ABSTRACT

The main objectives of this experiment are to identify the characteristics of drilling mud which
are its solid, liquid and emulsion. The characteristics of drilling mud can be identified by using various
methods. In this experiment, these methods are divided into two parts which are part A for the
emulsion test as well as part B for solid and liquid content of the drilling mud test. In part A, the
objective of emulsion test is to determine the Electrical Stability (ES) of the drilling mud sample, which
are water based mud. The ES can be determined from the result of voltage and current flow in the
mud. The sample is tested with electrical stability tester kit to obtain the mud electrical stability. While
in part B, the experiment is carried out to determine the solid and liquid contents of drilling mud
samples. Since we only used the water based mud sample, we obtained the ratio of solid-liquid
content of the sample. Based on the results of experiment A, the result is 2.67 peak voltage. This
means that water based mud has low electric conductivity. Results in part B shows that the total
condensate of tested mud sample is 40mL and the weight of dried mud is 48.54g. Hence by the product
obtained, the characteristics of the drilling mud can be identified.

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INTRODUCTION

Electrical Stability Test

Invert oil-based muds are water-in-oil (W/0) emulsions which typically contain an organophilic clay
(OPC) and a weighting material such as barite or hematite. The water phase is usually a solution of a
salt whose concentration is adjusted to match the water activity of the formation. This minimizes
transfer of water to or from the water-sensitive zones and maintains a stable wellbore. The W/O
emulsion itself is usually stabilized with a primary emulsifier (often a fatty acid salt), while the
weighting material, along with drill solids which the mud acquires in use, is made oil-wet and dispersed
in the mud with a "secondary emulsifier" (typically a strong wetting agent).

Electrical stability (ES) of an oil-based mud or water based is considered a measure of its emulsion
stability. In the laboratory, a mud with a high degree of emulsion stability is generally smooth, shiny
and does not adhere to the stirring spindle of a mixer. By contrast, a mud with a low degree of
emulsion stability is dull, grainy and shows a marked tendency to adhere to the spindle. The oil
wetness or oil wetting tendency of an invert emulsion mud is defined here as the ability of the mud
to incorporate foreign materials into the external, or oil, phase. A mud with high emulsion stability is
oil-wet, by definition, but may not necessarily be oil wetting. In application for the first ES meter, it is
related to the stability of W/O emulsions and that higher ES voltages correspond to more stable, or
"tighter", emulsions. This result was extrapolated to invert emulsion of drilling fluids, which are more
complex by virtue of their solids content. Thus, a mud with a high ES voltage was considered to be
stable

Solid Liquid Content

A test for water mud or oil mud, generally known as the retort test. The test is a distillation of a mud
sample that measures condensed oil or water collected from the retort. Retort solids is the volume
that was not recovered as a liquid. Water-based fluids (WBFs) are used to drill approximately 80% of
all wells.[1] The base fluid may be fresh water, seawater, brine or saturated brine. The type of fluid
selected depends on anticipated well conditions or on the specific interval of the well being drilled.
For example, the surface interval typically is drilled with a low-density water- or seawater-based mud
that contains few commercial additives. These systems incorporate natural clays in the course of the
drilling operation. Some commercial bentonite also may be added to aid in fluid-loss control and to
enhance hole-cleaning effectiveness. After surface casing is set and cemented, the operator often
continues drilling with a WBF unless well conditions require displacing to an oil- or synthetic-based
system.

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OBJECTIVES

The aim of this experiment is to:

1) To determine the Electrical Stability (ES) of drilling mud samples

2) To determine the liquid and solid contents of each of the drilling fluid samples.

THEORY

Electrical Stability Test

Applied to drilling mud such as oil based and synthetic based drilling mud to indicate the stability of
the emulsion and oil wetting capacity of the samples. The electrical stability is determined by applying
a steadily increasing sinusoidal alternating voltage across a pair of parallel flat plates electrodes
submerged in the oil base drilling fluid. The electrical stability voltage will be display when maximum
voltage that the mud will sustain across the gap before conducting current. The absolute magnitude
of the electrical stability is controls by the composition of the oil or water base drilling fluid.

There are several conditions influence the electrical stability of a given drilling fluid;

i. Resistivity of the continuous phase

ii. Conductivity of the non-continuous phase

iii. Properties of suspended solids

iv. Temperature

v. Droplet size

vi. Type of emulsifier used

vii. Dielectric properties of the fluid and shear history of the samples.

Several readings should be taken to avoid the result get influence by the conditions and to establish a
trend. The multiple measurements will reflect more accurate condition of the drilling fluid on which
drilling fluid treatment can be based.

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Solid Liquid Content

The drilling fluid composition consist of liquid such as oil and water and solid. The solid content in
drilling fluid is important to proper control of the mud properties such as rheology, density and filter
cake building properties.

The drilling problems such as pipe sticking can be avoided by controlling the amount of the solids in
the drilling mud. By controlling the amount of the solid in drilling mud can be used to explain the poor
performance of the mud and indicate whether the mud can best be conditioned by the addition of the
water or whether treatment with chemical thinner or the removal of the contaminant is required. The
proper control of an emulsion mud depends upon knowledge of the oil content. For the mud
containing only water and solids, the quantity of each can be determined from the mud density and
from the evaporation of a weighed sample of mud. Oil and water can be obtained by measuring the
liquid fraction.

