Problem 6.

An 11.0 ppg water-based PHPA drilling fluid was being used to drill a 97/800 hole below

an 113/400 casing. The circulation rate was 550 gpm down the 41/2 00 drill pipe (annular

velocity 134 ft/min). The drilling fluid properties have been deteriorating slowly during

the past week. The plastic viscosity has been slowly increasing from 11 cp to 22 cp; the

yield point was held constant at 11 lb/100 sq ft. and the solids content has increased from

13% vol. to 19% vol. The filter cake quality was continually decreasing.

As this trend started, Joe Stumpem was diligently plotting the variable and had several

conversations with the drilling foreman, Heizen Schwanz. They slowly increased the

yield point of the drilling fluid from 11 to 15 lb/100 sqft. At the same time the gels

increased from 4/10 to 9/20. To take full advantage of their linear motion shakers,

the screens were changed from 120 mesh to 200 mesh. During the week, the change

in drilling fluid properties required that the end of the shaker be elevated eventually

to the maximum height possible to prevent loss of drilling fluid from the end of the

shaker. The derrick man was instructed to thoroughly examine the shaker screens for

holes or rips. The mounting of the screens on the decks were evaluated for leaks between

shaker and the screens. The mud cleaner was inspected. No mechanical problems could

be located which would explain the rise in drilled solids during this interval of the well.

Other wells in the field, using different mud systems, had drilled this interval without the

increase in drilled solids and generally only 100 mesh screens had been used by off-set

operators.

156

A Practical Handbook for Drilling Fluids Processing

Ineffective hole cleaning could account for the symptoms plaguing this rig. The cut-

tings coming from the shale shaker were cubic pieces of shale about 1/1600 on each side.

Small cuttings normally mean that the hole is not being cleaned; although in this case the

edges of the cutting were sharp not rounded. Poor hole cleaning causes cutting to tumble

in the hole and rounds the edges of the cuttings. The Carrying Capacity Index (described

in PEI, Sept. 1993) in the largest annulus was initially above 1.0 (PV 11, YP 11
(K ¼ 293)) (AV 134, MW 11). When Joe arrived at the rig, he increased properties

(PV 11, YP 15 (K ¼ 284)) to return the CCI to a value above 1.0.

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

K-viscosity: [Link]

Yield Point: lb/100 sq. �.

Plas�cViscosity: cp.

10

15

20

25

30

Fig. 6C.1 Amplified graph of K-values for lower yield points.

Cuttings transport

157

What should be done? Maybe the CCI doesn’t help in this situation. Or, do they

need a centrifuge, another linear motion shaker, or some other equipment?

Problem 6.3

You arrive at a drilling rig and the tool pusher greets you with enthusiasm and asks that
you to immediately go to the rig floor. He and the driller have had some serious discus-

sions about the situation. They are observing the classic symptoms of a problem they have

encountered many times. In this case, they have not been able to get the office drilling

group to listen to their recommendations.

The rig is drilling at 11,200 ft with a 143/400 bit, IADC Code 127. The 1600 surface

casing was set deep, 4000 ft, because this well will be exploring formations below current

production. They have 500 drill pipe and the bottom five collars are 1000 diameter. The

drilling fluid properties are reported to be: Mud weight 11 ppg, PV 20 cp, YP 10 lb/

100 sqft, gels 10/30, pH 10.0, funnel visc 52 s. The flow rate is 800 gpm. The tool pusher

points out that he was told to increase the viscosity of the fluid to help bring the cuttings

out, so he has allowed the PV to go to 20 cp. He also has some friends who are selling him

“hole slickeners” at $200/drum and he is adding two of those per tour. He is keeping the

yield point to a modest value of 10 so it will be easier to pump the fluid down the hole

and blend it in the mud tanks.

They want you to watch a connection and see the drag on the pipe when the pump is

off. The driller says it feels like the shale is closing in around the bit. The tool pusher and

driller say that this is a common occurrence in this area and they have seen it many times.

Turning on the pumps applies pressure to the bottom of the hole and opens the hole up.

This, they report, only cures the problem for a short period of time and then they must

increase the mud weight to continue to be able to make connections. When they re-

ported this to the office, they claimed that the weevil operations people thought it might

be a hole cleaning problem. From the rig floor, the cuttings could be observed so deep on

the shaker that it was hard to see the shaker screen, so they did not believe this

explanation.

In their experience, this situation will get worse unless several things are done imme-

diately. They want to trip out of the hole and remove those large drill collars before the

shale squeezes in around them so they can’t move the pipe. They say this happens all the

time by people not heeding their warning. They want to increase the mud weight to 13

to 14 ppg. They admit that the morning report shows an 11 ppg drilling fluid, but it actu-
ally weighs 12.0 ppg. They say they were trying to help the inexperienced people in the

office by increasing the mud weight; but they can’t go much higher before the barite use

reveals what they are doing. In their experience, the shale will finally squeeze in around

158

A Practical Handbook for Drilling Fluids Processing

the bit so they can’t even pump. Then, after a connection, when they turn on the pumps,

they will lose circulation. The liquid level in the annulus will drop and the well will start

flowing. Closing the well in will guarantee stuck pipe and this disaster will require about a

month to correct. They also say that the shale that creeps into the well bore gets harder

and harder. They already see thisdas proofdbecause the drilling rate has dropped from

50 ft/h to 30 ft/h. After they increase the mud weight to hold the shale back, they expect

to be drilling about 5e8 ft/h. All the symptoms are there and they encourage you to act

now before it becomes too late.

Are you going to trip the bit and remove the big drill collars before increasing the

mud weight? Do you increase the mud weight before the trip? Are you going to agree

with these seasoned professionals who have seen this series of events many times in this

drilling area? What are you going to do?

