TESTING PROCEDURE

Table of Contents
TESTING PROCEDURE ................................................................................................................ 1
WBM TESTING PROCEDURE ................................................................................................. 3
MUD DENSITY ............................................................................................................................................... 4
FUNNEL VISCOSITY ........................................................................................................................................ 5
RHEOLOGY .................................................................................................................................................... 6
RETORT ANALYSIS ........................................................................................................................................ 7
FILTRATION ................................................................................................................................................... 9
SAND CONTENT........................................................................................................................................... 12
PH ................................................................................................................................................................ 13
METHYLENE BLUE TEST (MBT) .................................................................................................................... 14
FILTRATE ALKALINITY – Pf and Mf................................................................................................................ 15
FILTRATE HARDNESS – Ca++ and Mg++ ......................................................................................................... 16
FILTRATE CHLORIDES .................................................................................................................................. 18

OBM TESTING PROCEDURE ................................................................................................. 19

MUD DENSITY ............................................................................................................................................. 20
FUNNEL VISCOSITY ...................................................................................................................................... 21
RHEOLOGY .................................................................................................................................................. 22
HTHP Filtrate – temperatures up to 300˚ F ............................................................................................. 23
RETORT ANALYSIS – OIL BASE MUD .......................................................................................................... 25
SAND CONTENT........................................................................................................................................... 27
ELECTRICAL STABILITY ................................................................................................................................. 28
LIME CONTENT ............................................................................................................................................ 29
WATER PHASE SALINITY .............................................................................................................................. 30
OIL ON CUTTINGS ANALYSIS ....................................................................................................................... 31

Page 2 of 32
WBM TESTING PROCEDURE

Page 3 of 32
MUD DENSITY
a) procedure – Standard Mud Balance

1. Instrument base must be set on a flat level surface.

2. Measure and record the mud temperature.
3. Fill the mud cup with the mud to be tested. Gently tap the cup to encourage any entrapped
gas to break out.
4. Replace cap and rotate until it is firmly seated, ensuring some of the mud is expelled through
the hole on top, to free any trapped gas.
5. Holding cap firmly (with cap hole covered with thumb) wipe the outside of the cup until it is
clean and dry.
6. Place the beam on the base support and balance it by using the rider along the graduated
scale. Balance is achieved when the bubble is directly under the center line.

Example of standard mud balance Example of Pressurized mud balance

b) procedure – Pressurized Mud Balance

1. Follow steps 1 - 5 as for the standard mud balance procedure.

2. The pressurizing plunger is similar to operating a syringe. The plunger is filled by submersing
the nose of the plunger in the drilling fluid with the piston rod in the completely inward
position. The piston rod is then drawn up, thereby filling the plunger with fluid.
3. The nose of the plunger is then placed into the female ‘O’ ring on top of the cap. The sample
is pressurized by maintaining a downward force on the cylinder housing to hold the check
valve open, whilst at the same time forcing the piston rod inwards. Approximately 50 pounds
of force or greater should be maintained on the piston rod.
4. The check valve in the lid is pressure actuated, i.e. closing as pressure is applied. The valve is
therefore closed by gradually easing up on the cylinder housing while maintaining pressure
on the piston rod.
5. Having applied pressure to the sample with the pump there should be no indication of fluid
leaking back through the nipple. It should not be possible to depress the nipple by hand – if
the nipple can be easily depressed it is a sign that pressure is not being held and a true weight
is not being obtained. Change the ‘O’ ring and repeat the test.

Page 4 of 32
6. Once the check valve is closed, disconnect the plunger and weigh the fluid as in step 6 of the
standard mud balance procedure.
Notes:
a) At the first indication of gas or air entrapment in the mud only the pressurized balance should
be used.
b) The mud balance should be calibrated regularly. Both types calibrated by weighing distilled
water at 70˚ F and obtaining a reading of 1.00 sg / 8.345 lb/gal. If this is not the case adjust
the balance by adding or removing lead shot as required.

FUNNEL VISCOSITY
Equipment
• Thermometer: 32 – 220 oF ( 0 – 105oC)
• Stopwatch
• Graduated cup: one quart / litre
• Marsh funnel

Procedures
1. Cover the orifice with a finger and pour a freshly agitated fluid sample through the screen
into the clean, dry and upright funnel until the liquid level reaches the bottom of the screen.
2. Quickly remove the finger and measure the time required for the fluid to fill the receiving
vessel to the one quart (946 ml).
Notes:
a) The funnel viscosity is ONLY used as an indicator of the relative changes in the mud properties
and not be correlated directly with the viscosities obtained using the rotational viscometers.
b) It should be calibrated on a regular basis. The funnel must be calibrated on a regular basis.
The viscosity of fresh water at 70oF is 26 secs/qt. Any reading above this would indicate that
the spout of the funnel requires cleaning. The diameter of the spout is 3/16” and a hand-held
drill bit of this diameter should be used to clear any deposits/cake.
c) The funnel viscosity is a good quick guide to whether a water based mud is thickening or
thinning.

