Barite Suspension in Synthetic-Based Muds

by
Slamet Riyanto, M.S.E.

University of Texas at Austin, 1995
Supervisor: Martin E. Chenevert
Augusto L. Podio

Synthetic materials have been used to replace diesel oil as environmentally acceptable fluids. One of the oil-based mud properties required for effective drilling muds is the ability to suspend the drilled solids and weighting materials (barite). It has been known that the characteristics of oil-based muds which limit their solid suspension efficiency are thinning and poor thixotropic properties.

The purpose of this research is to design a method for relating barite settling rate to the rheological properties of various oil mud systems. Research focuses on evaluating the effects of various gellant concentrations and high temperature and pressure on the settling rate of barite. The high-temperature high-pressure settling apparatus and viscometer were used to investigate the settling of barite as a function of time and the rheological properties of the mud. The experimental data were used to determine the minimum concentration of gellant and the desired value of rheological properties required for sufficient barite suspension properties of the synthetic-based muds.

Back to theses index