UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN KIMIA

GEOLOGY AND DRILLING LABORATORY
(CGE 558)
NAME

: NOR HAZWANI BINTI JUSOH

(2015896142)
: ZAFIRAH BINTI ZAIDI
(2015655806)
: AMMAR ZAKWAN BIN AZMAN
(2015270258)
: MOHD MUZAFFAR BIN AZLI
(2015249334)
EXPERIMENT
: DETERMINATION OF MUD DENSITIES
DATE PERFORMED
: 16/3/2016
SEMESTER
:3
PROGRAMME/ CODE
: EH243
GROUP
: 3A
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13

Title
Abstract/ Summary
Introduction
Aims/ Objectives
Theory
Apparatus
Procedure
Result
Calculations
Discussion
Conclusions
Recommendations
References
Appendices
TOTAL

Remarks:

Checked by:

Allocated Marks %
5
5
5
5
5
10
10
10
20
10
5
5
5
100

Marks

ABSTRACT
In this experiment, water based mud and oil based mud are used. It is conducted to determine the
densities of different sample of drilling mud using two types of equipment that are mud balance
and hydrometer. Mud balance is used to get the value more accurate. It can be directly give the
measurement of mud density. Hydrometer is an instrument used to measure the specific gravity
(SG) of liquids which is the ratio of density of liquid to the density of water. The density for oil
based mud by using mud balance apparatus and hydrometer were 1.30 SG and 1.25 SG
respectively. For water based mud, the density by using mud balance apparatus is 1.13 SG and
by using hydrometer is 1.13 SG. From the experiment it showed that the densities of oil based
mud more highest compared with the water based mud. The value of mud balance for oil based
mud and water based mud after multiplication with density of water is 1300 kg/m 3 and 1130
kg/m3 respectively. For hydrometer equipment, the final answer for oil based mud and water
based mud are 1250 kg/m3 and 1130 kg/m3 respectively.

INTRODUCTION
In the petroleum field, drilling is the important activity because it is playing with a very high
pressure in subsurface and it is the last step in determines the possibly commercial oil and gas.
This process requires the best equipments in order to avoid any problems while drilling because
it takes a millions dollar for a single well. Thus, the engineer must ensure that the equipments,
apparatus and every parameter are in control and supervision as well.

One of the important materials which must be emphasized is drilling mud. Drilling mud
is a mixture of clay with either with oil (oil-based drilling mud), water (water-based drilling
mud), a mixture of oil and water (emulsion mud) or a synthetic oil and brine (synthetic-based
drilling mud). While operating drilling the well, the drilling mud is injected in the well for many
function as such to cool and lubricate the bit and cleaning the well from cuttings by bring it to
the surface. Drilling-fluid systems are designed and formulated to perform efficiently under
expected wellbore conditions. Advances in drilling-fluid technology have made it possible to
implement a cost-effective, fit-for-purpose system for each interval in the well-construction
process.

Drilling mud is very considering its density. Mud weight or mud density is one of the
important drilling fluid properties because it balances and controls formation pressure. Moreover,
it also helps wellbore stability. Density is a measurement of fluid weight per unit volume. The
density of the drilling mud must be controlled to avoid adequate hydrostatic head to prevent
influx of formation fluids, but not so high as to cause loss of circulation or adversely affect the
drilling rate and damaging the formation. Proper control of drilling mud density can reduce
formation damage, improve drilling/penetration rate and improve hole stability. Mud balance and
hydrometer are used to determine density of drilling fluid. Hydrometer is used to measure the
specific gravity (SG) of liquids that is the ratio of the density of the liquid to the density of water.
Measuring density with mud balance is more accurate

OBJECTIVE
The experiment is conducted in the laboratory for observe some objectives which are:
1. To determine the densities of different sample of drilling mud
2. To observe the densities of drilling mud using two different apparatus

THEORY
Drilling fluid is used to aid the drilling of boreholes into the earth. Liquid drilling fluid is often
called drilling mud. Three main categories of drilling fluid are water based mud, oil based mud
and gaseous based mud. Functions of drilling fluids are to prevent formation fluids from entering
into the well bore, keeping the drill bit cool and clean during drilling and carrying out drill
cuttings.

