Functions of the Mud

The mud has several functions:

1. To cool and lubricate the bit and drill string.
2. To flush drilled cuttings from the bottom of the hole
3. To carry the cuttings out of the well
4. To support the well bore wall
5. To hold back formation fluids
6. To prevent lost circulation
7. To transmit data to the surface. (MWD, mud logging, etc.)

Copyright 2002, RigSmarts

Mud system

The active surface system is used to

treat the mud and to provide enough
volume to fill the hole when the drill
string is removed.
One of the key functions of the active
system is solids removal.
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Why solids control

The drilled solids influence:
Drilling performance
Down hole problems
Drilling mud cost and performance
Equipment wear
The quality of the logging
The quality of the cementing
Production
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Drillability

Drillability is influenced by rock strength. As a tooth penetrates the formation the rock must move
out of its way. To move the rock must compress, just as our core sample in the laboratory. Just
like our core sample the rock will break once the rock strength is exceeded.
Overbalance is a confining pressure that raises the apparent rock strength. With higher mud
weight we will need more bit weight to get the same tooth penetration, or we suffer lower
penetration rates.
This is why an increase in penetration rate is an indicator that we have less overbalance.
Copyright 2002, RigSmarts

Drilling performance

Solids provide a filtercake that allows a differential pressure to exist across the bottom of
the well. This acts as a confining pressure which increases the apparent rock strength.
Hydraulic horsepower at the bit is reduced by excessive viscosity.
Affects static and dynamic chip hold down.
Increases bit balling
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Drilling performance

Torque and drag

Bit life and trip frequency

Drilling rate

Drilling rate

Surge and swab pressures

Solids content

Down time due to equipment repair or hole trouble

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Viscosity
Solids have a negative impact on rheology. They increase viscosity and thixotropy
Negative impact of viscosity:
Increased pressure losses in drill pipe and annulus.
Less hydraulic horsepower to the bit
Higher ECD
Higher surge and swab pressures
Reduced solids removal efficiency
Loss of mud at surface
Coarser screens, ineffective hydro cyclones - More solids in mud
Reduced degasser efficiency
Increased channeling while cementing
Pump cavitation and difficulty in priming.
Chemical addition becomes less efficient.
Copyright 2002, RigSmarts

Fluid loss
Drilled solids lead to thicker more permeable filter cakes
Negative impact of thick filter cake:
Increased torque and drag
Higher surge and swab
Potentially stuck pipe
Difficulty logging and running casing
Poor cement bond between casing and formation

Negative impact of fluid loss:

Formation damage from solids and fluids
Emulsion block
Interstitial clay swelling
Reduced log interpretation
Misinterpretation of hydrocarbon/ water zones
Distorted porosity/ density logs

Copyright 2002, RigSmarts

Equipment wear
Pumps
Valves, liners, valve seats, and impellers
Lines, fittings and valves
Swivel and drill string
Solids control equipment
Bits, and bit nozzles
Turbines, motors, MWDs, LWDs etc..
Casing
Copyright 2002, RigSmarts

Cutting Size and Classification

API Classification of Solids
API Classification

Size range (micron)

Coarse
Intermediate

> 2000
250

2000

Medium

74

250

Fine

44

74

Ultra-Fine

44

Colloidal (clay)

Beach sand

80

>

2000

Human hair

30

200

100

Cement dust

Description

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Sand

Silt
Clay

Examples
10

Specific Area

1
1/

1/

The specific area of a cutting increases as its size decreases. Specific area is
the total surface area divided by the weight of the cutting. The specific area
doubles each time the diameter of the cutting is halved.

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11

Mud system
Degasser

Mixing
Hopper

Centrifuge

Desander

Desilter

Shale
shaker

Agitator

Suction
pit

Mixing
pit

Centrifuge
pit

Note the direction of flow through each

treatment pit..

Desilter
pit

Desander
pit

Degasser
pit

Sand
Trap

The treatment pits must be kept full to operate

properly. The last treatment pit will have an
overflow or swing arm equalizer to keep these
pits full.

125% of the flow rate should pass through

the hydro cyclones
Copyright 2002, RigSmarts

12

Shale shakers
Wire size

Opening

Mesh
10 x 10

(inches)
.025

(microns)
1905

20 x 20

.017

838

40 x 40

.010

381

60 x 60

.0075

234

80 x 80

.0055

178

100 x 100

.0045

140

120 x 120

.0037

117

150 x 150

.0026

105

200 x 200

.0021

75

250 x 250

.0016

63

325 x 325

.0014

44

circular

linear

First 2/3 of screen bed should

be covered with mud.
The goal is to remove cuttings
before they degrade. Not retain
mud!

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13

Degasser

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14

Degasser (Swaco)

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15

Swaco vacuum valve

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16

Degasser Drilco

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17

Degasser Pit
If the degasser and its pit are not plumbed
correctly it will not work correctly.
The desander pump should never be used
as a degasser pump!

Overflow not underflow!

If there is an underflow into the

degasser pit then the degasser will
only see heavy mud, not the light
gassy mud that needs to be treated.
Copyright 2002, RigSmarts

18

Hydro cyclones
Cone Size

Capacity Cut point

Solids

(inches)

(gpm)

(micron)

(tons/day)

10 - 12

500

74

150

86

100

40

40

43

50

15

10

20

Hydro cyclone efficiency decreases as viscosity, weight, and solids content

increases.
Optimum performance occurs with 75 feet of head, or roughly 4 x mud wt. in psi.
Copyright 2002, RigSmarts

19

De-sanders

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20

10

De-Silters

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21

Mud Cleaners

% by
volume

Particle size

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22

11

Centrifuge

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23

Centrifuge arrangement

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24

12

Agitator
Agitators mix the mud to keep it
homogeneous.
They also serve to keep drilled solids in
suspension so they can be treated out
of the system.

Copyright 2002, RigSmarts

25

Agitators

Radial agitators drive the flow

outward. This type of
agitator must be placed close
to the bottom and is normally
only used in slug pits.

Axial agitators drive flow

downward to scour the bottom
of the tank. This type of
agitator is more efficient than
radial flow agitators.

Copyright 2002, RigSmarts

26

13

Mud Mixing
Mixing
Hopper

Chemicals should be added upstream of the

suction pit to give the mud time to mix
before reaching the suction line.

Agitator

The hopper outlet should also be far away

from any suction lines to prevent air
entrapment.

Suction
pit

Mixing
pit

The solids treatment system is kept full of

mud by the use of an overflow out of the
last treatment pit. The main active system
can be drawn down without affecting
hydro cyclone performance.

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27

Mud system (un-weighted)

With un-weighted mud all of the solids removed by the hydro-cyclones

and centrifuge are discarded.

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28

14

Mud system (weighted)

With weighted mud the solids removed by the hydro-cyclones are passed over
a screen to salvage the smaller barite particles. The centrifuge may also be
used to recover this barite if the waste from the cones is directed into a
collection pit instead.
The centrifuge will still be used to recover barite, (and undesirable drilled
solids), while colloidal size particles and fluid is discarded.
Copyright 2002, RigSmarts

29

Swing arm equalizer

Copyright 2002, RigSmarts

30

15

Active volume

Useable volume
18 in

We need 18 inches of mud above suction inlet to avoid cavitation and air
entrainment.
We also never fill the pit completely unless it has a closed top.
The useable volume is much smaller than the total volume. The total volume of
mud must be treated.
Solids that accumulate on the bottom of the tank may tie up treatment chemicals.
Copyright 2002, RigSmarts

31

16

Notes:
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