Muds

To remove rock bit cuttings from the bottom of the hole and carry them to the surface 

To allow the acquisition of information about the formation being drilled (e.g., electric logs, cutting analysis) 

The classification of drilling muds is based on their fluid phase alkalinity, dispersion, and the type of chemicals used. We follow the classification of Lyons [1135] see Table 1-1. 

Drilling fluids used in the upper hole sections are referred to as dispersed noninhibited systems. They are formulated from freshwater and may contain bentonite. The classification of bentonite-based muds is shown in Table 1-2. 

Water-based drilling muds that repress hydration of clays (lime muds, gypsum muds, seawater muds, saturated saltwater muds) 

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Clays have layers of linked (Al, Si)04 tet-rahedra combined with layers of Mg(OH)2 or AI(0H)3- Clays are very important soil constituents and are used in pottery, ceramics, as rubber, paint, plastic and paper fillers, as adsorbents and in drilling muds. 

Solids materials that are insoluble in hydrocarbon or water can be entrained in the crude. These are called bottom sediments and comprise fine particles of sand, drilling mud, rock such as feldspar and gypsum, metals in the form of minerals or in their free state such as iron, copper, lead, nickel, and vanadium. The latter can come from pipeline erosion, storage tanks, valves and piping systems, etc. whatever comes in contact with the crude oil. 

Exploration activities are potentially damaging to the environment. The cutting down of trees in preparation for an onshore seismic survey may result in severe soil erosion in years to come. Offshore, fragile ecological systems such as reefs can be permanently damaged by spills of crude or mud chemicals. Responsible companies will therefore carry out an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) prior to activity planning and draw up contingency plans should an accident occur. In Section 4.0 a more detailed description of health, safety and environmental considerations will be provided. 

The formation cuttings that are ohipped off by the bit travel upward with the mud and are caught and analysed at the surface. This provides information about the lithology and qualitative indications of the porosity. 

If there are hydrocarbons present in the formation that is being drilled, they will show in the cuttings as oil stains, and in the mud as traces of oil or gas. The gas in the mud is continuously monitored by means of a gas detector. This is often a relatively simple device detecting the total combustible gas content. The detector can be supplemented by a gas chromatograph, which analyses the composition of the gas. 

Bit Size (in) Casing Design Cement Mud Properties Logging... 

Earlier on when we described the cutting action of the drill bit we learned about the drilling fluid or mud. The mud cools the bit and also removes the cuttings by carrying them up the hole outside the drill pipe. At the surface the mud runs over a number of moving screens, the shale shakers (Fig. 3.11) which remove the cutting for disposal. The fine particles which pass through the screens are then removed by desanders and desilters, usually hydrocyclones. 

Originally, mud was made from clay mixed with water, a simple system. Today the preparation and treatment of drilling fluid has reached a sophistication which requires specialist knowledge. The reason for this becomes clear if we consider the properties expected. 

In order to effectively lift the cuttings out of the hole a certain viscosity needs to be achieved, yet the fluid must remain pumpable. If the mud circulation stops, for instance... 

The choice of drilling fluid has a major impact on the evaluation and" production of a well. Later in this section, we will investigate the interaction between drilling fluids, logging operations and the potential damage to well productivity caused by mud invasion into the formation. 

An important safety feature on every modern rig is the blowout preventer (BOP). As discussed earlier on, one of the purposes of the drilling mud is to provide a hydrostatic head of fluid to counterbalance the pore pressure of fluids in permeable formations. However, for a variety of reasons (see section 3.6 Drilling Problems ) the well may kick , i.e. formation fluids may enter the wellbore, upsetting the balance of the system, pushing mud out of the hole, and exposing the upper part of the hole and equipment to the higher pressures of the deep subsurface. If left uncontrolled, this can lead to a blowout, a situation where formation fluids flow to the surface in an uncontrolled manner. 

If a shallow kick off in soft formation is required (e.g. to steer the borehole away underneath platforms) a technique using jet bit deflection or badgering is employed (Fig. 3.16). A rock bit is fitted with two small and one large jet. With the bit on bottom and oriented in the desired direction the string is kept stationary and mud is pumped through the nozzles. This causes asymmetric erosion of the borehole beneath the larger jet. Once sufficient hole has been jetted, the drill bit will be rotated again and the new course followed. This process will be repeated until the planned deviation is reached. 

In today s operations a mud motor or a mud turbine are mostly used for directional drilling. Rotary drilling may be carried out between mud motor / turbine drilling i.e. the use of these is often restricted to a certain interval only. 

A mud motor (Fig. 3.17) is a positive displacement hydraulic motor, driven by the circulated drilling fluid. A continuous seal is formed between the body ( stator ) and the... 

Figure 3.14 Lengthwise and cross sectional cut through a mud motor...

An alternative type of downhole mud motor is the mud turbine, (multistage axial flow turbine) which directly drives the bit. The tool consists of an upper section containing the turbine blades and lower section with bearings. As mud is pumped through the upper section the blades are turned. Turbines are designed to rotate at higher speed than the displacement motor. The higher rotation speed requires diamond or composite bits. 

Some clay minerals may absorb some of the water contained in the drilling mud. This will cause the clays to swe//and eventually reduce the borehole size to the point where the drill pipe becomes stuck. Prevention mud additives which prevent clay swelling e.g. potassium salt. 

Residual stresses in the formation, resulting from regional tectonic forces may cause the borehole to collapse or deform resulting in stuck pipe. Prevention sometimes high mud weights may help delay deformation of the bore hole. 

During drilling operations sometimes large volumes of drilling mud are lost into a formation. In this case normal mud circulation is no longer possible and the fluid level inside the borehole will drop, creating a potentially dangerous situation as described below. The formations in which lost circulation can be a problem are ... 

A low strength formation in which open fractures are initiated by too high mud pressure in the borehole... 

In the event of a sudden loss of mud In an Interval containing overpressures the mud column in the annulus will drop, thereby reducing the hydrostatic head acting on the formation to the point where formation pressure exceeds mud pressure. Formation fluids (oil, gas or water) can now enter the borehole and travel upwards. In the process the gas will expand considerably but will maintain its initial pressure. The last line of defence leff is the blowout preventer. However, although the BOP will prevent fluid or gas escape to the surface, closing in the well may lead to two potentially disastrous situations ... 

When drilling through normally pressured formations, the mud weight in the well is controlled to maintain a pressure greater than the formation pressure to prevent the influx of formation fluid. Atypical overbalance would be in the order of 200 psi. A larger overbalance would encourage excessive loss of mud Into the formation, slow down... 

Similarly, when drilling into an underpressured formation, the mud weight must be reduced to avoid excessive losses into the formation. Again, it may be necessary to set a casing before drilling into underpressures. 

If a situation arises whereby formation fluid or gas enters the bore bole the driller will notice an increase in the total volume of mud. Other indications such as a sudden increase in penetration rate and a decrease in pump pressure may also indicate an influx. Much depends on a quick response of the driller to close in the well before substantial volumes of formation fluid have entered the borehole. Onoe the BOP is closed, the new mud gradient required to restore balance to the system can be calculated. The heavier mud is then circulated in through the kill line and the lighter mud and influx is circulated out through the choke line. Once overbalance is restored, the BOP can be opened again and drilling operations continue. 

Shallow water carbonate (reefs carbonate muds) Reservoir quality governed by diagenetic processes and structural history (fracturing). Prolific production from karstified carbonates. High and early water production possible. Dual porosity systems in fractured carbonates. Dolomites may produce H S. 

When drilling through normally pressured formations, the mud weight in the well is usually controlled to maintain a pressure greater than the formation pressure to prevent... 

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