Chemical Contamination of

Drilling Fluids
 Definitions

Contaminants
Materials that enter the drilling fluids system and alter
its properties in an undesirable way are called
contaminants .

Contamination
Its a source in which can result high changes in
designed mud properties to undesirable level .
 Severity of Chemical Contamination

Depends on:
Type of Mud System
Chemistry of the Mud
Amount of Solids
Type of Solids
Concentration of the Contaminant
Temperature
 Contamination - Types

Chemical
Salt
Calcium
Magnesium
Cement
Carbonates
H2S
Other
Solids
 Salt Contamination - Sources

Salt formation
Salt water flow

Key Indicator
Chloride increase
 Salt - Treatment

Raise Density to Stop Flow if Applicable

Chemical Removal Not Practical
Dilution may help
Deflocculate Clays
Increase pH
Lower Fluid Loss
Reduce Calcium if Needed
Convert to a Compatible System ( Salt Saturated
Mud)
 Calcium/Magnesium - Sources

Salt Formations
Salt Water Flows
Anhydrite/Gypsum Beds
Make Up Water

Key Indicator
Hardness increases
 Calcium/Magnesium - Treatment
Chemically Remove Calcium or Magnesium
Deflocculate Clays
Lower Fluid Loss
Raise pH
Convert to Compatible Mud System
 Calcium/Magnesium - Treatment

If Calcium - from formation or makeup water

Treat with Soda Ash
Ca + + + Na2CO3 CaCO3 + 2Na+
Anhydrite/Gypsum Contamination
Treat with Soda Ash

CaSO4 + Na2CO3 CaCO3 + Na2SO4

Important
Overtreatment can cause Carbonate Problems
Leave some Calcium in Solution
Recommended Minimum - 100 mg/L
 Cement - Sources

Drilling out of Casing

Plugging Back for Side Tracks
Squeeze Operations
Barite Contamination
Sack Material

Key Indicators
pH, Pm, and Pf
 Cement - Severity

Cured Cement Green Cement

Gelled Mud

Cement

moderate pH's Higher pH's

Less Severe Flocculation More Severe Flocculation
 Cement Contamination - Treatment
Dump Severely Contaminated Mud
Drill Cement with Water
Dilute Mud System
Deflocculate
Lower Fluid Loss
Treat To Chemically Remove Cement
Bicarbonate of Soda
SAPP
Acids
 Cement - Chemical Treatment

Bicarbonate of Soda (NaHCO3) - Bicarb*

Ca(OH)2 + NaHCO3 CaCO3 + NaOH + H2O

Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate (SAPP)*

2Ca(OH)2 +Na2H2P2O7 Ca2P2O7 + 2NaOH+ 2H2O

Sodium Carbonate (Na2CO3) - Soda Ash*

Ca(OH)2 + Na2CO3 CaCO3 + 2NaOH
 Carbonates - Chemical Composition

Carbonates exist in the mud system as:

Carbon Dioxide
Bicarbonate
Carbonate

Their form depends on the pH of the mud.

 Carbonate Contamination - Source

Carbon Dioxide from Formation

Thermal Breakdown of Additives
Contaminated Barite
Overtreatment with:
Soda Ash
Sodium Bicarbonate
Bacterial Action on Organics

Key Indicators
Pf, Mf, and 10 minute gels
 Carbonates - Chemical Equilibrium

The Ph of the mud is the only indicator for Carbonates and

Bicarbonates contaminations
% Total Carbonates

Carbon Dioxide

100
Bicarbonate
CO3
80 H2CO3 Carbonate
HCO3

60

40

20
HCO3 HCO3
0
2 4 6 8 10 12 14
pH
 Carbonates - Effect on Ten Minute Gels

Ten Minute Gel Strength

40
Hydroxyl

Bicarbonate
30
Carbonate

20

10

0
0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000 7,000
Concentration in mg/L
20 ppb Bentonite Suspension
 Mud Contamination
The Carbonate CO3 and Bicarbonates HCO3 are the
most common sources of in Water Base Drilling Fluids
contaminations,
Source of Carbonates and Bicarbonates
CO2 Gas from Formations or From Air while Mixing
CO2 + H2O ------- HCO3 CO2 + H2O ------- CO3 + H

Over Treatment with Soda Ash ( Sodium Carbonate )

Na2CO3 or NaHCO3
Thermal Degradation of lignosulphonate and lignite due
to high Temperature
From Impure Barite
 Mud Contamination

Salt , Sodium Chloride - Nacl,

When Chloride (Cl ) Concentration increases at mud
system ,most of properties changes due to Cl contamination .