Page 5 of 32
 RHEOLOGY
Equipment
• Fann 35, 110 volt or 120 volts, powered by a two speed
synchronous motor to obtain speeds of 3, 6, 100, 200, 300 and 600.
• Mud cup
• Stopwatch
• Thermometer 32 - 220˚ F
Procedures
1) Stir the sample at 600 rpm while the sample is heating, or cooling, to 120˚ F. Ensure the dial
reading has stabilized at this speed before noting the result and proceeding to the 300, 200,
100, 6 and 3 RPM speeds.
2) Having taken the 3-RPM reading stir the sample at 600 RPM for 30 secs before taking the 10-
second gel at 3 rpm.
3) Restir the sample at 600 rpm for 30 seconds and leave undisturbed for 10 minutes, ensuring
the temperature stays at 120˚ F. Take the 10-minute gel reading at 3 rpm.
CALCULATIONS

Apparent Viscosity (AV) in Centipoise (cps) = 600 reading ÷ 2

Yield Stress = 2 x 3 reading – 6 reading

Plastic Viscosity (PV) in Centipoise (cps) = 600 reading – 300 reading
Yield Point (YP) in Pounds / 100 ft2 = 300 reading – PV

Power Law Index (n) = 3.32 log (600 reading /300 reading)
Consistency Index (K) in Pounds / 100 ft2 = 600 reading / 1022n

Gels in Pounds / 100 ft2 = As per 10 sec & 10 min reading

If the 600-rpm reading is off scale, then the PV and YP can be calculated as follows;

YP = (2 x 100 rpm reading) - 200 rpm reading

PV = 300 rpm reading – YP

Interpretation:
a) The 10-minute gel in a WBM will always react to increasing fines and can often be the best
indicator of solids related changes to mud properties. Increasing PV values are also
generally a good indicator of a solids build up.

Page 6 of 32
RETORT ANALYSIS
Equipment
1. Sample cup
2. Thermostatically controlled heating element
3. Liquid condenser
4. Pyrex measuring cylinder (50 ml)
5. Fine steel wool
6. Pipe cleaner
7. High temperature silicone grease
8. Defoaming agent
9. Spatula

Procedure
1. Ensure retort assembly to be used is clean and dry. It is vital that all traces of previously
retorted solids are removed from the retort cup to guarantee 50 ml of fluid is actually
retorted. Remove all traces of previously example of Retort procedures used steel wool.
Water can be retained in steel wool when the upper retort body is washed / cleaned.
Failure to change the steel wool can result in inaccurate measurements, as this extraneous
water will become included in the total water content.
2. Weigh the clean and dry retort cup and lid on the triple beam balance.
3. Add the mud, which has been allowed to cool to ambient temperature, to the retort cup,
gently tap the cup to remove any air bubbles and place the lid with a rotational movement
to obtain a proper fit. Be sure an excess of fluid flows out of the hole in the lid.
4. Carefully clean the cup and lid of excess fluid and reweigh on the triple beam balance. The
retort mud weight SG is determined as the difference between the empty and full weights,
in grams, divided by 50 (the volume of mud).
5. Pack the retort body with new steel wool, apply Never–Seez, to the threads and assemble
top and bottom parts. Ensure that the two parts are fully screwed together. If it is not
possible to fully screw together the two parts, it will be necessary to clean the threads and
repeat the above steps. Failure to get a good seal could result in leakage that will lead to an
inaccurate result.
Notes:
a) Any smoke emerging from the heating jacket is an indication that vapour is escaping
through the threads connecting the upper and lower parts of the retort cell. If this is
noted it is an indication that the tube to the condenser is, or has been, blocked.
b) The calculations are extremely sensitive and a 0.5% difference in total solids content will
have a large effect on the LGS fraction. For this reason, it is important to be meticulous
when taking the volumes of oil, water and solids.

Page 7 of 32
Calculations
SG of drilled solids (LGS) = 2.60

SG of Barite (HGS) = 4.25

SG of oil additive = SGo

Input Data

SG of mud in retort = SGm

Retort % oil = Of

Retort % water = Wf

Retort % solids = Sf

Salinity mg/l = mls of 0.282NAgNO3 x 10,000

%Water÷100

SG of Brine = SGb (Look up Salinity in specific brine table)

Correction factor = CF (From brine table)

Brine fraction = Bf (Correction factor x Wf)

Corrected Solids = CS [Sf - Salt content (Bf - Wf)]

AVSG (Average SG of Solids) = SGm x 100 – [(Of x SGo) + (Bf x SGb)]

CS

%LGS = 𝐶𝑆 𝑥 (4.25 − 𝐴𝑉𝑆𝐺)

4.25 − 2.6
= 𝐶𝑆 𝑥 (4.25 − 𝐴𝑉𝑆𝐺)
1.65
% HGS = CS - % LGS

PPB LGS = %LGS x 3.5 x 2.60

= %LGS x 9.1

PPB HGS = %HGS x 3.5 x 4.25

= %HGS x 14.87

KG / M3 LGS = %LGS x 9.1 x 6.2897 ÷ 2.205

= %LGS x 25.96

KG / M3 HGS = %HGS x 14.87 x 6.2897 ÷ 2.205

= %HGS x 42.42

Page 8 of 32
FILTRATION
a) API Filtrate
Equipment
1. Sample cup
2. Fitration cell
3. OFI specially Hardened Filter paper - Filtration Area 7.07 sq.in
4. (Alternatively - Whatman No 50 paper).
5. Low Pressure CO2 supply (100 psi) (Soda stream cartridges)
6. Stop Clock
7. 10 and 25 ml measuring cylinders.

Procedure
1. Assemble the clean and dry components that form the cell of this piece of equipment.
2. Ensure the filter paper is Whatman no 50 (or equivalent) and make sure the screen is not
damaged. A creased screen can result in weaknesses in the filter cake that seem to result in
higher results than would normally be expected.
3. Pour the mud sample into the cell to 0.5” from the top, put the top in place and position
it in the support frame.
4. Place a dry graduated cylinder of suitable size (usually 10 cc’s) under the drain tube and
apply 100 psi of pressure over 15 seconds.
5. Maintain a constant 100 psi throughout the test period.
6. After 7.5 mins measure and record the amount of filtrate collected to the nearest 0.1 ml.
7. After 30 mins measure and report the amount of filtrate collected to the nearest 0.1 ml.
8. Having bled off the pressure, dismantle the equipment and examine the filter cake. Report
the thickness in 32nds of an inch. Comments about the quality of the cake should be
noted in the comments section of the mud report i.e. texture, colour, hardness,
compressibility, flexibility etc.

