Drilling Fluids Notes

The main functions of a drilling fluids can be summarized as follows:

 Remove cuttings from well to surface.
 Suspend and release cuttings
 Control formation pressures
 Seal permeable formations
 Maintain wellbore stability
 Minimizing formation damage
 Cool, lubricate, and support the bit and drilling assembly
 Transmit hydraulic energy to tools and bit
 Ensure adequate formation evaluation
 Control corrosion (in acceptable level)
 Facilitate cementing and completion
 Minimize impact on environment
Drilling Fluids Selection Criteria
Drilling fluids are selected on the basis of one or more of the following criteria:
• Cost
• Application and Performance
• Production Concerns
• Logistics
• Exploration Concerns
• Environmental Impact and Safety
Drilling Fluid Selection: data Requirements
1. Pore pressure /fracture gradient plots to establish the minimum / maximum
mud weights to be used on the whole well.
2. Offset well data (drilling completion reports, mud logs etc.) from similar
wells in the area to help establish successful mud systems.
3. Geological plot column, lithology.
4- Casing design program and casing seat depths. The casing scheme
effectively divides the well into separate sections; each hole section may have
similar formation types, similar pore pressure regimes or similar reactivity to
mud.
5- Basic mud properties required for each open hole section before it is cased
off.
6- Restrictions that might be enforced in the area i.e. government legislation
in the area, environmental concerns etc.
Drilling Fluid Classifications
a. Drilling fluids are separated into three major classifications (Figure 1):
• Pneumatic
• Oil-Based
• Water-Based

Fluid additives: -
1. Weighting materials.
 2. Viscosifiers.

3. Filtrations control martials. As bentonite

4. Rheology control materials.
5. Alkalinity and PH martials. As NaOH KOH Ca(OH)2
6. Lost circulation control materials.
7. Lubricating materials. As Oil - Disel
8. Shale stabilizing materials. As KCL

The main physical and chemical characteristics of drilling fluids are:

 Density mud balance
 Rheology
 Viscosity funnel viscosity - viscometer
 Gel Strength
 Filtration
 Alkalinity

By // Mustafa Hamza