Low-Toxicity Oil Muds:

A Knowledge of Downhole
Rheological Behavior Assists
Successful Field Application
T.J. Bailey, SPE, British Petroleum Co. Pic.
P.A. Bern, British Petroleum Co. Pic.
F. McEwan, SPE, BP Petroleum Development Ltd.

Summary. The introduction of oil-based drilling fluids has led to significant improvements in drilling
efficiency for many North Sea operations. The original formulations that were based on diesel are generally
being replaced by the lower-toxicity mineral oils. One factor crucial to the successful application of mineral oils
has been a knowledge of their downhole rheological characteristics. This paper describes a purpose-built
viscometer capable of simulating realistic downhole temperature (300°C [572°FD 'and pressure (100 MPa [1,000
barD conditions. Results from this study are used to indicate how surface-fluid rheologies can be tailored to
provide adequate downhole viscosities, thus reducing total system pressure losses.

Introduction
Until Spring 1982, most of our North Seawells were
drilled with water-based muds. KCl/polymer muds proved
to be particularly successful for drilling the Tertiary
"gumbo-like" mudstones overlying the Forties reser-
voir. 1 The successful·use of these muds proved to be
time-dependent, however, especially when drilling highly
deviated wells. Any delays in drilling operations often re-
sulted in significant wellbore instability problems. The
development of low-toxicity oil muds provided the op-
portunity to use invert-oil-emulsion drilling muds on de-
velopment, exploration, and appraisal wells.
We currently use low-toxicity, invert-oil-emulsion drill-
ing muds that are based on a low-toxicity mineral oil. Oil
muds based on this low-toxicity oil have been used re-
cently for developmental drilling on Forties, Magnus, and
. several exploration wells in the central and northern sec:'
tors of the North Sea.
Drilling fluids engineers recognized the potential of
llsing the British Petroleum (BP) CO.'s low-toxicity min-
eral oil as a base oil for invert-oil-emulsion drilling muds
in 1981. Vastly improved drilling rates could be achieved
with the combination of oil muds and the new polycrystal-
line diamond compact (PDC) bits. 2 Also, the U.K.
government's acceptance of using low-toxicity oil muds
without cuttings cleaning equipment 3· justified the deci-
sion to use oil-based muds. This development was of par-
ticular, significance to our North Sea operations because
of the presence of thick, reactive shale sequences in the
central and northern sectors.
A full screening program was undertaken to determine
whether the low-toxicity mineral oil was an acceptable
alternative to diesel oil. Compared with fluids based on
diesel oil and other low-toxicity oils available in 1981,
Copyright 1986 Society of Petroleum Engineers
SPE Drilling Engineering, April 1986
the muds formulated with our low-toxicity oils were more
rheologically stable in the presence of contaminants and
were more versatile.
The rheological behavior of oil muds under downhole
conditions must be known if their full potential is to be
reached. Problems with higher-than-anticipated circulat-
ing pressures have been experienced and have resulted
in loss of drilling efficiency. Previous work in the area
of high-temperature/high-pressure (HT/HP) rheology of
oil muds has illustrated their behavior under downhole
conditions. 4-8 These studies, however, show that the na-
ture of the base oil affects the degree of viscosity change
caused by temperature and pressure. Furthermore, most
previous work has been conducted on muds formulated
with diesel as their base oil.. De·Wolfe et al. 9 have pub-
lished. data on certain low-toxicity muds and have con-
cluded that each specific system needs to be assessed
.individually.
To investigate the reasons for the higher circulating
pressures experienced with oil muds in the field, the down-
hole rheological behavior of our mineral-oil-based muds
has been examined with a purpose-built viscometer.
Field Application
The main advantage of using invert..,oil-emulsion drilling
fluids in the North Sea is the improved drilling of the long,
reactive, gumbo-like claystone shale sequences. Signifi-
cant improvements in hole stability and drilling rates have
been seen compared with inhibited water-based muds, es-
pecially when drilling deviated wells. 10
Our experience with oil muds in the North Sea was
limited. Diesel-based muds were used to drill one or two
wells before the introduction oflow-toxicity oils. The cut-
tings wash systems available at that time, however, were
found to be ineffective. Low-toxicity oil muds are cur-
107
 TABLE 1....;COMPARISON OF MINERAL OIL PROPERTIES
· Naphthenic
BP Mineral Diesel Oil Mineral
Oil (Marine Gas Oil) Oil
Density at 15°C, kg/L 0.785 0.845 0.86
Distillation range, °C
IB point . 195 -200 294
50% 222
FB point 255 365 329
Flash point, °C 72 70 to 80 142
Aniline point, °C 78 63
Pour point, °C -40
Viscosity at 40°C, cSt 1.67 3.33 6.7
Sulfur, percent mass 0.01 0.3 0.2
Aromatics, percent mass 2 25 to 35 3.9

