Determination of Effect of Salinity on Water Based Mud Project

This project, titled "Determination of the Effect of Salinity on the Rheological Properties of Water Based Mud," investigates the impact of salinity on the performance of water-based drilling fluids, a critical aspect of the oil and gas industry. The project aimed to determine the effects of varying concentrations of sodium chloride (NaCl) and potassium chloride (KCl) on the rheological properties of water-based mud under high-pressure and high-temperature (HPHT) conditions. The methodology involved preparing water-based mud samples with different salt concentrations and testing them using a Chandler Ultra HPHT Viscometer. The study analyzed the impact of salinity on viscosity, gel strength, and shear stress, identifying specific challenges such as gas pressure issues and implementing solutions like compressor installations. The project successfully utilized petroleum engineering knowledge and skills, providing valuable insights into the behavior of drilling fluids under challenging conditions and offering practical solutions for optimizing drilling operations. The project also includes detailed information on the chemical composition of the water based mud, the experimental setup, and the data analysis. The project highlights the importance of understanding the interplay between salinity, pressure, temperature, and the rheological characteristics of drilling fluids for efficient and safe drilling operations.

CE 1.1 Project Information
Name of the project: Determination of the Effect of Salinity on the Rheological
Properties of Water Based Mud
Location of the project: Please fill
Project Duration: Please fill
Organization: Please fill
Role and Designation during the time: Team Member of the project
CE 1.2 Project Background
CE 1.2.1 Characteristics of the project
The project of Determination of the Effect of Salinity on the Rheological Properties of
Water Based Mud was developed for providing significant benefits to the oil and gas field.
Since this project was my first major project in engineering career, I made sure that the
project was accomplished perfectly. This particular project helped me in determining the total
effectiveness of salinity over the several rheological properties of the water based mud for the
industry of oil and gas.
CE 1.2.2 Objectives developed for the project
This particular project of Determination of the Effect of Salinity on the Rheological
Properties of Water Based Mud has various significant objectives. They are as follows:
 To determine the effectiveness of salinity over the various rheological properties of
the water based mud
 To execute this project in high pressure and higher temperature.

CE 1.2.3 My area of work
The project of Determination of the Effect of Salinity on the Rheological Properties of
Water Based Mud was one of the most important projects in my career. Being a petroleum
engineer, I made sure that the project was executed properly, without any type of
complexities. I was responsible for making the project successful without any type of
problem. I was under the supervision of my project supervisor and the entire project was
completed under the control of our Head of the Department. My major area of work was to
make the project document properly and also get involved in the research study. All the staffs
of my branch helped me with the core opportunity for working in various departments and
thus I was able to gather practical knowledge.
CE 1.2.4 Project Group
Figure 1: People involved in the project
CE 1.2.5 My responsibilities throughout the project
I was an important part of the project. I had various and several roles and
responsibilities throughout this project and I was successful in executing all of them. My first

responsibility was to learn about the oil and gas field. As, this was my first project, I made
the project report properly and thus was responsible for documenting the project records. My
next responsibility was to assist my project supervisor in the entire project and I was happy
that I was successful in doing so. Another important responsibility that I had to execute in
this project was providing guidance to my juniors. I gained significant knowledge and
experience in the entire phenomenon. I even determined the effect of salinity in water based
mud. The temperature as well as the pressure was also determined by me.
CE 1.3 Distinctive Activity
CE 1.3.1 Engineering knowledge and skills applied in the project
I have successfully utilized my petroleum engineering knowledge and skills for the
major success of this project. I knew that if I will apply my skills and knowledge in the
project properly, it is evident that the project will be a huge success. I am a hardworking
person and have excellent problem solving skills. Since I was a quick learner, I utilized my
experience in this particular project. I had also used my computer proficiency in the project,
which included MS Office, MS Project and many more. My power of critical thinking is also
applied here.
CE 1.3.3 Comprehending the Theory of Project
There is a basic significance of the exploration of deep as well as ultra deep wells for
fulfilling the globalized demands of oil and gas. However, drilling to such depth often brings
out various difficult issues or challenges. One of the major challenges is that there is a
negative force over the drilling fluid rheological properties, which whenever exposed to the
higher pressures and higher temperatures or simply HPHT conditions and becoming
completely contaminated with the salts that are ordinary in the deep drilling or within the
offshore operations. There should be a high-quality estimation for all the values of

