ATM PETE 320 ATM

ATM ATM
Lesson 2
Rheology of Drilling and Completion
Fluids
ATM PETE 320 ATM
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Harold Vance Department of
Petroleum Engineering
Rheology of Drilling and
Completion Fluids
Functions of Drilling/Completion Fluids
Fluid Types,
Fluid Models
Introduction to Rotary Viscometer
Other Testing Equipment
Objectives of Monitoring Fluids
ATM PETE 320 ATM
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Harold Vance Department of
Petroleum Engineering
Rheology of Drilling and
Completion Fluids
Read: MI Chapters 1, 2, 3, & 5
Watch: Multimedia program 3 & 4
ATM PETE 320 ATM
ATM ATM
Harold Vance Department of
Petroleum Engineering
Functions of Drilling/Completion
Fluids
1. Remove cuttings from the well.
2. Control formation pressures.
3. Suspend and release cuttings.
4. Seal permeable formations.
ATM PETE 320 ATM
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Harold Vance Department of
Petroleum Engineering
Functions of Drilling/Completion
Fluids
5. Maintain wellbore stability.
6. Minimize reservoir damage.
7. Cool, lubricate, and support the bit and
drilling assembly.
8. Transmit hydraulic energy to tools and
bit.
ATM PETE 320 ATM
ATM ATM
Harold Vance Department of
Petroleum Engineering
Functions of Drilling/Completion
Fluids
9. Ensure adequate formation evaluation.
10. Control corrosion.
11. Facilitate cementing and completion.
12. Minimize impact on the environment

ATM PETE 320 ATM
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Harold Vance Department of
Petroleum Engineering
Fluid Types,
Water based
Oil based
Air
Mists
Foams
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Flow Regimes
Plug Flow
Flat flow profile
Velocity at walls is
almost the same as in
the middle
Low velocities, and
high viscosities

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Flow Regimes
Laminar flow
Parallel layers of mud
flow
Bullet shaped flow
profile
Velocity at the wall is
approximately 0
Velocity at the middle
is maximum
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Harold Vance Department of
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Flow Regimes
Laminar Flow

Drillstring

Annulus
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Flow Regimes
Turbulent flow
Flow pattern is eratic
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Flow Regimes
Summary
Wellbore
Turbulent
flow
Transition
flow
Complete
Streamline
Incomplete
Streamline

Plug flow
No Flow
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Harold Vance Department of
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Fluid Models
Newtonian Model
Bingham Plastic Model
Power Law Model
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Harold Vance Department of
Petroleum Engineering
Rheology
The study of how matter deforms and flows.
Primarily concerned with the relationship of
shear stress and shear rate and the impact
these have on flow characteristics inside
tubulars and annular spaces.
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Harold Vance Department of
Petroleum Engineering
Hydraulics
Describes how fluid flow creates and uses
pressures.
ATM PETE 320 ATM
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Harold Vance Department of
Petroleum Engineering
Rheological Models
In drilling fluids, the flow behavior of the
fluid must be described using rheological
models and equations before hydraulic
equations can be applied.
ATM PETE 320 ATM
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Harold Vance Department of
Petroleum Engineering
Viscosity????
Funnel Viscosity Marsh Funnel
Apparent Viscosity
Effective Viscosity
Plastic Viscosity
Yield Point
Low-shear viscosity and Low-shear-rate viscosity
Gel Strengths
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Harold Vance Department of
Petroleum Engineering
Funnel Viscosity
Measured in
Sec/quart
Marsh Funnel
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Petroleum Engineering
Shear Stress & Shear Rate
Shear Stress Force required to sustain the
shear rate.
Shear Rate Function of the fluid velocity
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Harold Vance Department of
Petroleum Engineering
Newtonian Model
Shear Stress, t, is
proportional to the
Shear Rate, g
Plot intersects at the
origin
t = mg
m = Viscosity,
centipoise = f
300

reading
g
t
m
300 rpm
ATM PETE 320 ATM
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Harold Vance Department of
Petroleum Engineering
Bingham Plastic Model
Shear Stress, t, is
proportional to the
Shear Rate, g
Plot intersects at the
Yield Point (not 0)
t = m
p
g + t
y

m
p
= PV
t
y
= YP

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Power Law Model
Shear Stress, t, is proportional to the Shear Rate, g
Plot intersects at the origin

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Which is correct?
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Harold Vance Department of
Petroleum Engineering
Introduction to Rotary
Viscometer
Viscosity,
PV, YP, n, K
all calculated
from
viscometer
readings
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Viscometer
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Rotational Viscometer
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Petroleum Engineering
Other Testing Equipment
Filter Press
Measures filter
cake thickness
and Fluid Loss
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Harold Vance Department of
Petroleum Engineering
Other Testing Equipment
pH meters used to measure pH of whole
mud, filtrate, and filter cake
Retorts used to determine oil content, etc.
Test for sand content
Test for clay content

ATM PETE 320 ATM
ATM ATM
Harold Vance Department of
Petroleum Engineering
Objectives of Monitoring Fluids

Identify potential hole problems and to
identify their causes
could be poor hole cleaning
hole erosion
formation damage
sensitive formations
pressure control problems