Most basic water-based mud systems begin with water, then clays and other chemicals
are incorporated into the water to create a homogenous blend resembling something between
chocolate milk and a malt. The clay (called "shale" in its rock form) is usually a combination of
native clays that are suspended in the fluid while drilling, or specific types of clay that are
processed and sold as additives for the WBM system. The most common of these is bentonite,
frequently referred to in the oilfield as "gel". Gel likely makes reference to the fact that while the
fluid is being pumped, it can be very thin and free-flowing (like chocolate milk), though when
pumping is stopped, the static fluid builds a "gel" structure that resists flow Oil-based mud can
be a mud where the base fluid is a petroleum product such as diesel fuel and used for many
reasons, some being increased lubricity, enhanced shale inhibition, and greater cleaning abilities
with less viscosity.

Oil-based mud also withstand greater heat without breaking down. The use of oil-based
mud has special considerations. These include cost, environmental considerations such as
disposal of cuttings in an appropriate place to isolate possible environmental contamination and
the exploratory disadvantages of using oil based mud, especially in wildcat wells due inability to
analyze oil shows in cuttings, because the oil based mud has fluorescence confusing with the
original oil of formation. The density of drilling mud can be an important factor because mud
density can affect the rate of penetration,, borehole stability, trans0prt and settling rate of sample
cuttings. Its also must be controlled to provide adequate hydrostatic head to prevent influx of
formation fluids, but not so high as to cause loss of circulation of adversely affect the drilling
rate and damaging the formation. Proper control of drilling fluid density can improve drilling or
penetration rates, reduce formation or aquifer damage and improve hole stability.

Two types of equipment can be used to determine the density of drilling fluid are
hydrometer and mud balance. Hydrometer is an instrument to measure the specific gravity (SG)
of liquids which is the ratio of the density of liquid to the density of the water. While the mud
balance can be directly give the measurement of mud density more accurate compare to the
hydrometer equipment. The common units for the mud densities given by mud balance are
lbs/ft3, psi/1000ft and Specific Gravity (SG).

Specific gravity is the ratio of the density of a substance to the density (mass of the same
unit volume) of a reference substance. Specific gravity varies with temperature and pressure;
reference and sample must be compared at the same temperature and pressure, or corrected to a
standard reference temperature and pressure. Substances with a specific gravity of 1 are neutrally
buoyant in water, those with SG greater than one are denser than water, and so (ignoring surface
tension effects) will sink in it, and those with an SG of less than one are less dense than water,
and so will float.

Specific gravity can be expressed mathematically as :

SG =

sample
2
water(H O)

MATERIAL AND APPARATUS

In this experiment, the densities of different drilling mud are determined using two types of
apparatus which are Mud Balance Apparatus and Hydrometer. Other apparatus used are mixer
and 500ml measuring cylinder.

Figure 4.1: Mud Balance Apparatus

Material used in this experiment:

1. Water-based drilling mud
2. Oil-based drilling mud

Figure 4.2: Mixer

PROCEDURE
START UP PROCEDURE
1. Took in the mud about half of the container.
2. The mud was mix using the mixer to make sure all the mud mixed well.
3. The mud was prepared for oil based mud and water based mud.

MUD BALANCE

1. The mud that has been weighted was filled in the cup.
2. The lid was placed on the cup and seated firmly. Some mud must runs out of the hole
in the cap.
3. The hole in the cup was covered with a finger and all mud from the outside of cup
was wiped.
4. The knife edge was set into the fulcrum and move the sliding weight along the
graduated arm until the cup and are ware balanced.
5. The density of the mud was taken at the left-hand edge of the sliding weight.
6. The result was reported to the nearest scale division in lb/gal , lb/cu.ft, S.G or
psi/1000ft of depth.
7. The mud from the cup was washed immediately after each used. It was absolutely
essential that all parts of the mud balance be kept clean to obtain accurate result.
8. Same procedure was repeated for water based mud.

