ABSTRACT / SUMMARY

Drilling fluid contamination test is conducted to study the effect of contamination of Gypsum
(CaSO4 2H2O) to density, Plastic Viscosity and Yield Point of water-based mud. When a
foreign material enters the mud system and causes undesirable changes in mud properties
such as the density, viscosity and filtration, a mud is said to be contaminated. This experiment
involves a lot of apparatus as it is needed to find each important component of the mud as the
contamination occurs in the drilling mud itself. This experiment only involves water based
mud as the mud is the easiest mud to happen a contamination compared to the oil based mud.

Before doing this experiment, we use pH meter while to find its density, we use mud balance.
We prepare 200ml of water-based mud in 4 beakers and add different amount of Gypsum
which are 5g, 10g, 15g, 20g into each of it. By using viscometer , we take the reading at
600rpm and 300rpm. The different of reading is the Plastic Viscosity.

To find the Yield Point, we use formula which is

Yield Point (YP) = Viscosity at 300rpm - PV

The result of this experiment is almost the same with the theory of the experiment, but there
is slightly an error. However, that error can be corrected if the recommendation is counted in
and a specific procedure is taken in. Basically, the viscosity, pH value, density, yield point
and the mud weight is increasing as the amount of gypsum is increase while for plastic
viscosity; the value is decreasing as the gypsum is increase.

INTRODUCTION
The drilling fluid system, commonly known as the mud system is the single component of
the well-construction process that remains in contact with the wellbore throughout the entire
drilling operation. Drilling fluid systems are designed and formulated to perform efficiently
under expected wellbore conditions. Advances in drilling fluid technology have made it
possible to implement a cost-effective, fit for purpose system for each interval in the well-
construction process.

Drilling fluid can be divided by three types which are freshwater systems, saltwater systems,
oil- or synthetic-based systems pneumatic (air, mist, foam, gas) fluid systems. The
functions of drilling fluid in drilling operation are to clean the hole by transporting drilled
cuttings to the surface, where they can be mechanically removed from the fluid before it is
recirculated down hole, to balance or overcome formation pressures in the wellbore to
minimize the risk of well-control issues and to support and stabilize the walls of the wellbore
until casing can be set and cemented or open hole-completion equipment can be installed.
Besides, drilling fluid also act to prevent or minimize damage to the producing formations,
cool and lubricate the drill string and bit, transmits hydraulic horsepower to the bit and allow
information about the producing formations to be retrieved through cuttings analysis,
logging-while-drilling data, and wire line logs.

A mud is said to be contaminated when a foreign material enters the mud system and causes
undesirable changes in mud properties, such as density, viscosity, and filtration.
Generally, water-based mud systems are the most susceptible to contamination. Mud
contamination can result from overtreatment of the mud system with additives or from
material entering the mud during drilling.

The most common contaminants to water-based mud systems are solids which are being
added, drilled, active or inert, gypsum or anhydrite, cement or lime, makeup water, soluble
bicarbonates and carbonates, soluble sulfides and salt or salt water flow.

The calcium ion is a major contaminant to freshwater-based sodium-clay treated mud

systems. The calcium ion tends to replace the sodium ions on the clay surface through a base
exchange, thus causing undesirable changes in mud properties such as rheology and filtration.
It also causes added thinners to the mud system to become ineffective. The treatment depends
on the source of the calcium ion. For example, sodium carbonate (soda ash) is used if the
source is gypsum or anhydrite. Sodium bicarbonate is the preferred treatment if the calcium
ion is from lime or cement. If treatment becomes economically unacceptable, break over to a
mud system, such as gypsum mud or lime mud, that can tolerate the contaminant.

One of the sources of calcium is gypsum. In this experiment, gypsum is used as contaminator
that mixes with water based-mud. Gypsum is ground Calcium Sulfate Dihydrate. It is
typically act as an inexpensive source of calcium and alkalinity in gyp-based drilling muds. It
can raised the pH level. Its solubility will increased at higher chloride levels. In water-based
systems, it can treated trona water and CO2 contamination. Gypsum is a very soft sulfate
mineral composed of calcium sulfate dihydrate, with the chemical formula CaSO42H2O. It
can be used as afertilizer, is the main constituent in many forms of plaster and is widely
mined. A very fine-grained white or lightly tinted variety of gypsum, calledalabaster, has
been used for sculpture.