characteristics related to rheological field within the drilling fluid, like yield point, gel
strength and viscosity and which is vital for the successful operation of drilling. In this
particular project, various experiments were being conducted over the water based mud with
several salinity contents. In this project, the drilling fluids that are water based and
comprising of diverse kinds of salt like sodium chloride or NaCl and potassium chloride or
KCl at the different concentrations, were eventually tested by the significant state of the art
higher pressure and higher temperature viscometers. The overall effect of the various
electrolysis of sodium chloride or NaCl and potassium chloride or KCl at the elevated
pressures, which is up to the range of 35,000 psi and the increased temperatures, which is up
to the range of 450 ºF over the viscosity of mud on the basis of water was substantially
investigated.
The specific drilling fluid utilized here was the water based mud. Apart from water,
the most important contributor to this chemical composition is the specific M-I Gel supreme
that is being treated as the Sodium-Montmorillonite. This drilling fluid helps in providing
viscosity control and the control of fluid loss. The other vital additives, which are amended
for the purpose of improving the specific drilling fluids, are as follows:
i) The first components are caustic soda and the lime to act as the pH modifier.
ii) The second components are Black Fury, Asphasol Supreme, Gilsonite in Glycol
and Co-polymer or POROSEAL for providing shale stability.
iii) XP-20 or Chrome lignite for serving as the deflocculant
iv) The next component is SAFE SCAV HS for serving as the hydrogen sulphide
scavenger.

v) The other components are synthetic polymer or Driscal D for the purpose of
improvement of fluid properties under the HPHT condition
vi) The final component was Barite for serving as the weighing additives.
The components that are described above are the basic mud units, or the no salt mud.
From the specific basic mud, the other six water mud samples were eventually prepared by
the simple addition of two kinds of salts, which are Sodium Chloride or NaCl and Potassium
Chloride or KCl. Each and every sample of salt mud was subsequently prepared at the three
concentration levels such as 3%, 5% and finally 7%.
The complete project was being conducted with the help of Chandler Ultra HPHT
Viscometer. This viscometer has the capability to test the properties of drilling fluid, like the
gel strength and viscosity, within severe conditions. This device has the capability to reach a
temperature till 316 ºC or 600 ºF and the pressure till 276 MP or 40,000 psi.
The chemical compositions of WBM are given below:
Additives PPB
Water 268.61
M-I Gel Supreme 8.00
Caustic Soda 1.00
Asphasol Supreme 5.00
XP-20 5.00
Black Fury 5.00
Lime 2.00
DRISCAL D 5.00
POROSEAL 10.50
SAFE SCAV HS 0.40

Barite 214.49
Table 1: Chemical composition of WBM
For the purpose of knowing about the overall effect of temperature and pressure on
the given sample, a completely factorial design was applied significantly. However, this
factor tends to be completely impractical and hence proves to be difficult for the restricted
resources. Hence, selecting the conditions that characterize the environment and also what
this drilling fluid would be experiencing is extremely critical. The pressure and temperature
are given below:
There were seven distinct water based mud samples, which were tested, one basic
sample with contamination of no salt at 3%, 5% and 7%, and the three samples with
potassium chloride or KCl at the concentrations that are similar to sodium chloride samples.
This deviation within the curve was not at all observed for samples of KCl at the provided
condition. When the pressure and temperature increased, the overall effect of the salts over
the rheology was more apparent. The total magnitude of shear stresses, for the provided shear
rates, was in the chronology of NaCl 5% > NaCl 7% > NaCl 3% > No Salt > KCl 5% > KCl
7% > KCl 3%.

Figure 2: Shear Stress vs Shear Rate at ambient temperature and pressure
CE 1.3.4 Identified issues and their solutions
1.3.4.1 Issues
The most significant issue that we faced in the project was while passing the gas from
medium pressure in about 500 psi and low pressure in about 120 Psi. The sources were
unavailable like compressors in boosting up of pressure.
1.3.4.2 Solutions
For solving this particular problem, I suggested to increase or increment the total
pressure of gas by simple installation of compressors and hence it will be having the ability of
supplying.
CE 1.3.5 Plan to produce creative and innovative work
Our plan was to produce innovative and creative work by working collaboratively.
We segregated our entire work properly and each task was executed properly and with utmost

sincerity. Moreover, regular follow-ups were taken, so that the project does not face any type
of problem.