DRILLING FLUIDS

AUTHOR: Eder Daniel Guerra Rodea

Introduction
The drilling fluid is a liquid or gas that flows using the drill
string to the drill bit and returns to the surface through the
annulus. To date, a gas or oil well cannot be drilled without
this basic concept of circulating fluid.
A cycle is the time required for the pump to move the drilling
fluid down the hole and back to the surface.
The drilling fluid is a key part of the drilling process, and the
success of a drilling program depends on its design.
A drilling fluid for a particular area should be designed to
meet specific requirements.
Generally the drilling fluids have many properties that are
beneficial to the operation but also after some of which are
undesirable. There is always a compromise.

Definition
The drilling fluid or mud as it is commonly called can be any
substance or mixture of substances with appropriate physical
and chemical characteristics, such as: air or gas, water, oil or
combinations of water and oil with certain percentage of
solids.
Specs
The fluid must not be toxic, corrosive, or flammable, but inert
to contamination of soluble salts or minerals and stable at
high temperatures. Further must maintain their properties
according to the requirements of operations, should be
immune to the development of bacterium.

Drilling mud functions

Removed cuts downhole, transports and releases on the
surface
The flow rate in the annular space is the key parameter
to overcome the effect of gravity (100 and 200 ft. / min)
The density and viscosity also contribute to improve
capacity a fluid conveyor.
The cuts and solid surface must be removed to obtain a
clean fluid which can be pumped back into the through
hole string.
The sand is very abrasive and if not removed will
damage Mud pumps, lines, tubular and equipment
underground.

Drilling mud functions

Cool and lubricate the drill bit and drill string
As the bit and the drill string rotate against the
formation, a large amount of heat is generated.
The drilling fluid absorbs heat and takes the generated
surface where it sell Bear to atmosphere.
The drilling fluid must have some properties that help
reduce lubrication and friction torque.

Placing a waterproof plaster wall

A good drilling fluid should deposit a thin plaster and
permeability low hole wall face permeable to consolidate
and to retard the passage of fluid from the wellbore into
the formation permeable formations. (Sandstone).
The differential pressure fluid invasion resolved which in
the absence of a reverse push the mud or your filter into
the formation.
The loss of sludge or filter causes formation damage.

Controlling subsurface pressures

The hydrostatic pressure of the sludge should be sufficient to
prevent an unexpected outbreak of the well.
The density of the mud (mud weight) is the controlling factor.
An equation for the hydrostatic pressure exerted by the mud
column is PH (psi) = (Vertical Depth ft) x (mud weight, lb / gal)
x (0.052)
Formations with pressures below normal are often drilled with
air, gas,
mist, rigid foam, aerated mud special fluids ultralow density (typically petroleum based).

Sustaining cuts and heavy material in suspension when traffic stops

This is achieved with good thixotropic properties of the fluid.
Thixotropy is the ability of a fluid to develop gel strength with
time when left him at rest, but allowing it to return to its fluid
state by applying mechanical agitation.

Support of the weight of the drill string and coatings

As a well is drilled deeper, the weight of the strings of drilling
and casing becomes a critical factor.
The mud helps reduce the weight of strings to form them
float up by a thrust force equal to the weight of the displaced
mud.

Allow obtaining information from the formations penetrated

The properties of the fluid must not interfere with the
registration program should facilitate obtaining the desired
information.
For example, the sludge should have a defined resistivity to
be run when records can derive the formation resistivity.

Transmitting hydraulic horsepower at the bit

The drilling fluid is the means to transmit power pole hydraulic
auger.
The flow properties of the sludge exert considerable influence
on the hydraulics. They must be optimized to achieve optimal
hydraulics.
A suitable hydraulic promotes high penetration rates.

Protect the drill string against corrosion:

The drilling fluid must be non-corrosive.
Corrosion increases as the pH decreases.
Corrosion can lead to:
- Breaks by erosive jet pipe (wash)
- Faulty pumps fraud
- Line Leak surface
Dissolved gases. Such as oxygen, carbon dioxide and
hydrogen sulfide can cause severe corrosion problems in both
surface and downhole. In general, low pH aggravates
corrosion.

Density
It is the property of the fluid whose main function keeps
formation fluids into place.
The density is generally expressed in lbs. / gal
Is a factor which depends on the hydrostatic pressure exerted
by the fluid column.
The hydrostatic pressure must be slightly greater than the
formation pressure to avoid possible an onslaught, which
depend on the characteristics of training.
Weight material is used as barite due to its high specific
gravity (minimum of 4.2gr / cc).
Density
Mud balance: allows, in addition to density in lbs. / gal and lbs.
/ ft3, knowing the specific gravity and the pressure gradient
per thousand feet.

API viscosity (funnel)

He knows some practical importance but no scientific basis,
and the only benefit that apparently has, is to suspend the
gravel formation in the annulus, when the flow is laminar.