TABLE 2~COMPARISONOFDRiLLING RATES

WITH WATER· AND OIL-BASED MUDS ON
MAGNUS PLATFORM . toxicity oil muds based on ,the BP 8313™ mineral oil.
Rate of Penetration
(m/h)
171f2-in. Hole 121f4-in. Hole
Low-toxicity oil mud 25 18
(Magnus platform)
KCl/polymer mud 13 7 Magnus Platform. Oil muds based on our low-toxicity
(Magnus satellite)
rently being used on both Magnus and Forties platforms.
In addition, several exploration wells have been drilled
with low-toxicity oil'muds, especially where high-density,
temperature-stable muds have been required, and long,
reactive shale sequences have been encountered.
Our first experience with a low-toxicity, invert-
emulsion mud was in the German sector of the North Sea.
The base oil was the high-viscosity naphthenic oil de-
scribed in Table 1. Correct maintenance of viscosity was
difficult because of the high mud weight required to con-
trol wellbore pressures. The high viscosities generated
were attributed primarily to the high viscosity of the base
oil itself. These excessive viscosities prevented the use
of a combined turbine and PDC bit run as programmed.
Our low-toxicity mineral oil has significantly reduced
this problem. A variety of commercial emulsion systems
used with this oil have proved extremely successful in
reducing drilling time. Other low-viscosity mineral oils
have been used, but about 40% of all North Sea wells
drilled by BP in 1983 and 1984 were drilled with low-
Problems have been experienced in initially thickening
low-viscosity, low-toxicity" mineral-oil muds, but these
have been largely overcome with high-shear guns and
modification of displacement procedures.
mineral oil have proved to be very successful. The oil
mud is used to drill the 44.5-, 31.1-, and 21.6-cm [17%-,
12 1,4-, and 8 1/2-in.] hole sections. Hole conditions in the
reactive Tertiary mudstones have been much more stable
than those experienced when drilling the Magnus satel-
lite wells with KCl/polymer and lime/bentonite" muds.
When compared to wells dr~lled with these water-based
systems, drillingrates in the 44.S-and 31.1-cm [17%-
and 121A-in.] sections, have been considerably higher
(Table 2). This is attributed partly to th~ oil-mud/PDC-
bit combination.
Drilling rates have been limited in the 44.S-cm
[17 1h-in.] section because of hole-cleaning problems. To
prevent high cuttings loading in the annulus, drilling rates
should be maintained at below 30 to 40 m/h [100 to 130
ft/hr]. This has often proved impossible, however, be-
cause high weigh~ on bit is required to maintain angle in
these directional wells. Changes made to the rheological
properties of the mud have had only limited success. An
increase in circulation rate appears to have a much greater
, effect on hole cleaning. Pump-pressure limitations have

TABLE 3-COMPARISONOF CIRCULATING PARAMETERS WITH

WATER- AND OIL-BASED MUDS ON MAGNUS PLATFORM

KCl/Polymer
Hole Flow Jet Plastic Yield Pump
Depth Size Rate Nozzles Viscosity Point Pressure
~ (in.) (m 3 /min) (32nds of in.) (cp) (N/m 2 ) (psi)
900 17.5 4.80 3x24 33 8.6 3,050
1180 17.5 3.97 3x24 25 7.2 3,100
2174 12.25 2.64 3x 18 28 7.2 3,000
2555 12.25 2.72 3x 16 24 7.2 3,340
Low-Toxicity Oil Mud
1010 17.5 3.21 3x24 25 8.1 2,900
1545 17.5 3.31 3x24 29 8.6 3,000
2x20
2132 12.25 2.39 1 x 18 19 10.0 2,500