To help sort through these suggestions: First, what do the cuttings look like on the

shaker screen?

Problem 6.4

Drilling a 171/2 00 hole with 500 drill pipe through 2000 surface casing with a 9.5 ppg drilling

fluid. Pumping 600 gpm of NADF at a depth of 5300 ft, plastic viscosity is 15 cp, the yield

point is 5 lb/100ft2, and the gels are 2/6. Are the cuttings being transported correctly? If

not, what changes should be made?”)

Problem 6.5

Gel/Lignosulfonate Drilling Fluid.

MW ¼ 10.5 ppg

VS ¼ 14% volume

AV ¼ 100 ft/min
MBT ¼ 27.5 lb/bbl

pH ¼ 10.5

Viscometer readings

RPM

Dial reading

ViscositProblem 6.2

An 11.0 ppg water-based PHPA drilling fluid was being used to drill a 97/800 hole below

an 113/400 casing. The circulation rate was 550 gpm down the 41/2 00 drill pipe (annular

velocity 134 ft/min). The drilling fluid properties have been deteriorating slowly during

the past week. The plastic viscosity has been slowly increasing from 11 cp to 22 cp; the

yield point was held constant at 11 lb/100 sq ft. and the solids content has increased from

13% vol. to 19% vol. The filter cake quality was continually decreasing.

As this trend started, Joe Stumpem was diligently plotting the variable and had several

conversations with the drilling foreman, Heizen Schwanz. They slowly increased the

yield point of the drilling fluid from 11 to 15 lb/100 sqft. At the same time the gels

increased from 4/10 to 9/20. To take full advantage of their linear motion shakers,

the screens were changed from 120 mesh to 200 mesh. During the week, the change

in drilling fluid properties required that the end of the shaker be elevated eventually

to the maximum height possible to prevent loss of drilling fluid from the end of the

shaker. The derrick man was instructed to thoroughly examine the shaker screens for

holes or rips. The mounting of the screens on the decks were evaluated for leaks between

shaker and the screens. The mud cleaner was inspected. No mechanical problems could

be located which would explain the rise in drilled solids during this interval of the well.

Other wells in the field, using different mud systems, had drilled this interval without the

increase in drilled solids and generally only 100 mesh screens had been used by off-set

operators.

156

A Practical Handbook for Drilling Fluids Processing

Ineffective hole cleaning could account for the symptoms plaguing this rig. The cut-
tings coming from the shale shaker were cubic pieces of shale about 1/1600 on each side.

Small cuttings normally mean that the hole is not being cleaned; although in this case the

edges of the cutting were sharp not rounded. Poor hole cleaning causes cutting to tumble

in the hole and rounds the edges of the cuttings. The Carrying Capacity Index (described

in PEI, Sept. 1993) in the largest annulus was initially above 1.0 (PV 11, YP 11

(K ¼ 293)) (AV 134, MW 11). When Joe arrived at the rig, he increased properties

(PV 11, YP 15 (K ¼ 284)) to return the CCI to a value above 1.0.

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

K-viscosity: [Link]

Yield Point: lb/100 sq. �.

Plas�cViscosity: cp.

10

15

20

25

30

Fig. 6C.1 Amplified graph of K-values for lower yield points.

Cuttings transport
157

What should be done? Maybe the CCI doesn’t help in this situation. Or, do they

need a centrifuge, another linear motion shaker, or some other equipment?

Problem 6.3

You arrive at a drilling rig and the tool pusher greets you with enthusiasm and asks that

you to immediately go to the rig floor. He and the driller have had some serious discus-

sions about the situation. They are observing the classic symptoms of a problem they have

encountered many times. In this case, they have not been able to get the office drilling

group to listen to their recommendations.

The rig is drilling at 11,200 ft with a 143/400 bit, IADC Code 127. The 1600 surface

casing was set deep, 4000 ft, because this well will be exploring formations below current

production. They have 500 drill pipe and the bottom five collars are 1000 diameter. The

drilling fluid properties are reported to be: Mud weight 11 ppg, PV 20 cp, YP 10 lb/

100 sqft, gels 10/30, pH 10.0, funnel visc 52 s. The flow rate is 800 gpm. The tool pusher

points out that he was told to increase the viscosity of the fluid to help bring the cuttings

out, so he has allowed the PV to go to 20 cp. He also has some friends who are selling him

“hole slickeners” at $200/drum and he is adding two of those per tour. He is keeping the

yield point to a modest value of 10 so it will be easier to pump the fluid down the hole

and blend it in the mud tanks.

They want you to watch a connection and see the drag on the pipe when the pump is

off. The driller says it feels like the shale is closing in around the bit. The tool pusher and

driller say that this is a common occurrence in this area and they have seen it many times.

Turning on the pumps applies pressure to the bottom of the hole and opens the hole up.

This, they report, only cures the problem for a short period of time and then they must

increase the mud weight to continue to be able to make connections. When they re-

ported this to the office, they claimed that the weevil operations people thought it might

be a hole cleaning problem. From the rig floor, the cuttings could be observed so deep on

the shaker that it was hard to see the shaker screen, so they did not believe this

explanation.
In their experience, this situation will get worse unless several things are done imme-

diately. They want to trip out of the hole and remove those large drill collars before the

shale squeezes in around them so they can’t move the pipe. They say this happens all the

time by people not heeding their warning. They want to increase the mud weight to 13

to 14 ppg. They admit that the morning report shows an 11 ppg drilling fluid, but it actu-

ally weighs 12.0 ppg. They say they were trying to help the inexperienced people in the

office by increasing the mud weight; but they can’t go much higher before the barite use

reveals what they are doing. In their experience, the shale will finally squeeze in around

158

A Practical Handbook for Drilling Fluids Processing

the bit so they can’t even pump. Then, after a connection, when they turn on the pumps,

they will lose circulation. The liquid level in the annulus will drop and the well will start

flowing. Closing the well in will guarantee stuck pipe and this disaster will require about a

month to correct. They also say that the shale that creeps into the well bore gets harder

and harder. They already see thisdas proofdbecause the drilling rate has dropped from

50 ft/h to 30 ft/h. After they increase the mud weight to hold the shale back, they expect

to be drilling about 5e8 ft/h. All the symptoms are there and they encourage you to act

now before it becomes too late.