Is advisable to avoid high viscosities and drill with the lowest

possible as long as funnel viscosity, acceptable values of

forces gelatinization and filtering control are taken. A

contaminated fluid exhibits high viscosity funnel.
API viscosity
Marsh funnel the funnel is used to determine fluid viscosity at
four seconds per gallon. It is determined with the Marsh
funnel, and serves to buy the fluidity of a liquid with water.

Plastic viscosity
Is the viscosity resulting from mechanical friction between:
Solid
Solids and liquids
Liquid and liquid
The viscosity depends on the concentration, size and shape of
the solids present in the fluid, and is controlled by mechanical
solids control equipment. This control is essential to improve
the rheological behavior and especially for high rates of
penetration (ROP).
A low plastic viscosity coupled with a high yield point allows
effective cleaning of the hole with high penetration rate.
Yield point

Is a measure of the force of attraction between the particles,

or low flow conditions: It is the force that helps maintain fluid
once it starts moving.
The yield point is related to the cleaning ability of the fluid
dynamic conditions, and usually suffers increased by the
action of soluble pollutants such as carbonate, calcium, and
forming the solid reactants.
A fluid flocculated high yield point values.
Flocculation is controlled according to the causative that
originates. Slimming chemicals are used when it is caused by
excess clay solids and water as the fluid is dewatered by high
temperatures.

Gel strength
This resistance or gel strength is a measure of physical and
electrochemical attraction under static conditions. Is related to
the ability of fluid suspension and controlled in the same way
as the yield point is controlled, since the same type originates
solid (reagent)
This force should be sufficiently low:
Allow settling of solids in surface tanks, mainly in the sand
trap.
Allow good performance of pumps and adequate velocity.
Minimize suction effect pulls the pipe.

Allow gas evolution incorporated into the fluid.

Filtered
The filter indicates the relative amount of fluid filtered through
the filter cake into permeable formations, when the fluid is
subjected to a differential pressure. This feature is affected by
the following factors: pressure-dispersion-temperature-time.
In permeable formations controlled non-producing developing
a quality plaster, which is possible if you have high
concentration and dispersion of clay solids that are the real
addictive filtration control. It is therefore actual practice to use
pre-hydrated bentonite to control the filter.

PH
PH indicates if the sludge is acidic or basic. Most dilute
aqueous base are alkaline and work with a range of pH
between 7.5 to 11.5. When the pH ranges from 7.5 to 9.5, the
fluid is of low pH and then varies from 9.5 to 11.5, pH is high.
The main factors that determine the selection of drilling fluids
are
Types of formations to be drilled.

Temperature range, efforts and pressures exhibited by

permeability formations.
Assessment procedure used formations.
Water quality available.
Ecological and environmental considerations.
Water Base
Consists of a mixture of solids, liquids and chemicals, water
being the continuous phase.
Some of the solids and react with the water phase dissolved
chemicals therefore are called solid reagents. Most are
hydratable clays.
The chemicals added to the sludge restrict the activity of
these, allowing certain properties of FP remain within desired
limits.
The other solids in slurry do not react with water and
chemicals significantly inert solids being called.
Any oil that is added to a water based mud is emulsified into
the water phase, remaining as small droplets discontinuous
(oil in water emulsion).

Base Oil
Are similar in composition to the water-based muds, except
that the continuous phase is water instead of oil and water
drops is, emulsified in the oil phase.
Another important difference is that all are considered inert
solids, because they do not react with the oil.

Prevent corrosion to the drill string and.

Avoid problems sensitive clays.
Disadvantage: high initial cost and maintenance
Circulation system of the drilling fluid
1. pumps-sucking mud sludge tank and pumped into this rig.
2. Pipes and hoses-Connects the pump rig
3. Mud returns line-Via the return sludge from the hole.
4. Vibrating sieve-be for sludge rock cuts.
5. slide-shale cuttings lead to the reservoir
6. Reserve pit-Collect cuts separated sludge rock.
7. Where mud pits drilling fluid is mixed and recycled.
8. mud-mixing hopper-dondeel new mud is mixed to a slurry
tank was sent

Components
1 suction tanks or dams
2 suction line
3 mud pumps

4 line pump discharge

5 pipeline to the tower
6 rotate hose
7 Drillstring
8 annulus hole - string
9 return line (flow line afloat)
10settlement tank or prey
11area for conditioning the sludge

Conclusions
The drilling fluid is a liquid or gas that flows using the drill
string to the drill bit and returns to the surface through the
annulus. To date, a gas or oil well cannot be drilled without
this basic concept of circulating fluid.

Bibliography
www.fluidosdeperforacion.com
http://www.planetseed.com/es/sciencearticle/fluido-deperforacion-elemento-vital-del-pozo
http://www.ptolomeo.unam.mx
www.propiedadesdelosfluidos.com