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APPARATUS AND MATERIAL

Part A

Apparatus Pictures
Electrical Stability
(ES) Tester

Calibration kit

100 mL beaker

Materials
- Water based mud

Part B

Grease, Retort Kit, measuring cylinder, cleaning kit, wetting agent, steel wool, square bar
retort wrench.

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 Apparatus Pictures
Measuring cylinder

Grease

Condenser

Pilot lamp

Power
switch

Square
bar retort
wrench

Retort Kit

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PROCEDURE

General Start-Up

1. Mud which is water based mud was prepared by put it into the mud cup until reach the upper
indicator of the cup.

2. Mixer was used to mix the mud for about 3-5 minutes.

3. The mud was transferred into a beaker.

Part A: Emulsion Test

1. All apparatus was set up.

2. The mud was put into a beaker.

3. The ES Tester was switched on and the calibration kit was plugged into the ES Tester to check
the machine calibration.

4. The rod was put into the beaker full with mud.

5. The ES Tester was tested and the reading was recorded.

Part B: Solid and Liquid Content

1. The Retort Kit was set up and the power supply was switched on.

2. Steel wool was put fully inside the upper chamber.

3. The sample chamber was filled with the water based mud until it reached the surface.

4. The sample chamber lid was placed and excess mud spilled was cleaned.

5. Sample chamber was screwed with lid into the upper chamber and it was being tighten using
square bar retort wrench.

6. The chamber was put into the Retort Kit and the condenser was attached to the chambers.

7. 3 drops of wetting agent was added in to the 100 ml measuring cylinder and the measuring
cylinder was placed under the condenser.

8. The Retort Kit was turned on and the retort kit was allowed to be heated until the pilot lamp
goes off.

9. The liquid appeared in the measuring cylinder was observed.

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 10. The chamber and the furnace were left to cool off about a half day.

11. The result sample which is dried mud was weighted and data was recorded

RESULTS AND CALCULATION

Experiment A

Electrical Stability (Peak Voltage)

Type of Mud
1 2 3
Water Based Mud 3 2 3

Average of Electrical Stability:

Water Based Mud = 3+2+3

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=
3

= 2.7 peak voltage

Experiment B

Liquid Color Volume (mL)

Clear 40

Weight of Dried Mud = 48.54g

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DISCUSSION

As the discussion for experiment A, this experiment is to determine the electrical stability of
drilling mud sample which is water based mud. The sample is tested with eletrical stability tester kit
to obtain the mud electrical stability. It is essential for the drilling mud to have electrical stability
properties since it shows the voltage of the current flow in the mud. The value of the electrical stability
determines the mud emulsion stability. If the mud has a high value of eletrical stability, it means that
its emulsion stability is good. Based on the results of experiment A, the result is 2.67 peak voltage.
This means that water based mud has low electric coductivity. Hence, the water based mud needs to
mix with other substance to increase its electrical stability.

For experiment B, the main objective is to determine the solid-liquid content of drilling mud
sample. Since we only used the water based mud sample, we obtained the ratio of solid-liquid content
of the sample. In real situation, as the drilling process is running, the solid content in mud increases
due to the cuttings, additives and weighting material as the mixture. The total condensate of tested
mud sample is 40mL and the weight of dried mud is 48.54g. By distillating the mud sample in heating
chamber, the condensate is collected in a measuring cylinder and the solid is left in the retort chamber.

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CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the water based mud is not a suitable mud to use because it has a low number
of electrical stability and weak emulsion. Based on research, oil-based mud has high number of
electrical stability means that it has a good emulsion. Oil based mud provide good rheological and fluid
loss-properties are particularly useful for high temperature application.

For solid content in a mud, it is always increase while drilling because of drilling solid and mud
additives. Types of solid content such as soluble material, insoluble high gravity solid and insoluble
low gravity solid. Liquid and solid content of a drilling mud is important for a stable borehole which is
to maintain the pressure. By knowing the best ratio of liquid solid content, this can help to stabilize
the formation on the drilling location.

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RECOMMENDATION

There are several steps that should be taken into consideration to reduce the error in order
to increase the result accuracy. First thing first, always being prepare before conduct an experiment
by reading a lab manual or go for consultation. Moreover, make sure all the apparatus being clean
using distilled water to remove any contaminate.

While take the reading of ES tester, always spend some time to do it 3 times and take the
average reading for more accurate data. Use the correct equipment such as spatula to scrape the dried
mud form the mud chamber and the lid to get a correct volume.

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REFERENCE

1) Oilfield Market Report 2004. Spears & Assoc. Inc., Tulsa, Oklahoma, www.spearsresearch.com
2) http://www.fann.com/fann/products/drilling-fluids-testing/oil-water-solids/retort-
50ml.page?node-id=hlz0hxoo
3) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drilling_fluid
4) https://www.slideshare.net/akincraig/drilling-mud-laboratory

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APPENDICES

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