API Fluid Loss = 30 min Reading

Relative API Fluid Loss = (30 min Reading - 7.5 min reading) x 2
Spurt Loss = API Fluid Loss – Relative API Fluid Loss

Page 9 of 32
 b) HTHP Filtrate
Equipment
1. HTHP Filtration Cell
2. OFI specially Hardened Filter paper
3. High Pressure CO2 supply (600 psi)
4. Stop Clock
5. 10 and 25 ml measuring cylinders)

Procedure
1. Turn on heated jacket at the mains and insert a thermometer into the jacket and leave to
preheat to the desired temperature.
2. Check out all the “O” rings on the HPHT bomb and lid. Change out any damaged rings. The
rings to be checked are the four small stem “O” rings, which tend to pick up cuts and
grooves with time, and the two large “O” rings, one in the lid and one in the cell. The
large “O” rings should have a rounded profile and be free from dirt.
3. With stem valve closed on bottom of cell, fill up cell with mud to within 0.5” of the ‘O’ ring
groove, to allow for thermal expansion.
4. Insert filter paper into the cell followed by the bottom cell plate assembly over the filter
paper and twist to align with the safety locking lugs. Ensure the lid stem is open while
doing this to avoid damaging the filter paper.
5. Tighten the 6 grub screws evenly using the Allan key provided.
6. Ensure all stem valves are tightly closed.
7. Invert cell and place in filtration mounted heated jacket assembly. Rotate the bomb until
it seats on the locking pin. Insert a thermometer into the HPHT cell.
8. Place a CO2 or N2 cartridge in each regulator and tighten up the retainers.
9. Place the pressure unit on top valve and lock into place or carbonaceous using a locking
pin. Lock the bottom pressure unit to the bottom valve into place, again ensuring that
locking pin is inserted.
10. Apply 100 psi to both ends of the HPHT cell with the valves still closed.
11. Open the top valve by turning 1/4 to 1/2 anticlockwise to apply 100 psi to the mud
while heating to prevent the mud from boiling prior to reaching the target temperature.
The time for heating the mud sample to the target temperature should not exceed
60 minutes!
12. When the cell reaches the required test temperature open the bottom stem (1/2 turn) and
then increase the pressure on the top regulator to 600 psi over +/- 20 seconds.
13. Commence the test. The test should be carried out as soon as the bomb reaches the test
temperature.
14. If the pressure on the bottom regulator increases significantly above 100 psi bleed off
some of the filtrate into the graduated cylinder.
Page 10 of 32
15. Collect the filtrate for 30 minutes maintaining the temperature to within +/- 5˚ F.
16. Once the test has finished close the top and bottom valves and shut off the pressure
supply from the regulators. Bleed the lines using the relief valves provided.
17. Allow filtrate to cool for 30 minutes and then draw off into a graduated 20 ml
measuring cylinder and read volume. SAVE the filtrate for ionic analysis.
18. CAUTION - the cell still contains 500 psi pressure, so cool cell to room temperature
ideally in a water bath or alternative safe place and then bleed off the pressure
slowly by opening the valves
19. Disassemble the cell and discard mud into mud waste container only. Save filter paper
handling with care and wash filter cake with a gentle stream of distilled water.
20. Measure and report the thickness of the cake to the nearest 1/32” (0.8 mm). l
Report any other observations, such as texture, colour, hardness, flexibility etc.
21. Notes:
22. Mud in the filtrate would indicate that the ‘O’ ring seals needed replacing as whole
mud was bypassing the filter paper.

Notes:
If the bottom pressure rises 20 psi above the specified pressure during the test, carefully
bleed off pressure by draining a small volume of filtrate.

Page 11 of 32
SAND CONTENT
Equipment
1. 2.5 inch diameter sieve (200 mesh, 74 micron)
2. Plastic funnel to fit the sieve
3. Glass measuring tube marked for the volume of mud
to be added to read the percentage of sand directly in
the bottom of the tube, which is graduated from 0 to 20%.

Procedure
1. Fill the tube with mud to the mark labelled “Mud to Here”, and then add water to the mark
“Base Fluid to Here”. Cover the mouth of the tube with the thumb and shake the tube
vigorously.
2. Pour the suspension through the clean, dry mesh screen, being careful to remove all solids
out of the tube by flushing with base fluid back through the same mesh screen. By tapping
the side of the screen the pouring of the mud through the screen may be facilitated.
3. Wash the sand retained on the screen with water to remove any remaining mud.
4. Fit the funnel upside down over the top of the sieve, invert slowly turning the tip of the
funnel into the mouth of the tube and wash the sand back into the tube with some
clean water. Allow the sand to settle.
5. Record the quantity of sand settled in the graduated tube as the sand “sized” content of
the mud in percent by volume.
Notes:
1. If the sand content rises quickly then this is an indication that finer mesh screens need
to be tried.

Page 12 of 32
PH
Procedures – pH indicator strips
1. Place an indicator strip in mud and allow it to remain for
one minute to allow the colour to stabilise.
2. Rinse the strip off with deionised water but do not wipe.
3. Compare the colours of the strip with the standard chart
provided and estimate the pH to the nearest 0.5.

Procedures – pH meter
1. Insert the electrode into the fluid contained in a small glass
flask and swirl gently.
2. Measure the fluid pH according to the directions supplied
with the instrument. When the meter reading becomes
constant record the pH to the nearest 0.1 of a unit.
3. Thoroughly clean off electrode with distilled water and store
it in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations.
Note:
1. A rapid drop in pH can indicate such hazards as acid gas or CO2 influxes.
2. Trickle treatments of either sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide are usually made to
maintain the pH in the optimum range of 8. 5 to 9. 5.