Are you going to trip the bit and remove the big drill collars before increasing the

mud weight? Do you increase the mud weight before the trip? Are you going to agree

with these seasoned professionals who have seen this series of events many times in this

drilling area? What are you going to do?

To help sort through these suggestions: First, what do the cuttings look like on the

shaker screen?

Problem 6.4

Drilling a 171/2 00 hole with 500 drill pipe through 2000 surface casing with a 9.5 ppg drilling

fluid. Pumping 600 gpm of NADF at a depth of 5300 ft, plastic viscosity is 15 cp, the yield

point is 5 lb/100ft2, and the gels are 2/6. Are the cuttings being transported correctly? If

not, what changes should be made?”)

Gel/Lignosulfonate Drilling Fluid.

MW ¼ 10.5 ppg

VS ¼ 14% volume

AV ¼ 100 ft/min

MBT ¼ 27.5 lb/bbl

pH ¼ 10.5

Viscometer readings

RPM

Dial reading

ViscositProblem 6.2

An 11.0 ppg water-based PHPA drilling fluid was being used to drill a 97/800 hole below

an 113/400 casing. The circulation rate was 550 gpm down the 41/2 00 drill pipe (annular

velocity 134 ft/min). The drilling fluid properties have been deteriorating slowly during

the past week. The plastic viscosity has been slowly increasing from 11 cp to 22 cp; the

yield point was held constant at 11 lb/100 sq ft. and the solids content has increased from

13% vol. to 19% vol. The filter cake quality was continually decreasing.

As this trend started, Joe Stumpem was diligently plotting the variable and had several

conversations with the drilling foreman, Heizen Schwanz. They slowly increased the

yield point of the drilling fluid from 11 to 15 lb/100 sqft. At the same time the gels

increased from 4/10 to 9/20. To take full advantage of their linear motion shakers,

the screens were changed from 120 mesh to 200 mesh. During the week, the change

in drilling fluid properties required that the end of the shaker be elevated eventually

to the maximum height possible to prevent loss of drilling fluid from the end of the

shaker. The derrick man was instructed to thoroughly examine the shaker screens for

holes or rips. The mounting of the screens on the decks were evaluated for leaks between

shaker and the screens. The mud cleaner was inspected. No mechanical problems could

be located which would explain the rise in drilled solids during this interval of the well.

Other wells in the field, using different mud systems, had drilled this interval without the
increase in drilled solids and generally only 100 mesh screens had been used by off-set

operators.

156

A Practical Handbook for Drilling Fluids Processing

Ineffective hole cleaning could account for the symptoms plaguing this rig. The cut-

tings coming from the shale shaker were cubic pieces of shale about 1/1600 on each side.

Small cuttings normally mean that the hole is not being cleaned; although in this case the

edges of the cutting were sharp not rounded. Poor hole cleaning causes cutting to tumble

in the hole and rounds the edges of the cuttings. The Carrying Capacity Index (described

in PEI, Sept. 1993) in the largest annulus was initially above 1.0 (PV 11, YP 11

(K ¼ 293)) (AV 134, MW 11). When Joe arrived at the rig, he increased properties

(PV 11, YP 15 (K ¼ 284)) to return the CCI to a value above 1.0.

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

K-viscosity: [Link]

Yield Point: lb/100 sq. �.

Plas�cViscosity: cp.

10

15
20

25

30

Fig. 6C.1 Amplified graph of K-values for lower yield points.

Cuttings transport

157

What should be done? Maybe the CCI doesn’t help in this situation. Or, do they

need a centrifuge, another linear motion shaker, or some other equipment?

Problem 6.3

You arrive at a drilling rig and the tool pusher greets you with enthusiasm and asks that

you to immediately go to the rig floor. He and the driller have had some serious discus-

sions about the situation. They are observing the classic symptoms of a problem they have

encountered many times. In this case, they have not been able to get the office drilling

group to listen to their recommendations.

The rig is drilling at 11,200 ft with a 143/400 bit, IADC Code 127. The 1600 surface

casing was set deep, 4000 ft, because this well will be exploring formations below current

production. They have 500 drill pipe and the bottom five collars are 1000 diameter. The

drilling fluid properties are reported to be: Mud weight 11 ppg, PV 20 cp, YP 10 lb/

100 sqft, gels 10/30, pH 10.0, funnel visc 52 s. The flow rate is 800 gpm. The tool pusher

points out that he was told to increase the viscosity of the fluid to help bring the cuttings

out, so he has allowed the PV to go to 20 cp. He also has some friends who are selling him

“hole slickeners” at $200/drum and he is adding two of those per tour. He is keeping the

yield point to a modest value of 10 so it will be easier to pump the fluid down the hole

and blend it in the mud tanks.

They want you to watch a connection and see the drag on the pipe when the pump is

off. The driller says it feels like the shale is closing in around the bit. The tool pusher and

driller say that this is a common occurrence in this area and they have seen it many times.

Turning on the pumps applies pressure to the bottom of the hole and opens the hole up.

