DRILLING ENGINEERING

LAB REPORT: DRILLING FLUID

EXPERIMENT TITLE: EXPERIMENT 2 - MUD RHEOLOGY TEST

NAME : SHAFFIQ BIN AZHAR RIZAL 22891

MUHAMMAD NASRUL AMRI BIN MUHAMAD ZAIDI 22835
MOHAMAD ZAFRAN RIFQIE BIN ROSLAN 22834
AZWAN FARIS QUISYREEN BIN AZLAN 22825
HARITHARAN MURLI HARAN 24743

COURSE : PETROLEUM ENGINEERING

GROUP NO :

EXPERIMENT DATE : 7/6/2018

SUBMISSION DATE : 22/6/2018

INTRODUCTION

 Drilling fluids are a type of fluid that are used during the drilling of wells. They play

an important role of providing primary well control pf the subsurface pressures with

the combination of the density and additional pressure acting on the annular or surface

imposed. They are usually circulated down along the drill string, flowing out the bit

and straight back to the annulus before going to the surface so that the drill cuttings are

able to be removed from the wellbore.

 The functions of drilling fluid are to:

1. Maintain subsurface pressures and well control;

2. Remove drill cuttings from the bit and circulate them back up to the surface;

3. Maintain wellbore stability;

4. Transmit hydraulic energy to drill bit and other downhole tools;

5. Lubricate and cool the drill bit and string.

 Drilling fluid play a major factor in making sure the drilling program is a success and

it deserves a careful study. The performance of the drilling fluid depends on the type of

formation that is being drilled and the various properties of the drilling fluid. Usually,

compromises are needed due to multiple factors. The design and selection of a

particular drilling fluid and the properties hugely depends on the subsurface pressures

and temperatures, cost, logistics, complexity of the well being drilled and local
 experience. The drilling equipment used also affects the performance of the drilling

fluid.

 Well-control plays a role in the oil industry by maintaining the control of the well in

order to prevent the event of a kick from happening or at least reducing its potential. It

is determined through the equipment used, procedures carried out, practices being done

and readings taken. This includes the maintenance, operation, installation, drilling,

completion, abandonment and well-control equipment in a safe environment. All of

these applies to the drilling, completion, abandonment and well-servicing operations.

 In this experiment, mud rheology properties will be measured and discussed.

Measurements that are taken in this experiment includes Viscosity, Gel Strength, and

Yield Point of the mud and it helps to determine the flow of the mud under various

conditions. Certain desired drilling operations is very dependent on the drilling fluid

properties in order for it to be accomplished.

 Two type of fluid characterizations are:

1. Newtonian fluids where the ratio of shear stress to shear rate (viscosity) is constant.

2. Non-Newtonian fluids where viscosity is not constant.

TEST EQUIPMENT

 The Fann Model 35 Viscometer is known as the “Standard of the Industry” when it

comes to measuring drilling fluid viscosity. This instrument can be used for research or

production purposes. Six speed is available in this model which are 3, 6, 100, 200, 300

and 600 RPM. Test fluids are contained in the annular space between the outer and

inner cylinder. The measurements are made when a viscous drag exerted by the fluid
 caused by the outer cylinder rotating at known velocity. The torque formed is

transmitted to a precision spring and the deflection is measured. The given shear rate

causing shear stress is measured as the viscosity.

Fann Model 35 Vscometers

OBJECTIVE

1. To investigate how density affects the viscosity, gel strength and yield point of the
muds.

2. To investigate the difference between apparent viscosity and plastic viscosity.

3. To calculate the viscosity, gel strength and yield point of the muds.

PROCEDURE
VISCOSITY MEASUREMENT PROCEDURE

1. A recently agitated sample was placed in the cup. The upper housing of the viscometer

was tilted back and the cup was placed under the sleeve (the pins on the bottom of the

cup fit into the holes in the base plate). Later, the upper housing was lowered to its

normal position.
 2. The knurled knob between the rear support posts was turned to raise or lower the rotor

sleeve until it was immersed in the sample to the scribed line.

3. The sample was stirred for about 5 seconds at 600 RPM. Then, the RPM desired for the

best was selected.

4. After the dial reading was stabilized, the dial reading and RPM was recorded.

Rheological Calculations

𝑃𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑐 𝑉𝑖𝑠𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 = μp = 600 𝑅𝑃𝑀 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 − 300 𝑅𝑃𝑀 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔

600 𝑅𝑃𝑀 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔

𝐴𝑝𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑉𝑖𝑠𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 = μa = 2

GEL STRENGTH MEASUREMENT PROCEDURES

1. A sample was stirred at 600 RPM for about 15 seconds.

2. The RPM knob was turned to the STOP position.

3. The desired rest time (normally 10 seconds or 10 minutes) was waited.

4. The RPM knob was switched to the GEL position.

5. The maximum deflection of the dial was recorded before the Gel breaks.

YIELD POINT EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

1. Dial readings at 3,300 and 600 RPM was obtained using the FANN Viscometer.

2. The Apparent and Plastic Viscosities, Yield Point at initial 10 seconds and final 10

minutes were determined.