Page 13 of 32
METHYLENE BLUE TEST (MBT)
Equipment
1. Methylene Blue Solution ( 3.74 USP grade)
2. 3% Hydrogen Peroxide
3. 5 N Sulphuric Acid
4. 125 ml Conical Flask
5. 25 ml Graduated Measuring Cylinder
6. Hot plate
7. Stirring Rod
8. Filter paper, Whatman No 4
9. 2 x 5ml Syringes
10. 10 ml Burette and clamp stand

Procedure
1. Measure 2.0 mls of mud into the 125 ml conical flask.
2. Add 15 ml of the 3 % hydrogen peroxide using a measuring cylinder.
3. 1 ml of the 5 N Sulphuric acid using a clean syringe.
4. Swirl mixture gently to ensure mud solids are completely dispersed within the mixture
5. Place conical flask on a hotplate and heat gently until simmering. Leave to simmer for
about 10 minutes.
6. Dilute to approximately 50 ml with distilled water and stir.
7. Add 1ml increments of the methylene blue indicator via a burette and swirl the flask
vigorously for 30 seconds.
8. After each addition dip the end of the stirring rod into the solution and apply a drop to the
filter paper.
9. The end point is reached when the colour of the blue solids containing droplet migrates
away from the nucleus to form a light blue/turquoise halo.
10. Once you reach the end point it is important to keep stirring the mixture and dropping
further solution onto the filter paper to ensure the end point is persistent and has actually
been reached. Cation exchange is a time dependent process and the solution will go on
reacting if all the sites have not been completely exchanged.

Bentonite (equivalent) ppb = mls of methylene blue solution X 2.5

Page 14 of 32
FILTRATE ALKALINITY – Pf and Mf
Equipment
1. Standardised 0.02 Normal (N/50) Sulphuric acid solution
2. Phenolphthalein indicator solution
3. Methyl orange indicator solution.
4. Bromo-phenol Blue ( Bromo-cresol Green)
5. PH meter (Optional)
6. Titration vessel
7. Volumetric pipettes
8. Syringe
9. Distilled water
10. Magnetic stirrer.

Procedures
1. Measure one ml of filtrate into a clean and dr y 50 ml glass beaker.
2. Dilute with 10-20 mls of distilled water.
3. Add 2 or three drops of Phenolphthalein indicator. If the sample turns pink, add 0.02N
sulphuric acid drop by drop from a pipette while gently stirring with a small magnetic bead
on a hot plate/stirrer until the pink colour just disappears.
4. If the sample is so coloured that the colour change of the indicator is masked, the endpoint
is taken when the pH reaches 8. 3, as measured with the glass electrode pH meter.
5. Report the Phenolphthalein alkalinity as the mls of acid required to reach the end point.
6. To the same sample add 3 or 4 drops of Bromo Cresol Green. A blue colour will develop.
7. Add 0.02N sulphuric acid drop by drop from a pipette while gently swirling or mixing until
the blue colour changes to apple green.
8. The Mf is the total amount of acid used for both titrations.
Notes:
1. Carbonates and Bicarbonates are usually responsible when analysis shows an increasing M f.

Page 15 of 32
FILTRATE HARDNESS – Ca++ and Mg++
Equipment

1. 0.02 N EDTA (0.01 M) ( Versenate Solution)

2. Ammonia Buffer* in dropper bottle
3. 8N Potassium hydroxide buffer ( KOH)
4. Calmagite/ Manver Indicator (solution or crystals)
5. Calver II Indicator (crystals)
6. Masking agent** : 1:1: 2 mixture by volume of triethanolamine : tetraethylenepentamine :
water
7. Deionised water
8. Graduated pipettes: one 1 ml, 2 ml and 5 ml
9. Titration vessel : 100-150 ml preferably whites
10. Stirring rods
** 1 ml of Masking agent should be added if soluble iron is suspected to be present.

Procedure- Total Hardness

1. To a clean and dry 50 ml glass beaker add 50 ml of distilled water and 2 ml of standard
buffer solution.
2. Add 1 ml of Calmalgite / Manver indicator solution.
3. If a red colour develops, indicating the presence of calcium or magnesium, add Versenate
solution ( 0.01M EDTA – 1ml = 400 mg/l. ) drop wise with a pipette until the colour first
changes to a brilliant blue, while stirring with a small magnetic bead on a hot plate/stirrer.
4.
5. This would indicate your distilled water was contaminated or the titration vessel was not
clean. Do not include this amount of versenate in calculations.
6.
7. Measure 1 ml of mud filtrate into the titration vessel and the red colour will reappear.
8.
9. Add Versenate solution as before until the blue colour returns. The end point may appear
as a purple brown if masking agents are present. However it is the clear colour change that
is the end point.

10. Total Hardness in mg/l (expressed as calcium) = ml of versenate solution x 400

Notes:
1. In a systems run at pH 8.5 to 9.5 the upper limit for hardness should be no more than 600
mg/l.

Page 16 of 32
Procedure- Calcium

1. To a clean and dry 50 ml glass beaker add 1 ml of filtrate (the purity of the distilled water
and your ability to clean a titration vessel will have been proved in the previous procedure)
and add 50 ml of distilled water and 5 ml 8N KOH or NaOH.
2. The OH¯ ions will precipitate out any magnesium.
3. Add a satchel (or a pinch if loose powder is provided) of Calver II calcium indicator. This will
produce a pink to a wine red coloration.
4. While stirring with a small magnetic bead on a hot plate/stirrer add standard Versenate
solution (0.01M EDTA – 1 ml =400 mg/l.) until the solution changes to clear blue.

