Mud Density Lab Report

Heriot-Watt University

School of Engineering Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society

Petroleum Engineering

Stage 3 Laboratory Experiment

Experiment 1: Drilling Fluid Density (Mud Weight)

Name and surname: Aytakin Gasimova – H00177243

Contents

Introduction 3

Experimental details 3

Procedure 4

Results and discussion 4

General issues 5

Specific issues 5

Safety note 6

References: 7

Introduction

This report contains information about the laboratory experiment which encompasses the measurement of mud weight and which was held in “Azeri MI Drilling Fluids” company. Generally, mud weight or density of the mud is one of the leading properties of drilling fluids in terms of safety issues such that it balances and controls

Results and discussion

In the result of laboratory experiment the mud weight value is obtained. The density of the water based mud is measured and reported in such units: pounds per gallon (PPG), pound per cubic feet (lb/ft3), grams per millilitre (b/ml) or grams per cubic centimetre (g/cm3).

Mud sample’s mud weight taken at 34.8 degree C temperature is found to be 1.2 S.G. and 10 ppg.

Mud Weight is equal to S.G.=1.2 g/cm; in pound per gallon: 10 ppg

Mud weight in ppg x 0.052 = mud gradient in

Several of them have already discussed in “Introduction” paragraph. However, there are more of them. It is apparent that the borehole pressure maintained by means of mud weight should be more than formation pressure in order to prevent any type of influxes. Transporting drilled cuttings from the face of bit to the surface is the most basic function of drilling fluid. To accomplish this purpose, the fluid should have adequate suspension properties to make sure that cuttings made during drilling procedure and commercially added solids, such as barite or bentonite weighing material, do not settle during static intervals. Moreover, the bit and drillstring rotate at relatively high revolutions per minute (RPM) during actual drilling operations. The circulation of drilling fluid through the drillstring and up the wellbore annulus makes it easy to reduce friction and cool the drillstring. The drilling fluid also provides a quiet reasonable degree of lubricity to help the movement of the drillpipe. To maintain abovementioned function drilling mud must be of sufficient density or mudweight. The density of the mud is measured and reported in such field units: pounds per gallon (PPG). Then, it can be converted into pound per cubic feet (lb/ft3), grams per millilitre (b/ml), grams per cubic centimetre (g/cm3), or specific gravity (S.G.). The density of the mud can be altered by