In order for us to determine the density or weight of a given mud, we can use a mud balance. In our experiment a 4-scale metal mud balance was used. The mud balance is being made in a way that the fixed volume cup at one end of the beam is balanced by a fixed counter weight at the opposite end, with a sliding weight rider free to move along the graduated scale and calibrated to read directly the density of the mud in four scale ranges, density also affects drilling mud because of the the mud balance used which are:
6.5- 23.0 lbs/gal (ppg)
0.79 – 2.73 specific gravity (s.g)
49 – 179 lbs/ft3
340 – 1190 psi/1000ft
Equipment
4-scale mud balance
Hamilton beach mixer
Measuring cylinder
Weighing balance
Spatula
Syringe
Procedures
Calibration
Remove the lid from the cup, and fill the cup with water.
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Replace the lid on the cup. Make sure that some mud is expelled through the hole in the cup as this shows that the cup is full and will remove any trapped air or gas.
Place finger on the hole in the lid while cleaning and wiping off the mud from the outside of the cup
Place the balance on the knife edge and move the rider along the arm until the cup and arm are balanced.
Take the readings if the mud weight
Repeat this for sample 2.
Results
MUD DENSITY Ppg lb/ft3 s.g psi/1000ft Sample 1 (WATER AND BENTONITE) 8.7651.04450Sample 2 (with barite, WATER AND BENTONITE) 8.966.551.11460.05
Conclusion
At the end of this experiment, I have come to the conclusion that this method is very accurate in the measurement of mud density and also barite can be used to increase mud density.
Precaution
I ensured that I poured the water first into the mixer to reduce the amount of lumps in the mud.
I ensured that I removed the trapped air in the cup before taking my measurement of density.
I ensured accurate measurement of the mud density.
I avoided error due to parallax when taking my reading at the lower meniscus.
I ensured that the cup was completely wiped before making sure it was balanced.
I also ensured that I was wearing the appropriate safety equipment the experiment.
Also, from my results, it shows that solution 2 (with barite) is denser than solution 1 and this is because of the addition of barite to the solution as barite is a weighting material.
Recommendation
I recommend that this method be encouraged as the mud balance is a fast, easy and accurate method of measuring mud weight/density. Also, barite is a suitable weighting material that can be used to increase the density if mud.
References
Max R. Annis, Martin V. Smith (1974); EXXON COMPANY, USA (August 1996). Drilling Fluids Technology
King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (April, 2003). PETE 203: Drilling Engineering Laboratory Manual
FANN (2012). Model 821 Rig Laboratory Instruction Manual