3. Drilling Fluids

Table of Content

1. Increase Mud Weight
2. Dilution
3. Mixing Fluids of Different Densities
4. Oil Based Mud Calculations
5. Solids Analysis
6. Solids Fractions
7. Dilution of Mud System
8. Displacement - Barrels of Water/Slurry Required
9. Evaluation of Hydrocyclone
10. Evaluation of Centrifuge

3.7 Dilution of Mud System

$\text{Vwm}=\frac{\mathrm{Vm}\times (\mathrm{Fct}-\mathrm{Fcop})}{(\mathrm{Fcop}-\mathrm{Fca})}$

where Vwm = barrels of dilution water or mud required
Vm = barrels of mud in circulating system
Fct = percent low gravity solids in system
Fcop = percent total optimum low gravity solids desired
Fca = percent low gravity solids (bentonite and/or chemicals added)

Example: 1000 bbl of mud in system. Total LOS = 6%. Reduce solids to 4%. Dilute with water:

Solution:
Vwm = 1000 bbl × (6 − 4) ÷ (4 − 0)
Vwm = 1000 bbl × 2 ÷ 4
Vwm = 500 bbl
If dilution is done with a 2% bentonite slurry, the total would be:
Vwm = 1000 bbl × (6 − 4) ÷ (4 − 2)
Vwm = 1000 bbl × 2 ÷ 2
Vwm = 1000 bbl

⬆ Table of Content