This, they report, only cures the problem for a short period of time and then they must
increase the mud weight to continue to be able to make connections. When they re-

ported this to the office, they claimed that the weevil operations people thought it might

be a hole cleaning problem. From the rig floor, the cuttings could be observed so deep on

the shaker that it was hard to see the shaker screen, so they did not believe this

explanation.

In their experience, this situation will get worse unless several things are done imme-

diately. They want to trip out of the hole and remove those large drill collars before the

shale squeezes in around them so they can’t move the pipe. They say this happens all the

time by people not heeding their warning. They want to increase the mud weight to 13

to 14 ppg. They admit that the morning report shows an 11 ppg drilling fluid, but it actu-

ally weighs 12.0 ppg. They say they were trying to help the inexperienced people in the

office by increasing the mud weight; but they can’t go much higher before the barite use

reveals what they are doing. In their experience, the shale will finally squeeze in around

158

A Practical Handbook for Drilling Fluids Processing

the bit so they can’t even pump. Then, after a connection, when they turn on the pumps,

they will lose circulation. The liquid level in the annulus will drop and the well will start

flowing. Closing the well in will guarantee stuck pipe and this disaster will require about a

month to correct. They also say that the shale that creeps into the well bore gets harder

and harder. They already see thisdas proofdbecause the drilling rate has dropped from

50 ft/h to 30 ft/h. After they increase the mud weight to hold the shale back, they expect

to be drilling about 5e8 ft/h. All the symptoms are there and they encourage you to act

now before it becomes too late.

Are you going to trip the bit and remove the big drill collars before increasing the

mud weight? Do you increase the mud weight before the trip? Are you going to agree

with these seasoned professionals who have seen this series of events many times in this

drilling area? What are you going to do?

To help sort through these suggestions: First, what do the cuttings look like on the

shaker screen?
Problem 6.4

Drilling a 171/2 00 hole with 500 drill pipe through 2000 surface casing with a 9.5 ppg drilling

fluid. Pumping 600 gpm of NADF at a depth of 5300 ft, plastic viscosity is 15 cp, the yield

point is 5 lb/100ft2, and the gels are 2/6. Are the cuttings being transported correctly? If

not, what changes should be made?”)

Problem 6.5

Gel/Lignosulfonate Drilling Fluid.

MW ¼ 10.5 ppg

VS ¼ 14% volume

AV ¼ 100 ft/min

MBT ¼ 27.5 lb/bbl

pH ¼ 10.5

Viscometer readings

RPM

Dial reading

ViscositProblem 6.2

An 11.0 ppg water-based PHPA drilling fluid was being used to drill a 97/800 hole below

an 113/400 casing. The circulation rate was 550 gpm down the 41/2 00 drill pipe (annular

velocity 134 ft/min). The drilling fluid properties have been deteriorating slowly during

the past week. The plastic viscosity has been slowly increasing from 11 cp to 22 cp; the

yield point was held constant at 11 lb/100 sq ft. and the solids content has increased from

13% vol. to 19% vol. The filter cake quality was continually decreasing.

As this trend started, Joe Stumpem was diligently plotting the variable and had several

conversations with the drilling foreman, Heizen Schwanz. They slowly increased the

yield point of the drilling fluid from 11 to 15 lb/100 sqft. At the same time the gels

increased from 4/10 to 9/20. To take full advantage of their linear motion shakers,

the screens were changed from 120 mesh to 200 mesh. During the week, the change

in drilling fluid properties required that the end of the shaker be elevated eventually

to the maximum height possible to prevent loss of drilling fluid from the end of the
shaker. The derrick man was instructed to thoroughly examine the shaker screens for

holes or rips. The mounting of the screens on the decks were evaluated for leaks between

shaker and the screens. The mud cleaner was inspected. No mechanical problems could

be located which would explain the rise in drilled solids during this interval of the well.

Other wells in the field, using different mud systems, had drilled this interval without the

increase in drilled solids and generally only 100 mesh screens had been used by off-set

operators.

156

A Practical Handbook for Drilling Fluids Processing

Ineffective hole cleaning could account for the symptoms plaguing this rig. The cut-

tings coming from the shale shaker were cubic pieces of shale about 1/1600 on each side.

Small cuttings normally mean that the hole is not being cleaned; although in this case the

edges of the cutting were sharp not rounded. Poor hole cleaning causes cutting to tumble

in the hole and rounds the edges of the cuttings. The Carrying Capacity Index (described

in PEI, Sept. 1993) in the largest annulus was initially above 1.0 (PV 11, YP 11

(K ¼ 293)) (AV 134, MW 11). When Joe arrived at the rig, he increased properties

(PV 11, YP 15 (K ¼ 284)) to return the CCI to a value above 1.0.

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

K-viscosity: [Link]
Yield Point: lb/100 sq. �.

Plas�cViscosity: cp.

10

15

20

25

30

Fig. 6C.1 Amplified graph of K-values for lower yield points.

Cuttings transport

157

What should be done? Maybe the CCI doesn’t help in this situation. Or, do they

need a centrifuge, another linear motion shaker, or some other equipment?

Problem 6.3

You arrive at a drilling rig and the tool pusher greets you with enthusiasm and asks that

you to immediately go to the rig floor. He and the driller have had some serious discus-

sions about the situation. They are observing the classic symptoms of a problem they have

encountered many times. In this case, they have not been able to get the office drilling

group to listen to their recommendations.

