Drilling Fluid Functions

DRILLING FLUID FUNCTIONS
DRILLING FLUIDS
FUNCTIONS
DRILLING
INTRODUCTION
FLUID FUNCTIONS
Mud Engineer
Drilling fluids are becoming so specialized, most companies now have a

mud engineer on duty at all times to keep the mud in good condition. The
Mud Engineer:
• is responsible for testing the mud and for prescribing mud treatments in
order to keep mud weight, properties, and chemistry within recommended
limits.
• must give detailed recommendations in order to optimize the achievement
of technical and economical drilling aims
Well Area Operations

Agip KCO Drilling Supervisors Training Course Drilling Muds RPW2021A 2
Should: Should Not:
1. Remove drill cuttings from wellbore 6. Hamper formation evaluation

2. Control formation pressure techniques
3. Maintain wellbore stability until 7. Cause adverse effects on the
casing can be run and cemented formation being penetrated
(Formation Damage)
4. Cool and lubricate drillstring and bit 8. Cause corrosion of the tubulars
5. Transmit hydraulic power to bit

1. Remove Drill Cuttings from Wellbore
Viscosity
• Viscosity and fluid rheological properties have a determinant effect on well
cleaning.
• Cuttings settle rapidly in low viscosity fluids (such as water) and as a result,
their removal is difficult.
• Generally, higher viscosity fluids are required to improve cuttings transport
capacity
• The property related to the viscosity is the thixotropy. It means that a mud
(thixotropic fluid) can become like a gel under static condition and return to
sol (fluid) in dynamic situation. This characteristic can suspend the cuttings
during the situation when the mud is not being circulated, as for flow check
or pipe connection or repairing
• Viscosity is dependent on concentration, quality, and dispersion of
suspended solids in the mud.

Velocity
• Definition: The rate (or speed) at which the mud is circulated
(dependant on pump capacity, pump speed, borehole size, and DP size)
• The higher the fluid velocity the faster the cuttings will reach the surface
Transport velocity = Annular velocity – Slip velocity
(More on velocity under “Hydraulics” section)

Particle Suspension
• Drilling fluid must also keep drill cuttings in suspension when the mud is
not being circulated (e.g., during a connection)
• The propety that keeps particles in suspension is called “gel strength”.
• Gel strength required to hold the cuttings in suspension should be no
more than required however. When circulation resumes, the fluid must
be fluid enough to release the particles at surface.
• Cuttings that settle when circulation has stopped can cause bridges that
result in a stuck string.

Thixotropic
• Definition: The property exhibited by certain gels of becoming fluid
when stirred or shaken and returning to the semi-solid state upon
standing.
• Most drilling fluids are thixotropic. This means that they undergo a
gelification process in static conditions. This process allows the drilling
fluid to keep cuttings in suspension during pipe connections and other
times when the mud is not moving.
• Shear-thinning fluids with high viscosity are the most effective for well
cleaning at low annular velocity.

Density
• Density has a positive effect on removing drill cuttings: the higher the
density of the mud, the more buoyancy.
• More buoyancy means greater carrying capacity to prevent the cuttings
from falling through the mud and to lift them to surface
• High density fluids can clean the hole very well with low annular velocity
• However, a mud heavier than necessary to balance the formation
pressure has a negative impact on drilling operations, so weighting up
the fluid just to remove cuttings must be avoided

USE THIXOTROPIC FLUIDS WITH “SHEAR THINNING”

PROPERTIES WITH A STRONG LOW-SHEAR-RATE VISCOSITY
(LSRV) AND PLUG FLOW CONDITIONS
USE A HIGH FLOW, LOW VISCOSITY FLUID TO OBTAIN

TURBULENT FLOW
• An easy method to determine if drilled solids are being

effectively removed by the mud is to compare the sand
content at the flow line and at the mud suction.