Calcium hardness in mg / lt. = ml of versenate x 400

Magnesium hardness in mg / lt. = (ml of versenate for total hardness test - ml of versenate
for calcium test) x 0.243

Page 17 of 32
FILTRATE CHLORIDES
Equipment
1. Silver nitrate solution: 4.7910 g/l (0.0282 N or equivalent to
0.01g chloride ion/ml). Store in amber or opaque bottle.
2. Potassium Chromate Indicator solution: 5 g/100 ml water.
3. Sulphuric or nitric acid: standardised 0.02 N (N/50).
4. Phenolphthalein indicator solution: 1 g/100 ml of 60% alcohol in water solution.
5. Calcium Carbonate: precipitated, chemically pure grade.
6. Distilled water: free of carbon dioxide by boiling.
7. Graduated pipettes: one 1 ml and One 10-ml.
8. Titration vessel: 100 -150 ml preferably white.
9. Stirring rod.

Procedures
1. Ensure the filtrate sample pipette doesn’t have any crystallised salt on its tip. Measure one
ml of filtrate into a clean and dry 50 ml glass beaker.
2. Dilute with 25 mls of distilled water.
3. Add three drops of Phenolphthalein indicator. If the sample turns pink, add 0.02N sulphuric
acid drop by drop from a pipette while gently stirring with a small magnetic bead on a
hot/plate stirrer until the pink colour just disappears.
4. Add 10 drops of standard potassium chromate solution (5 gms in 100 mls of distilled water).
A yellow colour develops.
5. Stir continuously while adding 0.0282 N or 0.282 N silver nitrate (depending on expected
range – below 5000 mg/l use 0.0282 N and above use 0.282 N) on a drop by drop basis.
6. The end point is reached when a reddish tinge appears and persists for 30 seconds. Do not
titrate to “brick red” as this is too far past the end point.
7. Note the amount of silver nitrate required to reach the end point.

Report the chloride ion concentration of the filtrate in mg/l, calculated as follows:
1000 𝑥 (0.0282 𝑁 𝑠𝑖𝑙𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒,𝑚𝑙)
Chloride, (mg/l) = filtrate sample ml

Or when using 0.282 N silver nitrate

10,000 𝑥 (0.0282 𝑁 𝑠𝑖𝑙𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒,𝑚𝑙)
Chloride, (mg/l) = filtrate sample ml
To convert units:
(Chloride,mg/l)
Chloride, (ppm) = Specific gravity of filtrate

Salt (NaCl), mg/l = (1.65) x (Chloride, mg/l)

Notes:
1. The Cl– ion does not deplete, so once a system has been established the concentration should
remain constant. Any variation in established concentration could be indicative of a; fresh or
salt-water flow, seawater or freshwater additions, planned or evaporite formations being
drilled.

Page 18 of 32
OBM TESTING PROCEDURE

Page 19 of 32
MUD DENSITY
a) Procedure – Standard Mud Balance

1. Instrument base must be set on a flat level surface.

2. Measure and record the mud temperature.
3. Fill the mud cup with the mud to be tested. Gently tap the cup to encourage any entrapped
gas to break out.
4. Replace cap and rotate until it is firmly seated, ensuring some of the mud is expelled through
the hole on top, to free any trapped gas.
5. Holding cap firmly (with cap hole covered with thumb) wipe the outside of the cup until it is
clean and dry.
6. Place the beam on the base support and balance it by using the rider along the graduated
scale. Balance is achieved when the bubble is directly under the center line.

Example of standard mud balance Example of Pressurized mud balance

b) Procedure – Pressurized Mud Balance

1. Follow steps 1 - 5 as for the standard mud balance procedure.

2. The pressurizing plunger is similar to operating a syringe. The plunger is filled by submersing
the nose of the plunger in the drilling fluid with the piston rod in the completely inward
position. The piston rod is then drawn up, thereby filling the plunger with fluid.
3. The nose of the plunger is then placed into the female ‘O’ ring on top of the cap. The sample
is pressurized by maintaining a downward force on the cylinder housing to hold the check
valve open, whilst at the same time forcing the piston rod inwards. Approximately 50 pounds
of force or greater should be maintained on the piston rod.
4. The check valve in the lid is pressure actuated, i.e. closing as pressure is applied. The valve is
therefore closed by gradually easing up on the cylinder housing while maintaining pressure
on the piston rod.
5. Having applied pressure to the sample with the pump there should be no indication of fluid
leaking back through the nipple. It should not be possible to depress the nipple by hand – if
the nipple can be easily depressed it is a sign that pressure is not being held and a true weight
is not being obtained. Change the ‘O’ ring and repeat the test.
6. Once the check valve is closed, disconnect the plunger and weigh the fluid as in step 6 of the
standard mud balance procedure.

Page 20 of 32
Notes:
a) At the first indication of gas or air entrapment in the mud only the pressurized balance should
be used.
b) The mud balance should be calibrated regularly. Both types calibrated by weighing distilled
water at 70˚ F and obtaining a reading of 1.00 sg / 8.345 lb/gal. If this is not the case adjust
the balance by adding or removing lead shot as required.
c) The density of an OBM will vary according to the temperature of the sample. Differences of
up to 0.03 sg are normal between ambient and flowline temperatures of 65˚C. Flowline
temperatures as this is the best indicator of what is actually in the hole at any particular time.