2670 12.25 2.59 2x 18 22 11.0 3,400

1 x 16

108 SPE Drilling Engineering, April 1986

 TABLE 4-COMPARISON OF CIRCULATING PARAMETERS WITH
WATER- AND OIL-BASED MUDS ON FORTIES PLATFORM

KCI/Polymer
Hole F!ow Jet Plastic Yield Pump
Depth Size Rate Nozzles Viscosity Point Pressure
~ ~ (m 3 /min) (32nds of in.) (cp) (N/m 2 ) (psi)
533 17.5 4.10 3x28 17 8.6 1,800
888 17.5 4.10 3x28 30 20.5 2,700
1431 17.5 3.65 3x28 18 10.0 2,900
1646 12.25 2.93 3x28 16 12.9 1,800
Low-Toxicity Oil Mud
616 17.5 2.73 3x28 20 6.~ 2,600
2x24
1168 17.5 3.07 1 x 16 24 11.5 2,500

2x24
1791 17.5 3.07 1 x 18 37 12.4 2,900
1 x 16
3x28
2180 12.25 2.34 1 x 16 35 9.6 2,800

meant that the circulation rates achieved with the oil-based 30r-r---...,.------~---------,

mud on the platform have been slightly less than those NAPHTHENIC OIL
used to drill the same sections on the vertical satellite wells GAS OIL (DIESEL)
with water-based muds. Measurement-while-drilling tools BP MINERAL OIL
and downhole motors also have a significant effect on the
increase in circulation pressures and the subsequent reduc-
tion in circulation rate.
20
F()rties Platforms. More than 80 wells have been drilled
in the Forties field with KCl/polymer muds. Oil muds in-
corporating our low-toxicity mineral oil have been used
recently to drill the 44.5- and 31.1-cm [17 1h- and 15
12 IA -in.] sections through the· highly reactive Tertiary (,)

mudstones. The low-toxicity oil mud has greatly improved ~

2
the hole oonditions. UJ
z
Drilling rates have not been significantly faster with the ¥ 10

change from water-based to oil-based muds. Drilling rates

were controlled when water-based muds were used to
avoid overloading the annulus with cuttings. As in the
Magnus field, hole cleaning in the Forties field has been
a problem with the low-toxicity oil mud in the 44.5-cm
[17lh-in.] section. The lowpressure/output rating of the
Forties pumps severely limits the flow rates that can be
used. The maximum flow rates achieved generally have
been 25 % less with the oil mud than with the water-based
Fig. 1-The effect of temperature on the viscosity of min-
mud. erai oils.

Data. Tables 3 and 4 compare circulation and rheologi-

cal data for water- and oil-based\muds in the Magnus and
Forties wells, respectively. Table 2 indicates the increase
in average penetration rate achieved with low-toxicity oil-
based muds compared with water-based muds on Mag-
nus wells.
Low-Toxicity Mineral Oil
The low-toxicity oil, BP 8313, developed by BP Chemi-
cals is a low-viscosity (1.7 mm 2 /s [1.7 cSt] at 40°C
[104 OF]), low-aromatic « 2.0%), low-density (0.784
g/cm 3 ) mineral oil. Tests of the oil for use in formulat-
ing .invert-oil-emulsion drilling muds have proved en-
couraging. The muds formulated with standard emulsion
systems were stable, more rheologically versatile, and less
affected by contamination with drilled solids and brines
compared with equivalent diesel-based systems. Because
of the tests, we have used the oil almost exclusively in
northwest .Europe for formulating invert-oil-emulsion
muds for both exploration and development drilling. The
initially low viscosity and the low density have allowed
a high degree of flexibility in fluid design for high- and
low-weight systems,.
The low viscosity at ambient conditions is misleading
when compared with higher-viscosity· oils. Fig. 1 com-
pares the effect of temperature on the viscosities of a
naphthenic low-toxicity oil that was used in the German
sector of the Nort:h. Sea, a diesel oil, and the BP low-
toxicity mineral oil. Fig. 1 shows that, as temperature in-
creases, the relative viscosity differences between the oils
become less marked.