THEORY
Gypsum occurs in nature as flattened and often twinned crystals, and transparent, cleavable
masses called selenite. Selenite contains no significant selenium. Gypsum is a common
mineral, with thick and extensive evaporite beds in association with sedimentary rocks.
Gypsum is used in gypsum or lignosulfonate or polymer muds as a source of calcium ions
for inhibition and to convert bentonite to the calcium ion form. This avoids problems that
might otherwise occurs when anhydrite ids drilled. It can also be used an economical
treatment for carbonate contamination in high pH muds with reaction:

CaSO4 + CO32 CaCO3 + SO42-

Gypsum is deposited from lake and sea water, as well as in hot springs, from volcanic vapors,
and sulfate solutions in veins. Hydrothermal anhydrite in veins is commonly hydrated to
gypsum by groundwater in near-surface exposures. It is often associated with the minerals
halite and sulfur. Pure gypsum is white, but other substances found as impurities may give a
wide range of colours to local deposits. Because gypsum dissolves over time in water,
gypsum is rarely found in the form of sand.
In order to conducted the experiment, the properties that be measured surely known in term
of theory which means ,what the relation between the properties and the mud. Yield Point
(YP) is one of parameters that be measured. Basically, it is resistance of initial flow of fluid
or the stress required in order to move the fluid. The parameter usually referred to the
resistance of fluid to flow. It can be measured by using viscometer. The unit of PV is
centipoise (cp) while for YP is lb/100 ft.

Plastic Viscosity (PV) = Viscosity at 600rpm - Viscosity at 300rpm

Yield Point (YP) = Viscosity at 300rpm - PV
Apparent Viscosity = Viscosity at 600rpm / 2

OBJECTIVE
 To study the effect of contamination of Gypsum (CaSO4 2H2O) to density, Plastic
Viscosity (PV) and Yield Point (Yp) of Water Based Mud.
APPARATUS
Water Based Mud
Gypsum
Mass Balance
Mud Balance
Viscometer
Beaker
Litmus paper

PROCEDURE
 1. 200 ml base mud in a beaker is measured.
2. The base mud for weight, Plastic Viscosity (PV) AND Yield Point (YP) are tested
using viscometer. The value was recorded in a proper table.
3. The base mud is contaminated with 5 grams of Gypsum.
4. The sample was stirred for 3 minutes. The sample is aged for 15 minutes and stirred
again for 2-3 minutes. Then, the viscosity, yield point, density and PH are determined.
The density is measured by mud balance, while the pH is measured by pH meter. The
viscosity is measured by the viscosity and yield point is measured by Viscometer.
5. Another sample of base mud was (200 ml) prepared in a beaker.
6. Step (3) to (4) is repeated by using 10, 15, and 20 grams of Gypsum.
7. The data is recorded and proper graph of density, PV, and Yp are plotted versus
amount of Gypsum added to see the effect of Gypsum contamination to the mud
properties.

Viscosity

1. The viscometer is set up first.

2. The mud cup and rotor bob are cleaned.

3. 200ml of mud are prepared and poured into the mud cup.

4. The viscometer is switched on and the experiment is started by setting up the speed of
600 rpm.

5. The reading on the viscometer is recorded.

6. Steps 4 and 5 are for the speed 300 rpm.

7. The data is tabulated on the table.

RESULTS
Initial Water-Based Mud + Gypsum
The Reading Water-Based
5g 10g 15g 20g
Mud
Mud Weight
(ppg) 10.05 10.20 10.30 10.35 10.40
Plastic
Viscosity 25cp 39cp 39.5cp 40cp 50cp
(p)
Yield Point
lb/100 ft 34 57 71 90 100

Density 1.205 1.220 1.235 1.240 1.245

(SG)

pH Value 8 8 8 8 8
Apparent
Viscosity 42cp 67.5cp 75cp 85cp 100cp
(a)
Viscometer
reading at 84cp 135cp 150cp 170cp 200cp
600 rpm
Viscometer
reading at 59cp 96cp 110.5cp 130cp 150cp
300 rpm
The Graph of Density against The Amount of Gypsum
1.25

1.24

1.23

1.22
Density
(specific gravity) 1.21

1.2

1.19

1.18
0 5 10 15 20

The Amount of Gypsum (g)

Graph 7.1 Shows a Graph of Density against The Amount of Gypsum.

