Equivalent Circulating Density (ECD) in both Oilfield and Metric Unit

Equivalent Circulating Density (ECD) is the effective density that combines current mud density and annular pressure drop. ECD is vital for drilling engineering since it limits how depth of each section to be drilled and leads to losses.

The equivalent circulating density formula is shown below;

Oilfield Unit

Equivalent Circulating Density (ECD) = (Annular Pressure Loss ÷ 0.052 ÷ True Vertical Depth (TVD)) + (Current Mud Weight)

Equivalent Circulating Density (ECD) in ppg

Annular Pressure Loss in psi

True Vertical Depth (TVD) in ft

Current Mud Weight in pppg

Example:

Annular pressure loss = 400 psi
True Vertical Depth = 8,000 ft
Current mud weight in ppg = 10 ppg

ECD in ppg =   (400 psi ÷ 0.052 ÷ 8,000 ft) +10.0 ppg 

ECD = 11.0 ppg

Metric Unit

Equivalent Circulating Density (ECD) = (Annular Pressure Loss × 1000 ÷ 9.81÷ True Vertical Depth (TVD) ) + (Current Mud Weight)

Equivalent Circulating Density (ECD) in kg/m³

Annular Pressure Loss in KPa

True Vertical Depth (TVD) in m

Current Mud Weight in kg/m³

Example:

Annular pressure loss = 2760 KPa
True Vertical Depth = 2,440 m
Current mud weight in ppg = 1200  kg/m³

ECD in ppg =  (2,760 Kpa  × 1000 ÷ 9.81÷ 2,440 m )  + 1,200 kg/m³

ECD = 1,315 kg/m³

Please find the Excel sheet to calculate Equivalent Circulating Density (ECD) 

https://www.drillingformulas.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/7.Equivalent-Circulating-Density.xlsx

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 Engineer