Mud Rheology
RHEOLOGY
Rheology is the study of
how matter deforms &
Flows
Factors Influenced by Mud Rheology
Hole Cleaning
Suspension of Solids
Hole Stability
Solids Control
ECD’s
Surge & Swap Pressures
VISCOSITY
DESCRIBED AS A
SUBSTANCE’S
RESISTANCE
TO FLOW
VISCOSITY
The frictional drag of one layer of liquid
sliding over another layer of liquid
divided by the relative velocity of the
layers
VISCOSITY
Drilling Fluid Viscosity Varies With Shear Rate.
Funnel Viscosity - Seconds per Quart.
Water = 26 seconds +/- ½ second
Plastic Viscosity - Centipoise. (one gram /cm-sec)
PV = θ600 - θ300
Yeild Point – Lbs/100Ft2
Apparent Viscosity - Centipoise. (θ600÷2)
Effective Viscosity - The Measured or Calculated
Viscosity at a Given Shear Rate.
Low Shear Rate Viscosity - Centipoise.
VISCOSITY
SHEAR RATE
SHEAR STRESS
SHEAR RATE
. . . is the velocity gradient of a fluid
– It is the speed of 1 layer of liquid sliding by another layer
of fluid divided by the distance between them.
– Is dependent on the average velocity of the fluid in the
geometry in which it is flowing
– Higher Shear rate usually cause a greater resistive force
of Shear Stress
Measured in: 1/sec (reciprocal second)
SHEAR STRESS
When a fluid is flowing, a force exists in the
fluid which opposes the flow.
This force is known as SHEAR STRESS.
It is a frictional force which develops as one
layer of fluid slides by another.
MOVABLE PLANE (Area = cm² )
FORCE
A VELOCITY
(dynes)
(cm/sec)
B HEIGHT (cm)
STATIONARY PLANE
SHEAR STRESS
VISCOSITY =
SHEAR RATE
TYPE OF FLUIDS
SHEAR STRESS
SHEAR RATE
• Shear stress is directly
proportional to shear rate
• Yield stress (stress required to
initiate flow) is always zero
• Will not suspend cuttings and
weight materials
Viscosity is dependent on the shear rate
Do not exhibit a linear relationship
Shear thinning
When in laminar flow they are thinner at high shear
rates than at low shear rates. At low shear rates,
particles link together, increasing the resistance to
flow. At higher shear rates the linking bonds are
broken.
Example 1
600 DR = 40
300 DR = 20
Example 2
600 DR = 68
300 DR = 40
Plastic Viscosity
Is the viscosity resulted from:
• Friction between Solids & Solids
• Friction between Solids
S & Fluids
• Friction between Fluids & Fluids
Plastic Viscosity
Described as that part of resistance to flow
caused by mechanical friction
Affected by:
Solids concentration
Size and shape of the solids
Viscosity of the fluid phase
Plastic Viscosity Increased by:
Particles breaking thus increasing surface area
and more friction
Weight material to increase density
Plastic Viscosity Decreased by:
Removal of Solids
Shale shaker
Desanders, desilters, clay jectors, centrifuges
L
Lowering
i off gell strength
t th allows
ll llarger particles
ti l
to settle out
Dilution of solids with water
Recommended Range of Plastic Viscosity in
Various Weight Muds
Plastic Viscosity at 115°F, cP
60
50
40
PV
30
20
10
0
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Mud Density, lb/gal
Yield Point
Is the viscosity resulted from:
• Attraction of electro-chemical charges on the
solids
lid
Yield Point
Resistance to flow due to attraction between
solids
Affected by:
T
Type off solids
lid and
d associated
i t d charges
h
Concentration of these solids
Dissolved salts
Yield Point Increased by:
Contaminants
– Salt, cement, gyp, etc. neutralizes charges of
clay particles causing flocculation
Clay particles fracturing causing residual
forces to be left on particle edges resulting
in flocculation
Yield Point Increased by:
Hydratable drilled clay and shale increasing
active solids
Insufficient or overtreatment of chemicals
Additional solids causing attractive forces to
increase due to closeness of solids
Yield Point Decreased by:
• Neutralization of broken bond valences by
adsorption of negative ions on edges of
particles (tannins, lignins, phosphates,
lignosulfonates)
• Contamination by y calcium or magnesium
g
removed by precipitation of the ion causing
flocculation - soda ash, sodium bicarbonate,
phosphates
• Water can be used, but it lowers mud weight
(expensive)
Rheological Models
Bingham Plastic
Power Law
Herschel - Buckley
Casson
Robertson - Stiff
Bingham Plastic Model
Describes a fluid in which a
finite force is required to initiate
flow (Yield Point).
