DRILLING FLUIDS &

RIG HYDRAULICS
 Functions of Drilling Fluids
 Carry cuttings from  Prevent the inflow of fluids-
beneath the bit, transport oil,gas, or water-from
them up the annulus, and permeable rocks penetrated.
permit their separation at  Form a thin, low-permeable
the surface. filter cake.
 Cool and clean the bit.  Assist in the collection and
 Reduce friction. interpretation of information
available from drill cuttings,
 Maintain the stability. cores, and electric logs.
 PREPARING A BENTONITE
WATER SYSTEM
Mud Weight, b (ppg)
Mud Volume, Vb (bbl)
Mud Viscosity,  (cp)

1. Mix Water + Bentonite Obtain the specified 

2. Add Barite Obtain the specified MW

Given Seven unknowns Seven Independent Equations

b VBa VBa  VBen  VWtr Vb

Ba VBen M Ba  M Ben  M Wtr M mud

Ben VWtr
M Ba  Ba  VBa  42
Wtr MBa
M Ben  Ben  VBen  42
Vb M MBen
Ben
VMud M Wtr  Wtr  VWtr  42
 MWtr
M mud  b  Vb  42
Mmud
M Ben M Ben
LbBen
VWtr  VBen VMud


M Ben
VMud
 Practical Session
on Preparing Bentonite-Water
System
BASIC HYDRAULIC EQUATION

Pump Pressure = Ppipe&ann +  Pjets +  Pmotor +  Pliftoff + 

Ptools

Lifts cleans turns diamond

power
cuttings bottom of bit bits for
hole and tools
bit teeth
DETERMINATION OF Ppipe
& Pannulus
 Depends on Flow Regime (Laminar, Turbulent, Transitional, etc)

Laminar Turbulent

r = 0, vf = vmax

ID
r = rmax= r = rmax
2
vf = 0 vf  0
r r
 Depends on Fluid Flow Behaviour (Newtonian, Non-
Newtonian)

Newtonian Fluid Pseudo Plastic

Shear Stress

Shear Stress

Shear Rate Shear Rate

 Depends on Flow Model (Power Law, Bingham Plastic,
etc)

Power Law Model Bingham Plastic

Model
Shear Stress

Shear Stress

Shear Rate Shear Rate

  Newtonian Fluid - Laminar Flow Regime

Flow in the pipe Flow in annulus

P µv P µv
 
L 1500 ID L 1000 (H  OD)

P  pressure loss for the length of pipe or annulus, L; psi

L  length of pipe or annulus; ft
µ  fluid viscosity; cps
v  fluid velocity; ft/sec
ID  inside diameter of pipe; inch
H  hole diameter; inch
OD  outside diameter of pipe; inch
 Non-Newtonian Fluid (Laminar & Turbulent )

 Power Law Model is the superior model in modeling drilling

fluid flow behavior

0.01066  = K'(1.703 R)n’

= Fann rotary viscometer reading

R = Fann rotary viscometer speed
The following steps illustrate the complete powerlaw model
procedure of Rabinowitsch, Metzner, Reed, Dodge, and
Savins.

 Make a log-log chart of  (lbf/100 sqft) vs R (rpm)

 Draw a tangent line at a selected point and record f

 Select any two points on the tangent line and record their
rpm’s (R1 & R2) and viscometer readings (1 & 2)

1
Ln ( )
2
 Compute the flow index (n) n 
R
Ln ( 1 )
R2
 FLOW
CURVE
Ln  1

f Tangent
Line

Ln R
 Compute the viscometer consistency index (kv)

0.010661
kv 
(1.703R 1 ) n

 Compute the flow adjustment factors (Fp) and (Fa)

0.123
X n
2
1  1.0678 n

n n
 3n  1  2n  1
Fp   Fa  
 4nX   3nX 

p = pipe a = annulus
 Compute the consistency indices for pipe (kp) and annulus
(ka)
k p  Fp k v k a  Fa k v

 Compute the Reynold’s numbers and average velocities

Q Q
Vp  V a 
2.45d 2 2.45( H 2  D 2 )

n n
1.86  d  ( 2 n ) 2.79  H  D  ( 2 n )
Np    Vp MW Na    Va MW
k p  96  k a  144 

Q  Circulation rate; gpm

H  Hole diameter; inch
D  OD of pipe; inch
d  ID of pipe; inch
MW  mud weight; ppg
Va  average fluid velocity; fps
 Ascertain the friction factor and the flow regime from the
chart or use the API friction factor equations (f)

Laminar If Np or Na<3,470-1,370n

16 24
fp  fa 
Np Na

Turbulent If Np or Na>4,270-1,370n

a a
fp  fa 
N bp N ba
Transitional If 3,470-1,370n < Np or Na < 4,270-
1,370n

 N p  X   a 16  16  N  X   a 24  24
fp    Yb - X   X fa   a - 
 800   Y X  X
b
 800  

log10 (n )  3.93
a
50
1.75  log10 ( n )
b
7
X  3470 - 1370 n
Y  4270 - 1370 n
 Compute the friction pressure loss per foot of pipe or
annulus
2
Pp f p MW Vp Pa f a MW Va
2
 
L 25.8d L 25.8( H  D)

L  length of pipe or annulus

Pp
 friction pressure loss, psi/ft
L

 Compute the expected rotary viscometer for the friction

pressure loss per foot (c)

Pp Pa
cp  281.4 d 
ca  281.4 H  D 
L L

c = computed
 If the computed rotary viscometer reading is in satisfactory
agreement with the value recorded in step two, then the
friction pressure loss is correct.

