x LengthStroke (in) x Efficiency (decimal )
 6,174 

16.5 ANNULAR VELOCITY FORMULA:

Pump Output (bbls / min)

Ft. / Min. =
Annular Volume (bbls / ft )

16.5a ANNULAR VELOCITIES:

 
 
[a] 
Drill Pipe / Inside Casing (ft/min) = 
Pump Output (bbls / min) 

 Casing ID (in) − Drill Pipe OD (in) 
2 2

 1029 

 
 
[b] 
Drill Pipe / Open Hole (ft/min) = 
Pump Output (bbls / min) 

 Hole Diameter (in) − Drill Pipe OD (in) 
2 2

 1029 

 
 
[c] 
Drill Collars / Open Hole (ft/min) = 
Pump Output (bbls / min) 
2 2 
 Hole Diameter (in) − Drill Collars OD (in) 
 1029 

16.6 BOTTOMS UP:

Annular Volume (bbls )

Bottoms Up (min) =
Pump Output (bbls / min)

16.7 TOTAL CIRCULATION:

Total Volume (bbls )

[a] Total Circulating (min) =
Pump Outpup (bbls / min)
 [b] Total Circulating ( strokes) = ( Minutes) x ( Strokes / Minute)
16.8 FORMATION PRESSURE CALCULATIONS:

16.8a HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE DETERMINATION:

Hydrostatic Pr essure psi = Mud Weight ppg x TrueVertical Depth ( ft ) x 0.052

16.8b PRESSURE GRADIENT:

psi / ft = Mud Weight ppg x 0 .052

16.8c CONVERT PRESSURE TO MUD WEIGHT:

Pressure psi
Mud Weight lb / gal =
True Vertical Depth ft x .052

16.8d CONVERT PRESSURE GRADIENT TO MUD WEIGHT:

Pressure psi / ft
Mud Weigthlb / gal =
.052

16.8e EQUIVALENT MUD WEIGHT (E.M.W.);

Hydrostatic Pressure psi

E .M .W .lb / gal =
True Vertical Depth ft x .052

16.8f EQUIVALENT CIRCULATING DENSITY:

 Annular Pressure Loss psi 

E .C .D.lbs / gal = Mud Weight lbs / gal +  
 True Vertical Depth ft x .052 
 

16.8g MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE MUD WEIGHT:

 Leak Off Pressure psi 

Max. All . M .W .lb / gal =   + Test MWlb / gal
 Csg .True Vertical Depth ft x .052 
16.8h MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE SHUT-IN CASING PRESSURE

( )(
Pressure psi = Max. All. M.W.lb/gal − M.W.in uselb/gal x .052 x Csg.TVD ft )

16.8i KILL MUD WEIGHT

 SIDPPpsi 
Kill Mud Weight =   + Present MWlb/gal
 0.052 x True Vertical Depth ft 
 

16.8j DENSITY OF INTRUDING FLUID:

SICPpsi − SIDPPpsi
Fluid Density lb / gal =
0.052 x length of kick ft

16.9 WEIGHT UP FORMULAS:

16.9a WEIGHT UP WITH BARITE: (S.G. 4.2)

(Mud Weight desired − Mud Weight initial )

= 1470
Barite lb / bbl
(35.0lb / gal − Mud Weight desired )

16.9b WEIGHT UP WITH CALCIUM CARBONATE: (S.G. 2.8)

(Mud Weight desired − Mud Weight initail )

= 980
Calcium Carbonate lb / bbl
(23.3lb / gal − Mud Weight desired)

16.9c WEIGHT UP WITH FEROX: (S.G.5.0)

(Mud Weight desired − Mud Weight initial )

= 1750
Ferox lb / bbl
(41.67 lb / gal − Mud Weight desired )

16.10 AVERAGE RATE OF PENETRATION:

Total Footage Drilled

Average ROP ft / hr =
Hours Drilled
16.11 CUTTINGS VOLUME

Bit Size 2 (in)

[1] Bbls / Ft =
1029

[2] BblsJHr = ROP ft / hr x Cutting Volumebbls / ft

Cutting Volumebbls / hr
[3] % Cutting in Annulus = x 100
Circulating Ratebbls / hr

16.12 EQUATION FOR: np. na, Kp, Ka

 600 VG Dial Re ading   100 VG Dial Re ading 

n p = 3.32  Log  n a = 0.657  Log 
 300 VG Dial Re ading   3 VG Dial Re ading 

5.11 x 300 VG Dial Re ading 5.11 x 3 VG Dial Re ading

Kp = Ka = na
np
511 5.11
16.13 MATERIAL BALANCE: (See Chapter 9, page 9.23 Drilling Fluids Engineering Manual)

An essential to perform solids analysis, dilutions, density increase, and blending

equations.

Equations and substitutes for Material Balance:

V = Volume of fluid in English or Metric units:

W = Weight of fluid or material in English or Metric units:

English Units: V = Barrels (bbls)

W = Pounds per Gallon (ppg)

M-I BAR 4.2 S.G

35.0 lb/gal
1470 lb/bbl
14.7 sx/bbl (100 lb sx)

M-I GEL 2.6 S.G.

21.67 lb/gal
910 lb/bbl
9.1 sx/bbl (100 lb sx)

LO-WATE 2.8 S.G.