FUNNEL VISCOSITY
Equipment
• Thermometer: 32 – 220 oF ( 0 – 105oC)
• Stopwatch
• Graduated cup: one quart / litre
• Marsh funnel

Procedures
1. Cover the orifice with a finger and pour a freshly agitated fluid sample through the screen
into the clean, dry and upright funnel until the liquid level reaches the bottom of the screen.
2. Quickly remove the finger and measure the time required for the fluid to fill the receiving
vessel to the one quart (946 ml).
3. Report the result to the nearest second as Marsh Funnel viscosity and the temperature to the
nearest degree.
Notes:
a) The funnel viscosity is ONLY used as an indicator of the relative changes in the mud properties
and not be correlated directly with the viscosities obtained using the rotational viscometers.
b) It should be calibrated on a regular basis. The funnel must be calibrated on a regular basis.
The viscosity of fresh water at 70oF is 26 secs/qt. Any reading above this would indicate that
the spout of the funnel requires cleaning. The diameter of the spout is 3/16” and a hand-held
drill bit of this diameter should be used to clear any deposits/cake.
c) The funnel viscosity is of little significance in relation to OBM. This is because SBM thin with
heat and the result is therefore very temperature dependent. However, if temperature
remains constant, the funnel viscosity may indicate trends that require further investigation.

Page 21 of 32
 RHEOLOGY
Equipment
• Fann 35, 110 volt or 120 volts, powered by a two speed
synchronous motor to obtain speeds of 3, 6, 100, 200, 300 and 600.
• Mud cup
• Stopwatch
• Thermometer 32 - 220˚ F
Procedures
1) Stir the sample at 600 rpm while the sample is heating, or cooling, to 120˚ F. Ensure the dial
reading has stabilized at this speed before noting the result and proceeding to the 300, 200,
100, 6 and 3 RPM speeds.
2) Having taken the 3-RPM reading stir the sample at 600 RPM for 30 secs before taking the 10-
second gel at 3 rpm.
3) Restir the sample at 600 rpm for 30 seconds and leave undisturbed for 10 minutes, ensuring
the temperature stays at 120˚ F. Take the 10-minute gel reading at 3 rpm.
CALCULATIONS

Apparent Viscosity (AV) in Centipoise (cps) = 600 reading ÷ 2

Yield Stress = 2 x 3 reading – 6 reading

Plastic Viscosity (PV) in Centipoise (cps) = 600 reading – 300 reading
Yield Point (YP) in Pounds / 100 ft2 = 300 reading – PV

Power Law Index (n) = 3.32 log (600 reading /300 reading)
Consistency Index (K) in Pounds / 100 ft2 = 600 reading / 1022n

Gels in Pounds / 100 ft2 = As per 10 sec & 10 min reading

If the 600-rpm reading is off scale, then the PV and YP can be calculated as follows.

YP = (2 x 100 rpm reading) - 200 rpm reading

PV = 300 rpm reading – YP

Notes:

The gelling characteristics of the fluid can be determined from taking a 10 second and a 10-
minute gel reading.

Page 22 of 32
HTHP Filtrate – temperatures up to 300˚ F
Equipment
1. HTHP Filtration Cell
2. OFI specially Hardened Filter paper
3. High Pressure CO2 supply (600 psi)
4. Stop Clock
5. 10ml and 25ml measuring cylinders)

Procedures
1) To standardize this test the following procedure must be adhered to. Backpressure is applied
during the test to avoid filtrate evaporation.
2) Allow the heating jacket to reach the required temperature.
3) Check out all the “O” rings on the HPHT bomb and lid. Change out any damaged rings. The
rings to be checked are the four small stem “O” rings, which tend to pick up cuts and grooves
with time, and the two large “O” rings, one in the lid and one in the cell. The large “O” rings
should have a rounded profile and be free from dirt.
4) Tighten the bottom valve stem, taking care not to over tighten, and fill the cell to about 0.5
inch from the rim.
5) Place a filter paper on the rim and put the lid on the cell. Ensure the lid stem is open while
doing this to avoid damaging the filter paper.
6) Tighten the six studs in the bomb and close the lid stem.
7) Place the bomb in the heating jacket with the lid facing downwards. Rotate the bomb until it
seats on the locking pin.
8) Place a CO2 cartridge in each regulator and tighten up the retainers.
9) Place the top regulator on the stem and engage the locking pin. Close the bleed off valve and
turn the regulator clockwise until 100psi is showing on the gauge.
10) Repeat the process with the bottom regulator.
11) Turn the top valve stem 1/4 to 1/2 turn anti clockwise to pressure up the cell to 100psi.
12) When the cell reaches the required test temperature open the bottom stem (1/2 turn) and
then increase the pressure on the top regulator to 600 psi over +/- 20 seconds.
13) Commence the test. The test should be carried out as soon as the bomb reaches the test
temperature. Leaving the cell for long periods at high temperatures will produce unreliable
results.
14) If the pressure on the bottom regulator increases significantly above 100 psi bleed off some
of the filtrate into the graduated cylinder.
15) After 30 minutes, close the top and bottom valve stems. Slack off the regulator on the bottom
collection vessel. Bleed off the filtrate into the graduated cylinder. Disconnect bottom
collection vessel, fully open the bleed off valve and tip any residual filtrate into the graduated
cylinder.
Page 23 of 32
16) Bleed the pressure off the top regulator.
17) Disconnect the top regulator and remove the bomb from the heating jacket, allowing it to
cool in a safe place.
18) When the bomb has cooled bleed off the trapped pressure by slowly opening the top valve
with the bomb in an upright position. With the residual pressure bled off invert the cell,
loosen the six studs and remove the lid.
19) Examine the filter paper and report the thickness in 32nds of an inch. Comments about the
quality of the cake should be noted in the comments section of the mud report e.g., tough
rubbery etc.
20) Thoroughly clean the bomb and stems in preparation for the next test.
21) Do not preheat the bomb by resting on the heating jacket.

Calculations
The total filtrate volume, both oil and water, should be doubled, as the standard API press
is twice the area of the HPHT cell.
Notes:
a) There should be no free water in the filtrate – any indication of water would indicate a
problem with the emulsification that requires immediate attention.
b) The oil fraction should be clear with no hint of muddiness. If there is any sign of mud in
the filtrate, then the result of the test is void.
c) Mud in the filtrate would indicate that the ‘O’ ring seals needed replacing as whole mud
was bypassing the filter paper.