The rig is drilling at 11,200 ft with a 143/400 bit, IADC Code 127. The 1600 surface

casing was set deep, 4000 ft, because this well will be exploring formations below current

production. They have 500 drill pipe and the bottom five collars are 1000 diameter. The

drilling fluid properties are reported to be: Mud weight 11 ppg, PV 20 cp, YP 10 lb/

100 sqft, gels 10/30, pH 10.0, funnel visc 52 s. The flow rate is 800 gpm. The tool pusher

points out that he was told to increase the viscosity of the fluid to help bring the cuttings

out, so he has allowed the PV to go to 20 cp. He also has some friends who are selling him

“hole slickeners” at $200/drum and he is adding two of those per tour. He is keeping the

yield point to a modest value of 10 so it will be easier to pump the fluid down the hole

and blend it in the mud tanks.

off. The driller says it feels like the shale is closing in around the bit. The tool pusher and

driller say that this is a common occurrence in this area and they have seen it many times.

Turning on the pumps applies pressure to the bottom of the hole and opens the hole up.

This, they report, only cures the problem for a short period of time and then they must

increase the mud weight to continue to be able to make connections. When they re-

ported this to the office, they claimed that the weevil operations people thought it might

be a hole cleaning problem. From the rig floor, the cuttings could be observed so deep on

the shaker that it was hard to see the shaker screen, so they did not believe this

explanation.

In their experience, this situation will get worse unless several things are done imme-

diately. They want to trip out of the hole and remove those large drill collars before the

shale squeezes in around them so they can’t move the pipe. They say this happens all the

time by people not heeding their warning. They want to increase the mud weight to 13

to 14 ppg. They admit that the morning report shows an 11 ppg drilling fluid, but it actu-

ally weighs 12.0 ppg. They say they were trying to help the inexperienced people in the

office by increasing the mud weight; but they can’t go much higher before the barite use

reveals what they are doing. In their experience, the shale will finally squeeze in around

158

A Practical Handbook for Drilling Fluids Processing

the bit so they can’t even pump. Then, after a connection, when they turn on the pumps,

they will lose circulation. The liquid level in the annulus will drop and the well will start

flowing. Closing the well in will guarantee stuck pipe and this disaster will require about a

month to correct. They also say that the shale that creeps into the well bore gets harder

and harder. They already see thisdas proofdbecause the drilling rate has dropped from

50 ft/h to 30 ft/h. After they increase the mud weight to hold the shale back, they expect

to be drilling about 5e8 ft/h. All the symptoms are there and they encourage you to act

now before it becomes too late.

Are you going to trip the bit and remove the big drill collars before increasing the
mud weight? Do you increase the mud weight before the trip? Are you going to agree

with these seasoned professionals who have seen this series of events many times in this

drilling area? What are you going to do?

To help sort through these suggestions: First, what do the cuttings look like on the

shaker screen?

Problem 6.4

Drilling a 171/2 00 hole with 500 drill pipe through 2000 surface casing with a 9.5 ppg drilling

fluid. Pumping 600 gpm of NADF at a depth of 5300 ft, plastic viscosity is 15 cp, the yield

point is 5 lb/100ft2, and the gels are 2/6. Are the cuttings being transported correctly? If

not, what changes should be made?”)

Problem 6.5

Gel/Lignosulfonate Drilling Fluid.

MW ¼ 10.5 ppg

VS ¼ 14% volume

AV ¼ 100 ft/min

MBT ¼ 27.5 lb/bbl

pH ¼ 10.5

Viscometer readings

RPM

Dial reading

ViscositProblem 6.2

An 11.0 ppg water-based PHPA drilling fluid was being used to drill a 97/800 hole below

an 113/400 casing. The circulation rate was 550 gpm down the 41/2 00 drill pipe (annular

velocity 134 ft/min). The drilling fluid properties have been deteriorating slowly during

the past week. The plastic viscosity has been slowly increasing from 11 cp to 22 cp; the

yield point was held constant at 11 lb/100 sq ft. and the solids content has increased from

13% vol. to 19% vol. The filter cake quality was continually decreasing.

As this trend started, Joe Stumpem was diligently plotting the variable and had several

conversations with the drilling foreman, Heizen Schwanz. They slowly increased the
yield point of the drilling fluid from 11 to 15 lb/100 sqft. At the same time the gels

increased from 4/10 to 9/20. To take full advantage of their linear motion shakers,

the screens were changed from 120 mesh to 200 mesh. During the week, the change

in drilling fluid properties required that the end of the shaker be elevated eventually

to the maximum height possible to prevent loss of drilling fluid from the end of the

shaker. The derrick man was instructed to thoroughly examine the shaker screens for

holes or rips. The mounting of the screens on the decks were evaluated for leaks between

shaker and the screens. The mud cleaner was inspected. No mechanical problems could

be located which would explain the rise in drilled solids during this interval of the well.

Other wells in the field, using different mud systems, had drilled this interval without the

increase in drilled solids and generally only 100 mesh screens had been used by off-set

operators.

156

A Practical Handbook for Drilling Fluids Processing

Ineffective hole cleaning could account for the symptoms plaguing this rig. The cut-

tings coming from the shale shaker were cubic pieces of shale about 1/1600 on each side.

Small cuttings normally mean that the hole is not being cleaned; although in this case the

edges of the cutting were sharp not rounded. Poor hole cleaning causes cutting to tumble

in the hole and rounds the edges of the cuttings. The Carrying Capacity Index (described

in PEI, Sept. 1993) in the largest annulus was initially above 1.0 (PV 11, YP 11

(K ¼ 293)) (AV 134, MW 11). When Joe arrived at the rig, he increased properties

(PV 11, YP 15 (K ¼ 284)) to return the CCI to a value above 1.0.

100

200

300

400

500

600
700

800

900

1000

K-viscosity: [Link]

Yield Point: lb/100 sq. �.

Plas�cViscosity: cp.

10

15

20

25

30

Fig. 6C.1 Amplified graph of K-values for lower yield points.

