Drilling Fluids Lab PETE 3265 Section 1.

Spring 2015.

Lab partners: Briana Dodson, Aziz Al-Umairy

Report by: Alan Alexeyev

Experiments #7.1 and 7.2:

Design PHPA Mud and Comparing effect of cement

contamination on PHPA and Bentonite muds

Date performed: 4/8 and 4/15/2015

Date submitted: 4/22/2015

Purpose:
The purpose of the two experiments was, firstly, to create a PHPA Mud with
compatible drilling properties of an 18 ppb Bentonite Mud. Secondly, to verify how robust
is the mud created in the first experiment under cementation contamination. The subpurpose was to learn how to create the experiments on our own, and that would prepare
us for the final experiment designed completely by our group.

Abstract:
This experiment prepared us for the design of our own mud. A little guidance was
given in terms of the quantities of the components that are required to create a mud. The
usual procedures that were learned from the previous labs were used. In the first part of
this two-week lab, the PHPA mud had to be created. PHPA stands for partially-hydrolyzed
polyacrylamide. Second part of the lab was to see how the created mud would withstand
the cement contamination. The results were recorded in the table and discussion will be
followed. This lab is essential to understating the importance of creating our own mud
that will help the different drilling operations under different conditions.

Introduction:
Introduction to mud contamination was given in the lab report #6. Today the task
was to create our own usually occurs in almost all of the wells drilled. It is a part of the
solids control for muds. PHPA is being added to the mud to treat it against the
contaminations.
PHPA is a class of water muds that use partially-hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (PHPA)
as a functional additive, either to control wellbore shales or to extend bentonite clay in a
low-solids mud. PHPA is supposed to seal small fractures and shale surfaces with a film
that retards dispersion and disintegration. PHPA mud is designed to be a shale-control
2

mud. In low-solids muds, PHPA interacts with small concentrations of bentonite to link
particles together and improve rheology [2]. Having said that, PHPA is supposed to help
when mud is contaminated, and goes along with previous experiment when the
contamination methods and treatments were analysed.

Equipment and Materials used:

Beakers, pH Meter, Blender, Marsh Funnel, Stopwatch, Mud balance by
OHAUS, OFITE manufactured 8-speed Rotational Viscometer Model 800,
shearometer, OFITE filter press
Water, Wyoming bentonite, Cement, caustic solution, PHPA, Bio-Lose.
Towel, safety glasses, lab coat, gloves

Procedures:
For experiment 7.1, we started with 99g of bentonite and 1925mL of water. We used
bentonite data from lab 2 [3]. The procedures of mud preparation, water loss test, shear
strength test and others were described in the previous labs [3]. No chemical tests were
performed in this lab. For experimental mud, the following components were added:
2.75g of PHPA, 0.55g of Bio-Lose, and 0.55g of caustic solution. The results were recorded
in the tables below. To obtain the PHPA mud that would have similar properties of 18 ppg
bentonite mud we were experimenting with adding different ppb of bentonite to the
experimental mud. We ended up stopping at 13 ppb mud, as it was the closest.
In experiment 2 the task was to see how robust the created mud was under
contamination. When adding all the components the sum of them turned out to be
2000g. So 1% of that is 20g. Thus we used 20g of cement to contaminate it.

Results:
Table 1. Lab #7.1 Experimental tries:
Bentonite Level, ppb
10
9
8
13

600, cp
27
24
21
32

300, cp
20
16
14
24

Water Loss, min

2.5
5
7.5

Volume, mL
2.9
5
6

Mud Weight
pH
Shear Strength

9 ppg
8.6
0

Table 2. Lab #7.2 Cement contamination:

Mud #2: 1925g of water, 99g of
bentonite, 20 g of cement
Water Loss, min
Volume, mL
2.5
12
5
17
7.5
21

PHPA Mud
Water Loss, min
2.5
5
7.5

Volume, mL
3
4
5

Mud Weight
pH
AV 300
AV 600
10 sec GS

8.6 ppg
8.6
92
102
54

Mud Weight
pH
AV 300
AV 600
10 sec GS

8.7 ppg
7.7
30
35
7

Sheareometer

30 lb/100ft2

Sheareometer

18 lb/ft2

71.5 + 0.55 + 0.55 + 2.75 + 1925

= 1.025 = 8.55
71.5 0.55 2.75

3
+
+

+ 0.55 + 1925
2.6 3
2.13 3
2685 3

Discussions:
In the experiment #7.1, the task was to create a PHPA mud compatible with a 18ppb
bentonite mud that would have similar properties. To achieve that we were experimenting
with the experimenting with the amount of bentonite to add, and ended when there was
13 ppb of bentonite in the mud, in addition to other components that were described in
Procedures section. The results were very close to the 18ppb mud that was done in the
previous labs, thats why our group was confident to stop the experiment at that point.
Designing this mud versus using just the original bentonite mud is perhaps needed to
treat the contamination later.
The mud that was created in the experiment #2 was very-very viscous. It produced high
viscosity values of almost 100 cp. Since it was viscous, it had a small water loss. Under
cement contamination the viscosity values were 30-35 cp range for mud without PHPA
and others. On the other hand, the water loss increased. It does verify the level of
robustness; after the cement contamination the viscosity values were high. PHPA mud
that was contaminated with only 1% of cement changed the properties dramatically.
Perhaps the positive side of this is that if during the drilling the cement contamination is
happening and the other muds cant detect it, the PHPA mud can, seen from the high
viscosity. PHPA could be a good tested for a contamination problems. That verifies the
previous statement in Introduction that PHPA mud helps fight the contamination.

Safety Comments:
Regarding the safety, we were using the goggles, gloves, and lab coats. One needed
to be careful when measuring, filling up the water to avoid spilling or break the
equipment. Another important thing was to pour the fluids very carefully to avoid
spillage, so that we will not lose any amount of fluids for further measurements.

Conclusions:
Upon concluding this experiment, our group learned how to create a mud with a
minimum guidelines, and that would prepare us to create an experiment without any
guidelines. The ideas about how to construct the mud, what components to add, and the
ways how to treat the mud were learning and will be used on the final experiment.

References:
1. Pages 45-75. Adam T. Bourgoyne, Martin Chenevert, Keith Millheim, F.S.
Young Jr., Applied Drilling Engineering, Vol.2, SPE, Richardson, TX. 1986
2. http://glossary.oilfield.slb.com/
3. Drilling fluids lab 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 by Alan Alexeyev. February April 2015.
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