Page 24 of 32
RETORT ANALYSIS – OIL BASE MUD
Equipment
1. Sample cup
2. Thermostatically controlled heating element
3. Liquid condenser
4. Pyrex measuring cylinder (50 ml)
5. Fine steel wool
6. Pipe cleaner
7. High temperature silicone grease
8. Defoaming agent
9. Spatula

Procedures
1. Ensure retort assembly to be used is clean and dry. It is vital that all traces of previously
retorted solids are removed from the retort cup to guarantee 50 ml of fluid is actually
retorted. Remove all traces of previously used steel wool. Water can be retained in steel
wool when the upper retort body is washed / cleaned. Failure to change the steel wool can
result in inaccurate measurements, as this extraneous water will become included in the
total water content.
2. Weigh the clean and dry retort cup and lid on the triple beam balance.
3. Add the mud, which has been allowed to cool to ambient temperature, to the retort cup,
gently tap the cup to remove any air bubbles and place the lid with a rotational movement
to obtain a proper fit. Be sure an excess of fluid flows out of the hole in the lid.
4. Carefully clean the cup and lid of excess fluid and reweigh on the triple beam balance. The
retort mud weight SG is determined as the difference between the empty and full weights,
in grams, divided by 50 (the volume of mud).
5. 5) Pack the retort body with new steel wool, apply Never–Seez, to the threads and
assemble top and bottom parts. Ensure that the two parts are fully screwed together. If it is
not possible to fully screw together the two parts, it will be necessary to clean the threads
and repeat the above steps. Failure to get a good seal could result in leakage that will
lead to an inaccurate result.
6. Attach the condenser and place the retort assembly in the heating jacket and close the
insulating lid.
7. Place clean, dry liquid receiver below condenser outlet and turn on heating jacket.
8. The temperature control should be adjusted so that the retort cell glows dull red at the end
of the distillation and the final drops coming out of the retort should be observed to be
black (the heavy fraction) and sink through the clear oil to the meniscus. Ultimately smoke
will emerge from the retort and the distillation is only complete when the smoke stops.

N.B: It will be assumed that all salt in the brine phase is Calcium Chloride.

Page 25 of 32
SG of drilled solids (LGS) = 2.60
SG of Barite (HGS) = 4.25
SG of oil additive = SGo

Input Data
SG of mud in retort = SGm

Retort % oil = Of

Retort % water = Wf

Retort % solids = Sf

Salinity mg/l = mls of 0.282NAgNO3 x 10,000

%Water÷100

SG of Brine = SGb (Look up Salinity in specific brine table)

Correction factor = CF (From brine table)

Brine fraction = Bf (Correction factor x Wf)

Corrected Solids = CS [Sf - Salt content (Bf - Wf)]

AVSG (Average SG of Solids) = SGm x 100 – [(Of x SGo) + (Bf x SGb)]

CS

%LGS = 𝐶𝑆 𝑥 (4.25 − 𝐴𝑉𝑆𝐺)

4.25 − 2.6
= 𝐶𝑆 𝑥 (4.25 − 𝐴𝑉𝑆𝐺)
1.65
% HGS = CS - % LGS

PPB LGS = %LGS x 3.5 x 2.60

= %LGS x 9.1

PPB HGS = %HGS x 3.5 x 4.25

= %HGS x 14.87

KG / M3 LGS = %LGS x 9.1 x 6.2897 ÷ 2.205

= %LGS x 25.96

KG / M3 HGS = %HGS x 14.87 x 6.2897 ÷ 2.205

= %HGS x 42.42

Page 26 of 32
Notes:
a) Any smoke emerging from the heating jacket is an indication that vapour is escaping
through the threads connecting the upper and lower parts of the retort cell. If this is
noted it is an indication that the tube to the condenser is, or has been, blocked.
b) The calculations are extremely sensitive and a 0.5% difference in total solids content will
have a large effect on the LGS fraction. For this reason, it is important to be meticulous
when taking the volumes of oil, water and solids.

SAND CONTENT
Equipment
1. 2.5 inch diameter sieve (200 mesh, 74 micron)
2. Plastic funnel to fit the sieve
3. Glass measuring tube marked for the volume of mud
to be added to read the percentage of sand directly in
the bottom of the tube, which is graduated from 0 to 20%.

Procedure
1. Fill the tube with mud to the mark labelled “Mud to Here”, and then add water to the mark
“Base Fluid to Here”. Cover the mouth of the tube with the thumb and shake the tube
vigorously.
2. Pour the mixture onto the screen, add more base oil to the tube, shake and again pour onto
the screen. Repeat until the wash fluid is clear.
3. Wash the sand retained on the screen with base oil to remove any remaining mud.
4. Fit the funnel over the top of the sieve. Invert slowly and insert the mouth of the funnel into
the glass tube. Wash the sand into the tube with clean base oil.

Page 27 of 32
ELECTRICAL STABILITY

1. The electrical stability will be measured with a Fann or OFI digital meter and reported in
volts.
2. The test will be carried out at 120˚ F or whatever the rheology temperature is carried out at.
The mud to be tested will be the mud in the heated cup after the rheology measurements
have been completed.
3. Regularly check the accuracy of the ES meter with standard resistors and / or Zener diodes
The ES readings should fall within 2.5% of the expected values; if any of the ES readings fall
outside this range, the instrument should be replaced.

