KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND

TECHNOLOGY

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF PETROLEUM ENGINEERING
PETROLEUM ENGINEERING LABORATORY (PE 355) REPORT
PREPARATION OF A GIVEN WEIGHT OF MUD, DETERMINING
THE WEIGHT AND RHEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF THE
PREPARED MUD AND ALTERING THE PROPERTIES OF THE
MUD
DEMONSTRATOR: ANNAN BERNARD
JUNE 7, 2023.

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Contents
Contents ........................................................................................................................................................ 2
Table of figure ............................................................................................................................................... 2
Group Two members .................................................................................................................................... 3
Title ............................................................................................................................................................... 3
Aims .............................................................................................................................................................. 3
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 4
Materials and Methods................................................................................................................................. 5
Materials and equipment ......................................................................................................................... 5
Procedure.................................................................................................................................................. 6
Preparation of mud ............................................................................................................................... 6
Determining the mud weight ................................................................................................................ 6
Determining the plastic viscosity, apparent viscosity and yield point .................................................. 6
Determining the gel strength ................................................................................................................ 7
Altering the weight of the mud............................................................................................................. 7
Determining the weight and rheological properties of the altered weight mud ................................. 7
Precautions ................................................................................................................................................... 7
Results and Discussion .................................................................................................................................. 8
Results ....................................................................................................................................................... 8
Discussion................................................................................................................................................ 14
Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................... 14
References .................................................................................................................................................. 14

Table of figure
Figure 1:mud mixer ....................................................................................................................................... 5
Figure 2:rheometer ....................................................................................................................................... 5
Figure 3: mud balance................................................................................................................................... 5

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Group Two members
1. Attah Kelvin Jeffrey – 2934720
2. Ayoliyire Anaba Mark – 2935120
3. Apawu Tracy Selorm – 2932820
4. Bugania Noble Wematu – 2937620
5. Kombat Gideon Yennuman – 2941820
6. Benni Samuel Edem – 2936620

Title
An experiment to determine the weight and rheological properties of a drilling fluid.

Aims
➢ To prepare a water-based mud
➢ To determine the weight of the drilling mud
➢ To determine the rheological properties of the mud
➢ To alter the weight of the drilling mud by addition of a weighting agent/material.

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Introduction
Drilling fluid or mud is a fluid used in petroleum drilling operations. The main functions of
drilling are providing a hydrostatic pressure in the wellbore to prevent influx of reservoir fluids,
transporting drill cuttings to the surface and suspending cuttings when drilling is halted. Other
functions of mud are cooling and lubricating the drill bit. There are various types of drilling
fluids such as water-based mud, oil-based mud, synthetic-based mud and invert emulsions.
Water-based mud is made up water (base fluid) and clay, usually bentonite. Bentonite is used
because of its ability to absorb water and swell. After preparing a drilling, it is necessary to test
for its properties to ensure that it can serve the purpose for which it was prepared. Some if these
properties are its weight and rheological properties.
Mud weight refers to the density of a drilling mud. The mud balance is the instrument used to
measure the weight of a mud. Mud weight is used to determine the hydrostatic pressure the mud
would exert in the wellbore at a depth (Pressure = ρgh). This is to ensure that drilling is done
within the drilling window. Furthermore, the hydrostatic pressure provided by the mud should
exceed the pore pressure to prevent reservoir fluids from entering the well and the pressure
should also not be greater than formation pressure so that the formation does not collapse.
Normally water-based muds are used to drill shallower depths and oil-based muds for deeper
depths. However, heavy weight water-based muds can be used to drill deeper depths.
Rheology refers to the deformation and flow of matter. The rheometer is the device used to
obtain data to compute the rheological properties of mud such as the plastic viscosity, apparent
viscosity, yield point and gel strength. Plastic viscosity of a mud refers its resistance to flow. A
high plastic viscosity signifies high amount of solids in the mud. It is calculated by subtracting
the dial reading at 300rpm from that at 600rpm. Apparent viscosity ratio between shear stress
and shear rate over a narrow range for a plastic melt. Apparent viscosity is the property of a mud
that gives it the ability to carry cuttings to the surface. It is computed as half of the dial reading a
600rpm. Yield point is a measure of the electrostatic chemical attractive forces within the mud
under flowing conditions. A drilling mud with a higher yield point will carry cutting better than
that with a lower yield point. It is calculated by subtracting the plastic viscosity from dial reading
at 300rpm. Gel strength is a measurement of attractive forces of the mud while at rest. It
determines the ability of the mud to suspend cutting when drilling is stopped. It can be
determined at 10 seconds and 10 minutes.
Pressure increases with depth. As we drill deeper, the pressure increases and hence there is the
need to increase the mud weight to provide a sufficient hydrostatic pressure for effective drilling
operations. Also, the weight and rheological properties of the mud need to reduced when drilling
some formations to prevent lost circulation. Weighting agents are added to the mud to alter the
weight. Barite is an example of the weighting agent used to increase the mud weight. Another is
bentonite. Water is another weighting material used to reduce the weight of the mud.