2. Control Formation Pressure
Density
• One of the main functions of drilling fluid is to keep the formation

pressure under control
• The pressure exerted by the mud column in static conditions (without
circulation) is called hydrostatic pressure.
• Hydrostatic pressure is the product of the mud weight and the True
Vertical Depth (TVD) of the well. If the hydrostatic pressure of the
column of drilling mud is equal to or higher than the formation pressure,
formation fluids can’t flow into the wellbore

Density
• Formation pressure typically increases with depth

• To compensate for this we increase the density of the mud with barite
• Mud weight must be limited to the minimum necessary to control the
well, maintain its stability, and still stay below the fracture gradient

Density
The pressure gradient of a normal formation can vary from:
• 0.436 psi/ft [1.03 kg/cm2/10 m] (8,59 lb/gal) for onshore wells

• 0.465 psi/ft [1.07 kg/cm2/ 10 m] (8,95 lb/gal) for off-shore wells

3. Maintain Wellbore Stability
Caving
• Wellbore stability is a function of mechanical, physical (pressure and

tension), and chemical characteristics
• Overhangs, ledges, and vertically-dipping formations may break off and
fall into the hole if a high differential (pressure or density) exists
between the formation and drilling fluid
• Swelling clays and heaving shales decrease drilling rate, and increase
the possibility of stuck pipe and fishing jobs

3. Maintain Wellbore Stability
• The cement job is a determining factor to effective isolation between

formations, and to guarantee a reliable completion.
• The mud must maintain the condition of the hole so casing can be run
and cemented without causing completion problems.
• When running casing, the mud must be fluid and at the same time
minimize the annular pressure losses in order to avoid loss of
circulation caused by induced fractures.

4. Cool and Lubricate the Drillstring and Bit
Circulation of the drilling fluids cools the bit and the

drillstring assembly, to temperatures lower than the
bottom-hole temperature
• Mechanical and hydraulic energy generated by pumping mud to the
bit, and abrasion between the drill string and the hole, produces a
great amount of heat
• Since the formation is a poor conductor the heat has no where to go
• Circulating fluid helps to dissipate this heat at surface
• Because of the composition of the mud, it has a lubricating effect
which also cuts down on the heat production. Indicators of poor
lubrication are high torque and drag

5. Transmit Hydraulic Power to Bit
Hydraulic Power is Used to:
• Maximize penetration rate (ROP)

• Remove cuttings from under the bit and up to the surface
• Run downhole motors and other special equipment
• The hydraulic program is based on using the right diameter nozzles in
the bit, the pump’s efficiency, and choosing the proper circulation
pressures and rates for the hole conditions

6. Guarantee Adequate Formation Evaluation
Logging
• The type and composition of mud in the hole determines the quality of
data from the electric logs that measure the electrical, sonic, nuclear
and magnetic-resonance properties of the formations
• Precise formation evaluation is mandatory, without it we must core,
run DSTs, and conduct flow tests. All these formation evaluation
methods are affected by the drilling fluids.

7. Minimize Formation Damage
Main Causes of Formation Damage
• Mud or drilling solids that invade deep into the matrix of the formation,
permanently obstructing its porosity and permeability
• Swelling shales, which reduce permeability
• Precipitation of solids that result from the reaction between the mud
filtrate and formation and completion fluids (such as brines or acids),
which limit permeability
• Emulsions formed by contact between the mud filtrate and formation
fluids, which can limit permeability

Seal off Permeable, Porous, and Fractured Fms
• Permeability is a measure of the capacity of a porous media (such as a

rock) to allow fluid to flow through it.
• When the pressure of a mud column is greater than the formation
pressure, liquid and solid components of the mud invade the formation
and form a filter cake against the borehole wall
• In highly porous and permeable formations, the mud can easily invade
the formation.

Filter Cake
• Solids in the mud will form a barrier (skin effect) on the borehole wall of
the formation.
• The filter cake is composed of solids from the drilling fluid
• The filter cake should be thick enough to seal the formation, but it also
must be thin enough to avoid causing drilling problems.

