Lag Time

Lag Time Determination

• What is Lag Time
• What are the factors affecting Lag Time
• How is Lag Time measured
• How is Lag Time checked
Lag Time: Definition
• Lag time is the definite time interval
required for pumping drilled cuttings from a
particular depth to the surface where they
can be collected
Lag Time
• Always exists
• Changes continuously as the hole deepens
• Must be frequently checked and corrected
Factors Affecting Lag Time
• Volume of the mud in the annulus
• Mud flow rate
Annulus: Definition
• It is the space around a pipe in the wellbore,
the outer wall being the wall of either the
hole or casing
• Sometimes called annular space
Volume of Mud in the Hole
• As hole gets deeper, mud volume increases,
therefore, lag time increases
• As the annular diameter gets larger due to
hole washouts the mud volume increases,
the lag time increases
Mud Flow Rate
• The faster the mud is pumped the quicker it
returns to the surface and hence the lag time
is reduced
How Is Lag Time Measured?
• Velocity method: uses annular velocities
• Volume method: uses annular volumes
– In minutes
– In strokes
Pump Output Calculations
• Duplex pump
Output (gals/stroke) = (0.0515 x Stroke
Length x ((LinerOD)2 – (RodOD)2/2))) x
0.2642 x Efficiency
• Triplex pump
Output (bbls/stroke) = (0.000243 x Stroke
Length x (LinerOD)2) x Efficiency
Example
• Example:
– Liner diameter = 6
– Stroke = 10
– Rod = 5
– Efficiency: 95% for duplex and 97% for triplex
Example: Duplex Pump
• Output (gals/stroke) = (0.0515 x 10 x ((6)2 –
(5)2/2))) x 0.2642 x 0.95
• Output (gals/stroke) = 4.33 gals/stroke
• Output (bbls/stroke) = 0.103 bbls/stroke
Example: Triplex Pump
• Output (gals/stroke) = (0.000243 x 10 x
(6)2) x 0.97
• Output (bbls/stroke) = 0.085 bbls/stroke
Well Profile
• Depth: 7750 ft
• Hole size: 8.5”
• Pump Output: 425 gpm at 100 spm
• Casing:
– shoe at 6000 ft
– 9 5/8” OD; 9” ID
• DP:
– 6350 ft.
– 5” OD; 4.276” ID
• DC:
– 1400 ft.
– 7” OD; 3.5” ID
Lag Time Measured Using Velocity Method

Annular velocity ann. sec (ft/min) = 24.51 x Q / (D2 –

d2)
Where,
Q = flow rate (gpm), D = hole or casing ID (ins.), d = DP/DC OD (ins.)

Lag time ann. sec (mins) = Length of annular section /

Annular velocity of annular section
Lag time (mins) =  Lag time ann. sec
Lag time (strokes) = Lag time (mins) x spm
Example
Section 1: 24.51 x 425 / (92 - 52)
Annular Velocity = 186 ft/min
Annular Section = 6000 feet
Lag Time for Section = 32.26 minutes

Section 2: 24.51 x 425 / (8.52 - 52)

Annular Velocity = 220.46 ft/min
Annular Section = 350 feet
Lag Time for Section = 1.59 minutes
Example
Section 3: 24.51 x 425 / (8.5 2 - 72)
Annular Velocity = 448 ft/min
Annular Section = 1400 feet
Lag Time for Section = 3.13 minutes

Total Lag Time = 32.26 + 1.59 + 3.13 = 36.98

minutes or 3698 strokes
Lag Time measured using Volume method: in minutes

Annular volume = (D2 – d2) x 0.000971 x Length of

annular section
or
Annular volume = ((D2 – d2) / 1029.4) x Length of
annular section
Lag time ann. sec (mins) = Annular volume (bbls) /
flow rate (bbls/min)
Lag time (mins) =  Lag time ann. sec
• Disadvantage: affected by flow rate changes
Lag Time Measured Using Volume Method: Measured in Strokes

Annular volume = (D2 – d2) x 0.000971 x Length of

annular section or
Annular volume = ((D2 – d2) / 1029.4) x Length of
annular section
Pump Output (bbls/stroke) = Pump output (gpm) /
(spm x 42)
Lag time ann. sec (strokes) = Annular volume (bbls) /
Pump Output (bbls/stroke)
• Advantage: not affected by changes in flow rate
Example
Section 1: (92 - 52) x 0.000971 x 6000
Annular volume = 326.25 bbls

Section 2: (8.52 - 52 ) x 0.000971 x 350

Annular volume = 16.05 bbls

Section 3: (8.52 - 72 ) x 0.000971 x 1400

Annular volume = 31.60 bbls
Example
Pump output (bbls/min) = 425 gpm/42 = 10.12
bbls/min
Pumps are pumping at 100 spm -> Pump output
(bbls/stroke)= 10.12/100 = 0.1012 bbls/stroke

Total Lag Time (strokes) = (326.25 + 16.05 + 31.6) /

.1012 = 374.15/0.1012 = 3697 strokes
Example
Using ((D2 – d2) / 1029.4) x L:

Section 1: ((92 - 52) / 1029.4) x 6000

Annular volume = 326.40 bbls

Section 2: ((8.52 - 52 ) / 1029.4) x 350

Annular volume = 16.07 bbls

Section 3: ((8.52 - 72) / 1029.4) x 1400

Annular volume = 31.62 bbls
Example
Pump output (bbls/min) = 425 gpm/42 = 10.12
bbls/min
Pumps are pumping at 100 spm therefore: Pump
output (bbls/stroke) = 10.12 bbls/min / 100 spm =
0.1012 bbls/stroke
Total Lag Time = Annular volume (bbls) / Pump
Output (bbls/stroke) = (326.4 + 16.07 + 31.62) /
0.1012 = 374.09 bbls / 0.1012 = 3697 strokes
Actual Lag Determination
• A tracer is used to obtain an “accurate”
measurement of lag time
• Common tracers used are:
– Calcium carbide (most common)
– Rice, wheat, cellophane
– Propane
• Carbide + water -> acetylene
Using A Carbide Tracer: Purpose

• It allows for a check on the lag time

• It serves as a check on the efficiency of the
gas equipment
Using A Carbide Tracer: Frequency

• Under normal circumstances a check

should be made every twenty-four hours or
400 ft, whichever comes first. However, if
carbide information is required due to
suspicions of incorrect lag or washout, then
carbides should be run as required
A Note On Carbide Tracers
• When a downhole motor or MWD tool is in use,
confirm with the drilling supervisor and/or
directional driller whether they will allow tracers
to be run
• Carbide should not be handled with bare hands
• The “Carbide Bomb” should be prepared just
before use to reduce the risk of a build-up of
flammable gas in the unit
• No smoking is allowed during the preparation of a
“Carbide Bomb.”
Using A Carbide Tracer
1. Make a carbide “bomb” by wrapping carbide in an envelope
of paper towels (usu. 2 paper towels) and securing it with
scotch tape. Do not use a lot of tape.
2. Place the carbide bomb in a plastic envelope.
3. Inform the driller that you intend to drop a carbide during
connection.
4. During connection, after the cessation of pumping activity,
zero the stroke counters.
5. On the rig floor, ask the driller to hold the next joint above the
pipe in the slips, while you push the bomb inside the pin. Take
extra care while doing this.
6. In the unit the gas equipment will detect the upcoming
carbide. Note down the strokes when the acetylene peaks.
Using A Carbide Tracer in OBM
If carbide is to be used do the following:
1. Displace mud from the drillstring
suspended by the slips by dipping a piece
of wood
2. Add a small amount of water
3. Drop the carbide bomb in.
Comparing Different Carbide Checks

• In order to compare different carbide

checks, it is important that the same amount
of calcium carbide each time
• Recommended amount is 100 ml (though
not usually followed in the field)
Using Tracers In Air Drilling
• When air drilling is used propane is injected
into the system
Downtime

• “Downtime” or surface-to-bit lag is time it

takes (measured in minutes or strokes) for a
mud packet to travel from the surface to the
bit.
Calculating Downtime

1. DP vol dp sec (bbls) = ID2 x 0.000971 x Section

Length
2. Internal volume (bbls) =  DP vol dp sec
3. Downtime (strokes) = Internal vol / pump
output (bbls/stk)
Example

• Example:
– Length of 19.5 lb/ft, 5" drill pipe = 6350 ft.
– Length of 9" x 3.5" drill collars = 1400 ft.
– Pump output (bbls/stroke) = 0.1012
– Pumping rate = 120 spm
Example
• Drill pipe volume = 4.2762 x 6350 x
0.000971 = 112.73 bbl
• Drill collar volume = 3.5002 x 1400 x
0.000971 = 16.65 bbl
• Surface-to-Bit Strokes = (112.73 +
16.65 ) / 0.1012 = 1278 strokes
• Downtime = 1278 / 120 = 10.65 minutes
Carbide Lag Determination
1. Calculate the downtime in strokes
2. Carbide lag strokes = Actual strokes (from carbide) –
downtime in strokes
3. Calculate the theoretical lag in strokes
4. Theoretical Open hole volume (bbls) = Bit diam2 x
0.000971 x Open hole length
5. Excess Carbide volume (bbls) = (Carbide lag strokes –
Theoretical lag in strokes) x Pump output
6. New open hole diam (ins) = ((Theo. OH vol + Carbide
excess vol) / (Open hole length x 0.000971))0.5
Correcting Hole Size After a Carbide Check

• The lag from a carbide check is used if a

significant difference is noted. The
theoretical lag increments are then added
onto the figure for every depth increment.
Example
• Example:
– Actual strokes from carbide = 5128 strokes
• Calculations:
– From previous example the down strokes is
1278 strokes.
– From previous example the lag is 3697 strokes
– Pump output is 0.1012 bbls/stroke
Example
• Carbide lag strokes = 5128 – 1278
• Carbide lag strokes = 3850 strokes

• Theoretical Open hole Volume = 8.5 2 x

0.000971 x 1750
• Theoretical Open hole Volume = 122.77
bbls
Example
• Excess Carbide volume (bbls) = (3850 – 3697) x
0.1012
• Excess Carbide volume (bbls) = 15.48 bbls

• New open Hole diameter = ((122.77 +

15.48)/(1750 x 0.000971))0.5
• New open Hole diameter = (138.3/1.69925)0.5
• New open Hole diameter = 9.02 in 2
Calculating the Lag Increment Per Depth Increment

1. Volume increase (bbls) = (D2 – d2) x depth

interval x 0.000971
– Where:
• D2 and d2 are hole/csg ID and DP/DC OD,
respectively
2. Lag increment (strokes/depth interval) =
volume increase (bbls) / pump output
(bbl/stk)
Presentation of Carbide Results on the Mudlog

• Carbide results are placed in the remarks

column of the mudlog
• Example:
Carbide = 0.5% at Vis 45
Lag Time at 7750 ft = 4956 strokes
Pipe Washout Determination With Carbide

• The presence of two acetylene peaks

End of Topic