The Graph of Plastic Viscosity versus The Amount of Gypsum

60

50

40

30
Plastic Viscosity (p)

20

10

0
0 5 10 15 20

The Amount of Gypsum (g)

Graph 7.2 Shows a Graph of Plastic Viscosity against The Amount of Gypsum.
The Graph of Yield Point against The Amount of Gypsum
120

100

80

60
Yield Point (Yp)

40

20

0
0 5 10 15 20

The Amount of Gypsum (g)

Graph 7.3 Shows a Graph of Yield Point against The Amount of Gypsum.
SAMPLE CALCULATION
Apparent viscosity, (a) =600 / 2 (cP)

Mud without gypsum

84 / 2 = 42 cp

Mud with 5g of Gypsum

135 / 2 = 67.5 cp

Mud with 10g of Gypsum

150 / 2 = 75 cp

Mud with 15g of Gypsum

170 / 2 = 85 cp

Mud with 20g of Gypsum

200 / 2 = 100 cp

Plastic viscosity (p) =600 300 (cP)

Mud without gypsum

84-59 = 25 cp

Mud with 5g of Gypsum

135-96 = 39 cp

Mud with 10g of Gypsum

150-110.5 = 39.5 cp

Mud with 15g of Gypsum

170-130 = 40 cp

Mud with 20g of Gypsum

200-150 = 50 cp
Yield point (yp) =300p (lb/100 ft )

Mud without gypsum

59-25 = 34 lb/100 ft

Mud with 5g of Gypsum

96-39 = 57 lb/100 ft

Mud with 10g of Gypsum

110.5-39.5 = 71 lb/100 ft

Mud with 15g of Gypsum

130-40 = 90 lb/100 ft

Mud with 20g of Gypsum

150-50 = 100 lb/100 ft

DISCUSSIONS
From the experiment conducted, we can clearly see the effect of gypsum on the water-based
mud. Contamination can come in various ways especially during drilling. The wall of our
earth crust may contain gypsum or other material and it may affect the drilling fluid used to
drill boreholes. Most common drilling fluid used is mud. In this experiment, we wanted to see
the effects of adding gypsum on water-based mud.

In term of density, the density of the mud changed as we add gypsum into it. Since density is
the mass of mud per volume, the mass of mud change as we added different amount of
gypsum. The mud density is measured from the mud balance. From the Graph 7.1 plotted, it
shows that the density of drilling mud increase as we add gypsum into it. The pure mud has a
density of about 10.05 ppg. As we added 5 g of gypsum and mixed it well by using mixer, the
density measured was 10.20 ppg. Another 5 g of gypsum is added to the mixture of existing 5
g making it 10 g in total. The density increases to 10.30 ppg. As we add 5 more gram of
gypsum making it 15 g in total, the density shows in increment to 10.35 ppg. For the mud
with 20 g of gypsum, the mud weight is 10.40 ppg. The mud weight increases as the mass of
gypsum in the water-based mud increase. This is because water-based mud is the most
susceptible to contamination. Mud density plays an important role as indicator of pressure of
formation balance while drilling process conducted. The density of mud (refer as mud
weight) must be in range of operating drilling system so that severe failures such as kick off
and blow out can be prevented. Contamination usually enters the mud while drilling process
is done. The formation consists of salt dome or limestone formations are the most common
contributor of such contaminants. The slight change in density while mud is circulating in
drilling system indicate that the contaminants had exhibit in certain proportion of mud up to
the range that It must be treated to prevent major failures in drilling process from occurring.

For Plastic Viscosity (PV), the experiment done with running 300 rpm and 600 rpm of speed
selection and the dial reading was recorded. The dial reading for 300 rpm were 59, 96, 110.5,
130 and 150 with respective mass of gypsum added. For 600 rpm speed, the dial reading were
84, 135, 150, 170 and 200 with respective mass of gypsum added.
This relationship can be observed from the Graph 7.2 which is plotted of the value of plastic
viscosity (PV) against the amount of gypsum. The relationship obtained from the graph
seems to support the theory which stated plastic viscosity increases with the increasing of
solid content or for constant solid content, with increasing number of solid particle (fine
particles), that is, with increasing specific particle surface.

