Particle Size Analysis

for Drilling in Petroleum Industry

011

Introduction
In order to drill a successful oil well, most drilling operators
will use a good drilling fluid or mud (figure 1).
Mud cools and lubricates the drilling tool, helps to attack
the rock by injection under pressure, and cleans out the
hole, carrying away the pieces of crushed rock [1].
These mud systems are usually WBM (Water-Based
Mud), OBM (Oil-Based Mud) or SOBM (Synthetic OilBased Mud).
One of the major problems with these systems, particularly
when reused on different wells, is the build-up of very fine
micron solids (less than 5 microns) known as Low Gravity
Solids (LGS).
The generation of LGS in the mud creates:

Derrick

Stand pipe
Kelly

Rotary table
Circulating
mud system
Cement
Drilling pipe

Slower penetration rates

High pump pressures
Increased solids surface area, plastic viscosity
Increased yield point and gel strengths

Drilling bit

Risk: becoming stuck and losing the hole drilled

Figure 1 : Description of an oil rig

The use of Particle Size Analysis (PSA) for drilling in the petroleum industry
10

Mud before drilling process

9

Mud after drilling process

Dmean= 35 m

Particle Size Analysis (PSA) based on laser

diffraction is an easy-to-use technique to
measure liquids and dry products.

Volume (%)

Dmean= 3 m

All mud systems with their different carry liquids

can be tested, from WBM and OBM to SOBM.

5
4

This analysis makes it possible to detect the

presence of 5-m particles in drilling fluids in
order to avoid the cementing process in the well
(figure 2).

3
2
1
0
0.1

10

100

Particle size (m)

Figure 2 : Particle size distributions of drilling fluids

1000

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The use of Particle Size Analysis (PSA) for drilling in petroleum industry
10

Calcim Carbonate
Barium Sulphate

Along with drilling mud, the particle size

measurement of LCM (Lost Circulation Material),
such as calcium carbonate and barium sulphate
(figure 3), is significant.

Dmean= 11 m

Volume (%)

7
6
5

The latter are used as a weighting material to

increase the apparent density of the mud and can
be measured with adapted dispersion protocols.

Dmean= 32 m

4
3
2

By adjusting the viscosity of the carrying liquid, the

stabilisation of weighting materials makes it
possible to take the particle size measurement
without sedimentation.

1
0
0.1

10

100

1000

Particle size (m)

Figure 3 : Size distributions of materials used in drilling fluids

The influence of shape factor in drilling efficiency

24

In addition to particle size distribution, shape

parameters provide much information on the
drilling fluids properties.

22

]
Intrinsic viscosity, [

20
18

The morphology of particles plays a role in the

thixotropic behaviour of drilling fluids. Thixotropy
is the property of some fluids to show a timedependent change in viscosity.

16
14
12
10

For example, the intrinsic viscosity [h] of particles

with the same volume is directly related to their
aspect ratio (figure 4) [12].

8
6
4

Furthermore, the rheological properties of some

clays are of great importance in structural and
geotechnical engineering.

2
0
0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

Aspect ratio
Figure 4 : Relation between intrinsic viscosity and aspect ratio

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The use of Particle Shape Analysis for drilling in the petroleum industry
Size and shape analysis is performed with an optical
microscope (figure 5) with a CILAS particle size analyzer and
Expert Shape software.

Nb particle(s)

10206

Perimeter

11.02 m

Area

14.94 m

Equivalent diameter

3.24 m

Shape Factor

0.64

Heywood factor

0.94

Compactness factor

0.78

Feret min

2.92 m

Feret max

4.04 m

Aspect ratio

0.75

Fibre width

0.51 m

Fibre length

1.13 m

Fibre curl

Figure 5: Size and shape device

Thresholding treatment makes it possible to

reduce the noise inside the picture and erase
particles touching the border.
Moreover, each particle can be identified to
determine size and shape factors such as
compactness factor or aspect ratio (figure 6).

0.15

Orientation

79.44

Figure 6: Image thresholding for size and shape analysis

The size distribution is determined from more

than 6,000 particles, according to the method
described in ISO 13322-1.

8
7

Laser Diffraction

Volume (%)

A specific design makes it possible to perform a

shape analysis with the same sample analyzed
by laser diffraction and to compare these two
techniques (figure 7).

Optical Microscopy

6
5
4

The determination of particle size by laser

diffraction and optical microscopy can be
correlated with excellent accuracy. Particle
shape factor determination can also provide
important information on the process quality and
specific properties.

3
2
1

0
0.1

10

100

1000

10000

Particle size (m)

Figure 7: Particle size distribution determined by laser
diffraction and optical microscopy

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Conclusions
The measurement of particle size is a key point for drilling fluid formulation, which itself
plays an important role in the efficiency of drilling wells.
CILAS Particle Size Analyzers are easy to use, fast, accurate and very reliable with
liquid and dry formulations.
With their robust design, they enable testing and analysis to be performed in the field
without being affected by dust or vibration, and provide reliable analysis even under
adverse industrial conditions for routine analysis.
From this information, the condition of the drilling fluid can be quickly and accurately
assessed. Shape analysis makes it possible to control the particle morphology to
complete knowledge of the materials properties.
Decisions can be made based on this accurate data to correct the problem in the most
efficient way before a serious incident occurs.
By employing robust analytical methodologies, formulators can use this tool to
generate reproducible particle size data rapidly, which in turn facilitates the
development of formulations suitable for drilling in diverse geologies.

References
[1] Alteration of permeability by drilling fluid invasion and flow reversal
Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering
Volume 58, Number 12, p. 227244, (2007)
[2] Rheology modification in mixed shape colloidal dispersions.
Part I: Pure components
Soft Matter
Volume 3, p. 11451162, (2007)
[3] Rheology modification in mixed shape colloidal dispersions.
Part II: Mixtures
Soft Matter
Volume 4, p. 337348, (2008)

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