HYDROMETER
1. The same mud sample as used in the mud balance was used.
2. The hydrometer cylinder was filled with the drilling mud to within 1 to 2 inches of
the top by pouring the sample slowly down the side of the cylinder.
3. The suitable hydrometer was choose for measuring the specific gravity, SG of the
drilling fluid.
4. The hydrometer was inspected to be clean and dry.
5. The hydrometer was placed carefully in the cylinder, allowing it to gently settle to the
proper measurement level.
6. The hydrometer was spin and the reading was recorded at which the hydrometer rests.
7. The reading was recorded and compared to the reading of mud balanced experiment.
8. Same procedure was repeated for water based mud.

RESULT

MUD DENSITY MEASUREMENT USING MUD BALANCE

MUD WEIGHT
OIL BASED MUD
WATER BASED
MUD

ppg
10.8
9.4

Lb/ft3
81.5
70.8

Psi/1000ft
565
490

SG
1.30
1.13

MUD DENSITY MEASUREMENT USING HYDROMETER

SG
MUD WEIGHT
OIL BASED MUD
WATER BASED
MUD

1ST TRIAL
1.26
1.0

2ND TRIAL
1.32
1.22

3RD TRIAL
1.30
1.16

AVERAGE
DENSITY
SG
1.25
1.13

CALCULATION
Sample of Calculation
1. Using mud balance
Oil based mud
Mud weight = 10.8 ppg

1 ppg = 7.48 lb/ft3

81.5

lb
1 ppg
x
=10.90 ppg
ft 3 7.48 lb /ft 3

1 ppg = 0.12 SG

1.30 SG x

1 ppg
=10.83 ppg
0.12 SG

1 ppg = 0.052 psi/ft

565

psi
1 ppg
x
=10.87 ppg
1000 ft 0.052 psi/ft

Water based mud

Mud weight = 9.4 ppg

1 ppg = 7.48 lb/ft3

70.8

lb
1 ppg
x
=9.47 ppg
ft 3 7.48lb/ ft 3

1 ppg = 0.12 SG

1.13 SG x

1 ppg
=9.42 ppg
0.12 SG

1 ppg = 0.052 psi/ft

490

psi
1 ppg
x
=9.42 ppg
1000 ft 0.052 psi /ft

2. Using hydrometer
Oil based mud

1 ppg = 0.12 SG
1.29 SG x

1 ppg
=10.75 ppg
0.12 SG

Water based mud

1 ppg = 0.12 SG
1.13 SG x

1 ppg
=9.39 ppg
0.12 SG

3. Average mud density for different types of drilling mud using hydrometer
Oil - based mud
First trial +Second trial
+T hird trial
Average =
3

Average =(1.26 + 1.32 + 1.30)/3

SG = 1.29
Water - based mud
First trial +Second trial
+T hird trial
Average =
3

Average =(1.0 + 1.22 + 1.16)/3

SG = 1.13

DISCUSSION
To determine the density of the mud using the mud balance, firstly we need to make a calibration
of the mud balance by using water to ensure that the mud balance is not broken. The specific
gravity of water is calculated as 1.00 SG. The mud balance is ready to be use after the calibration
for the mud density determination.
Mud balance can give us direct measurement of mud density in four units which are ppg
(lbm/gal), lb./ft3, psi/1000ft, specific gravity (SG) as shown in the result. Meanwhile, the
hydrometer only gives a reading of density in SG.
The average of water-based mud was measured using hydrometer and the result is 1.13 SG. The
result follows expected value declared in M-I SWACO (2001) where the standard weight for
water-based mud used for drilling is between 1.054 to 1.618 SG.
Meanwhile the oil-based mud weight measured using mud balance and hydrometer shows the
result of 1.29 SG. This result also complies with the value stated by M-I SWACO (2001) where
the standard weight of oil-based mud is normally between 1.019 to 1.917 SG.
Quoting from Schlumberger oilfield glossary, 2001, mud balance is more accurate tool to acquire
specific gravity of the mud. This is because hydrometer is actually unreliable in drilling fluid
because of gelation.
The gelation describe the process of formation jelly like substances within the drilling fluids that
having high property of suspending solid material. Most of mud commonly used to come with
this particular behavior, due to requirement of the drilling process that want any excessive
material such as cuttings that been encounter via the drilling process can be suspended by the
drilling fluid and regulated through the drilling system so that the cuttings can be removed from
the drilling process. Thus such floating additive behavior will create artificial lifting for the
hydrometer to suspend with the drilling fluid and affects the reading obtained. In some other
cases the hydrometer usage is an appropriate as the gelation process occurs in mud will create
difficulty on estimating the density of the particular drilling fluid. Error will often encounter if
the gelation exist whereby the fluid density cannot determined properly.
There are various methods that can be used and each of them has their own advantages and
disadvantages. The mud balance has better and accurate reading compared to hydrometer. The
first reason is that we can free the air trapped inside the mud cup as the mud cup is closed. This
therefore gives us a correct measurement of the density of the mud. On the other hand, we cannot
expel the trapped air when we used the hydrometer. Thus, lees accurate data will be obtained
through this method.