 Pp 
Pp     L
 L 

 If the computed values are not satisfactorily precise, then

go to the step two and repeat steps.
 Friction Factor Chart
.1

f =24/Nre
Fanning Friction Factor - f

f =16/Nre
n
.01
2.0
1.4
1.0
.8
.6
.4
.3
.2
.001
100 1000 10000 100000
Reynolds Number - Nr
 Practical Session
on Drilling Fluids Hydraulics
(Power Law Model)
Example

Compute the friction pressure losses within the pipe and

annulus for the following data.

Pipe:
FANN READINGS
OD = 5 " ID = 4.276"
R  Annulus:
rpm lb/100ft2 Hole = 9"
600 82 OD = 5"
300 45 Length = 1,000 ft
200 33 Mud:
100 20 Circ. = 400 gpm
6 5 MW = 11.4 ppg
3 4
L
O
FLOW CHART FOR MUD
5
G
A
R
I 4
T
H
M
3
t
R
E line for annulus
2
A
D line for pipe
I
N1
G 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
S
LOGARITHM OF RPM
BINGHAM'S DRILLING
EFFICIENCY DIAGRAM
 Bingham's diagram (based on hundreds of field and
laboratory tests) depicts four fundamental ways in which a
drill bit responds to WOB and RPM during the drilling of a
formation.

MAXIMUM 1
PERFORMANCE
TRANSPORT
DR REMOVAL
N
2
LOWER LIMIT

3
4
VOLUME
REMOVAL
X
WOB
D
 WOB/D permits performances of bits of various diameters
may be placed on one diagram.

 The ordinate is the volume of formation penetrated per

revolution of the drill bit. (if in 2 min 1 ft of hole is drilled by
a 6 in bit which is rotating at 100 rpm, then


(12 in )  6 in  2 in 3
4  1.7
 2 min 100 RPM  rev

 Based on this piece of reasoning, higher points are best.

 Drill bits wear faster if higher weights on bit are used.

Bill Maurer argued that the maximum value of the exponent, a, in the
equation, DR/N= k(WOB/D)a, has a value of two. This equation
represents the maximum performance line drawn on the diagram.

MAXIMUM 1
PERFORMANCE
TRANSPORT
DR REMOVAL
N
2
LOWER LIMIT

3
4
VOLUME
REMOVAL
X
WOB
D
 This region occurs if the cleaning of the bottom of the hole is not thorough.
For example, chips not removed from the surface of the bottom of the hole
could be being reground by the teeth of the bit and preventing teeth from
grinding new rock.

MAXIMUM 1
PERFORMANCE
TRANSPORT
DR REMOVAL
N
2
LOWER LIMIT

3
4
VOLUME
REMOVAL
X
WOB
D

Because cleaning is dependent on hydraulics, it is believed that a line such

as that drawn in the transport removal region on the diagram results from
insufficient bit hydraulics. In the above equation the exponent, a, will have a
 MAXIMUM 1
PERFORMANCE
TRANSPORT
DR REMOVAL
N
2
LOWER LIMIT

3
4
VOLUME
REMOVAL
X
WOB
D

The lower drilling region presents the prevalent drilling efficiencies which
occur in the field. The value of the exponent, a, is one. It is thought that
characteristics of the drilling mud relative to those of the formation being
 MAXIMUM 1
PERFORMANCE
TRANSPORT
DR REMOVAL
N
2
LOWER LIMIT

3
4
VOLUME
REMOVAL
X
WOB
D

The volume removal region is thought to be synonymous with the lack

of cleaning of the teeth of the drill bit. This is also called bit 'balling.'
 If a ‘Drill off test’ test shows, that while drilling with ‘a’ equal to X,
corresponding to an efficiency indicated by point number 1, then
nothing can be done to raise the efficiency with the current drill bit. A
different drill bit may have a pronounced affect.
 
 If a test shows an efficiency at point number 2, then additional bit
hydraulics or extended nozzles should help.
 
 If a test shows an efficiency at point number 3, then changes in the
drilling mud should help. It has been shown in laboratory tests that
differential pressure will produce lower limit drilling efficiencies. Water
drills as fast as air if equal differential pressures are maintained.
 
 If a test shows an efficiency at point number 4, then a higher
circulation rate or a center jet to better clean the teeth of the bit
should help.
Example

A drilling test with a 12.25" drill bit which is rotated at 100 rpm gave the
following data and computed results.

  WOB DR DR/N= DR/60/100

1,000# ft/hr ft/rev
10 1.8 .0003
20 6.0 .001
30 15.0 .0025
40 25.0 .0042
50 27.0 .0045
60 29.0 .0048
70 30.0 .005
 The data and the computed results gave the following chart.

