OIL BASE MUD

Introduction :
The most important feature of any drilling fluid is that there no interaction between the fluid and the
drilled formation which if present will affect the mechanical properties of the formation .
If a water based system is used the water will inter the formation causing change in its mechanical
properties and thus cause instability of this formation (this can be minimized by using a system like Kcl-
polymer mud).
However the only way to prevent the water wetting of the pores of the rock is to contact the formation
with a fluid thus will not wet the rocks and thus will not enter the pores and cause a change in the
mechanical properties of the rocks. These fluids having oil to be the continuos phase of the drilling fluid .

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

 Shale stability and inhibition.  High initial cost per barrel.

 Temperature stability.  Mechanical shear required.
 Lubricity  Reduced kick detection ability.
 Resistance to chemical contamination  Pollution control required.
 Gauge hole in evaporite formations.  High cost of lost circulation.
 Solids tolerance.  Disposal problems.
 Reduced production damage.  Solids control equipments based on
 Reduced tendency for differential sticking. centrifugation does not work effectively.
 Drilling under-balanced.  Hole cleaning.
 Re-use.  Rig cleanliness.
 Reduced cement cost  Special skin care for personnel may be required.
 High penetration rate.  Hazards vapor.
 Flexibility.  Effect on rubber.
 Reduced of stress fatigue.  Fire hazard.
 Reduced corrosion.  Special logging tools required.
 Gas stripping.

Oil Based Drilling Fluids are of Two Types :

1. Oil Base Fluid :

This type does not rely on entrained emulsified to drive the basic properties of rheology and fluid loss control.
Normally these would be formulated without water. Generally contain less than 10% water( usually from 1%-5%by volume of
water). This formulated with refined oils such as diesel fuel.
NB : Crude oils can be used (they contain high levels of air blown asphalts).

2. Invert Emulsion Fluid :

 Has a continuos exterior oil phase but must have water into interior phase to provide same of the
rheological properties and fluid loss control. This type may contain from 10% - 50% water by volume
with the continuos oil phase which can be oil or diesel .

OBM is mainly composed of :

1. The oil phase (mainly diesel)

Which is the continuos phase into which every thing is mixed .
2. The brine phase (Ca Cl2 + H2O)
It exists in the drilling fluid in the form of extremely small droplets ranging in size form submicron to
a few microns in diameter. These droplets acts as a solids in the fluid and impact the basic viscosity .
Usually Ca Cl2 not Na Cl is used as it gives greater flexibility in adjusting the activity of the system .
3. The solid phase (barite) :
This consists mainly of the weighting agent., which is mainly barite . But also having fine drilled
solids which must be minimized by removal as much as possible.
This done by adding lime.

The main advantages and reasons for using OBM :

1. Protection of producing sands :

As some producing formations have clays in their pore spaces that swells when contact with
water base mud due to water mud filtration .
This swelling results in partial to complete blockage of the formation which by turn prevent
the passage of formation fluids.
The oil filtration of an oil muds does not swell formation clays and therefore does not reduce
permeability.
Even on drilling clean sands with water base mud may cause water blocked because of the
interfacial and surface tension properties of water mud filtrate.

2. Drilling water sensitive shales :

Some shale formations that slough when contacted with water mud are drilled readily with
oil mud. The external phase of the oil mud is oil and does not allow water contact the
formation, the shales thereby prevented from becoming water wet and dispersing into the
mud or caving into the hole. The result is closer to gauge hole, this have a great advantage on
drilling deep wells or deviated wells and thus prevent and relieving stuck pipe .

3. Drilling deep hot holes :

Oil mud do not undergo any chemical changes at high temperature, which cause
solidification of water muds, and thus this advantage make oil muds an excellent drilling for
deep hot wells.

4. Drilling soluble formations :

The drilling of water soluble formations such as salt, potash and gypsum by using water
base muds can present a difficulty in controlling viscosity, gel strength, yield, filtration and
density. Also the problem cavities in massive salt formations.
Oil muds aids in overcoming these problems as the external of an oil base mud is oil and
non of the normally encountered salts are soluble in the mud.
NB : Two exceptions are calcium chloride and magnesium chloride which will dissolve in the
emulsified water , but have no adverse effect on oil mud properties .
Usually non of the soluble salts acts as contaminant in oil muds .
NB : The non polar nature of the oil muds ensures that the system is in generally insensitive
to the chemical contamination that affect water base systems, such as contamination with
salt, anhydrite, cement, carbon hydroxide, sulfides .

5. Coring fluid for oil producing zones :

When water muds a coring fluids , invasion or flushing may destroy the reliability of the data
obtained from the core . The total amount of core which is recoverable may be reduces when
water mud is used . For these reasons oil muds is used as a coring fluid.
As oil muds have a low oil filtrate which allow cores to be cut with only slight invasion and
flushing.
NB : The water in the oil mud which is squeezed into the core by the high pressure under core
bit will slow upon distillation of the core, as connate water. For this reason its desirable to
prepare either oil fluid have a very low percentage of water or water free system to avoid any
damage to the core , but this is quite expensive .

6. Spotting to free differentially stuck pipe :

Because of lubricity property of oil and oil muds, it have been used to prevent and relieving
all types of stuck pipe.
# Two things are always present when differential sticking occurs :
 A permeable zone exposed in the open hole.
 A mud with sufficient solids, and a sufficient high filtration rate under down hole
conditions, to deposit a thick filter cake.
Therefore to relive differential sticking , it is necessary to effect some change in the cake
already deposited . And to prevent differential sticking it is necessary to prevent deposition of
a thick filter cake.
Because of the ability of an oil mud to penetrate the water mud cake and because the inherent
lubricity of oil muds they are quite successful in freeing pipe that was differentially stick while
using water mud. It is well known that oil muds have low filtration rate and a head thin cakes
at elevated temperature and pressure .

7. Plastic flowing shales :

Gumbo shale is unique in that it contains low concentrations of hydratable clay(10% - 25%)
and a large amount of relatively fresh water (20% - 30%) .
When water base mud is used to drill this(gumbo) the shale immediately disperses into the
mud. The mud becomes so thick that drilling must proceeds at controlled rate or the mud will
plug the annulus. Bit and collar balling , stuck pipe , also shaker screens become plugged
because of cutting are soft and gummy.
Oil muds overcome all gumbo drilling problems but only solid control problems .
NB : By incorporating a fairly highly concentration (10-15 lb../bbl) of Ca Cl 2 into the water
phase of an oil mud a dehydration of this wet shale would occur and make it drill and act like
firmer shale type . The mechanism of this dehydration appears to be osmotic because of the
difference in salt concentration in the shale and in the water phase of the oil mud.

