DRILLING FLUID MATERIALS - SPECIFICATIONS AND
TESTS (ENDORSEMENT OF ISO 13500)
DEP [Link]-Gen
November 2006
DESIGN AND ENGINEERING PRACTICE
This document is restricted. Neither the whole nor any part of this document may be disclosed to any third party without the prior written consent of Shell Global
Solutions International B.V., The Netherlands. The copyright of this document is vested in this company. All rights reserved. Neither the whole nor any part of this
document may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, reprographic, recording or otherwise)
without the prior written consent of the copyright owner.
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November 2006Page 2
PREFACE
DEPs (Design and Engineering Practice) publications reflect the views, at the time of publication, of:
Shell Global Solutions International B.V. (Shell GSI)
and/or
Shell International Exploration and Production B.V. (SIEP)
and/or
other Shell Service Companies.
They are based on the experience acquired during their involvement with the design, construction, operation and
maintenance of processing units and facilities, and they are supplemented with the experience of Shell Operating Units.
Where appropriate they are based on, or reference is made to, international, regional, national and industry standards.
The objective is to set the recommended standard for good design and engineering practice applied by Shell companies
operating an oil refinery, gas handling installation, chemical plant, oil and gas production facility, or any other such facility,
and thereby to achieve maximum technical and economic benefit from standardization.
The information set forth in these publications is provided to Shell companies for their consideration and decision to
implement. This is of particular importance where DEPs may not cover every requirement or diversity of condition at each
locality. The system of DEPs is expected to be sufficiently flexible to allow individual Operating Units to adapt the
information set forth in DEPs to their own environment and requirements.
When Contractors or Manufacturers/Suppliers use DEPs they shall be solely responsible for the quality of work and the
attainment of the required design and engineering standards. In particular, for those requirements not specifically covered,
the Principal will expect them to follow those design and engineering practices which will achieve the same level of integrity
as reflected in the DEPs. If in doubt, the Contractor or Manufacturer/Supplier shall, without detracting from his own
responsibility, consult the Principal or its technical advisor.
The right to use DEPs is granted by Shell GSI, in most cases under Service Agreements primarily with Shell companies
and other companies receiving technical advice and services from Shell GSI or another Shell Service Company.
Consequently, three categories of users of DEPs can be distinguished:
1) Operating Units having a Service Agreement with Shell GSI or other Shell Service Company. The use of DEPs by
these Operating Units is subject in all respects to the terms and conditions of the relevant Service Agreement.
2) Other parties who are authorized to use DEPs subject to appropriate contractual arrangements (whether as part of
a Service Agreement or otherwise).
3) Contractors/subcontractors and Manufacturers/Suppliers under a contract with users referred to under 1) or 2)
which requires that tenders for projects, materials supplied or - generally - work performed on behalf of the said
users comply with the relevant standards.
Subject to any particular terms and conditions as may be set forth in specific agreements with users, Shell GSI disclaims
any liability of whatsoever nature for any damage (including injury or death) suffered by any company or person
whomsoever as a result of or in connection with the use, application or implementation of any DEP, combination of DEPs
or any part thereof, even if it is wholly or partly caused by negligence on the part of Shell GSI or other Shell Service
Company. The benefit of this disclaimer shall inure in all respects to Shell GSI and/or any Shell Service Company, or
companies affiliated to these companies, that may issue DEPs or require the use of DEPs.
Without prejudice to any specific terms in respect of confidentiality under relevant contractual arrangements, DEPs shall
not, without the prior written consent of Shell GSI, be disclosed by users to any company or person whomsoever and the
DEPs shall be used exclusively for the purpose for which they have been provided to the user. They shall be returned after
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copyright of DEPs vests in Shell GSI. Users shall arrange for DEPs to be held in safe custody and Shell GSI may at any
time require information satisfactory to them in order to ascertain how users implement this requirement.