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Materials and Methods
Materials and equipment
• Bentonite clay
• Mud balance
• Rheometer
• Stop watch
• Mud mixer
• Water
• Beam balance
• Funnel
• Barite

Figure 1:mud mixer Figure 2:rheometer

Figure 3: mud balance

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Procedure
Preparation of mud
1. From the given mud weight, the mass of bentonite and volume of water needed to prepare
the mud is calculated from the relation below:
(𝜌𝑚 − 𝜌𝑤 )𝑉𝑚 (𝜌𝑚 − 𝜌𝑏 )𝑉𝑚
𝑚𝑏 = 𝜌𝑏 𝑉𝑤 =
𝜌𝑏 − 𝜌𝑤 𝜌𝑤 − 𝜌𝑏

2. The mass of bentonite needed is weighed on the beam balance.

3. The volume of water needed is measured using a measuring cylinder and transferred into
the mud cup.
4. The mud cup containing is mounted on the mud mixer and the spindle starts rotating as
soon as the mud is mounted.
5. The bentonite is poured into the setup bit by bit.
6. After pouring all the bentonite, it is allowed to stir for five minutes.
7. After the five minutes, the mud cup is taken off and all particles around the mouth of the
mud cup is removed and put back into the cup. The cup is mounted again to stir for ten
minutes.
8. After the ten minutes, the cup is taken off again and the particles is put back into the cup.
9. The cup is mounted again for the mud to be stirred for the final five minutes.
10. After, the mud cup is taken off and the mud is transferred into a bottle and labeled and
left to stand for a minimum of 16 hours.
Determining the mud weight
To determine the mud weight, it is necessary to calibrate the mud balance using water since
water has a known density (8.33ppg).
1. Water is poured into the cup of the balance cup.
2. The lid is used to cover the cup and spills of water is cleaned.
3. The lid is rotated to expel air which may trapped in the cup.
4. The rider is moved to the 8.33 ppg mark. If the mud balance does not balance, the rider is
moved around this value until it balances. The value at which it balances together with
the true density of water (8.33ppg) is used to obtain a correction factor for the device.
5. The water is then poured out and the cup is cleaned.
6. The mud is then poured into the cup and the lid is used to close it.
7. The lid is rotated to expel any air which may be trapped inside the cup and spills of mud
is cleaned.
8. The rider is moved along the arm until the device balances.
9. The value at which it balances together with the correction factor is used to determine the
true weight of the mud.
10. The mud is then poured out of the mud balance and the balance is cleaned.
Determining the plastic viscosity, apparent viscosity and yield point
1. The rheometer is turned on.

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 2. The mud is poured into the rheometer cup to the inscribed mark and the cup is then fitted
on the platform.
3. The rotor sleeve is then lowered on the mud.
4. The rpm knob is turned to 600. A timer is started once 600 is displayed on the screen for
the mud to be sheared for 10 seconds.
5. The dial reading after the 10 seconds is recorded.
6. The rpm knob is then turned to 300. The dial reading is recorded once 300 is displayed on
the screen.
Determining the gel strength
1. The rpm knob is turned to ‘stop’ for the dial reading to be zero.
2. It is then turned to 600.when 600 is displayed on the screen, a timer is set for the mud to
be sheared for about 15 seconds.
3. The rpm knob is turned to ‘stop’ and waited for nothing to be displayed on the screen.
4. The rpm knob is turned to gel after 10 seconds and the maximum deflection is recorded.
5. Steps 1 to 3 is repeated.
6. The rpm knob is turned to ‘gel’ after 10 minutes and the maximum deflection is recorded.
Altering the weight of the mud
1. The mass of weighting agent (barite) to add to alter the weight of the mud is calculated
from the relation:
(𝜌2 − 𝜌1 )𝑉𝑚
𝑚𝑏𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑒 = 𝜌𝑏𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑒
𝜌𝑏𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑒 − 𝜌1
2. The barite needed to increase the weight of the mud is weighed using the beam balance.
3. The mud is poured in the mud cup and mounted on the mud mixer.
4. The weighed barite is poured into the setup bit by bit.
5. The mud is stirred for 5 minutes, then taken off and all particles around the mouth is put
back into the cup.
6. The cup is then mounted for the mud to be stirred for 10 minutes.
7. It taken off once again and all the particles around the mouth is put back into the cup.
8. It mounted for the mud to be stirred for a final 5 minutes.
Determining the weight and rheological properties of the altered weight mud
1. The mud weight is determine using the same procedure discussed above. This is to
determine if the objective mud weight had been achieved.
2. The rheological properties are determined with the same procedure listed above.