8. Casing pack and packer fluids :

 It was found that oil muds have a long term stability and non conduct nature which make
them useful in casing packs and packer fluids in completion and workover situations .
The requirements for a fluid that is to be placed in the casing tubing annulus are relatively
simple. This fluid should be :
a- Provide density required to assist in maintaining the packer seal and prevent burst or
collapse of pipe. There should be no compacted settling of solids and slugging and top oil
separation should be minimized .
b- To be non – corrosive .
c- To be fluid enough to permit placement a small annulus, or a good clean displacement in a
large annulus .
d- To be stable in down hole conditions of temperature and pressure .
e- Have a very low filtration rate to avoid significant loss of volume or change in composition.
f- Be sufficient gelled to prevent migration of fluids into the annulus .
g- Protected casing from corrosion by formation fluids .
It is not difficult to prepare an oil mud to meet these requirements . But if the fluid to be
used in an open hole annulus , so to migrate corrosion attack , or to facilitate recovery of the
casing later, it must be meet much higher standards .

9. To obtain proper pressure control via formation pore pressure :

10. Can be stored and reused :

Thus having the advantage to reduce cost comparing with water base mud which can be
only used in one well.

11. Low solids oil muds :

a- Diesel oil 85% as fast as water base mud and the same factors that reduce drilling rate
whether oil or water is the base fluid.
b- Diesel oil is less dense than water .
c- Solids does not disperse in oil readily as in water .
d- Diesel oil is relatively non – corrosive .

12. Treated curds :

In some areas low cost oil muds are prepared for drill – in and completion work, simply by
treating a field crud to give some property such as filtration control or carrying capacity.

Requirements for preparing OBM :

1. E MUL / E CON :

These two products combines to form a very tight film of surfactants at the interface between brine
droplets and oil phase , and thus ensures the emulsion stability in the presence of high
temperature and high pressure.
These two products are high molecular weight sodium and calcium shapes, having a slow acting
and requires high shear for dispersion to obtain a highly stable water in oil emulsion.
NB : Since no fatty soaps are employed , so there is no instability introduced at low alakalinities
introduced by H2S and the system will not react adversely with high levels of magnesium
contamination .
 Also E MUL acts as an effective oil wetting agent, this helps to make the fluid resistant to
contamination from drilled solids and salt.
E CON also imparts the basic filtration control properties to the drilling fluid, upon addition of this
product it requires the presence of lime but after the initial reaction the presence of lime is no
longer required .
2. Lime :
 Gives alkalinity to mud.
 React with H2S gas
H2S + Ca(OH)2 CaS +H2O .
 Help to give gel mud stability (leak of lime will cause high viscosity, high YP, high PV).
3. E VIS :
It is an organophilic clay which is a viscosity agent which give the drilling fluid an excellent
rheological properties (viscosity and carrying capacity) this product also aid in filtration control.
4. E TON :
Is an asphaltic HT HP filtration reducer . It also functions as a thinner and difflocculant for high
density fluids in high temperature environment.
5. E WET :
This product is an extremely powerful oil wetting agent developed to give the drilling fluid extra
stability when drilling extremely wet formations .
It also acts as a thinner when substantial quantities of solids are present .
NB : While adding barite add E WET slowly at the pit to wet barite and keep it always in suspension
and prevent its settling .
I.E So as solids get gate by diesel.

Mixing OBM :

Diesel H 2O
+ +
Emulsifier (MUL or CON) Ca Cl2
+
Lime
1. Fill tank with required volume of diesel .
2. Add emulsifier (15 lb.,/bbl) and mix thoroughly .
3. Dissolve required salt in a separate tank in the required H2O. Add brine slowly
under maximum shear to the diesel E MUL mixture .
4. Simultaneously add the Lime and the E CON .
The mud color will darken with shear and time . Shear for maximum stability .
5. Add required E VIS (5lb./bbl) and shear until required rheology is achieved .
6. Add required E TON (8lb./bbl) and shear until required rheology is achieved .
7. Add all Barite if high densities are required a small dose of E WET (1-2
lb./bbl)is recommended .
8. Agitate and shear the system as large as possible to get the maximum
stability .

Precautions :

A. Make on water addition while adding Barite, or vice versa.

I.E : Barite addition should never be made in the presence free H 2O .
B. Vigrous agitation while adding (high shear)is necessary when adding materials to give
stability to the mud .
C. Do not increase mud weight when the when the mud has a higher percent water then that
desired at the final weight.
D. When oil is added , E MUL + E VIS + E TON + E WET, should be added so that the overall
concentration of these materials in the mud is not reduced .
E. Determine the oil/water ratio and add proportionate amounts of oil and water. For example
if O/W ratio is 75/25, then add the volumes of diesel oil and volume of water per time
period(hour) .
F. The amount of each oil mud product to be added in maintaining the mud is based on the
total volume of new mud prepared .
The suspension additives can usually be omitted from new volume unless large volumes
are prepared, or weight materials is settling from the mud.
NB : This emulsion is generally adequate for bottom hole temperature up to 300 F 0 , with
respect to filtrate control , and have good rheology if the proper O/W ratio is used and
maintained based on final mud weight .
NB : The treatments required to maintain an oil mud will vary widely depending on several
factors :
 Drilling rate .
 Type of formation .
 Temperature.
 Weight.
 Type of solid control program being used.
 Water contamination .
 Extremely high bottom hole temperature .

Properties of Brine :

Mix brine slug pit or small tank .

# Preparing 100 bbl of OBM with O/W ratio 80/20
80 bbl diesel / 20 bbl H2O
Put 20 bbls of H2O over dead volume of tank (EG: dead volume = 10 bbls)
1. From drill program needed brine with 30% Ca Cl2 by wt .
2. From CaCl2 chart. 30%CaCl2 by wt 149.95 (ppb/H2O)
3. Ca Cl2 (ppb/H2O) * volume of H2O = 149.95*30 = 4498.5lb.
# Weight of one sack of CaCl2 = 110 lb.
# No of sacks to be added to 30 bbl of H 2O = [4498.5/110] = 41 sx.
NB: Keep always an excess lime of 5ppb in the initial emulsion.
I.E : If dead volume in the mixing tank = 30 bbl. For mixing 100 bbl of OBM 0f O/W ratio 80/20.
5 lb./bbl lime * 130 (total volume) = 650 lb.
Total volume =30 bbl dead volume +80 bbl diesel +20 bbl brine.
Weight of one sack of lime = 55lb.
No of lime sacks =650 /55 = 12 sx.
NB : On adding E VIS (5 lb./bbl).
130 * 5 = 650 lb. /bbl.
Weight of on sack of E VIS = 55 lb.
No of E VIS sacks = 650 / 55 = 12 sx.
Add E VIS very slowly, add one sack from 10-15 min, and keep gun together with mixing
agitator on all the time .
NB : Still the new emulsion will not give the maximum good performance except when
handling at least one complete cycle as the maximum shearing will be at the bit together with
the help of bottom hole temperature .
NB : Brine activates in OBM are most commonly adjusted using common salt (sodium
chloride and calcium chloride) sodium chloride is most often used when salt sections and
high activities are expected .
For lower activities calcium chloride is most commonly used .
In general for all adjustments to activities for sections calcium chloride is preferred because
the greater versatility it offers .