RESULTS

Sample VISCOSITY CP Gel Strength

No. lb/100 ft2
Ф600 Ф300 μp μa Yp Initial Final
10sec 10min
lb/100 ft2 Gel Gel
1 16 10 6 8 4 2 16

2 21 14 7 10.5 7 3 19

DISCUSSION

1. As can be seen from the data collected, sample 2 is much denser compared to sample

1.

2. As a result, denser mud will have higher plastic and apparent viscosity. The denser mud

will have a higher efficiency to lift the drill cuttings to the surface during operation and

less dense mud will allow the drill bit to operate rapidly due to its low viscosity.

3. The Yield Point also indicates that denser mud is more efficient in suspending the

cuttings than less dense mud.

4. When the mud is less dense, the gel strength reading is higher. This shows that the less

dense mud has a higher capability to suspend the mud compared to denser mud due to

its gel strength during static fluid condition.

ERROR

1. Parallax error.

2. Human error. Time taken for each RPM setting to be stabilized is not accurate.

3. Zero error. The dial was not calibrated before the experiment begin.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON EXPERIMENT 2

1. (a) What is Plastic Viscosity?

 Plastic Viscosity is the fluid’s resistance to flow caused by the interaction

between, solids, liquids and deformation of liquid under shear stress in the

drilling mud which give mechanical friction.

 In a normal drilling conditions, mud weight is directly proportional to the

plastic viscosity. When mud weight is higher, fluid will be viscous. Hence,

plastic viscosity will be high.

(b) What does it characterize?

 Based on Bingham plastic model, the plastic viscosity is the slope of shear stress

and shear rate above yield point.

 Denser mud will have higher plastic and apparent viscosity. The denser mud

will have a higher efficiency to lift the drill cuttings to the surface during

operation and less dense mud will allow the drill bit to operate rapidly due to its

low viscosity.

(c) What is the difference between the Plastic Viscosity and Apparent Viscosity of

a drilling fluid?

 Plastic Viscosity is a non-newtonian fluid and it is not constant. It is caused by

mechanical friction due to the colloidal of solid particles, liquid particles and

deformation of liquid under shear stress.

  Apparent Viscosity is a Newtonian fluid and it is constant. The shear rate is

directly proportional to the shear stress. Hence, the viscosity is dependent on

shear rate.

2. Which role does Gel Strength play in the drilling process?

 Gel strength act as a measurement of the capability of drilling mud to lift drill

cuttings and weighting material when operation is stopped.

3. What type of fluids does drilling fluid belong to?

 It is a non-newtonian fluid because the fluid can show time-dependent viscosity

and coefficient viscosity is not constant.

 It is not the same as Newton’s law of viscosity where the relation between the

shear rate and shear stress is same.

4. (a) What is Yield Point?

 Yield Point is the resistance of the initial flow of drilling fluid. Also indicates

the stress required to move the drilling fluid. It is the force of attraction between

solid particles in the drilling fluid.

(b) What does it characterize?

 It acts as a measurement of the capability of the drilling mud to lift the cuttings

above the surface.

 Yield point is proportional to frictional pressure. Hence, higher yield point

indicates higher frictional pressure loss.

(c) What is the difference between Gel Strength and Yield Point of a drilling mud?
  Gel strength is the measurement of drilling mud to suspend cuttings on to the

surface during stop of production.

 Yield Point is the measurement of drilling mud to lift the cuttings to surface

under flow conditions.

5. Explain what you know about one point and two point curve fluids? Give example

of each type of fluid.

 One point curve fluids is when the pattern of the data is proportional to the

rheological properties. Example of fluids that show similar pattern are

Newtonian fluids where the density, gelation or viscosity displays constant

reading.

 Two point curve fluids is when the pattern of the data is not proportional or

fluctuating to the rheological properties. Example of fluids that show similar

pattern is the non-newtonian fluid where viscosity is not constant.

REFERENCES

http://hamdon.net/products/model-35-viscometer/

https://www.fann.com/content/dam/fann/Manuals/Model%2035%20Viscometer.pdf

http://www.iadc.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/preview-fl.pdf

http://www.drillingformulas.com/yield-point-yp-of-drilling-fluids/

https://www.petropedia.com/definition/2920/plastic-viscosity-pv