What is slug? Slug: It is heavy mud which is used to push lighter mud weight down before pulling drill pipe out of hole. Slug is used when pipe became wet while pulling out of hole. This article will demonstrate you how to calculate how many barrel of volume slug required for desired light of dry pipe.
Normally, 1.5 to 2 PPG over current mud weight is a rule of thumb to decide how much weight of slug should be. For example, current mud weight is 10 PPG. Slug weight should be about 11.5 to 12 PPG. Generally, slug is pumped to push mud down approximate 200 ft and slug volume can be calculated by applying a concept of U-tube (See Figure below).
Volume of slug required for required length of dry pipe can be calculated by this following equations:
Oilfield Unit
Step 1: Determine hydrostatic pressure required to give desired drop inside drill pipe:
Hydrostatic Pressure in psi = mud weight in ppg × 0.052 × ft of dry pipe
Step 2: Determine difference in pressure gradient between slug weight and mud weight:
Pressure gradient difference in psi/ft = (slug weight in ppg – mud weight in ppg) × 0.052
Step 3: Determine length of slug in drill pipe:
Slug length in ft = Hydrostatic Pressure in psi (in step 1) ÷ Pressure gradient difference in psi/ft (step 2)
Step 4: Slug volume required in barrels:
Slug volume in barrel = Slug length in ft × drill pipe capacity in bbl/ft
Example: Determine the barrels of slug required for the following:
Desired length of dry pipe = 200 ft
Drill pipe capacity = 0.016 bbl/ft
Mud weight = 10.0 ppg
Slug weight = 11.5 ppg
Step 1 Hydrostatic pressure required:
Hydrostatic Pressure in psi = 10.0 ppg × 0.052 × 200 ft
Hydrostatic Pressure in psi = 104 psi
Step 2 differences in pressure gradient between slug weight and mud weight:
Pressure gradient difference in psi/ft = (11.5 ppg – 10.0 ppg) × 0.052
Pressure gradient difference in psi/ft = 0.078 psi/ft
Step 3 length of slug in drill pipe:
Slug length in ft = 104 psi ÷ 0.078 psi/ft
Slug length in ft = 1,333 ft
Step 4 Slug volume required in barrels:
Slug volume required = 1,333 ft × 0.016 bbl/ft
Slug volume required = 21.3 bbl
Metric Unit
Step 1: Determine hydrostatic pressure required to give desired drop inside drill pipe:
Hydrostatic Pressure in kPa = mud weight in kg/m³ × 0.00981 × length of dry pipe in m
Step 2: Determine difference in pressure gradient between slug weight and mud weight:
Pressure gradient difference in kPa/m = (slug weight in kg/m³ – mud weight in kg/m³) × 0.00981
Step 3: Determine length of slug in drill pipe:
Slug length in m = Hydrostatic Pressure in kPa (in step 1) ÷ Pressure gradient difference in kPa/m(step 2)
Step 4: Slug volume required in barrels:
Slug volume in m³ = Slug length in m × drill pipe capacity in m³/m
Example: Determine the barrels of slug required for the following:
Desired length of dry pipe = 120 m
Drill pipe capacity = 0.00782 m³/m
Mud weight = 1,380 kg/m³
Slug weight = 1,500 kg/m³
Step 1 Hydrostatic pressure required:
Hydrostatic Pressure in psi = 1,380 kg/m³ × 0.00981 × 120 m
Hydrostatic Pressure in psi = 1,625 kPa
Step 2 differences in pressure gradient between slug weight and mud weight:
Pressure gradient difference in kPa/m = (1,500 kg/m³ – 1,380 kg/m³ ) × 0.00981
Pressure gradient difference in kPa/m = 1.1772 kPa/m
Step 3 length of slug in drill pipe:
Slug length in ft = 1,625 kPa ÷ 1.1772 kPa/m
Slug length in ft = 1,380 m
Step 4 Slug volume required in barrels:
Slug volume required = 1,380 m × 0.00782 m³/m
Slug volume required = 10.79 m³
Please find the excel sheet used to calculate barrels of slug required for desired length of dry pipe
Ref books:
Lapeyrouse, N.J., 2002. Formulas and calculations for drilling, production and workover, Boston: Gulf Professional publishing.
Bourgoyne, A.J.T., Chenevert , M.E. & Millheim, K.K., 1986. SPE Textbook Series, Volume 2: Applied Drilling Engineering, Society of Petroleum Engineers.
Mitchell, R.F., Miska, S. & Aadny, B.S., 2011. Fundamentals of drilling engineering, Richardson, TX: Society of Petroleum Engineers.