Cuttings transport

157

What should be done? Maybe the CCI doesn’t help in this situation. Or, do they

need a centrifuge, another linear motion shaker, or some other equipment?

Problem 6.3

You arrive at a drilling rig and the tool pusher greets you with enthusiasm and asks that

you to immediately go to the rig floor. He and the driller have had some serious discus-

sions about the situation. They are observing the classic symptoms of a problem they have

encountered many times. In this case, they have not been able to get the office drilling

group to listen to their recommendations.

The rig is drilling at 11,200 ft with a 143/400 bit, IADC Code 127. The 1600 surface

casing was set deep, 4000 ft, because this well will be exploring formations below current

production. They have 500 drill pipe and the bottom five collars are 1000 diameter. The

drilling fluid properties are reported to be: Mud weight 11 ppg, PV 20 cp, YP 10 lb/

100 sqft, gels 10/30, pH 10.0, funnel visc 52 s. The flow rate is 800 gpm. The tool pusher
points out that he was told to increase the viscosity of the fluid to help bring the cuttings

out, so he has allowed the PV to go to 20 cp. He also has some friends who are selling him

“hole slickeners” at $200/drum and he is adding two of those per tour. He is keeping the

yield point to a modest value of 10 so it will be easier to pump the fluid down the hole

and blend it in the mud tanks.

They want you to watch a connection and see the drag on the pipe when the pump is

off. The driller says it feels like the shale is closing in around the bit. The tool pusher and

driller say that this is a common occurrence in this area and they have seen it many times.

Turning on the pumps applies pressure to the bottom of the hole and opens the hole up.

This, they report, only cures the problem for a short period of time and then they must

increase the mud weight to continue to be able to make connections. When they re-

ported this to the office, they claimed that the weevil operations people thought it might

be a hole cleaning problem. From the rig floor, the cuttings could be observed so deep on

the shaker that it was hard to see the shaker screen, so they did not believe this

explanation.

In their experience, this situation will get worse unless several things are done imme-

diately. They want to trip out of the hole and remove those large drill collars before the

shale squeezes in around them so they can’t move the pipe. They say this happens all the

time by people not heeding their warning. They want to increase the mud weight to 13

to 14 ppg. They admit that the morning report shows an 11 ppg drilling fluid, but it actu-

ally weighs 12.0 ppg. They say they were trying to help the inexperienced people in the

office by increasing the mud weight; but they can’t go much higher before the barite use

reveals what they are doing. In their experience, the shale will finally squeeze in around

158

A Practical Handbook for Drilling Fluids Processing

the bit so they can’t even pump. Then, after a connection, when they turn on the pumps,

they will lose circulation. The liquid level in the annulus will drop and the well will start

flowing. Closing the well in will guarantee stuck pipe and this disaster will require about a

month to correct. They also say that the shale that creeps into the well bore gets harder
and harder. They already see thisdas proofdbecause the drilling rate has dropped from

50 ft/h to 30 ft/h. After they increase the mud weight to hold the shale back, they expect

to be drilling about 5e8 ft/h. All the symptoms are there and they encourage you to act

now before it becomes too late.

Are you going to trip the bit and remove the big drill collars before increasing the

mud weight? Do you increase the mud weight before the trip? Are you going to agree

with these seasoned professionals who have seen this series of events many times in this

drilling area? What are you going to do?

To help sort through these suggestions: First, what do the cuttings look like on the

shaker screen?

Problem 6.4

Drilling a 171/2 00 hole with 500 drill pipe through 2000 surface casing with a 9.5 ppg drilling

fluid. Pumping 600 gpm of NADF at a depth of 5300 ft, plastic viscosity is 15 cp, the yield

point is 5 lb/100ft2, and the gels are 2/6. Are the cuttings being transported correctly? If

not, what changes should be made?”)

Problem 6.5

Gel/Lignosulfonate Drilling Fluid.

MW ¼ 10.5 ppg

VS ¼ 14% volume

AV ¼ 100 ft/min

MBT ¼ 27.5 lb/bbl

pH ¼ 10.5

Viscometer readings

RPM

Dial reading

ViscositProblem 6.2

An 11.0 ppg water-based PHPA drilling fluid was being used to drill a 97/800 hole below

an 113/400 casing. The circulation rate was 550 gpm down the 41/2 00 drill pipe (annular

velocity 134 ft/min). The drilling fluid properties have been deteriorating slowly during
the past week. The plastic viscosity has been slowly increasing from 11 cp to 22 cp; the

yield point was held constant at 11 lb/100 sq ft. and the solids content has increased from

13% vol. to 19% vol. The filter cake quality was continually decreasing.

As this trend started, Joe Stumpem was diligently plotting the variable and had several

conversations with the drilling foreman, Heizen Schwanz. They slowly increased the

yield point of the drilling fluid from 11 to 15 lb/100 sqft. At the same time the gels

increased from 4/10 to 9/20. To take full advantage of their linear motion shakers,

the screens were changed from 120 mesh to 200 mesh. During the week, the change

in drilling fluid properties required that the end of the shaker be elevated eventually

to the maximum height possible to prevent loss of drilling fluid from the end of the

shaker. The derrick man was instructed to thoroughly examine the shaker screens for

holes or rips. The mounting of the screens on the decks were evaluated for leaks between

shaker and the screens. The mud cleaner was inspected. No mechanical problems could

be located which would explain the rise in drilled solids during this interval of the well.

Other wells in the field, using different mud systems, had drilled this interval without the

increase in drilled solids and generally only 100 mesh screens had been used by off-set

operators.