SPE Drilling Engineering, April 1986 109

 TABLE 5-ENVIRONMENTAL DATA ON BP LOW-TOXICITY
MINERAL OIL

Test Species Test Result

Crangon 96-hour LC 50 >1000 mg/L
crangon
Chaetogammarus 96-hour LC 50 >100% WSF
marinus - 21-day LC 50 93% WSF
21-day NOEC-mortality 56% WSF
21-day NOEC-mobility 32% WSF
21-day NOEC-food uptake 56% WSF
21-day NOEC-any of effects 32% WSF
Skeletonema 96-hour EC 50 -growth > 100 000 mg/L
costatum
Mysid shrimp 96-hour LC 50 >100% WSF
Rainbow trout 96-hour LC 50 >1Q 000 mg/L
Daphnia magna 24-hour EC 50 -mobility >250 mg/L

The very, low polycyclic and monocyclic aromatic
hydrocarbon content of the oil makes it environmentally
safer than more highly aromatic oils. 3,11 Approved tox-
icological testing on marine fauna has given good results
(Table 5). Details of the BP mineral oil properties are
given in Table 1. The basic properties of a naphthenic
low-toxicity oil and a diesel oil are compared to the min-
eral oil.
Research is currently in progress to evaluate the effects
of -the basic properties of mineral oils on invert-oil-
emulsion systems. In addition, development work on the
BP mineral oil is also being considered. For example, a
high-flashpoint version of the oil has proved successful
recently for drilling in the central North Sea.
HT/HP Rheology
The Viscometer. A purpose""built viscometer was de-
signed specifically for the examination of the rheological
behavior of drilling fluids at high temperatures (300°C
[572°F]) and high pressures (100 MPa [1,000 bar]).
Several different ;fIT/HP viscometers have been used by
various researchers. The most popular, and probably the
most suitable for drilling muds, is the Bottomhole-
Conditions/Rotovisco viscometer. 5,8 Some limitations
with this type of equipment were identified at an early
stage, however, and a decision was made to design a new
viscometer to overcome these problems. Figs. ,2 and 3
show a schematic and -photograph of the viscometer.
The BP/Huxley-Bertram HT/HP visc<;>meter is a
coaxial-cylinder viscometer similar to the Fann VG35 in-
strument, with an outer rotating cylinder and an inner sta-
tionary bob. The drive and viscosity-measuring functions
of the viscometer are completely separate, thereby over-
coming frictional effects. Rotation is achieved through a
magnetic coupling that is situated in a chamber filled with
hydraulic 'oil. A seal prevents the drilling fluid and the
hydraulic oil from mixing, thus preventing solids build-
up-in the drive mechanism and excessive wear of the bear-
ings. The viscosity-measuring mechanism operates in~ide
the drilling fluid test autoclave. The bob is restrained by
a cantilever fitted with strain gauges; the signal from the
cantilever is proportional to the torque and, therefore,
shear stress. Two torque (shear-stress) ranges are availa-
ble. Expansion and contraction of the drilling fluid is com-
pensated for by a piston in the lower section of the
autoclave; the chamber below the piston is filled with
hydraulic oil and is connected to both the external.,pressure
system and the magnetic-drive chamber. The pressure is
set through an air/hydraulic intensifier and controlled by
two air-actuated valves. Temperature, pressure, and shear
rate are automatically controlled by a central console.
The equipment's working range is from room temper-
ature to 300°C [572°F], 0 to 100 MPa [0 to 1,000 bar]
pressure, 0 to '1,000 seconds -1 shear rate, and 0 to 200
N/m 2 [0 to 4.2 lbf/sq ft] shear stress.
Testing Program. The rheological behavior of drilling
muds is complicated by the presence of significant con-
centrations of solid materials. Changes in volume frac-
tion, particle size, and charge all affect the rheology
significantly. Therefore, we decided initially to examine
the behavior of unweighted, low-toxicity, invert-oil-
emulsion drilling muds before investigating weighted sys-
tems. The unweighted systems selected were representa-
tive of the base fluids used for several North Sea
exploration and development wells. Tests were also con-

