DRILLING ENGINEERING

Lesson 2
Rheology of Drilling and
Completion Fluids

Dr.Ir. Sudjati Rachmat, DEA

 Lesson 2

Rheology of Drilling and

Completion Fluids
 Rheology of Drilling and
Completion Fluids
• Functions of Drilling/Completion Fluids
• Fluid Types,
• Fluid Models
• Introduction to Rotary Viscometer
• Other Testing Equipment
• Objectives of Monitoring Fluids
 Functions of
Drilling/Completion Fluids

1. Remove cuttings from the well.

2. Control formation pressures.
3. Suspend and release cuttings.
4. Seal permeable formations.
 Functions of
Drilling/Completion Fluids
5. Maintain wellbore stability.
6. Minimize reservoir damage.
7. Cool, lubricate, and support the bit and
drilling assembly.
8. Transmit hydraulic energy to tools and bit.
 Functions of
Drilling/Completion Fluids
9. Ensure adequate formation evaluation.
10. Control corrosion.
11. Facilitate cementing and completion.
12. Minimize impact on the environment
 Fluid Types
• Water based
• Oil based
• Air
• Mists
• Foams
 Flow Regimes
• Plug Flow
– Flat flow profile
– Velocity at walls is
almost the same as in
the middle
– Low velocities, and
high viscosities
 Flow Regimes
• Laminar flow
– Parallel layers of mud
flow
– Bullet shaped flow
profile
– Velocity at the wall is
approximately 0
– Velocity at the middle
is maximum
Flow Regimes
Laminar Flow

Drillstring

Annulus
 Flow Regimes
• Turbulent flow
– Flow pattern is eratic
 Wellbore
Flow Regimes Turbulent
flow
Summary Transition
flow
Complete
Streamline
Incomplete
Streamline

Plug flow
No Flow
 Fluid Models
• Newtonian Model
• Bingham Plastic Model
• Power Law Model
 Rheology
• The study of how matter deforms and
flows.
• Primarily concerned with the relationship
of shear stress and shear rate and the
impact these have on flow characteristics
inside tubulars and annular spaces.
 Hydraulics
• Describes how fluid flow creates and uses
pressures.
 Rheological Models
• In drilling fluids, the flow behavior of the
fluid must be described using rheological
models and equations before hydraulic
equations can be applied.
 Viscosity
• Funnel Viscosity – Marsh Funnel
• Apparent Viscosity
• Effective Viscosity
• Plastic Viscosity
• Yield Point
• Low-shear viscosity and Low-shear-rate
viscosity
• Gel Strengths
 Funnel Viscosity
Measured in
Sec/quart

Marsh Funnel
 Shear Stress & Shear Rate
• Shear Stress – Force required to sustain
the shear rate.
• Shear Rate – Function of the fluid velocity
 Newtonian Model
• Shear Stress, , is
proportional to the
Shear Rate,  
• Plot intersects at the

origin
  300 rpm
  = Viscosity,
centipoise = 300 
reading
 Bingham Plastic Model
• Shear Stress, , is
proportional to the
Shear Rate, 
• Plot intersects at the
Yield Point (not 0)
 py
 p = PV
 y = YP
 Power Law Model
• Shear Stress, , is proportional to the Shear Rate, 
• Plot intersects at the origin
Which is correct?
 Introduction to Rotary
Viscometer
• Viscosity,
PV, YP, n, K
all calculated
from
viscometer
readings
Viscometer
Rotational Viscometer
 Other Testing Equipment
• Filter Press
– Measures filter
cake thickness
and Fluid Loss
 Other Testing Equipment
• pH meters used to measure pH of whole
mud, filtrate, and filter cake
• Retorts used to determine oil content, etc.
• Test for sand content
• Test for clay content
 Objectives of Monitoring
Fluids
• Identify potential hole problems and to
identify their causes
– could be poor hole cleaning
– hole erosion
– formation damage
– sensitive formations
– pressure control problems