Oil Mud Calculations :

To determine and calculate the amount of materials required to prepare a given

volume of OBM
Preparing 100 bbl of OBM :

 15 lb./bbl E MUL
 8 lb./bbl E TON (To be mixed in diesel.)
 2 lb./bbl E WET
1. Determine density of oil/water mixture being used.
If O/W ratio is 75/25 for example,
Set up the following material balance ?
0.75(6.7) + 0.25(8.3) =1 x
x = density of mixture PPG .
6.7 = density of oil PPG.
1. = density of water PPG.
x = 7.1 PPG.
This is the initial density of oil/water mixture.
2. Determine the volume of liquid and amount of barite needed to prepare 100 bbl of mud ?
Using the starting formula :
SV = [ (35.4-W2) /(35.4-W1) ] * Diesel volume(bbl)
SV =starting volume.
W1 = initial density of oil/water mixture.
W2 = desired mud weight (EG : 16 PPG)
SV =[ (35.4-16) / (35.4-7.1) ] * 100
SV = 69 bbls of liquid.
Of this 69 bbls , 75% or 51.7 bbls is the volume of oil required, and 25% or 17.3 bbls is the volume
of water required to make 100 bbls of mud of weight 16 PPG.
The amount of barite is found by :
Diesel volume – required volume.
X no of sacks of barite to make one bbl by volume(15 sx) = no of sacks to be added to rise up
volume to 100 bbls.
(100 – 69 ) * 15 = 465 sx
3. Determination of amount of other oil mud materials .
Determine the amounts of other materials by multiplying the concentration of additives times the
number of bbls to be prepared.
 15 lb./bbl (E MUL) * 100 = 1500
 8lb./bbl (E TON) *100 = 800
 2 lb./bbl (E WET) * 100 = 200
NB: The mud weight will approach 16 PPG before all the barite is added because of the volume and
density contributed by OBM materials . About 900 lbs of these materials will occupy one bbl of
volume.
4. Determination of oil/water ratio from retort data :
The significance of the O/W ratio has been previously started . To determine the O/W ratio it is
first necessary to measure oil and water percent by volume in the mud by retort analysis .
From the data obtained the O/W ratio is calculated as follows :
% oil in the liquid phase = [% oil by volume / (% oil by volume+H2O by volume)] * 100 .
% water in the liquid phase = [% H2O by volume/(%H2O by volume +% oil by volume)]*100
The O/W ratio = % oil in liquid phase / % H2O in liquid phase .

For example :

Retort analysis :
51 % oil by volume .
17 % H2O by volume .
32 % solids by volume .
So % oil in liquid phase = [51/(51+17)] * 100 = 75 %
% H2O in liquid phase = [17/(17+51)] * 100 = 25 % .
NB :

# To change O/W ratio :

It may become necessary to change the O/W ratio of an oil mud while drilling. If the O/W ratio is to
be increased add oil, if it is to be decreased add water.
To determine how much oil or water is to be added to change the O/W ratio, the following calculations
are made :
a. Determine present O/W ratio as mentioned before .
b. Decide whether oil or water is to be added.
c. Calculate how much oil or water is to be added for each 100 bbls of mud .

To increase O/W ratio 80/20:

O/W ratio = 75/25
51 % oil by volume
17 % water by volume
32 % solids by volume
Using base of 100 bbls of mud . Here are 68 bbl of liquid (oil & water). To get the new O/W ratio we must add oil.
The total liquid volume will be increased by the volume of oil added but the water will not change. The 17 bbls of water now in the
mud representing 25 % of liquid volume , will not represent only 20 % of the final new liquid volume.
Therefore :
New liquid volume – original liquid volume = bbls of liquid (oil in this case)to be added.
0.2 X = 17
0.2 = new % of water volume.
17 = old % of water from retort.
X = new total final liquid volume.
So X = 17 /0.2 =85 bbls.
85 – 68 = 17 bbls of oil to be added.
Check the calculations as follows :
If the calculated amount of liquid is added what will be the result O/W ratio ?
% oil in liquid phase = [(original volume of oil + new oil added) / (original volume + new oil added)] * 100 .
= [(51+17) / (68+17)] * 100 = 68/85 * 100 = 80 %
so 100- 80 = 20 % water in liquid phase .
New O/W ratio =80/20
To decrease O/W ratio 70/30:
O/W ratio = 75/25 .
51 % oil by volume .
17 % water by volume .
32 % solids by volume .
using base of 100 bbls of mud .
There are 68 bbls of liquid in 100 bbls of mud . In this however water will be added and the oil volume will remain constant.
The 51 bbl of oil representing 75 % of the original liquid volume will now represent only 70 % of the final liquid volume .
Let X = final liquid volume .
0.7 X = 51.
X = 51/0.7 = 73 bbls
New liquid volume – original liquid volume = amount of liquid(H2O in this case)to be added.
So 73 – 68 = 5bbl of H2O to be added.
% of H2O in liquid phase=[(original H2O vol.+H2O added)/(original liquid vol.+H2O added)]*100
[(17+5) / (68+5) * 100 = 30 % water in liquid phase .
100 – 30 = 70 % oil in liquid phase .
So the new O/W ratio = 70/30 .
# For example : If the total volume to be changed from 75/25 to 80/20 is 585bbls, multiply the amount of oil to be added(17) by 5.58
to give the total bbls of oil to added to charge the whole volume.
5. Determine the amount of weight material due to effect of liquid additions on mud weight ?
When oil or water is added to change the O/W ratio, the density of the mud will change .
(Mnd density PPG)(mud volume bbl) + (density of added liquid PPG)(volume of added liquid bbl) = [mud vloume bbl + liquid
volume bbl)(new mud density PPG).
Using 17 bbl of oil to be added to 100 bbl of 16 PPG mud.
(16 PPG)(100 bbl) + (6.7 PPG) (17 bbl) = (100 +17 bbl) X
X = new mud density PPG .
X = (1600+114) /117 = 14.65 PPG.
The same calculations can be made for any liquid or solid which may be added to the mud as long as the material balance takes from
V1 D1 + V2 D2 = VR DR
NB : The volume and density units must be constant .
NB : V1 + V2 = VR.
Example : If we have two fluids of known volumes and densities .
The resulting volume and density can be calculated as follow :
Fluid # 1 Fluid # 2
Volume = 210 bbl Volume = 150 bbl
Wt =16 PPG. Wt = 14.5 PPG.
(16) (210) + (14.5) (150) = VR DR
VR = 210 +150 = 360 bbl.
[16] [210] + [14.5] [150] = 360 DR
DR =[3360 + 2175] /360 = 15.375 PPG
.
The volume of the mud of known density required to change of another mud to a desired value
can be calculated as follows :

How much 13.6 PPG mud must blended with 410 bbls of 16 PPG mud so that the resulting mixture will have a density of 15.2 PPG?
[410][16] + V2[13.6] = [410 + V2][15.2]
6560+ V2[13.6] = 6432+ V2][15.2]
6560-6232 = V2[15.2-13.6]
V2 =328/1.6 = 205 bbl .