156

A Practical Handbook for Drilling Fluids Processing

Ineffective hole cleaning could account for the symptoms plaguing this rig. The cut-

tings coming from the shale shaker were cubic pieces of shale about 1/1600 on each side.

Small cuttings normally mean that the hole is not being cleaned; although in this case the

edges of the cutting were sharp not rounded. Poor hole cleaning causes cutting to tumble

in the hole and rounds the edges of the cuttings. The Carrying Capacity Index (described

in PEI, Sept. 1993) in the largest annulus was initially above 1.0 (PV 11, YP 11

(K ¼ 293)) (AV 134, MW 11). When Joe arrived at the rig, he increased properties

(PV 11, YP 15 (K ¼ 284)) to return the CCI to a value above 1.0.

100
200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

K-viscosity: [Link]

Yield Point: lb/100 sq. �.

Plas�cViscosity: cp.

10

15

20

25

30

Fig. 6C.1 Amplified graph of K-values for lower yield points.

Cuttings transport

157

What should be done? Maybe the CCI doesn’t help in this situation. Or, do they

need a centrifuge, another linear motion shaker, or some other equipment?

Problem 6.3

You arrive at a drilling rig and the tool pusher greets you with enthusiasm and asks that

you to immediately go to the rig floor. He and the driller have had some serious discus-

sions about the situation. They are observing the classic symptoms of a problem they have

encountered many times. In this case, they have not been able to get the office drilling

group to listen to their recommendations.

casing was set deep, 4000 ft, because this well will be exploring formations below current

production. They have 500 drill pipe and the bottom five collars are 1000 diameter. The

drilling fluid properties are reported to be: Mud weight 11 ppg, PV 20 cp, YP 10 lb/

100 sqft, gels 10/30, pH 10.0, funnel visc 52 s. The flow rate is 800 gpm. The tool pusher

points out that he was told to increase the viscosity of the fluid to help bring the cuttings

out, so he has allowed the PV to go to 20 cp. He also has some friends who are selling him

“hole slickeners” at $200/drum and he is adding two of those per tour. He is keeping the

yield point to a modest value of 10 so it will be easier to pump the fluid down the hole

and blend it in the mud tanks.

They want you to watch a connection and see the drag on the pipe when the pump is

off. The driller says it feels like the shale is closing in around the bit. The tool pusher and

driller say that this is a common occurrence in this area and they have seen it many times.

Turning on the pumps applies pressure to the bottom of the hole and opens the hole up.

This, they report, only cures the problem for a short period of time and then they must

increase the mud weight to continue to be able to make connections. When they re-

ported this to the office, they claimed that the weevil operations people thought it might

be a hole cleaning problem. From the rig floor, the cuttings could be observed so deep on

the shaker that it was hard to see the shaker screen, so they did not believe this

explanation.

In their experience, this situation will get worse unless several things are done imme-

diately. They want to trip out of the hole and remove those large drill collars before the

shale squeezes in around them so they can’t move the pipe. They say this happens all the

time by people not heeding their warning. They want to increase the mud weight to 13

to 14 ppg. They admit that the morning report shows an 11 ppg drilling fluid, but it actu-

ally weighs 12.0 ppg. They say they were trying to help the inexperienced people in the

office by increasing the mud weight; but they can’t go much higher before the barite use

reveals what they are doing. In their experience, the shale will finally squeeze in around

158
A Practical Handbook for Drilling Fluids Processing

the bit so they can’t even pump. Then, after a connection, when they turn on the pumps,

they will lose circulation. The liquid level in the annulus will drop and the well will start

flowing. Closing the well in will guarantee stuck pipe and this disaster will require about a

month to correct. They also say that the shale that creeps into the well bore gets harder

and harder. They already see thisdas proofdbecause the drilling rate has dropped from

50 ft/h to 30 ft/h. After they increase the mud weight to hold the shale back, they expect

to be drilling about 5e8 ft/h. All the symptoms are there and they encourage you to act

now before it becomes too late.

Are you going to trip the bit and remove the big drill collars before increasing the

mud weight? Do you increase the mud weight before the trip? Are you going to agree

with these seasoned professionals who have seen this series of events many times in this

drilling area? What are you going to do?

To help sort through these suggestions: First, what do the cuttings look like on the

shaker screen?

Problem 6.4

Drilling a 171/2 00 hole with 500 drill pipe through 2000 surface casing with a 9.5 ppg drilling

fluid. Pumping 600 gpm of NADF at a depth of 5300 ft, plastic viscosity is 15 cp, the yield

point is 5 lb/100ft2, and the gels are 2/6. Are the cuttings being transported correctly? If

not, what changes should be made?”)

Problem 6.5

Gel/Lignosulfonate Drilling Fluid.

MW ¼ 10.5 ppg

VS ¼ 14% volume

AV ¼ 100 ft/min

MBT ¼ 27.5 lb/bbl

pH ¼ 10.5

Viscometer readings

RPM
Dial reading

ViscositProblem 6.2

An 11.0 ppg water-based PHPA drilling fluid was being used to drill a 97/800 hole below

an 113/400 casing. The circulation rate was 550 gpm down the 41/2 00 drill pipe (annular

velocity 134 ft/min). The drilling fluid properties have been deteriorating slowly during

the past week. The plastic viscosity has been slowly increasing from 11 cp to 22 cp; the

yield point was held constant at 11 lb/100 sq ft. and the solids content has increased from

13% vol. to 19% vol. The filter cake quality was continually decreasing.

