Solid Content in Drill Mud

Solid content is a fraction of the total solid in drilling mud, and it always increases while drilling ahead because of drilling solid (cuttings), mud chemical additives and weighting material. Solid content refers to soluble and insoluble solid content in the drilling fluid system.

solid-content-in-mud

There are three types of solid contents as listed below;

Soluble material such as salt
Insoluble high gravity solid (HGS) such as weighting agents (barite, calcium carbonate, hematite, etc.)
Insoluble low gravity solid (LGS) or drilled solid such as solids particles from cuttings

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Mud Filter Cake

Mud filter cake is a layer formed by solid particles in drilling mud against porous zones due to differential pressure between hydrostatic pressure and formation pressure.  For the drilling operation, it is preferred to have a filter cake that is impermeable and thin. Practically, the filter cake from API or HTHP fluid loss test should be less than or equal to 1/16 inch. If drilling fluid is not in a good shape, which results in a thick filter cake in the wellbore, it will lead to a stuck pipe situation and high torque/drag.

Mud filter cake

Mud Filter Cake from HTHP Fluid Loss Test (http://oilfieldpix.com/photo/679/Mud-filter-cake.html)

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API and HTHP Fluid Loss

Fluid loss is one of important drilling fluid properties and two type of fluid loss are API and HTHP fluid loss. This article will explain about both of them and effect on the drilling operation.

API Fluid Loss Test

API Fluid Loss Test (low-pressure, low-temperature filtration test) is a test used to measure a filtration of mud with ambient temperature and 100 psi differential pressure. The API fluid loss testing equipment is shown below (Figure 1).

Figure 1 - API Fluid Loss Test Kit

Figure 1 – API Fluid Loss Test Kit

How will the drilling mud be tested?

  • Place a filter
  • Add the sample into the testing chamber
  • Place the chamber in the testing kit
  • Apply 100 psi pressure
  • Record volume for 30 minutes; at the end of the test the volume of filtrate will be recorded.
  • Record thickness of filter cake

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