Potential Problems with a Thick Filter Cake
• Tight hole
• Increased torque and overpull
• Poor log quality
• Drillstring failure

Treating a Thick Filter Cake
• Calcium Carbonate (removable with acid washing)

• Cellulose
• And a wide range of seepage loss
• Other additives (LCM)

8. Control Corrosion
• Because the drill string and casing are constantly in contact with the
drilling fluid and well fluids, they are constantly subject to corrosion
• Electrolysis, stress, contaminants such as soluble salts, dissolved
oxygen, carbon dioxide, or hydrogen sulphide can cause severe
corrosion, either deep in the well or on surface
• Use oxygen scavengers, scale inhibitors, ironite sponge, zinc oxide
• Easiest to maintain high pH: 9.5 to 10.5
• Most solutions only slow the corrosion down, none can solve it

• Range of additives
• Bentonite
• Natural and synthetic polymers
• Asphalts and gilsonit
• Deflocculant organic additives lignosulfonate CMC and starches

• In a drilling fluid system, the mud properties must keep the essential functions
and at the same time minimise problems in the well.
• The topics developed in this chapter are a guideline for the selection of the
fluid.
• The selection of a drilling fluid must be based on generic experience and
developed in site experiences

The selection regarding the type of mud is based on:
¾ Drilling problems
¾ Possibility of converting the mud in use to another type of mud
¾ Cost
¾ Products availability
¾ Environmental factors
¾Case histories

Mud Properties VS Functions
• The characteristics of a mud can influence its functions e.g. the formation pressure is
checked by the hydrostatic pressure. The hydrostatic pressure is modified by the
density or specific weight.
• As the uncontrolled density increases, the pressure drop increases. The
consequence is a possible loss of circulation.

Mud characteristics modifications
Fluids engineering always need an exchange of conditions to treat and keep optimum
drilling. For instance, an out of proportion viscosity increasing, improves the hole
cleaning:
¾ The loss of pressure increases
¾ The capacity of removing solids in the mud decreases
¾ The penetrating rate slows down
¾ The dilution treating increases a/o the preparation, with consequent costs
increasing


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DRILLING FLUID FUNCTIONS

Drilling fluids are becoming so specialized, most companies now have a

Well Area Operations

Should: Should Not:

1. Remove drill cuttings from wellbore 6. Hamper formation evaluation

Well Area Operations

Well Area Operations

1. Remove Drill Cuttings from Wellbore

Transport velocity = Annular velocity – Slip velocity

(More on velocity under “Hydraulics” section)

Well Area Operations

1. Remove Drill Cuttings from Wellbore

Well Area Operations

1. Remove Drill Cuttings from Wellbore

Well Area Operations

1. Remove Drill Cuttings from Wellbore

Well Area Operations

1. Remove Drill Cuttings from Wellbore

USE THIXOTROPIC FLUIDS WITH “SHEAR THINNING”

USE A HIGH FLOW, LOW VISCOSITY FLUID TO OBTAIN

• An easy method to determine if drilled solids are being

Well Area Operations

2. Control Formation Pressure

• One of the main functions of drilling fluid is to keep the formation

Well Area Operations

2. Control Formation Pressure

• Formation pressure typically increases with depth

Well Area Operations

2. Control Formation Pressure

The pressure gradient of a normal formation can vary from:

• 0.436 psi/ft [1.03 kg/cm2/10 m] (8,59 lb/gal) for onshore wells

Well Area Operations

3. Maintain Wellbore Stability

• Wellbore stability is a function of mechanical, physical (pressure and

Well Area Operations

3. Maintain Wellbore Stability

• The cement job is a determining factor to effective isolation between

Well Area Operations

4. Cool and Lubricate the Drillstring and Bit

Circulation of the drilling fluids cools the bit and the

Well Area Operations

5. Transmit Hydraulic Power to Bit

Hydraulic Power is Used to:

• Maximize penetration rate (ROP)

Well Area Operations

6. Guarantee Adequate Formation Evaluation

Well Area Operations

7. Minimize Formation Damage

Main Causes of Formation Damage

Well Area Operations

7. Minimize Formation Damage

Seal off Permeable, Porous, and Fractured Fms

• Permeability is a measure of the capacity of a porous media (such as a

Well Area Operations

7. Minimize Formation Damage

Well Area Operations

7. Minimize Formation Damage

Potential Problems with a Thick Filter Cake

Well Area Operations

7. Minimize Formation Damage

Treating a Thick Filter Cake

• Calcium Carbonate (removable with acid washing)