Procedure
1. Before placing the probe in the mud, it is essential to test the meter in air. The reading
should go off scale and the display start flashing. If the meter does not go off scale, it is an
indication that the probe is shorting out due to an accumulation of detritus between the
two prongs. It is clear that the probe can short out before the end point of the mud is
reached and an erroneous reading will result. The probe should be carefully cleaned and
retested in air to ensure that it now goes off scale before testing the mud.
2. Place the clean and checked probe in the sample at 120˚ F and use it to stir the fluid to
ensure homogeneity. Position the probe so it does not touch the bottom or sides of the
heated cup, ensuring the tip of the electrode is completely immersed.
3. Press the button to initiate the voltage ramp, holding the probe still until the end point is
reached and a steady reading is seen in the digital display. Note the reading.
4. Repeat the test. The two ES values should be within 5% and anything greater would indicate
a problem with the equipment.
5. The result is the average of the two readings.

Page 28 of 32
LIME CONTENT
Equipment
1. Xylene / Isopropanol (1:1 mixture) or equivalent
2. 250 ml conical flask
3. Variable temperature and speed hot plate/stirrer with suitable magnetic beads
4. Distilled water
5. Phenolphthalein indicator
6. 0.1N H2SO4
7. 0.1N NaOH
8. Pipettes

Procedures
1. Measure 50 ml of Xylene / Isopropanol (1:1 mixture) into a 250 ml conical flask.
2. Disperse 1 ml of whole mud into the 50 ml of solvent while mixing on a magnetic stirrer for
30 seconds.
3. Add 100 mls of distilled water, 10 drops of phenolphthalein indicator and allow to mix for 5
mins. A strong pink / red colour will develop.
4. Add 10 cc’s of 0.1N H2SO4 - the red colour will disappear.
5. Back titrate with 0.1N NaOH until a pink tinge returns.

Alkalinity (Mp) = 10 - Mls of NaOH

PPB excess lime = Mp x 1.295
3
KG / M excess lime = Mp x 1.295 x 6.2897 ÷ 2.205
= Mp x 3.69
Note:

• If it is obvious that large lime additions to the mud are not being reflected in test results,
then increasingly large amounts of lime should not be continuously added – a masking
agent is undoubtedly at work.

Page 29 of 32
WATER PHASE SALINITY
It is essential that salinity is always reported as mg/l chlorides in the water phase i.e. WPS.
Remember ppm is not the same as mg/l (ppm x brine SG = mg/l)
It will always be assumed that all chlorides in the mud are from Calcium Chloride i.e. there is no
requirement to differentiate between Sodium Chloride and Calcium Chloride.

Equipment
1. Xylene / Isopropanol (1:1 mixture)
2. 250 ml conical flask
3. Variable temperature and speed hot plate/stirrer with suitable magnetic beads
4. Distilled water
5. Phenolphthalein indicator
6. 0.1N H2SO4
7. 0.282 AgNO3
8. Pipettes
Procedure
1. The chloride titration is a continuation of the lime content test.
2. Add 0.5 ml of 0.1N H2SO4 to remove the pink tinge from the sample remaining from the
lime test (more if required).
3. Add 15 drops of potassium chromate indicator to the colourless sample.
4. While agitating vigorously with the magnetic stirrer, titrate with 0.282 AgNO3.
5. The end point is reached at the first sign of a lasting orange tinge (not brick red).
6. A heavy precipitate of silver chloride will develop during this titration. To ensure even
distribution of the AgNO3 the magnetic stirrer should be at a high speed. However, not so
high that the sides of the flask become splashed with sample

10,000 𝑥 (0.0282 𝑁 𝑠𝑖𝑙𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒,𝑚𝑙)

WPS, (mg/l) =
%𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟÷100

Page 30 of 32
OIL ON CUTTINGS ANALYSIS
1. A representative bulk sample of at least 0.5 kg - 1.0kg should be taken and must include
material from each deck of all the shakers. This is best achieved by “scanning” a suitable
container, preferably a wide tray which will retain all the material i.e. both the solids and
liquids, beneath the discharge of the shakers.
2. The sample would then be thoroughly mulched to ensure a homogenous sample.
3. Immediately transfer the sample to the mud lab for analysis.

Equipment
1. Proprietary mud, oil and water retort kit with at least three mud chambers. A 50 ml
chamber must be used.
2. The distillate receiver must be an accurately calibrated 20 ml or 50 ml measuring cylinder
calibrated in 1.0 ml divisions (dependent on amount of distillate expected).
3. A triple beam balance capable of weighing to an accuracy 0.1g under offshore conditions.

Procedure
1. Weigh the distillate receiver.
2. Weigh the empty retort cell (top and bottom screwed together with both the lid in place
and the steel wool in the upper chamber).
3. Unscrew the retort and fill the bottom part with cuttings as completely as possible, replace
the lid and clean off any adhering mud and oil. Re-screw the upper chamber.
4. Re-weigh the filled assembly.
5. Retort the sample for as long as it takes to burn off all the heavy fractions of oil.
6. Switch off the heater, remove the mud chamber and allow to cool. Read off the volume of
the water and oil collected in the distillate receiver. Reweigh the distillate receiver. Reweigh
the retort assembly when it has cooled.

The result is calculated by the steps below:

A = Weight of chamber (empty with steel wool + lid) gm
B = Weight of chamber and sample gm
C = Weight of empty graduated glass cylinder gm
D = Weight of chamber after heating gm
E = Weight of glass cylinder and distillate gm
F = Volume of distillate mls
G = Volume of water mls
H = Weight of cuttings (B - A) gm
I = Weight of dry solids (D - A) gm
J = Weight of distillate (E - C) gm
K = Weight of oil in distillate (J - G) gm
L = Volume of oil in distillate (F - G) mls
M(gm/kg) = Calculate oil on cuttings (K ÷ I) x 1000
Percentage oil on cuttings (M x 100) ÷ 1000
Page 31 of 32