Precautions
1. The water is sheared while the bentonite is added in bits to prevent the formation of
lumps within the mud.
2. The fans were switched off to prevent them from influencing the operation of the mud
balance and beam balance.
3. The mud balance is placed on a flat horizontal surface to prevent the influence of gravity
on the level bubble.

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 4. Rheometer dial readings are taken with one eye close to avoid parallax error.

Results and Discussion

Results
Group 1
Given data:
𝜌𝑚 = 8.6 𝑝𝑝𝑔 ; 𝜌𝑏 = 20.8 𝑝𝑝𝑔 ; 𝑉𝑚 = 1 𝑏𝑏𝑙 = 42 𝑔𝑎𝑙 ; 𝜌𝑤 = 8.33 𝑝𝑝𝑔
Calculated data:
𝑚𝑏 = 18.92 𝑙𝑏 = 18.92 𝑔 ; 𝑉𝑤 = 41.09 𝑔𝑎𝑙 = 0.98 𝑏𝑏𝑙 = 342.4 𝑐𝑐
Mud rheology
Measured density of water = 8.3 ppg
Correction factor =8.33 - 8.3 = 0.03 ppg

Measured mud weight = 8.51 ppg

Actual mud weight = 8.51 + 0.03 = 8.54 ppg
RPM DIAL READING
600 19
300 14
 Plastic viscosity, PV = 600rpm - 300rpm
= 19 – 14
=5
 Yield point = 300rpm – PV
= 14 – 5
=9
600𝑟𝑝𝑚 19
 Apparent viscosity = = = 9.5
2 2

Gel strength
10 seconds 7
10 minutes 15

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Altered weight mud
𝑉𝑚 = 300 𝑐𝑐
required weight of mud = 8.7 ppg
Mass of bentonite required = 6.14 g

New measured weight = 8.6 ppg

New actual weight = 8.6 + 0.03 = 8.63 ppg
RPM DIAL READING
600 28
300 24
 Plastic viscosity, PV = 600rpm - 300rpm
= 28 – 24
=4
 Yield point = 300rpm – PV
= 24 – 4
= 20
600𝑟𝑝𝑚 28
 Apparent viscosity = = = 14
2 2

Gel strength
10 seconds 22
10 minutes 32

Group 2
Given data:
𝜌𝑚 = 8.6 𝑝𝑝𝑔 ; 𝜌𝑏 = 20.8 𝑝𝑝𝑔 ; 𝑉𝑚 = 1 𝑏𝑏𝑙 = 42 𝑔𝑎𝑙 ; 𝜌𝑤 = 8.33 𝑝𝑝𝑔
Calculated data:
𝑚𝑏 = 18.915 𝑙𝑏 = 18.915 𝑔 ; 𝑉𝑤 = 41.09 𝑔𝑎𝑙 = 0.978 𝑏𝑏𝑙 = 342.3 𝑐𝑐
Mud rheology
Measured density of water = 8.4 ppg
Correction factor =8.4 -8.33 = 0.07 ppg

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Measured mud weight = 8.65 ppg
Actual mud weight = 8.65 – 0.07 = 8.58 ppg
RPM DIAL READING
600 17
300 13
 Plastic viscosity, PV = 600rpm - 300rpm
= 17 – 13
=4
 Yield point = 300rpm – PV
= 13 – 4
=9
600𝑟𝑝𝑚 17
 Apparent viscosity = = = 8.5
2 2

Gel strength
10 seconds 7
10 minutes 14

Altered weight mud

𝑉𝑚 = 320 𝑐𝑐 , 𝜌𝑏𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑒 = 34.986 𝑝𝑝𝑔 ≈ 35 𝑝𝑝𝑔
required weight of mud = 8.7 ppg
Mass of barite required = 5.11 g

New measured weight = 8.75 ppg

New actual weight = 8.75 – 0.07 = 8.68 ppg
RPM DIAL READING
600 16
300 12
 Plastic viscosity, PV = 600rpm - 300rpm
= 16 – 12
=4

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  Yield point = 300rpm – PV
= 12 – 4
=8
600𝑟𝑝𝑚 16
 Apparent viscosity = = =8
2 2