Displacement procedures :

1. When ever possible displace the water base mud with OBM whilst in the casing.
2. If allowable , the OBM should have a density heavier than the water base fluid to be displaced.
3. Decrease the viscosity of the water base fluid if in casing dilution and treatment with a deflocculant (such as ferrochrome ,
lignosulphonate) FCl can be used . If the hole is open, heavier treatments with (FCl) will be necessary in general the weight
reduction from a large dilution can not be treated .
It is desirable the gel strength and yield point of the water based fluid be as low as possible to provide for the cleanest and
sharpest interface between the two fluids .
4. With about 20 bbls of OBM prepare a viscous spacer and pump this first .
5. Pump the OBM slowly (5 bbl/min) to produce the least inter merging of the two fluids .
6. Rotate the drill pipe at + , -,(60 RPM) while displacement. This will prevent the water based fluid from gelling and will also aid
in removing the water based fluid from all parts of the hole.
7. If the spacer has not been not contaminated it may be incorporated back into the OBM .
NB : If the changeover of fluid has taken place in the open hole the filter from the water based fluid may plug the shale shaker during
the first circulation . If this happens the screens should be with oil and brushed .
Also the OBM should be carefully observed for signs of water wet solids and treated with E WET if required.

Recommended Properties and Control :

Rheological Control :
The polar interaction between charged clays and polymers that take place in a water based fluid are absent in the non polar oil phase
and only the relatively weak hydrogen bonding can occurs. These weak forces are readily broken by heating the medium. So the
viscosity tends to be substantially reduced by temperature increases.
NB : The optimum range of the factor of a properly maintained OBM is normally in the range of 0.75 – 0.85 .
The plastic viscosity is affected by
1. Quality of oil and water .
2. Quality of solids , and size of the solids .
3. The temperature .
High values of PV and YP are mainly due to excessive solid concentrations or an unfavorable
O/W ratio.
The solids may be removed by fine screens or centrifugation . If this have no effective results
dilution with either diesel or fresh volume of OBM is recommended .

The YP is less affected by temperature than PV , but is related to the solids content and water content.
Very high values of YP may be due to water wet solids in the drilling fluids. This will result in high yield and high gel .
Oil wetting agents used to reduce the YP. derived from water wet solids.
Dilution may also be required to lower YP .
Settling of barite may also occur , this is treated by adjusting gel strength with oil wetting agent
(E WET). Also temperature will have an effect on suspension properties.
# Separation of the lighter oil to the surface of emulsion fluid might occurs need to add emulsifiers with presence of good mixing and
maximum shearing.
NB : Always density is measured of the top and bottom halves of the fluid .
The settling factor is (SF) given by the following formula :
SF = (Wt of the bottom half) / (Wt of the bottom half + Wt of the top half)
If no settling is taking place the value will be within o.5 .
The values of less than o.55 are satisfactory for packer fluids and volume of 0.55 is acceptable for drilling fluids.
Gel strength of 4-5 lb./100 ft3 initial and 6-8 lb./100 ft3 10 minutes gel. Will suffice normally for barite suspension in most mud
densities. These vales can be obtained by addition of E VIS (3-5 lb./bbl).
The viscosity effect on oil base mud depends on several factors :
1. Concentrations of emulsifiers .
2. Emulsion stability .
3. Mud density.
4. Solid distribution.
NB : Emulsifiers or oil wetting additives should be added at the same time while adding E VIS to obtain the required YP .

Hydraulic Control :
The effects of temperature and pressure on the rheological properties of the OBM, have to be taken into account before the normal
equations are used .
To calculate the critical velocities , swab and surge pressures, and pressure losses in the drill string and annulus .
As a first approximation is assumed that the viscosity changes of diesel oil with temperature and pressure can be applied to the oil
based emulsion. This assumption has a more accurate applications in systems with high O/W ratio and low solid concentrations .
The relationship between viscosity and temperature and pressure is given in figure 7.
From this data a correction factor can be calculated that can be applied to the rheological data determined at the flow line . To do this
the down hole temperature and pressure have to be estimated .
 Maximum circulation temperature = {[(BHT – Ambient temperature) * 3] /4} + Ambient temperature.
 The hydrostatic pressure at the point of highest temperature occurs three quarters of the way down the hole.
Hydrostatic pressure at maximum temperature = depth(ft) * Mwt(PPG) * 0.039 psi
Or = depth(ft) * Mwt(kg/l) *0.075.
 This data of temperature and pressure is then used with figure 7 to obtain the viscosity of the diesel oil at these conditions .
Average viscosity of diesel oil = [flow line viscosity +down hole viscosity] / 2
This average viscosity of diesel oil is then compared with viscosity of diesel at the temperature at which the measurements were
taken to drive the correction factor.
Correction factor =average viscosity of diesel / viscosity of diesel at measurement temperature.
EG : Flow line temperature = 75 Co (167 Fo).
Bottom hole temperature = 182 Co (360 Fo).
Ambient temperature = 20 Co (68 Fo).
# Step 1 Maximum circulation temperature = (182-20)*0.75 +20 =141.7 Co (287 Fo).
# Step 2 At depth 20,000 ft (6096 m)
the mud density = 18 PPG ( 2.16 kg/l).
So pressure at a maximum circulation temperature = 20,000*18*0.039 =14,040 psi.
Viscosity of diesel @ 141.7 Co = 14.04 psi.
From figure 7 = 1.3 cps .
# Step 3 Rheology determined @ 50 Co (122 Fo).
viscosity of diesel @ 50 Co = 1.9 cps .
from figure 7 viscosity diesel at flow line.
From figure 7 @ 75 Co and o psi =1.25 cp
Average viscosity = (1.25 + 1.3) /2 = 1.28 cps.
Correction factor for VG data =1.28 / 1.9 = 0.67 .

Trouble shooting
One of the most important parameters of a drilling fluid is the rheology .
However it is affected by many other parameters such as solids, O/W ratio and oil wetting of
solids.
# Solids :
solids do not present such a problem with OBM as in water based fluid for two main reasons :
1. The solids in OBM can not be hydrated and thus soften and disperse into the fluid .
2. In an oil continues fluid ,polar interactions between charged solid particles can not take place because the medium will not
polarize or conduct electricity .
Solids behave as essentially inert and OBM has a higher tolerance to solids than water based fluids.
Operational aspects :
In general the contamination of any mud with solids will cause :
1. Increase drilling fluid maintain cost .
2. Difficulty in maintaining proper rheological properties.
3. Reduce penetration rates .
4. Decrease bit life and increase wear of pump parts .
5. Increase frequency of differential sticking .
6. Increase circulation pressure losses .
Effect of Solids on PV :
The increase of solids increase PV due to mechanical friction between solid particles in the drilling fluid . PV depends primarily on
size shape and number of solids in the fluid.
Effect of Solids on YP and Gel Strength :
As YP and gel strength the degree of attractive forces between particles in the fluid. These attractive forces are related to the distance
between the particles . Therefore the increase of solids increase YP and gel strength .
However chemical treatment , dilution , and mechanical removal of solids are done to overcome the continuos of PV and YP and gel
strength due to build up of percentage of solids.
The removal of very fine particles produces a greater reduction in viscosity than does the removal of an equivalent volume of coarser
solid due to the difference area.
NB :
1. The smaller the particle size the more pronounced the effect on the fluid properties .
2. The smaller the particle size the more it is to remove or control its effects on the fluid.
NB : In general high PV , YP and gel may result in thick filter cakes which by turn will result in over pulls in trips . Also high pump
pressure due to high pressure losses.
High annular pressure losses may result in severe hole erosion.
NB : The drilling fluid has a tendency to thicken when left for a long time period without circulation .