TABLE 6-INVERT-OIL-EMULSION DRILLING MUD FORMULATIONS

TESTED

Component Mud 1 Mud 2 Mud 3 Mud 4

-- - - --
BP mineral oil, bbl 0.71 0.70 0.62
Diesel oil, bbl 0.70
Primary emulsifier, Ibm/bbl 5 17 4.4 17
Calcium hydroxide, Ibm/bbl 6' 6 5.2 6
Secondary emulsifier, Ibm/bbl 1 6 0.88 6
Polymer fluid loss reducer, Ibm/bbl 7.5 6.6
- Lignitic fluid loss reducer, Ibm/bbl 13 13
Water, bbl 0.24 0.23 0.21 0.23
Calcium chloride, Ibm/bbl 24 23 21 23
Organophilic clay, Ibm/bbl 4 10 3.5 6
Barites, Ibm/bbl 178

110 SPE Drilling Engineering, April 1986

 TO PRESSURE SYSTEM
TORQU£ SIGNAL
MUD
INLET
AUTOCLAVE
TO PRESSURE SYSTEM
Fig. 2-Schematic of the Huxley-Bertram prototype HT/HP
viscometer.
ducted on one of the above systems weighted with barites.
Finally, an unweighted diesel-based mud was examined.
The data given are not specific to any particular well, but
can be used to give some indication of the rheological be-
havior of these fluids at downhole conditions.
The two unweighted systems based on the BP low-
toxicity mineral oil, Muds 1 and 2, differ in their emulsi-
fier/organophilic-clay concentrations and use different
fluid-loss-control agents. Table 6 shows the different
invert-oil-emulsion fluids tested on the HT/HP vis-
cometer.
Mud 1 is a moderate-temperature ( < 150°C [ < 302OF])
formulation with low emulsifier/clay concentrations
together with a liquid polymer fluid'-loss-control agent.
Mud 3 is the Mud 1 formulation weighted to 1.30
g/cm 3 with barites. This density is based on the average
weight of drilling muds used to drill the Magnus 31.1-cm
[12tA-in.] and the Forties 44.5-cm [17V2..,in.] sections.
Mud 2 is a higher-temperature formulation (> 150°C
[>302°F]) with higher emulsifier/organophilic-clay con-
centrations and uses an organophilic lignite as a fluid-Ioss-
control agent.
Mud 4. is a diesel-based, unweighted, invert-oil-
, emulsion fluid with a formulation similar to that of Mud
2 and a lower concentration of organophilic clay.
All of the muds tested had an oil: water ratio of 75 :25 .
The muds were tested across a range of temperatures and
pressures from 25°C [77°F] at 0 MPa [0 bar] to 200°C
SPE Drilling Engineering, April 1986
[392°F] at 100 MPa [1,000 bar]. Temperatures used were
25, 60, 100, 150, and 200°C [77, 140, 212, 302, and
392°F]. Pressure intervals were 0 to 3 MPa [0 to 30 bat],
depending on temperature. Pressures used were 20,40,
60,80, and 100 MPa [200, 400, 600, 800, and 1,000 bar].
The range of shear rates used was 0 to 1,000 seconds -1
in steps of 100 seconds -1. On completion of the tests,
the muds were retested at ambieIit conditions and their
degree of degradation was assessed.
Results. Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate the effects of increasing
temperature and pressure on the apparent viscosity (at
1,000 seconds -1) of the unweighted, low-toxicity oil-
mud formulation, Mud 1. Fig. 4 shows tl;le effect of in-
creasing temperature on the apparent viscosity over a
range of pressures. The thinning caused by increasing tem-
perature is clearly greater than the thickening caused by
increasing pressure. It is also noticeable that the viscosi-
ty rate change is greater between 25 and 100°C [77 and
212°F] than between 100 and 200°C [212 and 392°F].
Fig. 5 depicts the same data in a different format to illus-
trate the effect of pressure more clearly. The ratio of the
viscosity at 100 MPa [1 ,000 bar] to the viscosity at 0 MPa
[0 bar] appears to be independent of temperature.