After determined both densities of the mud, only the can we decide if the mud is suitable to be
used for drilling operation. From our experiment, both sample of mud are suitable to be use
during the beginning of the drilling operation. This is because, the density of both water-based
mud and oil-based mud are low. It is enough to maintain the pressure inside the wellbore to
withstand the formation pressure. It is important because it prevents the borehole from collapsing
and prevents the influx of formation fluids.
We cannot use these muds when we reached a very deep borehole. This is because it may cause
kicks or blowout as it cannot maintain the formation pressure. This is because the formation
pressure is higher than the mud pressure. In drilling process, we tend to keep the mud pressure
higher than formation pressure and it is called overbalance. In other word, we must use a higher
density of mud to overpower the formation pressure.
However, the mud pressure cannot be too high than the formation pressure or otherwise lost
circulation will happen. When the mud pressure is too high and overwhelms the formation
pressure it will lead to the reduction of penetration loss, causing stuck pipe and breaking down of
formation.
In other word, we must stay alert and check the formation pressure frequently so that we know
when we need to change the mud during the drilling process and to prevent any unwanted
incident.

CONCLUSION
From the experiment conducted, we get the density of the oil and water based mud by
using mud balance and hydrometer. As we measured the mud, we result shows that density of
water - based mud is 9.4 ppg while for oil - based mud is 10.8 ppg. The value of the mud weight
varies with different fluid as every fluid have it own properties. In conclusion, the density of the
water - based is lower than the oil - based mud for both apparatus used. The higher the density,
the denser it is. By knowing the density of the mud, it can prevent some problem during drilling
processes for example prevent the substance to float after the mixture, blowout or avoid lost
circulation. Beside that we can predict the amount of mud that we need to carry out the cutting
rock from the wellbore according to the situation or type of rock. Therefore, the experiment is
successful.

RECOMMENDATION
There are some recommendation and precaution that should be taken to obtain the best result of
the experiment. There are :
1.
2.
3.
4.

The cup of the mud balance must be wipe cleanly to obtain more accurate specific gravity
The cup also must be dried to prevent the error in the reading of specific gravity.
The average reading was taken in the experiment using hydrometer to avoid error.
The size of the cylinder must be suitable in order to make sure the hydrometer will have
the ability to float and sink inside the mud
5. The plastic cylinder is more suitable to be used in the experiment to prevent the cylinder
to be cracked if the mud dried in the glass cylinder.

REFERENCES

1. Drilling Engineering; J.J. Azar, G. Robello Samuel; PennWell Corporation.

2. Drilling Engineering Laboratory Manual; Oil and Gas Engineering Laboratory 2 (CGE 557)
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drilling_fluid
4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrometer
5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mud_balance
6. http://www.drilling-mud.org/mud-weight-or-mud-density
7. http://www.glossary.oilfield.slb.com/Display.cfm?Term=mud%20weight

APPENDIX

The process of mixing the mud after taking from the stock to ensure that the mud
was in a uniform structure.

The process of moving the rider along the graduated arm to ensure that the cup and arm in
balanced position.

Reading the results of the density of mud from mud balance.