Treatment

A. By mean solid removal equipments remove drilled solids as soon as they are generated .
1. Use small shaker screens (120 mesh if possible) it is recommended not to use small mesh screen for a long period.
2. Desilter .
3. Desander .
4. Mud cleaner .
5. Centrifuge .
B. If excessive solids do build up then the whole mud volume must be diluted .

Water wet solids :

 The OBM drives many of its advantages from the fact that the formations only contacted with oil.
 A rule of thumb : the vapor pressure of the emulsified water droplets is also adjusted so that the water remains in the emulsified
fluid .
 However , sometimes drilling formations with very high porosity and at the same time impermeable and keeping in its pore
spaces high percentage of water . That kind of formations will produce water wetted cuttings , that can interact into mud if there is
any lack in the percentage of emulsifiers or oil wetting agent in the mud .
This result in polar interactions between water wetting particles and associated brine droplets in the mud .
That will give rise to :
1. Viscosity , YP and gel strength.
2. Decrease emulsion stability .
3. Increase filtration .
4. Mushy structure of cuttings which will cause blinding and plugging shaker screens .
5. Severe settling fills after trips .
6. Mud have a dull lock .
7. Thicking of the fluid may occurs depending on solid concentrations .

Treatment :
1. the problem can be overcome addition of higher levels of emulsifiers (E MUL + E CON) which increase combination between
diesel and water , also make an oil film around wetted cuttings , thus retain stability of fluid and give rise to the basic filtration
control of the drilling fluid.
2. Add oil wetting agent to give the drilling fluid extra stability and surrounds (wet) the water wet particles resulting from wet
formations . Also oil wet the formation itself and thus decrease the invasion of water wet particles from getting into drilling fluid.
It also acts as a thinner and thus helps the dispersion and suspension of invaded water wet particles . thus retain good rheology to
drilling fluid .

Electrical stability :
The inert nature of the fluid is derived from the fact that the water present is tied up in the form of droplets , stabilized by a complex
layer of surfactants . The stability is affected by the size of the droplet which in turn is related to the concentration of emulsification
reagent and the shear imparted into the system. The smaller the droplet the greater the stability and resistance to coalescence of drops.
- The stability is measured by application of a DC voltage across two terminals immersed in the fluid to pass a certain current.
The stability is often measured in volts. A value of 400 volts is generally considered adequate , but higher are easily obtained and
characteristic of the strong emulsification system .
The emulsification stability can be increased by addition of E MUL and E CON either single or together in conjunction with mixing
under maximum shear conditions .

Filtration control :
The emulsified water droplets acts as colloide sized solids that combines with the other solids in the fluid to form a very effective filter
cake .
The good filter cake and filtration control are highly affected by :
1. The strength of emulsion .
2. Type and nature of solids .
3. Viscosity of oil emulsion .
To obtain a measurable quantity of filtrate , this is done under high temperature(300 F o) and high pressure (500 psi).
The HT HP fluid loss should be free of water or traces of emulsion and is usually low .
- The filtration rate will be lowered by addition of E CON and filtration reducer (E TON)
- However this product is used when required an extremely low filtration for low density fluids
Alkalinity :
The alkalinity of drilling oil fluids should be kept in the range of 2-4 cc. Is important to maintain this range , regardless of the other
parameters required due to ionic nature of the various electrolytes and because of different additives especially E CON emulsifier
which functions more effectively in that range .
This is maintained by adding lime .
Drilling different salts , KCl, Na CL, Mg Cl2, Ca Cl2 and encountering brine water flow :
Effects :
1. Decrease stability .
2. Salt is very hygroscopic and tends to coagulate the water droplets which in turn accelerates water wetting of barytes and certain
other mud constituents .
3. Salt also affect the oil –mud emulsion chemistry .
4. Lower viscosity .
5. HT HP fluid loss may increase ,and water show up in the filtrate .
Treatment :
1. Add emulsifiers which ensures that the oil emulsion show a good resistance to salt contamination.
I.E : Higher levels of E MUL and E TON may be required and attention should be paid to removal of salt crystals by screening .
2. If a brine flow is encountered the O/W ratio should be restored by addition of diesel oil and further emulsifiers .
3. Lime additions may be required to counter the acidity of the brines .
Cementing / Cement Contamination :
Can only be a problem if large of wet cement are drilled.
Effects :
1. Viscosity (PV & YP) increases .
2. Water wetting .
Treatment :
Addition of E MUL + E TON + E WET .
Cementing Procedures :
Cementing with an oil mud in the hole requires special precautions as the mixing oil mud and cement slurries can produce a
highly gelling un pumpable mass .
This problem necessitates a neat separation of these two systems , and that is done by an effective spacer which have two main
properties :
a. separate completely between OBM and cement .
b. Remove the oil film on the casing and convert the surface to a water wet state, and thus improving the cement bond .
 The soccer can be mixed from fresh ,sea, or brine .
 The viscosity can be adjusted to produce a turbulent flow if required .
 The cement should be replaced at the maximum possible pump rate (regardless of whether turbulent floe can be achieved ).
Reciprocating and rotation of the casing will also significantly improve the displacement efficiency .
H2S contamination :
An oil base fluid is normally suited to accept invasion of H2S .
In water base fluids . Such invasion creates a problem due to hydrogen sulfide embrihelmentof steel work and drastically changes to
chemistry of the fluid due to reaction of alkalis .
In OBM the steel work is protected by the continuos oil phase and H2S dissolve in oil phase(to be removed by degaser) .
Side Effect :
1. Darkening of the mud .
2. Decrease alkalinity due to the acidic nature of H2S and its reaction with lime .
3. Possible decrease emulsion stability .
Treatment :
Addition of lime to maintain alkalinity above 2 cc .
CO2 Contamination : (acidic gas)
Effect :
1. Decrease in alkalinity .
2. Decrease emulsion stability .
3. Continuos intrusion will increase viscosity (YP & Gel strength) .
Treatment :
Addition of lime to maintain alkalinity in the optimum range .

Gas Cutting :
Effect :
1. Settling of barytes .
2. Weakening of the emulsion stability .
Treatment :
1. Addition of E MUL + E CON .
2. Addition of E TON .
3. Addition of E WET .
4. Replace by degaser .
NB : Overtreating with surf-cote can destroy viscosity beyond repair. Prior to treatment pilot testing is imperative .