Table 7 presents the HT/HP data obtained for the un-
weighted, low-toxicity oil muds (Muds 1 and 2) in terms
of plastic viscosity and yield point. The increase of both
temperature and pressure affects the plastic viscosity more
than the yield point. Correlation coefficients indicate
departure from the idealized Bingham plastic model at
higher temperatures.
Table 8 illustrates the effect of different temperature
and pressure conditions on the apparent viscosity of the
four oil-mud formulatioI).s tested, in terms of final vis-
cosity, ~, over ambient viscosity, P,o. It demonstrates that
the decrease in relative viscosity, p,/p, 0' from ambient to
downhole conditions differs with the base-oil and whole-
mud formulations used. The overall viscosity decrease
with increasing temperature and pressure is less for the
low-toxicity, oil-based muds. At the lower temperatures,
111
 40 ..----..--~-----------------. Discussion
36
Field experience in drilling both exploration and devel-
opment wells in the North Sea has shown that the BP low-
32
toxicity mineral oil is better than diesel oil in the formu-
lation of invert-emulsion drilling muds. In drilling through
Q; 28
u the highly reactive mudstones encountered in both Mag-
>- nus and Forties fields, hole conditions have been excel-
t: 24
II)
o
u
lent. Penetration rates on Magnus and exploration wells
II)
:> 20 , have been far better than those achieved on comparable
I-
Z
wells with water-based muds. Drilling optimization and
~ 16 hole cleaning, however, have been affected by the higher
~ circulating pressures encountered. Circulation rates re-
G-
et 12
quired to obtain optimum drilling parameters have not
been achieved, primarily because of the limitations of
available rig equipment.
4 The HT/HP rheological study has shown that, with oil-
based muds, the.high-temperature thinning is compensated
o'----:!'20::----:":40,----:6~0--='8':-0--!-1OO.,---1~20--c-14~0-~16O~-1~80--:-'200 partly by the effect of pressure. This is supported by previ-
TEMPERATURE °c ous work. 9 This effect is more pronounced with muds
based on the BP low-toxicity oil than with other compara-
Fig. 4-Apparent viscosity vs. temperature at different
pressures"";"'Mud .1. ble systems. To achieve equal viscosity downhole at high
I temperatures and pressures, muds based on the BP miner-
both weighted and unweighted low-toxicity oil muds ex- al oil need not be as viscous at surface as diesel-oil muds
hibit similar trends. Severe solids settling was observed, or higher-viscosity, low-toxicity, oil-based muds. With
however, at temperatures above 150°C 1302 OF] with the the lower surface viscosity, circulating pressures should
weighted system. be reduced without a major loss of viscosity at downhole
Repeat tests at .ambient conditions did highlight the conditions.
differences in temperature stability of the different low- To plan drilling-fluid programs, the desirable dowDl1ole
toxicity, oil-mud formulations. Mu.d 2 (high-temperature rheological characteristics must be specified and the sur-
formulation) demonstrated a higher degree of viscosity face parameters calculated'to guide the mud engineer with
retention compared with Mud 1. the formulation and maintenance of the fluid. .
36r--------~~__."...--,-------~-----------,.__,

32

28

I- 16
z
iLl
0:
«Q.
Q. 12
«

0
2 3 4 5 7 8 9 10
PRESSURE (bar X 10 2 )
Fig. 5-Apparent viscosity vs. pressure at different temperatures-Mud 1.