As this trend started, Joe Stumpem was diligently plotting the variable and had several

conversations with the drilling foreman, Heizen Schwanz. They slowly increased the

yield point of the drilling fluid from 11 to 15 lb/100 sqft. At the same time the gels

increased from 4/10 to 9/20. To take full advantage of their linear motion shakers,

the screens were changed from 120 mesh to 200 mesh. During the week, the change

in drilling fluid properties required that the end of the shaker be elevated eventually

to the maximum height possible to prevent loss of drilling fluid from the end of the

shaker. The derrick man was instructed to thoroughly examine the shaker screens for

holes or rips. The mounting of the screens on the decks were evaluated for leaks between

shaker and the screens. The mud cleaner was inspected. No mechanical problems could

be located which would explain the rise in drilled solids during this interval of the well.

Other wells in the field, using different mud systems, had drilled this interval without the

increase in drilled solids and generally only 100 mesh screens had been used by off-set

operators.

156

A Practical Handbook for Drilling Fluids Processing

Ineffective hole cleaning could account for the symptoms plaguing this rig. The cut-

tings coming from the shale shaker were cubic pieces of shale about 1/1600 on each side.

Small cuttings normally mean that the hole is not being cleaned; although in this case the

edges of the cutting were sharp not rounded. Poor hole cleaning causes cutting to tumble

in the hole and rounds the edges of the cuttings. The Carrying Capacity Index (described
in PEI, Sept. 1993) in the largest annulus was initially above 1.0 (PV 11, YP 11

(K ¼ 293)) (AV 134, MW 11). When Joe arrived at the rig, he increased properties

(PV 11, YP 15 (K ¼ 284)) to return the CCI to a value above 1.0.

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

K-viscosity: [Link]

Yield Point: lb/100 sq. �.

Plas�cViscosity: cp.

10

15

20

25

30

Fig. 6C.1 Amplified graph of K-values for lower yield points.

Cuttings transport

157

What should be done? Maybe the CCI doesn’t help in this situation. Or, do they

need a centrifuge, another linear motion shaker, or some other equipment?

Problem 6.3
You arrive at a drilling rig and the tool pusher greets you with enthusiasm and asks that

you to immediately go to the rig floor. He and the driller have had some serious discus-

sions about the situation. They are observing the classic symptoms of a problem they have

encountered many times. In this case, they have not been able to get the office drilling

group to listen to their recommendations.

The rig is drilling at 11,200 ft with a 143/400 bit, IADC Code 127. The 1600 surface

casing was set deep, 4000 ft, because this well will be exploring formations below current

production. They have 500 drill pipe and the bottom five collars are 1000 diameter. The

drilling fluid properties are reported to be: Mud weight 11 ppg, PV 20 cp, YP 10 lb/

100 sqft, gels 10/30, pH 10.0, funnel visc 52 s. The flow rate is 800 gpm. The tool pusher

points out that he was told to increase the viscosity of the fluid to help bring the cuttings

out, so he has allowed the PV to go to 20 cp. He also has some friends who are selling him

“hole slickeners” at $200/drum and he is adding two of those per tour. He is keeping the

yield point to a modest value of 10 so it will be easier to pump the fluid down the hole

and blend it in the mud tanks.

They want you to watch a connection and see the drag on the pipe when the pump is

off. The driller says it feels like the shale is closing in around the bit. The tool pusher and

driller say that this is a common occurrence in this area and they have seen it many times.

Turning on the pumps applies pressure to the bottom of the hole and opens the hole up.

This, they report, only cures the problem for a short period of time and then they must

increase the mud weight to continue to be able to make connections. When they re-

ported this to the office, they claimed that the weevil operations people thought it might

be a hole cleaning problem. From the rig floor, the cuttings could be observed so deep on

the shaker that it was hard to see the shaker screen, so they did not believe this

explanation.

In their experience, this situation will get worse unless several things are done imme-

diately. They want to trip out of the hole and remove those large drill collars before the

shale squeezes in around them so they can’t move the pipe. They say this happens all the

time by people not heeding their warning. They want to increase the mud weight to 13
to 14 ppg. They admit that the morning report shows an 11 ppg drilling fluid, but it actu-

ally weighs 12.0 ppg. They say they were trying to help the inexperienced people in the

office by increasing the mud weight; but they can’t go much higher before the barite use

reveals what they are doing. In their experience, the shale will finally squeeze in around

158

A Practical Handbook for Drilling Fluids Processing

the bit so they can’t even pump. Then, after a connection, when they turn on the pumps,

they will lose circulation. The liquid level in the annulus will drop and the well will start

flowing. Closing the well in will guarantee stuck pipe and this disaster will require about a

month to correct. They also say that the shale that creeps into the well bore gets harder

and harder. They already see thisdas proofdbecause the drilling rate has dropped from

50 ft/h to 30 ft/h. After they increase the mud weight to hold the shale back, they expect

to be drilling about 5e8 ft/h. All the symptoms are there and they encourage you to act

now before it becomes too late.

Are you going to trip the bit and remove the big drill collars before increasing the

mud weight? Do you increase the mud weight before the trip? Are you going to agree

with these seasoned professionals who have seen this series of events many times in this

drilling area? What are you going to do?

To help sort through these suggestions: First, what do the cuttings look like on the

shaker screen?

Problem 6.4

Drilling a 171/2 00 hole with 500 drill pipe through 2000 surface casing with a 9.5 ppg drilling

fluid. Pumping 600 gpm of NADF at a depth of 5300 ft, plastic viscosity is 15 cp, the yield

point is 5 lb/100ft2, and the gels are 2/6. Are the cuttings being transported correctly? If

not, what changes should be made?”)

Problem 6.5

Gel/Lignosulfonate Drilling Fluid.

MW ¼ 10.5 ppg

VS ¼ 14% volume
AV ¼ 100 ft/min

MBT ¼ 27.5 lb/bbl

pH ¼ 10.5

Viscometer readings

RPM

Dial reading

Viscosit