Gel strength
10 seconds 8
10 minutes 16

Group 3
Given data:
𝜌𝑚 = 8.7 𝑝𝑝𝑔 ; 𝜌𝑏 = 20.8 𝑝𝑝𝑔 ; 𝑉𝑚 = 1 𝑏𝑏𝑙 = 42 𝑔𝑎𝑙 ; 𝜌𝑤 = 8.33 𝑝𝑝𝑔
Calculated data:
𝑚𝑏 = 26.09 𝑙𝑏 = 26.09 𝑔 ; 𝑉𝑤 = 40.733 𝑔𝑎𝑙 = 340 𝑐𝑐
Mud rheology
Measured density of water = 8.4 ppg
Correction factor =8.4 -8.33 = 0.07 ppg

Measured mud weight = 8.7 ppg

Actual mud weight = 8.7 – 0.07 = 8.63 ppg
RPM DIAL READING
600 35
300 27
 Plastic viscosity, PV = 600rpm - 300rpm
= 35 – 27
=8
 Yield point = 300rpm – PV
= 27 – 8
= 19
600𝑟𝑝𝑚 35
 Apparent viscosity = = = 17.5
2 2

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Gel strength
10 seconds 27
10 minutes 54

Altered weight mud

𝑉𝑚 = 275 𝑐𝑐
required weight of mud = 8.8 ppg
Mass of barite required = 4.391 g

New measured weight = 8.85 ppg

New actual weight = 8.85 – 0.07 = 8.78 ppg
RPM DIAL READING
600 34
300 27
 Plastic viscosity, PV = 600rpm - 300rpm
= 34 – 27
=7
 Yield point = 300rpm – PV
= 27 – 7
= 20
600𝑟𝑝𝑚 34
 Apparent viscosity = = = 17
2 2

Gel strength
10 seconds 25
10 minutes 51

Group 4
Given data:
𝜌𝑚 = 8.8 𝑝𝑝𝑔 ; 𝜌𝑏 = 20.8 𝑝𝑝𝑔 ; 𝑉𝑚 = 1 𝑏𝑏𝑙 = 42 𝑔𝑎𝑙 ; 𝜌𝑤 = 8.33 𝑝𝑝𝑔
Calculated data:
𝑚𝑏 = 32.926 𝑙𝑏 = 32.926 𝑔 ; 𝑉𝑤 = 40.42 𝑔𝑎𝑙 = 336.83 𝑐𝑐

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Mud rheology
Measured density of water = 8.4 ppg
Correction factor =8.4 -8.33 = 0.07 ppg

Measured mud weight = 8.85 ppg

Actual mud weight = 8.85 – 0.07 = 8.78 ppg
RPM DIAL READING
600 72
300 62
 Plastic viscosity, PV = 600rpm - 300rpm
= 72 – 62
= 10
 Yield point = 300rpm – PV
= 62 – 10
= 52
600𝑟𝑝𝑚 72
 Apparent viscosity = = = 36
2 2

Gel strength
10 seconds 55
10 minutes 73

Altered weight mud

𝑉𝑚 = 260 𝑐𝑐
required weight of mud = 8.6 ppg
Volume of water required = 8.4 cc
RPM DIAL READING
600 15
300 8
 Plastic viscosity, PV = 600rpm - 300rpm
= 15 – 8

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 =7
 Yield point = 300rpm – PV
=8–7
=1
600𝑟𝑝𝑚 15
 Apparent viscosity = = = 7.5
2 2

Gel strength
10 seconds 5
10 minutes 10

Discussion
From the results above, it can be observed that addition of the weighting material did not just
alter the weight but also affected the rheological properties of the mud. In some cases, reduction
is observed in the rheological properties whereas an increase is observed in others.
Also, it is observed that the gel strength at 10 minutes is twice the gel strength at 10 seconds. For
the old weight mud, sample 4 seems to have the greatest gel strength and would suspend more
cuttings if drilling is stopped. For the altered weight mud, sample 3 has the highest gel strength
and hence will suspend more cuttings when drilling is halted.

Conclusion
Drilling mud serves the primary well control system. For effective drilling, a desired weight mud
needs to be prepared for a given formation to ensure drilling in the drilling window. The mud
needs to be able to perform all the major functions of a drilling mud and hence needs to be tested
to ensure it can. If not, weighting materials can be added to either increase or decrease the weight
and rheological properties. Viscosifiers and emulsifiers can also be added.

References
➢ Heriot Watt Institute of Petroleum Engineering, (2005), Drilling Engineering, 3rd Edition,
page 358-362.
➢ Bourgoyne Jr., A.T., Millkheim, K.K, Chenevert, M.E. and Young Jr. F. (1986), Applied
Drilling Engineering. Richardson, TX: Society of Petroleum Engineering.

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