112 SPE Drilling Engineering, April 1986

 TABLE 7-PLASTIC VISCOSITY/YIELD POINT RELATIONSHIPS WITH
INCREASING TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE

Mud 1
o to 30 bar 400 bar 1,000 bar
Plastic vi~cosity at 25°C, cp 21.8 35.2 66.2
Yield point at 25°C, N/m 2 1.9 2.4 2.7
Correlation coefficient* at 25°C 0.9997 0.9995 0.9989
Plastic viscosity at 60°C, cp .13.7 21:5 35.7
Yield point at 60°C, N/m 2 2.0 2.7 3.7
Correlation coefficient* at 60°C 0.9998 0.9994 0.9992
Plastic viscosity at 100°C, cp 8.3 13.1 21.9
Yield point at 100°C, N/m 2 2.4 2.9 3.4
Correlation coefficient* at 100°C 0.9936 0.9980 0.9992
Plastic, viscosity at 150°C, cp 6.0 9.0 13.1
Yield point at 150°C, N/m 2 0.8 1.2 1.4
Correlation coefficient* at 150°C 0.9973 0.9985 0.9992
Plastic viscosity at 200°C, cp 3.3 5.1 7.0
Yield point at 200 o C,N/m 2 0.2 0.7 1.8
Correlation coefficient* at 200°C 0.9868 0.9972 0.9980
Mud 2
Plastic viscosity at 25°C, cp 19.3 29.9 58.5
Yield point at 25°C, N/m 2 3.5 4.4 4.2
Correlation coefficient* at 25°C 0.9993 0.9996 0.9992
Plastic viscosity a,t 60°C, cp 10.6 16.2 27.2
Yield point at 60°C, N/m 2 3.3 4.3 5.3
Correlation coefficient* at 60°C 0.9957 0.9992 0.9995
Plastic viscosity at 100°C, cp 6.5 9.8 15.5
Yield point at 100°C, N/m 2 3.0 3.7 4.3
Correlation coefficient* at 100°C 0.9938 0.9971 0.9980
Plastic viscosity at 150°C, cp 3.5 4.7 7.1
Yield point at 150°C, N/m 2 1.9 2.2 2.6
Correlation coefficient* at 150°C 0.9793 0.9827 0.9964
Plastic viscosity at 200°C, cp 2.1 3.0 4.8
Yield point at 200°C, N/m 2 0.61 1.2 1.5
Correlation coefficient* at 200°C 0.9857 0.9866 0.9925

'Correlation coefficient to Bingham model.

Th~ HT IHP rheological study of unweighted systems
illustrates the general behavior of these muds. To deter-
mine the hydraulic behavior of specific muds in specific
wells accurately, however, the rheology of representa-
tive, weighted, whol~-mud systems should be established
~t the anticipated downhole conditions. The density vari-
ation of these whole-mud systems at high temperature and
pressure should also be determined to fully relate the lab-
oratory data to field operating conditions.
Conclusions
1. Theuse oflow-toxicity, invert-oil-emulsion drilling
muds based on the BP low-toxicity mineral oil has proved
effective in improving wellbore stability in drilling de-
velopment, appraisal, and exploration wells in the North
Sea.
2. The viscosity of oil muds based on the BP low-
toxicity mineral oil c~ be lower at surface relative to other
mineral-oil muds and still exhibit comparable viscosities
at high downhole temperatures and pressures.
3. The HTIHP visc()meter described has proved to be
a successful tool for determining both the rheological
properties and the stability of oil-based muds at down-
hole temperatures and pressures.
4. Further work on the examination of the HT IHP
rheology of weighted, low-toxicity oil muds is required
in conjunction with variations in density.

TABLE 8-RELATIVE VISCOSITIES, ,u~o' OF MINERALpOIL~BASED MUDS

WITH INCREASING TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE

o to 30 bar 1,000 bar

25°C 100°C 150°C 200°C
25°C 100°C 150°C 200°C
-- --- - - -- - - - - --
Mud 1 1.0 0.44 0.29 0.16 2.99 1.07 0.62 0.38
Mud 2 1.0 0.41 0.22 0.11 2.79 0.87 0.42 0.27
Mud 3 1.0 0.48 0.22* 0.12* 2.53 0.85 0.60* 0.38
Mud 4 1.0 0.33 0.08 ,3.02 0.79 0.20

'Evidence of solids settling out.

Mud 1: Low toxicity, low temperature, unweighted.
Mud 2: Low toxicity, high temperature, unweighted.
Mud 3: Low toxicity, low temperature, weighted 1.3 glcm 3
Mud 4: Diesel, high temperature, unweighted.
/L = viscosity at temperature and pressure.
. /La = viscosity at 25°C and 0.30 bar.