For apparent viscosity which is 300rpm and 600rpm, both readings show an increasing when
the amount of gypsum is increase too. Viscosity is a measure of a fluid resistance to flow. It
describes the internal friction of a moving fluid. A fluid with large viscosity resists motion
because its molecular makeup gives it a lot of internal friction and vice versa. In this
experiment, both reading even in different rpm, shows that the mud is hard to move and have
a lot of internal friction when there is contamination in it. With that, the mud is more viscous
as the gypsum is added and it actually a treatment to the mud to make it more alkaline and
make it more effective.

For graph 7.3, which is the graph of yield point versus the amount of gypsum, it tells that
after adding some amount of gypsum, the graph increasing. Before the gypsum was added,
the mud is higher point which is 34 lb./100ft 2. Yield point is actually a resistance of initial
flow of fluid or the stress required in order to move the fluid. Theoretically, after adding a
calcium ion, the value of yield point should be increasing and it is proven in this experiment.
The yield point value can be calculated from the formula that is stated in the theory part.
CONCLUSIONS
The objective of this experiment was to study the effect of contamination of Gypsum (CaSO 4
2H2O) to the density, Plastic Viscosity (p) and Yield Point (Yp) of water based mud. From
the result obtained, it can be shown that all the data were recorded in the table and the
necessary graph were plotted. The gypsum is the most factors that affected the result which is
the density, yield point and the plastic viscosity of the mud. This is because the gypsum is the
one of the calcium ion which is the major contaminant to freshwater based sodium-clay
treated mud systems. It tends to replace the sodium ion on the clay surface through the base
exchanges that causes the undesirable changes in the mud properties. In addition, the
occurrence of the gypsum can be said to be mud contamination that defined as foreign
materials enters the mud system and causes undesirable changes in mud properties. . In this
experiment, there is some error and mistake that affect the result. However, as expected, the
density of drilling fluid increased as the amount of Gypsum added increase because the
increased in solid contents will then increase the mud properties For PV, it is increases and
the constant when the amount of Gypsum increased. For yield point, it is increasing when
amount of gypsum increases. Therefore, the objective is achieved.

As a conclusion, water-based mud (WBM) has small effect on the rheological properties and
consistency, large effect on thickening time, and reasonable effect on the compressive
strength. The aim of this experiment which is to study about the effect of contaminant to the
mud density, plastic viscosity and yield point is successfully achieved. From this experiment,
drilling engineers can have the information about the amount of gypsum which can start
affecting the drilling fluid. It is very important to prevent any drilling incident such as kick
which can lead to blow out. Drilling mud or slurry rheology should be effectively control
thereby improving drilling efficiency and providing optimal control of mud gel strength and
yield point.
RECOMMENDATION
Wear a fully PPE when conducting the experiment as it can be harmful to the
students.
The amount of gypsum must be weight accurately in order to prevent an error happen
during taking the data of the experiment and clean the outside and inside of mass
balance before using it.
The Water Based Mud must be filter first before conducting the experiment as to filter
the impurities. This is to prevent the data for measuring the mud weight, the viscosity
and others.
The mud must only contain gypsum as if other contaminant is involved in this
experiment, the result will be not consistent.
Use spatula to clean the beaker when pouring the mud into another container.
During run the viscometer, make sure the time taken for each sample of mud is
consistent as the longer the viscometer rotate, the viscosity of the mud will be higher
thus, it will effect the reading.
REFERENCES
http://petrowiki.spe.org/Drilling_fluids
http://petrowiki.spe.org/Mud_contamination
Geology and Drilling Laboratory Manual Lab.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-616kyRXc4 (Plastic Viscosity of Drilling mud)
http://www.wipertrip.com/drilling-fluids/contamination/332-drilling-fluid-
contamination.html
http://www.brookfieldengineering.com/education/viscosity_whymeasure.asp
http://www.drillingahead.com/profiles/blogs/plastic-viscosity-pv
APPENDICES

Mud Balance Viscometer

Mud Water- Based Mixer