Problem Indications Cause Treatment

1. Low Dull grainy appearance to 1. Low emulsifier. 1. Add CARBO-MUL. Add CARBO-TEC and lime if
emulsion mud. High HTHP fluid loss. CARBO-TEC system
stability Free H2O in HTHP filtrate. 2. Super-saturated 2. Dilute back with fresh H2O and add CARBO-MUL.
Barite settling out. Blinding with CaCl2.
of shaker screens. Extreme 3. Water flows 3. Add CARBO-MUL. Can also add CARBO-TEC and
cases can cause water wetting lime if CARBO-TEC system.
of solids 4. Mixing mud at 4. Maximize shear. Check electrolyte content(the higher
mixing plant the content, the harder the emulsion is to form)

2. Water Flocculation of barite on sand 1. inadequate 1. Add CARBO-MUL and SURF-COTE, and diesel
wetting of – content test. Sticky cuttings. emulsifier
solids. Blinding of shaker screens. 2.Water-base mud 2. Same as 1.
Settling of barite. Dull, grainy contamination.
appearance of mud. Low ES. 3. Super-saturated 3. Dilute with H2O and add CARBO-MUL.
Free H2O in HTHP filtrate. with CaCl2.

3. H2O Weight drop, change in O/W Add diesel, CARBO-MUL HT, barite.
contamination ratio

High filtration High HTHP filtrate with 1. Low emulsifier 1. Add CARBO-MUL. Add CARBO-TEC and lime if a
increasing free H2O. low ES. content CARBO-TEC system
Fill on connections and trips. 2. Low concentration 2. Add CARBO-TROL A-9 and/or CARBO-TROL.
Sloughing shale. of fluid loss control
additives.
3. High bottom hole 3. Add more CARBO-MUL. Add CARBO-TEC and
temperature lime. Convert to CARBO-TEC system. Add more
CARBO-TROL A-9 and CARBO-TROL.
4. High High PV, high YP, increasing 1. Low emulsifier 1. Dilute with oil, maximize solid control equipment .
viscosity funnel viscosity. Increasing content
retort solids. Increase in water 2. Water 2. Add emulsifiers. If severe, also add SURF-COTE.
content. contamination.
3. Over treatment 3. Dilute with oil.
with emulsifiers,
especially CARBO-
TEC.

5. High solids Retort analysis, calculations 1. Reduce of shaker screens, dilute with diesel

6. Oil Oil on surface 1. Agitation, add CARBO-GEL or CARBO-VIS

separation

7. Emulsion Water in filtrate, low 1. Add CARBO-MUL, CARBO-MUL HT, lime.

breaking electrical stability.

8. Low Low stability, CO2 & H2S 1. Maintain 5-7 lb./bbl lime.
alkalinity intrusion

9. Sloughing Fill on connections and trips. 1. Drilling under- 1. Increase mud weight.
shale Torque and drag. Increase of balanced.
cuttings across shaker. 2. Excessive filtrate. 2. Add emulsifiers. Add CARBO-TROL A-9 and/or
CARBO-TROL.
3. Inadequate hole 3. Add CARBO-GEL to increase YP.
cleaning.
4. Activity too low 4. Adjust CaCl2 content of internal phase so match
formation activity.

10. Barite Low YP and gels. Settling of 1. Poor oil wetting of 1. Add emulsifiers and/or wetting agents. Slow addition
settling barite in heating cup or barite. of barite.
viscosity cup. 2. Inadequate 2. Add CARBO-GEL or viscosifing polymer.
suspension.
3. Low ES, high 3. Add emulsifier.(i.e.; CARBO-GEL, CARBO-VIS or
HTHP. water )

11. Drilled Shale cuttings absorbing 1. Increase salinity to 350000 PPM with CaCl2.
solids appear water by hydration forces
gummy

12. Un- Drop in ES, high Cl content in 1. Add H2O to dissolve Salt, then add CARBO-MUL +
dissolved H2O phase. CARBO-MUL HT + lime. New mud without salt in
CaCl2 or NaCl H2O phase may be blended.

13. Lost Pit volume decrease, loss of 1. Hydrostatic 1. Add mica or plug. Never add fibrous or Phenolic-
circulation returns. pressure is greater resin materials. If possible, reduce mud weight. Add
formation pressure MILFIBER, or calcium carbonate.

14. problem Poor emulsions stability. 1. Inadequate shear 1. Maximize shear

mixing mud at Barite settling. Dull, grainy 2. Very cold 2. Lengthen mixing time
mixing plant appearance to mud. Mud very 3. Poor wetting of 3. Slow additions of barite. Add CARBO-MUL if
thin with no yield or gel barite severe, add small amount of SURF-COTE.
strengths. 4. High electrolyte 4. Dilute back with fresh H2O. once emulsifier is
content. Normally formed, can add additional CaCl2 to obtain desired
greater than 350000 activity .
PPM.
5. Surface 5. Pilot test with known CaCl2 brine to determine if
contamination problem does exist.
 possible if using
CaCl2 brine that has
been used as
completion or work
over fluid

Lost Circulation :
Lost Circulation material like mica or nut plug (fibbers in the worst case)can be added directly to the mud.
 Lost circulation materials weaken the emulsion and cause water wetting tendencies . Therefor it is required to add a sufficient of
emulsifiers (E MUL + E CON) and oil wetting agent (E TON) to a system containing lost circulation materials .
Diesel M plug :
prepare a slurry of 50-60 bbls (8-10 m3) with flowing materials .
A. Diesel M barite plug :
Mixing order is as follows;
Diesel, Diesel M, Barytes, and E TON (SG of barites 4.25) .

TABLE
B. Diesel M-Siderite plug :
Consideration concerning the pay zones , may require an acid soluble weighting material, a siderite (Fe CO 3) .
The mixing order is as follows;
Diesel oil, Diesel M, I Dwate and E MUL +E CON .
In both system s, ensure that adequate mixing has taken place before either weighting agent is added .

Spotting the Pill :

1. Determine the thief zone .
2. The pipe should be pulled to the casing while mixing the pill if possible.
3. The pill is mixed to the desired weight .
4. The slurry is pumped into the open hole or above the thief zone .
5. Allow a setting time for pill .
6. The blow out presenters are closed and a slight squeeze press is applied [200-400 PSI (13.5-25 atm)] .
7. By pumping slowly and hesitating for press build-ups and bleed-off a successful squeeze can be accomplished .
8. After a pack pressure sufficient withstand proposed mud wt is obtained and held for 2-4 hours .
9. Drilling can be resumed , circulation should be restored with a very slow pump rate after getting back to bottom .
NB : This technique is used where partial or complete losses are occurring to induced fractures .
Blow Out / Flow :
Setting of a Barytes in oil plug :
This technique is used in oil mud against underground blow outs or to plug the bottom of a hole quickly without cement .
1. Calculate the volume(bbls or m3) for 300 ft or 100 m receptively of settled barite in the oil plug including estimated hole wash
outs .
2. If it is flowing down hole use E MUL + ECON as oil wetting dispersants .
3. Barytes is added to increase the weight of oil plug up to 21 PPG (2,52kg/l)
Preparation of oil plug slurry :
In bbls :
E MUL Oil wetting agent Barite Slurry volume
(Lb.) (lbs.) (lbs.) (bbls)
2 2 1060 1.52