Then it exhibits a constant
viscosity with increasing shear
rate (Plastic Viscosity)
Power Law
More complicated that BPM
Does not assume a linear relationship
between SS/SR
Try to solve the shortcomings at low shear
rates compared to BPM
”The SS increases as a function of the
SR mathematically raised to some
power”
n Value
Indicates the shear thinning ability of a fluid
Influenced by viscosifier concentration
As “n” decreases, more shear thinning
Power Law Model
AR STRESS
SHEA
SHEAR RATE
k
K Value Consistency Index
Indicates a system’s viscosity at low shear
rates
Influenced by viscosifier and solids
concentration
What Causes K to Increase
Addition of hydratable and non-hydratable
solids
Chemical contamination (salt, etc.)
What Causes K to Decrease
Removal of hydratable and non-hydratable
solids
Addition of chemical thinners
Gel Strength
Gel structure develops as a result of charged
particles assuming equilibrium positions
(positive to negative) with respect to each other
Gel strength is a function of time
time, temperature,
temperature
concentration and strength of attractive
particles
Gel Strength
PROGRESSIVE
Gels
FRAGILE
Time
Gel Strength
Assists in performing the functions of:
Decreasing the settling rate of cuttings
when circulation is interrupted
Releasing
R l i cuttings
tti att th
the surface
f . . . also
l
entrained gas or air
Reducing adverse effects of the mud with
the formation
Problems Attributed to High Viscosity and Gel Strengths
More pump pressure to break circulation
Increased pressure losses
Lost circulation by pressure surges
Swabbing of shale and formation fluids into
wellbore
Abrasive sand being carried in mud
RHEOLOGICAL
FLOW REGIMES
Flow Regime Determination
Reynold’s number
Wellbore geometry
Fluid properties
Stage 1: No Flow
Stage 2: Plug Flow
Stage 3: Transition (Plug to
Laminar)
Stage 4: Laminar Flow
Stage 5: Transition (Laminar to
Turbulent)
Stage 6: Turbulent Flow
Reynold’s Number
< 2100 Laminar
2100 - 4100 Transitional
> 4100 Turbulent
Normally we assume turbulent flow when
the Reynolds Number > 2100
Hydraulics
The study of how fluids
exert force and do
work
Annular Geometry
Surface
}
A n n ula r G eo m etry
S u r fa c e C a s in g
D . P . & C a sin g
D rill P ipe
In te r m e d ia te C a s in g
L in e r } D . P . & L in er
}
} D . P . & O pen H ole
D rill C o lla rs
O p e n H o le D r illC o lla r s & O . H o le
D rill B it
Sequence of Pipe and Annular Calculations
Mud Prop
Geometries
Flow Rate
Calculate Calculate Calculate Calculate Calculate
n K Bulk Effective Reynolds
value value Velocity Viscosity Number
If Rnum ≤ 2100 If Rnum> 2100 Calculate
Calculate Turbulent
Laminar Fric Factor
Fric Factor
Save Calculate ΔP for next interval until last interval calculated
Calculate
Interval
Interval Total Annular:
ΔP After ΔP Calculated for all intervals
ΔP
Interval Calculate End
ΔPs ECD
