The following procedures shall be carried out, or fully supervised, by the Mud Engineer to determine the salinity of freshwater delivered to the rig. This is essential to prevent inadequate yielding of bentonite and unwanted acceleration of freshwater cement slurries. The salinity level determination of the water should be carried out using the DS meter … Drilling Fluids QA/QC – Quality Control of Freshwater
The hydrocyclone is an inverted conical shaped shell into which pressurised slurry is injected tangentially at the top/wide end. This induces the fluid to flow around the circumference of the shell and downwards to a small opening at its apex. The circular motion develops high centrifugal forces which increase towards the narrow apex. As a … Solids Control Equipment – Desanders and Desilters
In order to mix the mud for the drilling of a well it is necessary to maintain sufficient stock levels at the rigsite. It is vital that stock levels are regularly monitoring through frequent inventory checks to ensure that stock levels meet operation requirements. Mud product inventories as shown below shall be updated weekly by … Mud Products Inventory Form
1. Responsibilities for Routine Monitoring of the Drilling Fluid The Toolpusher shall ensure that a suitably trained crew member is in attendance at the shale shaker and active pit at all times while circulating. The Drilling Supervisor shall determine and inform the Mud Engineer and Drilling Contractor of the required mud gradient to ensure the … Drilling Fluids: Monitoring and Reporting
Contamination is a steady process while drilling, as drilled solids are continually entering the mud. While much of the drilled solids are inert, there are certain materials which can cause severe chemical and physical problems. Contaminants tend to become apparent more quickly with lightly treated muds rather than with more highly inhibited varieties. Any contamination … Drilling Fluid Contamination
H2S will have no adverse effects on the mud. However, the gas is highly poisonous and corrosive. Sources of H2S The gas is sometimes associated with formation fluids. (Add Biocide) Diagnosis Gas liberated at surface will be detected by gas sensors. Soluble sulphides in the mud are detected by use of the Garret Gas Train. … Drilling Fluid Contamination: Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S)
High levels of hardness will result in flocculation of bentonite with associated severe increases in viscosity. Subsequently, as the cation exchange process continues, the clay particles will aggregate and the result will be a low viscosity fluid. The main effect of hardness on polymer fluids is precipitation of polymers at high pH (>11) in which … Drilling Fluid Contamination: Hardness
If salt enters a bentonite based mud, the clay platelets will flocculate resulting in gellation and increasedfluid loss (>10ml). Polymer systems are tolerant to salt contamination. However, the salt acts to reduce the yield of most polymers (not Starch), and in practice, high salt concentrations will require a higher concentration of polymer for the same … Drilling Fluid Contamination: Salt
Cement contamination occurs in every well drilled. It is contamination from calcium hydroxide which can result in increased pH, severe thickening and increased fluid loss of bentonite based mud systems (flocculation of the bentonite clay). The severity of the problem will depend on the level of pre-treatment and thinner concentration in the mud. In a … Drilling Fluid Contamination: Cement
One of the most unrecognised types of contamination is that due to Carbonate and Bicarbonate ions. Usually such contamination is gradual, resulting in increased gel strengths and yield point. It is often incorrectly diagnosed as increased solids but, in this case, application of costly thinners have little, or no effect. Sources of Carbonates C02 from drilled … Drilling Fluid Contamination: Carbonate/ Bicarbonate