In m3 :
E MUL Oil wetting agent Barite Slurry volume
(Lb.) (lbs.) (kg) (m3)
5 5 3025.24 1.52

CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF OBM :

Whole Mud Alkalinity :

1. Add 100 cm3 of 50/50 xylene /IPA solvent to a 400 cm3 beaker or titration vessel.
2. Fill 5 cm3 syringe with whole mud past the 3 cm3 mark .
3. Displace 2 cm3of whole mud into the titration vessel .
4. Swirl the mixture until it is homogenous .
5. Add 200 cm3disttled water .
6. Add 15 drop Ph Ph indicator solution .
7. While stirring rapidly , slowly Titrate with O.I.N sulfuric acid until pink color just disappears . continue stirring and if no pink
color reappears within one minute , stop stirring .
8. Let the sample stand for five minutes. If no pink color reappears , the end point has been reached . Record the volume of acid
used. If oink color returns , Titrate with acid a second time .If a pink color returns after the second titration , Titrate with acid a
third time and call a total volume of acid used for all three titrations the end point .
9. Calculate the whole mud alkalinity :
Pom =0.1 N sulfuric acid, cm3 / mud sample cm3
= 0.1 N sulfuric acid, cm3 / 2 cm3
To convert this volume to lb./bbl , Ca (OH)2 lime multiply by 1.295 .
If CaO (quick lime) is used to activate the emulsifier, the conversion factor to lb./bbl is 0.98 .

Whole Mud Chloride :

1. Using the same sample that used for the alkalinity, procedure, make sure the mixture is acidic by adding 1-2 or more 0.1 N
sulfuric acid.
2. Add 10-15 drops of potassium chromate indicator solution .
3. While stirring rapidly , slowly Titrate with o.282 N silver nitrate until a salmon pink color remains stable for at least one minute.
If a question exists as to if the end point has been reached , it may be necessary to stop the stirring and allow separation of the
two phases to occur .
4. Calculate the whole mud chloride using the volume of 0.282 N AgNO3 :
Clom =10,000(0.282 N AgNO3 , cm3) / oil mud sample, cm3 .
= 10,000(0.282 N AgNO3 , cm3) / 2 .

Whole Mud Calcium:

1. Add 100 cm3 of 50/50 xylene /IPA solvent to a titration vessel.
2. Fill a new 5 cm3syringe with whole mud past the 3 cm3 marsh .
3. Displace 2 cm3 oil mud into titration vessel .
4. Cap the jar tightly and shake vigorously by hand for one minute .
5. Add 200 cm3 distilled or deionized water to the jar .
6. Add 3 cm3 1N sodium hydroxide buffer solution .
7. Add oil to 0.25 g caliver 2 to indicator powder .
8. Recap the jar tightly, shake vigoursouly again for two minutes, set jar a side few seconds . If a reddish color appears in the
aqueous phase (lower) calcium is present. Continue the test.
9. Begin stirring without mixing upper and lower phases .
10. Titrate slowly adding EDTA (versenate). When a distinct color change from reddish color to blue-green color occurs , the end
point is reached. Read the volume of EDTA titrated.
11. Calculate the whole mud calcium using the volume of EDTA :
Caom = 4,000(0.1 M EDTA cm3) / oil mud sample cm3.
= 4,000(0.1 M EDTA cm3) / 2 cm3

A) WHOLE MUD CALCULATIONS

THE WHOLE MUD ALKALINITY

0.1N sulfuric acid, cm3 0.1N sulfuric acid, cm3
Po m = = (1)
3 3
Mud sample cm 2 cm

THE WHOLE MUD CHLORIDE

10000 (0.282 N silver nitrate, cm3)

Clo m = (2)
Oil mud sample
 10000 (0.282 N silver nitrate, cm3)
Clo m =
2.0 cm3

THE WHOLE MUD CALCIUM

4000 (0.1 M EDTA cm3)

Ca o m = (3)
3
Oil sample, cm

4000 (0.1 M EDTA cm3)

Ca o m =
2.0 cm3

1. Total lime content:

The total lime content represented as lime hydrate , Ca (OH)2, is :
Lime lb./bbl = 1.295 (Po m) (4)
If quick lime, is CaO is used to activate the emulsifier, the total quick lime is:
Lime lb./bbl = 0.98 (Po m) (4a)
2. Total calcium content:
The total calcium content is:
Ca o m = 4000 (VEDTA) (5)
Where
Ca o m = mg Ca++/ L
VEDTA = cm3 0.1 Molar EDTA/cm3 of mud.
3. Total chloride content:
The total chloride content is:
Clo m = 10000 (VSN) (6)
Where
Clo m = mg Cl-/L
VSN = cm3 0.282N silver nitrate/cm3 of mud.
4. Total CaCl2 and NaCl content:
The chloride ion associated with CaCl2 based upon the Cao m analysis is:
Cl CaCL2 = 1.77 (Cao m) (7)
Where
Cl CaCL2 = mg Cl/L of mud from CaCl2
NOTE: If CaCl2 ≥ Clo m then assume that only CaCl2 is present in the mud and no NaCl is present, proceed
to Eqn. 13 and skip Eqn. 8 through 12.

CaCl2 o m =2.774 (Cao m) (8)

Where
CaCl2 o m = mg CaCl2/L of mud
CaCl2 salt = 9.17 X 10-4 Cao m (9)
Where
CaCl2 salt = lb. calcium chloride per barrel of mud
ClNaCl = Clo m – ClCaCl2 (10)
 Where
ClNaCl = mg Cl/L of mud from NaCl.
NaClo m = 1.65 (ClNaCl) (11)
Where
NaClo m = mg NaCl/L of mud
NaClsalt = 3.5 X 10-4 (NaClo m) (12)
Where
NaClsalt = lb. sodium chloride per bbl of mud.
Omit Eqns. 13& 14

If the test Eqn. 7 indicates that all of the chloride ion occurs from CaCl2 , the following equations are used:
CaCl2o m = 1.57 (Clo m) (13)
Where
CaCl2o m = mg CaCl2 / L of mud.
CaCl2 salt = 3.5 X 10-4 (CaCl2 o m) (14)
Where
CaCl2 salt = lb. CaCl2 per bbl of mud.

B) AQUEOUS PHASE SALT CALCULATIONS

Accurate salt calculations prevent the super saturation of the brine with CaCl2, which can lead to severe water
wetting. The percent by volume solids, as determined by the distillation retort, should be adjusted for the
calculated salt volume which will be retained in the retort assembly. This correction can be accomplished with
simple calculations, assuming that accurate chloride and reading data are used.
The following equations are designed to calculate the quantity of NaCl and CaCl2 in the aqueous phase of the
CARBO-DRILL Systems.