Source of Nacl : Salt Formations

Calcium And Magnesium Ca and Mg,

When Ca and Mg Increases in the mud system , Mud
properties will be changes due to Ca and Mg Contaminations
( Viscosity Increase FL Increases)
Sources of ( Ca & Mg ) : Cement , Formations
 Contamination Analysis

How we analysis and know the type of Mud

Contaminations
Using Chemical Analysis

PF and Mf Test for Carbonate and Bicarbonate Analysis

Chloride Test for salt Contamination
Total hardness Test for Ca & Mg Contamination
 Carbonate and Bicarbonate Analysis
Using PF & MF Test
PF Test ( Phenolphthalein Filtrate Test (
This test is run by Taking (1ml) of mud Filtrate
Usually The Ph of the mud Filtrate ling around ( 9 - 10 )
PF Test Procedures
1 ml of Mud Filtrate
Add 4 Drops of Phenolphthalein (Gives Pink Colour at Ph
above 8.3)
Titrate (add) 0.02 N Sulphuric Acid (H2 SO4) This will
Reduce the PH of the mixture . At Ph 8.3 Pink Colour will
disappear

PF Value = The No of ML of (H2SO4 ) used to reduce the Ph

of the mixture down to 8.3
 Carbonate and Bicarbonate Analysis
Using Methyl orange PF = ML of Acid ( H2SO4) used
Using Phenolphthalein
PF
Ph
0 MF 7
8.3 of FL = 9 14
4.2
MF is The Amount of Acid (H2SO4)

PF Test ( The amount of Acid (H2SO4) Required to

reduce the value of Ph of the Mud Filtrate from the
Existing Value to 8.3) (This will cover the Ph range in which Hydroxyl
and Carbonate are exist)

MF Test ( The amount of Acid (H2SO4)Required to Reduce

The Ph of the Filtrate from 8.3 to 4.2 + the Value of PF)
( where this range covers the exist of Bicarbonate)
PF & MF Analysis for Contamination
Source of
PF/MF Ratio Mud Conditions
Alkalinity
PF = MF OH Only Stable

2PF > MF OH & CO3 Stable

Unstable But
2PF = MF CO3 Only
Controllable

Unstable Different
2PF < MF CO3 & HCO3
to Control

Unstable Different
PF = 0 HCO3 Only
to Control
 Treatment
Co3 & HCo3 Contamination Treated with
Lime Ca(OH2)
Ca(OH2) + Co3 ----------- CaCO3 + 2oH
Ca(OH2) + HCo3 ----------- CaCo3 + 2oH + OH

Calcium (Ca ) Contamination Treated with

Sodium Carbonate Na2Co3 (Soda Ash )
Na2Co3 + CaSo4 ------------- Na2So4 + CaCo3
 Chloride Cl mg Analysis

1.Take sample of 1ML Mud filtrate

2.
Add 4 drops of Potassium Chromate gives yello
colour
Titrate with Selfuric nitrate asid (AgSo4)
 Chloride ( Cl) Analysis

Measuring the amount of Chloride Cl mg/l

1. 1ml of mud filtrate
2. Add 4 drops Potassium Chromate
3. Titrate with (0.082-Silver Nitrate, AgNo3
4. Color changes to yellow to brick red
5. Cl Mg/l = CC of titration solution x 1000
6. NaCl Mg/l = 1.65 x Cl. Mg/l
 Total Hardness Calcium ( Ca) &
Magnesium Mg Analysis
Measuring the amount of Calc
1. 1ml of mud filtrate
2. Add 4 drops of indicator
3. Add 4 drops Puffer solution
4. Titrate with Standard Versenate solutions
5. Color changes to dark red to blue or to gray / green
6. Total hardness Ca+Mg mg/l = ml of Titration solution
X 400