(Calcium Carbonate) 23.3 lb/gal
980 lb/bbl
19.6 sx/bbl (50 lb sx)

FER-OX 5.0 S.G.

41.67 lb/gal
1750 lb/bbl
17.5 sx/bbl (100 lb sx)

Water 1.0 S.G.

8.334 lb/gal
350 lb/bbl
16.13a BLEND MUDS:

VFinalWFinal = VMud-1 WMud-1 + VMud –2 WMud-2

Note: VMud-1 = (VFinal - VMud –2)

16.13b BUILD MUDS:

VFinalWFinal = VWater WWater + VGel WGel + VBar WBar

16.13c REDUCE DRILL SOLIDS (DS) CONTENT (%):

DSFinalVFinal = DSMudVMud + DSBar/WaterVBar/Water

Note: DSBar/Water = 0 (No Drill Solids in this slurry)

VFinal = (VMud + VBar/Water)

16.13d BARITE & WATER REQUIRED FOR THE BARITE/WATER SLURRY:

Maintain a Constant Volume:

(Calculate volume of M-I BAR & water to build the VBar/Water slurry)

VFinalWFinal = VWater AddedWWater Added + VBar WBar

Note: VFinal = VWater Added + VBar

VWater = VFinal - VBar

*Transfer the required volume prior to adding the VBar/Water to maintain a constant volume. Using
this procedure your Drill Solids Content will be slightly less then that calculated.
16.14 SOLIDS ANALYSIS (See Chapter 9, page 9.31 Drilling Fluids Engineering Manual)

16.14a UNWEIGHTED MUD

16.14a.1 VOLUME % LOW GRAVITY SOLIDS

( Density Mudlb / gal − DensityWaterlb / gal )

% LGS = 100%
( Density LGSlb / gal − DensityWaterlb / gal )

Note: For an unweighted system it is more accurate to use the above equation instead of running
a retort.

Calculate % Solids Unweighted Fresh Water Base Mud With No Chlorides :

% Solids = (7.5 × Mud Wt .) − 62.5

16.14b WEIGHTED MUD

16.14b.1 NOMENCLATURE

V = Volume %
ρ = Density (ppg or any consistent units)
HGS = High Density Solids -weight materials,
(Barite – 4.2 SG or 35.0 ppg / Hematite 5.0 SG or 41.67 ppg)
LGS = Low Density Solids (drilled & added solids, SG 2.6 or 21.67 ppg)
SW = Salt Water (water form retort + dissolved salt)
H2O = Water from retort ( 8.334 ppg)
OIL/SYN = Oil/Synthetic (diesel or mineral oil 7.0 ppg), or non-water liquids)
MBT = Methylene Blue Test ppb (also referred to as CEC or MBC)
F = Fraction of bentonite in drill solids derived by dividing the MBT of drill solids
by 65 (Assumed MBT of Bentonite) or use the default fraction value of 0.1111
when needed.

16.14b.2 MASS BALANCE & VOLUME EQUATION FOR A WEIGHTED MUD

ρ Mud V Mud = ρ HGS V HGS + ρ LGS V LGS + ρ SW V SW + ρ Oil / SynVOil / Syn

V SW = V H 2O + V Salt

V Mud = V HGS + V LGS + V SW + VOil / Syn

16.14b.3 EQUATIONS REQUIRED TO COMPLETE SOLIDS ANAYLSIS

1. ( ) ( )
2
SGsw = 1.0 + 1.166 × 10−6 mg / l Cl − − 8.375 × 10−13 mg / l Cl − + 1.338 × 10−18 mg / l Cl − ( )
3

2. ρ sw ppg = SG sw × 8.345 ppg

mg / l Cl − × 1.65
3. % by Weight NaCl Salt =
SG SW × 10,000
  
[ ]
4. a.] % V Salt = %V H 2O × 
100
 − 1
 SG SW (100 − %Wt . NaCl )  

( )
 mg / l Cl × 1.65 
b.] NaCl Salt ppb = %V H 2O + %V Salt ×   × (.035)
 10,000 

5. a.] % V HGS =
( ) ( ) (
ρ Mud (100 ) − ρ LGS 100 − %V H 2 O − %VSalt − %VOil / Syn − ρ SW %V H 2 O + %VSalt − ρ Oil / Syn %VOIL / Sny )
ρ HGS − ρ LGS

 %V HGS 
b.] HGS ppb =   ( ρ HGS ppg × 42)
 100 

6. a.] %V LGS = 100 − %V HGS − %V H 2O − %V SALT − %VOIL

 %VLGS 
b.] LGS ppb =  ( ρ LGS ppg × 42 )
 100 

(
MBT − F × LGS ppb ) MBTDrill Solids
7. a.] Bentonite ppb = Note: F =
(1 − F ) 65

Bentonite ppb
b.] % V BENTONITE =
9 .1

8. a.] V DS = V LGS − V BENTONITE

b.] Drill Solid ppb = LGS ppb − Bentonite ppb

%V DS DS ppb
9. DS / Bentonite Ratio = OR
%V Bentonite Bentonite ppb

10. Optimum% Solids Weighted FreshWater Base Mud With No Chlorides:

% Opimum Solids = (Mud Wt. − 6) × 3.2