All administrative queries should be directed to the DEP Administrator in Shell GSI.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION............................................................................................ 4
1.1 SCOPE........................................................................................................... 4
1.2 DISTRIBUTION, INTENDED USE AND REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS. 4
1.3 DEFINITIONS................................................................................................. 4
1.4 SUMMARY OF MAIN CHANGES...................................................................4
1.5 COMMENTS ON THIS DEP...........................................................................5
2. INTERNATIONAL STANDARD APPROVED FOR USE.................................6
3. REFERENCES............................................................................................... 6
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1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 SCOPE
This DEP specifies physical properties and test procedures for materials manufactured for
use in oil- and gas-well drilling fluids. The materials covered are barite, haematite,
bentonite, nontreated bentonite, OCMA grade bentonite, attapulgite, sepiolite, technical
grade low-viscosity carboxymethylcellulose (CMC-LVT), technical grade high-viscosity
carboxymethylcellulose (CMC-HVT), and starch.
This DEP is based on ISO 13500, which is adopted without amendment.
This is a revision of the DEP of the same number dated August 2005; see (1.4) regarding
the changes.
1.2 DISTRIBUTION, INTENDED USE AND REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS
Unless otherwise authorised by Shell GSI, the distribution of this DEP is confined to Shell
companies and, where necessary, to Contractors and Manufacturers/Suppliers nominated
by them.
This DEP is intended for use in exploration and production facilities.
When DEPs are applied, a Management of Change (MOC) process should be
implemented; this is of particular importance when existing facilities are to be modified.
If national and/or local regulations exist in which some of the requirements may be more
stringent than in this DEP, the Contractor shall determine by careful scrutiny which of the
requirements are the more stringent and which combination of requirements will be
acceptable with regards to the safety, environmental, economic and legal aspects. In all
cases the Contractor shall inform the Principal of any deviation from the requirements of
this DEP which is considered to be necessary in order to comply with national and/or local
regulations. The Principal may then negotiate with the Authorities concerned, the objective
being to obtain agreement to follow this DEP as closely as possible.
1.3 DEFINITIONS
The Contractor is the party which carries out all or part of the design, engineering,
procurement, construction, commissioning or management of a project, or operation or
maintenance of a facility. The Principal may undertake all or part of the duties of the
Contractor.
The Manufacturer/Supplier is the party which manufactures or supplies equipment and
services to perform the duties specified by the Contractor.
The Principal is the party which initiates the project and ultimately pays for its design and
construction. The Principal will generally specify the technical requirements. The Principal
may also include an agent or consultant authorised to act for, and on behalf of, the
Principal.
The word shall indicates a requirement.
The word should indicates a recommendation.
1.4 SUMMARY OF MAIN CHANGES
This DEP is a revision of the DEP of the same number dated August 2005, which was an
endorsement of ISO 13500:1998. This edition has been purely editorial, in order to
recognise that ISO 13500 was revised in 2006 and continues to be acceptable without
amendment.
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1.5 COMMENTS ON THIS DEP
Comments on this DEP may be sent to the DEP Administrator at standards@[Link].
Shell staff may also post comments on this DEP on the Surface Global Network (SGN)
under the Standards folder.
2. INTERNATIONAL STANDARD APPROVED FOR USE
The following standard is approved for use without any Shell amendments:
ISO 13500:2006
3. REFERENCES
In this DEP, reference is made to the following publications:
NOTES: 1. Unless specifically designated by date, the latest edition of each publication shall be used, together
with any amendments/supplements/revisions thereto.
2. The DEPs and most referenced external standards are available for Shell users on the SWW (Shell
Wide Web) at address [Link]
INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS
Petroleum and natural gas industries — Drilling fluid ISO 13500:2006
materials — Specifications and tests
Issued by:
International Organisation for Standardization
1, Rue de Varembé
CH-1211 Geneva 20
Switzerland
NOTE: Copies can also be obtained from national standards organizations