Bingham Efficiency Drilling Test

0.006
0.005

0.004
DR/N (ft/rev)

0.003
0.002

0.001
0.000
0 20 40 60 80
Weight on 12.25" Bit (1000#)

 At the WOB of 50,000 lbs the drilling will be in the transport and
removal region. Additional bit hydraulics is required to give better
bottom hole cleaning and a higher drilling efficiency.
 DRILLOFF TEST

 A drilloff test consists of applying a large weight to the bit and

then locking the brake and monitoring the decrease in bit
weight with time while maintaining a constant rotary speed.

 Hook's law of elasticity then can be applied to compute the

amount the drill string has stretched as the weight on the bit
decreased and the hook load increased.

 In this manner, the response in penetration rate to changing bit

weight can be determined over a very short depth interval.
 Hook's law states that the change in stress is directly proportional
to the change in strain.

  E 

 For the case of axial tension in a drillstring, the stress change is

equal to the change in bit weight (axial tension) divided by the
cross-sectional area of the drillpipe.

 The change in strain is equal to the change in drillpipe length per

unit length. Thus, Hook's law becomes

W L
E
As L
 The average penetration rate observed for the change in bit weight
W can be obtained by dividing this equation by the time interval t
required to drill off W .

L L W
R 
t E A s t

 Range 2 drillpipe has tool joint upsets over about 5% of its length
that have a much greater cross-sectional area than the pipe body
and essentially do not contribute to the length change observed.
Replacing L by 0.95L gives

L W
R  0.95
E A s t

 The length change of the drill collars is also small and can be
ignored.
 Care must be taken to establish the bottomhole pattern of the bit at
the initial bit weight of the test before performing the drilloff test.

 The following procedure was adapted from a Chevron U.S.A.

recommended practice.

1. Select a depth to run the drilloff test where a section of uniform

lithology (usually shale) is expected.

2. While drilling with the bit weight currently in use, lock the
brake and determine the time required to drill off 10% of this
weight. This is called the characteristic time.
3. Increase the bit weight to the initial value of the drilloff test.
This initial value should be at least a 20% increase in bit weight
over the bit weight currently in use.

4. Drill at this bit weight long enough to establish the new

bottomhole pattern of the bit. The time allowed is usually one
characteristic time per 10% increase in bit weight—e.g., a time
interval of twice the characteristic time would be used for a
20% increase in bit weight.

5. Lock the brake and maintain a constant rotary speed. Record

the time each time the bit weight falls off 4,000 lbf. If the weight
indicator is fluctuating, use the midpoint of the fluctuations as
the bit weight. Continue the test until at least 50% of the initial
bit weight has been drilled off.
6. Make a plot of t vs. W or R vs. W using log-log graph paper. A
straight-line plot should result having a slope equal to the bit
weight exponent. Deviation from straight-line behavior may
occur at high bit weights if bit floundering occurs or is
impending. h

7. If time permits, repeat the test at a different rotary speed. If bit

floundering (nonlinear behavior at high bit weights) was
observed in the initial test, use a lower rotary speed in the
second test. If no bit floundering occurred in the initial test, use
a higher rotary speed in the second test.
Example

 Following drilloff test data given. Evaluate the drilling performance

N=150 RPM N=100 RPM

W t W t

1000-lb sec 1000-lb sec

76 0 76 0

72 52 72 54

68 105 68 114

64 160 64 180

60 218 60 253

56 281 56 334

52 352 52 424

48 432 48 525

44 522 44 641

40 626 40 773

36 746 36
 The penetration rate can be evaluated using

L W
R  0.95
E A s t
10,000 4,000
 0.95
30(10) 6 5.275 t
0.24

t

 Expressing R in ft/hr and t in sec,

0.24  3,600 sec  864

R  
t  1 hr  t
 OPTIMAL BOTTOM HOLE
CLEANING
 The first and the only arbitrary step in optimal bottom hole
cleaning is the selection of the desired bit hydraulic horsepower
(BHHP) per square inch of hole bottom or impact force(IF) per
square inch of hole bottom.

 After one of these values are selected the next step is compute
the pump operation pressure, circulation rate, and jet sizes
which maximizes that portion of the BHHP or IF produced by
the pump and minimize the amount lost in circulating friction.
 D BIT HYDRAULIC TEST
R 30 8.5" BIT, 50,000#, 100 RPM, SHALE
I
L
L
R
20
A OPTIMAL BIT
T
HYDRAULICS
E
ft/hr
10
0 2 4 6 8
BIT HYD.HP/SQ.IN.OF BOTTOM HOLE, hhp/in 2
 Laboratory and field drilling tests show that drilling rate rises with
increased bit hydraulics to a maximum value and thereafter fails
to cause a further rise.

 Once the bottom of the hole is cleaned that further efforts at

cleaning is a waste of bit hydraulics.

 The authors field data show that 3 hydraulic horsepower per

square inch of bottom hole was satisfactory for all drilling with
rolling cone drill bits.

 To conduct this test on the rig it is only necessary to measure

the drilling rate at various circulation rates while maintaining the
rotary speed and weight on bit constant.