100 (CaCl2 o m)
Wc = (15)
CaCl2 o m +NaClo m + 10000 (Vw)

Where
Wc = wt % CaCl2 in brine.
Vw = volume % retort water.
CaCl2 PPM = 10000 (Wc) (15a)

100 (NaClo m)
WN = (16)
CaCl2 o m +NaClo m + 10000 (Vw)

Where WN = wt % NaCl in brine.

NaClPPM = 10000 (WN) (16a)
Check mutual solubility of NaCl and CaCl2 or use Figure 2.
WN max = 26.432 – 1.0472 (Wc) + 7.98191 (10-3) (Wc)2 + 5.2238 (10-5) (Wc)3 (16b)
Where
WN max = maximum wt % NaCl in CaCl2/ NaCl brine at 25C (77F)
1. MUTUAL SOLUBILITY
Check figure 2 or Eqn 16b to determine the weight percent of sodium chloride, WN, that is totally soluble in the
CaCl2 /NaCl brine solution at 25 C (77F). if the calculated WN is not totally, the results a portion of the NaCl is
a solid in the oil base fluid.
Also, if the WN is not totally soluble. The results of the Eqn 15 and 16 are not correct. They must be
recalculated using a fraction of WN as the NaCl o m , until the ratio of WNmax / WN is greater than 0.95. the
following steps are used to determine more accurate salt solubilities .
Calculate the NaCl ratio to determine the accuracy of WN :
WN max
NaCl ratio = (16c)
WN
Where
NaCl ratio = the ratio of the maximum wt % NaCl to the calculated wt % NaCl in the brine.
If NaCl ratio is greater than 0.95 proceed to Eqn. 17. Otherwise, the value for Wc (Eqns. 15 & 15a), WN (Eqns.
16 & 16a). and WN max (Eqn. 16b) must be recalculated using the value NaClo m as a new value calculated by:
NaClo m n = NaCl ratio (NaClo m) (16d)
Where
NaClo m n = the new NaCl o m to be used in Eqns. 15 through 16b.
After substituting the new NaClo m n in Eqns. 15 through 16b, recalculate the NaCl ratio (Eqn. 16c) using the
new values. If NaCl ratio is still less than 0.95 the above procedure must be repeated, as shown in the example
on page 334.
Use only the soluble NaCl portion from the graph or equation iterations as the value of WN in future equations.
The remaining salt will be calculated as a solid in the following analysis:
PB = 0.99707 + 6.504 (10-3) (WN) + 7.923 (10-3) (Wc) + 8.334 (10-5) (WN) (Wc) + 4.395 (10-5) (WN)2 + 4.964 (10-5) (Wc)2 (17)
Where
PB = brine density, g/cm3.
NOTE:

The density of single -salt brine can be found using the values or equations found in the engineering data
chapter, section 4 (salt tables)
a. mg/L salt
weight percent units are based upon the density of the brine, as well as the salt content. The salt concentration ,
expressed as mg/L is:
CaCl2mg/L = 10000 (Wc) (PB) (18)
NaCl mg.L = 10000 (WN) (PB) (19)
**************************************FIGURE*******************************************
C) SOLID CALCULATIONS
As mentioned previously, the solids content, measured from the retort distillation procedure, must be corrected
for the salt content of the brine that remains in the retort assembly.
The corrected volume % brine is:
100 (VW)
VB = (20)
PB [ 100 – (WN + Wc)
Where
VB = volume % brine
The corrected volume % solids is:
Vs = 100 – (VO + VB) (21)
Where VS = volume percent % corrected solids.
VO = volume retorted oil.
The solids in CARBO-DRILL Systems consist of low density solids, usually drill solids, and high density
solids, generally MIL-BAR or DENSIMIX.

[ 100 (MW)] – [(VO) (PO) ] – [ (VB) (8.345) ]

PS = (22)
8.345 (VS)
Where
PS = average density of solids, g/cm3
PO = oil density, lb./bbl
MW = drilling fluid density, lb./gal.
The average density of suspended solids can be divided into the volume and weight of high density and low-
density solids.
The volume % high-density solids is:

PS - PLDS
VHDS = X VS (23)
PHDS – P LDS

Where
VHDS = volume % high density solids.
PHDS = destiny of high solids, g/cm3
P LDS = density of low-density solids, g/cm3

The concentration of high density is:

MHDS = 3.5 (PHDS) (VHDS) (24)

Where
MHDS = high density solids lb./bbl
The volume of low-density solids is:

V LDS = VS - VHDS (25)

Where
V LDS = volume percent of low density solids.
The concentration of low-density solids is:
M LDS = 3.5 (P LDS) (V LDS) (26)
Where
M LDS = low-density solids, lb./bbl.

D) OIL/WATER RATIO CALCULATIONS

The oil/water ratio relates the oil and fresh water fractions as a percent of the liquid retort fraction. The oil/brine
(salt-content corrected water) ratio relates the liquid fraction of the mud as ratio of oil and brine fractions. The
oil/brine ratio is the most meaningful ratio. Since it relates more closely the liquid fractions of the drilling fluid.
Oil/brine ratio is important when engineering most CARBO-DRILL Systems, in that it can have a major effect
on viscosity and/or filtrate loss.
The oil/water ratio is calculated as follows:

100 (Vw)
WR = (27)
VO +Vw
Where
WR = water % in the ratio.
OR = 100 – WR (27a)
Where
OR = oil % in the ratio.
The more accurate and useful ratio is the oil/brine ratio . the oil/brine ratio is calculated as follows:

100 (VB)
BR = (28)
VO +VB
Where
BR = brine % in the ratio.
OR = 100 – BR (28a)
1. Changing Oil/Brine Ratio:
it may be necessary, at some time , to change the oil/brine ratio of the CARBO-DRILL System. The simplest
calculation to make is increasing the oil/brine ratio , since only oil is added.
To increase the oil/brine ratio with additions of oil:

RO [ VO + VB ] - VO
100
FO = X Volsys (29)
RB

Where
FO = volume of oil, bbl.
RO = required oil ratio.
RB = required brine ratio.
Volsys = system volume.
To decrease oil/brine ratio with the addition of brine:

RB [ VO + VB ] - VB
100
FB = X Volsys (30)
RO

Where
FB = volume of brine, bbl.

Addition of fresh water will increase the controlled activity of the system . if brine is not available , CaCl2 salt
should be added to the drilling fluid when decreasing the oil/water ratio with fresh water . the quantity of
calcium chloride necessary to maintain a constant activity when adding fresh water is as follows:

H2O, gal/bbl X FB
FW = (31)
42

CaCl2 add = CaCl2, lb./bbl X FB (31a)

Where ,

FW =volume of water, bbl.

H2O, gal/bbl = water gal/bbl for given %
CaCl2 (see calcium chloride table in the engineering data chapter, section 4)
CaCl2 add = additions of CaCl2 to system volume.
CaCl2, lb./bbl = CaCl2 concentration of wt % from the calcium chloride table in the engineering data chapter ,
section 4