SPE Drilling Engineering, April 1986 113

 Nomenclature 8. McMoidie, W.C., Bennett, R.B., and Bland, R.G.: "The Effect
of Temperature and Pressure on the Viscosity of Oil Base Muds,"
p. final viscosity paper SPE 4974 presented at the 1974 SPE Annual Meeting,
p. 0 = ambient viscosity Houston, Oct. 6-9.
9. De Wolfe, R.C., Coffin, ,G.B. , and Byrd, R.V.: "Effects of Tem-
perature & Press~re Rheology of Less Toxic Oil Muds," paper
Acknowledgments SPE 11892 presented at the 1983 SPE Offshore Europe Conference,
We gratefully acknowledge the permission given by the Aberdeen, Sept. 6-9.
British Petroleum Co. to publish this paper. We give per- 10. Holder, B.J.: "Oil Mud Aids in Reducing Problems and Cost of
North Sea Platform Development Drilling," J. Pet. Tech. (June
sonal thanks to Alan Keasey of BP Chemicals Ltd. for 1982) 1199-1203.
his technical support and to William Bertram of Huxley- 11. Thoresen, KM. and Hinds, A.A.: "A Review of the Environmental
Bertram Engineering Ltd. for his assistance. Acceptability and the Toxicity of Diesel Oil Substitutes in Drilling
Fluid Systems, " paper SPE 11401 presented at the 1983 SPE/IADC
References Drilling Conference, New Orleans, Feb. 20-23.

1. Minton, R.C.: "Drilling Fluids and Practices f9r Central North

Sea Tertiary Shales," paper SPE 10386 presented at the 1981 SPE 81 Metric Conversion Factors
Offshore Europe Conference, Aberdeen, Sept. 15-18.
2: Paterson, A.W. and Shute, J.P.: "Experience With Polycrystalline bar x 1.0* E-01 MPa
Diamond Compact Bits in the Northern North Sea, " paper EUR
339 presented at the 1982 SPE European Petroleum Conference, bbl X .1.589 873 E-01 m3
London, Oct. 25-28. cp X 1.0* E-03 Pa's
3. Hinds, A.A., Smith, S.P.T., and Morton, E.K: "A Comparison cSt X 1.0* E+OO m 2 /s
of the Performance, Cost, and Environmental Effects of Diesel- cu ft X 2.831 685 E-02 m3
Based and Low-Toxicity Oil Mud Systems," paper SPE 11891
presented at the 1983 SPE Offshore Europe Conference, Aberdeen,
ft X 3.048* E-01 m
Sept. 6-9.
OF (OF-32)/1.8 PC
, 4. Combs, G.D. and Whitmire, L.D.: "Capillary Viscometer in. X 2.54* E+OO cm
Simulates Bottornhole Conditions," Oil and Gas J. (Sept. 1968) lbf/sq ft X 4.788026 E+01 N/m 2
108-13. lbm/bbl X 2.853010 E+OO kg/m 3
5. McMordie, W.C.: "Viscometer Tests Mud to 650°F," Oil and
Gas J. (May 1969) 81-84. psi X 6.894757 E-03 MPa
6. Sinha, B.K: "A New Technique to Determine the Equivalent
Viscosity of Drilling Fluids Under High Temperatures and 'Conversion factor is exact. SPEDE
Pressures," Soc. Pet. Eng. J. (March 1970) 33-40.
7. Methven, N.E. and Baumann, R.: "Performance of Oil Muds at Original manuscript received in the Society of Petroleum Engineers office Oct. 28, 1984.
Paper accepted for publication Oct. 28, 1985. Revised manuscript received Dec. 6,
High Temperatures," paper SPE 3743 presented at the 1972 SPE 1985. Paper (SPE 13001) first presented at the 1984 SPE European Petroleum Con-
European Spring Meeting, Amsterdam, May 16-18. ference held in London, Oct. 25-28.

114 SPE Drilling Engineering, April 1986