Portable high temperature, high pressure viscometer

Conference · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1978

OSTI ID:6657136

Reineke, R C; Varnado, S G

A field instrument for measuring the rheological characteristics of drilling mud at simulated downhole conditions has been developed. The instrument can provide viscosity measurement to 300 centipoise at temperatures up to 500/sup 0/F, pressures up to 12,500 psi, and shear rates up to 1000 Hz. The design of the system and the results of some preliminary tests on water-based and oil-based drilling muds are described. The design consists of a rotational viscometer packaged inside a heated pressure vessel. The fluid sample is placed inside a test cell and the desired temperatures and pressure conditions are then selected. A direct readout of viscosity is provided. Four samples of water-based muds have been tested; a bentonite mud, a bentonite mud with ferrochrome lignosulfonate (FCL) thinner, a bentonite based mud with FCL and lignite thinners, and mud developed by Maurer Engineering for geothermal use. Tests on these muds indicate that the addition of thinners is effective in increasing the usable temperature range of the bentonite mud from approximately 125 to 200/sup 0/C. Pressure effects on water-based muds were found to be insignificant. Oil-based muds exhibited thinning characteristics with increasing temperature and a marked increase in viscosity with increased pressure. Therefore, during drilling, the borehole pressure tends to compensate for the thinning effect of borehole temperature. Curves showing this quantitative dependence of viscosity on temperature and pressure are presented.

• Research Organization: Sandia Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-04-0789
• OSTI ID: 6657136
• Report Number(s): SAND-78-0678C; CONF-780825-6
• Resource Relation: Conference: 4. symposium on enhanced oil and gas recovery and improved drilling methods, Tulsa, OK, USA, 29 Aug 1978; Other Information: Portions of document are illegible
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
03 NATURAL GAS
47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
DRILLING FLUIDS
VISCOSITY
VISCOSIMETERS
DESIGN
OPERATION
BENTONITE
HIGH PRESSURE
HIGH TEMPERATURE
RHEOLOGY
INORGANIC ION EXCHANGERS
ION EXCHANGE MATERIALS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MINERALS
020300* - Petroleum- Drilling & Production
030300 - Natural Gas- Drilling
Production
& Processing
440300 - Miscellaneous Instruments- (-1989)